Where would you go for to get your iMac RAM upgraded? or Would you do it yourself? For a 2017 iMac 4k retina, ..aka the version that you can't upgrade it yourself.
Mass-Storage Management Software
In addition to the valuable and comprehensive answers from others:
It's very easy to determine if your Mac's performance is being limited by available memory. Please read Check if your Mac needs more RAM in Activity Monitor - Apple Support. If the "Memory Pressure" graph is frequently "red" your Mac will benefit from additional memory. If not, it won't. It's that simple.
In addition to the valuable and comprehensive answers from others:
It's very easy to determine if your Mac's performance is being limited by available memory. Please read Check if your Mac needs more RAM in Activity Monitor - Apple Support. If the "Memory Pressure" graph is frequently "red" your Mac will benefit from additional memory. If not, it won't. It's that simple.
What would I do? With that model I would NOT add RAM. Based on thousands of post here, RAM is not your issue.
For 95+% of reports of slow iMacs made from 2012 through 2019, the under-spec, slow mechanical hard drive that Apple used as the base storage option is the problem. You can spend thousands having the computer torn down and RAM added and not make one perceivable change in felt performance if your hard drive is the same spec as all the others.
Ask these question:
Three "yes" answers screams "under-spec factor mech hard drive," not "starved for RAM." RAM vendors would like you to think otherwise, but their recommendations do not fit data.
Here are app launch data I captured from another Mac model with similar historic hard drive issues, as I first doubled the RAM, then changed the slow factory mechanical drive for a solid-state drive (SSD):
Base:
4GB RAM and slow SATA 3GBps 5400rpm hard drive: Office and Photoshop Elements took 15-18 seconds to be ready to use.
First upgrade, double the RAM:
8GB RAM and slow SATA 3GBps 5400rpm hard drive: Office and Photoshop Elements took 15-18 seconds to be ready to use.
Second upgrade, inexpensive solid-state drive
8GB RAM and SATA 6GBps SSD: Office and Photoshop Elements take under 4 seconds to be ready to use.
So which helped most? As a note, that computer has never tested as starved for RAM with only 8GB RAM.
If you want a targeted analysis of your situation based on hard data for RAM usage, drive performance, and software effects, please post a system snapshot. Fortunately there is a safe, secure way to do that. EtreCheck Pro is available here:
The free version will do nicely for this purpose, although the app is worthy of our financial support.
We can see hard data about drive performance, software issues, and RAM usage. Etrecheck is the development of a long-serving and trusted contributor here, created expressly for displaying information in these forums to help us help you remotely. It will not reveal any personal or secure information.
See this excellent user tip on posting text reports like EtreCheck's in this incarantion of the forum software:
How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community
If it proves to be your hard drive, there is a cost-effective workaround that does not require opening the sealed case. Once we see data, we can advise whether that option is viable in your specific situation.
Very simple, take the computer to your local independent Apple Authorized Service Provider to have it serviced. However, in most cases upgrading RAM is not necessary if you purchased the correct machine to fit your needs initially.
Apple is moving to machines that do not have user upgradeable RAM, so it is wise to NOT buy on price alone but to carefully assess your needs prior to buying and then buying based on your current and projected future needs. It is kind of like finding a place to live, if you have a family of 5 you likely would not buy or rent a 300sq. ft. studio.
If our computers age to the point where they now longer are able to serve our needs, we keep the better of the two for a backup, buy new Macs and get rid of the last backup.
But more often that not, for certain older Macs a fix is reasonably doable. You just have to diagnose the problem and this is the place for that.
Is you 2017 iMac a 21.5" model or a 27" model?
Why do you want to add more RAM? If it's for increasing performance read Allan's post carefully.
What have y'all done when you can no longer upgrade the RAM on your imac yourself, and it "has" to be done by an apple authorized provider?
