I have a 2012 27” iMac with 1G memory. Apple stores tells me they don’t make the disk drives for these models anymore. I called around to some locale repair shops and they said they can replace the HD with a compatible one for around $500. Should I get this HD replaced? What is the replacement for this HD? Or should I just scrap this idea and buy a new computer? This computer looks new so it would be a shame to just recycle it at the Apple Store.
One great source for replacement drives is OWC (aka Mac Sales). The following link should get you started:
OWC has both a great support staff to take you through drive selection and the actual installation process ... which, on an iMac, is a bit tricky.
So, you may want to consider that vs. the real value of keeping this older Mac.
One great source for replacement drives is OWC (aka Mac Sales). The following link should get you started:
OWC has both a great support staff to take you through drive selection and the actual installation process ... which, on an iMac, is a bit tricky.
So, you may want to consider that vs. the real value of keeping this older Mac.
I use a 512 GB one of these to boot my 2015 21.5" iMac externally. https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-Portable-SSD-2TB-MU-PC2T0H/dp/B0874XJL6M/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1FVP3BVLS3N4A&keywords=T7&qid=1691611325&sprefix=t7%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-3&th=1
Other brands will cost a similar amount.
At $500 you're being taken advantage of ... grossly being taken advantage of.
Just to clarify, I don’t even need to replaced the old dead hard drive, I can just purchase what you recommend externally to run my computer?? I’m not tech savvy so bare with me.
It’s easy to get taken advantage of by these repair shops unless you educate yourself. So here I am trying to educate.
I believe that a 27" Late 2012 iMac will accept a 3.5" SATA hard drive – or a 2.5" SATA SSD (with an adapter). But it may be necessary to purchase a temperature sensor (about $38 from OWC) to prevent the iMac from cranking up its fans full-blast all of the time.
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIDIMACHDD12/
Replacing the internal hard drive is a very intricate process, so I would suggest leaving this to a repair shop.
[Edited by Moderator]
If you do go to the trouble and expense of installing a new internal drive, I would suggest getting a SSD. Having a SSD as your startup disk will greatly reduce startup (from power off) and application launch times.
Looking at MacTracker and the OWC site, it appears that your Mac will accept internal "blade" SSDs. Possibly you could have both an internal "blade" SSD (for a startup drive) and an internal 3.5" HDD (for bulk storage).
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/imac-27-inch/2012
Apple use the same type of discs as other computers and yours should be able to use larger hard disks or even get an external hd
$500 is a lot to charge for installing a $30 hard disk drive.
$500 would still be a lot to charge for installing a $100 SSD.
I am clearly in the wrong business! Haha
I would follow up with contacting OWC as Tesserax wrote. They will explain your options and won't rip you off.
RIP: My 2012 iMac hard drive has died
