I am planning on changing the RAM in my iMac18,2 (2017 21.5” 4K iMac). I have read all the information and watched the videos on how to do it and think I can manage it. But I am not sure where to get the RAM from or which one to get. Could anyone point me in the right direction please.
Trying to upgrade RAM in a 2017 21.5 inch iMac requires a near complete gutting of the computer, and we are a bit weary of seeing reports like "My iMac died after I tried to add RAM."
Apple did not design that model to have its RAM upgraded at home, and even some Apple Authorized Service Providers I've chatted up say they will not attempt the work in their shops. Takes too much labor time and there is a high risk of damaging a customer's computer.
The more important point is that, based on long history here, added RAM will typically NOT make that model feel faster. On you model, about 95+% of "slow" complaints here are traced not to a paucity of RAM but the glacially slow laptop-class mech hard drives Apple fitted to most base-model 21.5-inch iMacs.
However, we can only know if that is your issue if you post more details. If you want a data-driven evaluation in this setting where we can neither see nor touch your computer, please post an EtreCheck report. We can quickly and within the limitations of these forums help you determine what issues are at play without our playing a protracted game of "20 Questions" with you that could go on for days.
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 interferences, and RAM usage. Etrecheck is the development of a long-serving and trusted ASC contributor. It is a reporting app, not a "fix-it” app, expressly for displaying information in these forums to help us help you remotely. It will not reveal any personal or secure information.
The benefit for you is the report may show if your situation can be mitigated with and inexpensive external option that does not involve professional help or risking a total teardown.
Please see this excellent user tip on how to post long text reports like EtreCheck's into a forum response:
How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community
Trying to upgrade RAM in a 2017 21.5 inch iMac requires a near complete gutting of the computer, and we are a bit weary of seeing reports like "My iMac died after I tried to add RAM."
Apple did not design that model to have its RAM upgraded at home, and even some Apple Authorized Service Providers I've chatted up say they will not attempt the work in their shops. Takes too much labor time and there is a high risk of damaging a customer's computer.
The more important point is that, based on long history here, added RAM will typically NOT make that model feel faster. On you model, about 95+% of "slow" complaints here are traced not to a paucity of RAM but the glacially slow laptop-class mech hard drives Apple fitted to most base-model 21.5-inch iMacs.
However, we can only know if that is your issue if you post more details. If you want a data-driven evaluation in this setting where we can neither see nor touch your computer, please post an EtreCheck report. We can quickly and within the limitations of these forums help you determine what issues are at play without our playing a protracted game of "20 Questions" with you that could go on for days.
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 interferences, and RAM usage. Etrecheck is the development of a long-serving and trusted ASC contributor. It is a reporting app, not a "fix-it” app, expressly for displaying information in these forums to help us help you remotely. It will not reveal any personal or secure information.
The benefit for you is the report may show if your situation can be mitigated with and inexpensive external option that does not involve professional help or risking a total teardown.
Please see this excellent user tip on how to post long text reports like EtreCheck's into a forum response:
How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community
When you purchase the new RAM for your iMac, make sure you purchase ram that is DDR4 SODIMM. This is the most important step as other modules will not fit. You should also select RAM that is 2400 MHz or faster. You can find this RAM on Amazon fairly cheap. Just make sure you also purchase new adhesive to hold the screen on. I believe you can upgrade all the way to 64GB
I hope that helps.
Other World Computing (MacSales) and Crucial are the usual "go-to" suppliers. Recently, I've noticed that Crucial often says that they have no compatible RAM upgrades for older Macs. That leaves Other World Computing as the main supplier.
Note that opening up and resealing a 21.5" 2017 iMac is a tricky operation. You may want to pay a repair shop to do the installation for you. That may add $100 or more in labor costs to your bill.
Better yet, you might want to check that you actually need more RAM before getting any. Often slow operation on late-Intel-era 21.5" iMacs is due to the use of
If the internal drive is not actively failing and crashing the machine, adding an external SSD and using it as a startup drive is often a way to improve performance without the costs and risks of major surgery.
Whoa cowboy, Why are you risking bricking you computer by doing major surgery to increase RAM? If your goal is to increase the speed, adding RAM will not help.
However if you want to move forward, use www.macsales.com RAM. For a 2017 21.5" model navigate to:
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/imac-2017-21.5-inch
What RAM should I use and where should I get it from?
