2012 new iMac 27.5 in i7 32GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 4x8GB or 16GB?

Yes you can upgrade the RAM in the 2012 iMac models.

see > Upgrade Apple iMac Memory & more – Easy Guide, Free Installation Videos.

Yes on the 27", but I think the 21" is what you see is what you get.....

Actually it looks like the 21.5" can also be upgraded, but........ it only has 2 slots and requires some disassembly that would most likely void the warranty for most DIYourselfer's. Professional Installation.

Memory up to 16GB for Apple iMac 2012 Thunderbolt equipped 21.5" models

I was going by the specific "user accessible" wording in the specs with the 27" - it does not say that on the 21", so I'd assume Apple does not support it = better not touch it or else your warranty goes poof......

PS - LOL, OWC already has RAM for a machine that hasn't even been released...... 😁

Looks like they got there's yesterday. 😉

see > What Does It Take To Upgrade a 2012 iMac 21.5"? | Other World Computing Blog

I have never seen anything as ridiculous as what it takes to replace the memory in the 21.5" iMac. It's like a skit from Saturday Night Live. Who in the world is going to pry off the screen, loosen/remove the power supply, logic board, etc, etc.

That is ridiculous. The 21" looks like a throw away machine to me.

Apple RAM upgrade is twice the cost of OWC. But if you wanted the 16GB, you'd be better of getting it as a custom build from Apple rather than dealing with a user upgrade.

I can't believe if I wanted to replace my iMac in 2013 I would be almost forced into moving to the 27" model with a screen size I really don't want with an extra price I don't want.

I was in an Apple retail the other day and they had two iMacs on display. The rest of the store was all IOS.

The front glass and screen are fused together as one unit. The front glassed/screen are glued to the body, no magnets this time around.

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iMac+Intel+21.5-Inch+EMC+2544+Teardown/11936/1

That confirms you'd be nuts to install the RAM yourself.

I don't know what intervention made me decide to purchase a new (refurb) top of the line ,od 2010 27" earlier this year it was the fastest in benchmark tests, came with Snow Leopard disks, has a DVD drive, and is covered by Applecare until early 2015. I decided to sell my other (not top of the line) mid 2010 with Applecare to 2013. I'm good until 2015 and then I'll look at a Mini (if they're still around) or, what I really want: a Mac Pro "Lite" - a physically lighter as well as a bit less "pro" machine.

FWIW, once you have a 27", you'll never go back!!!! Even my MBP screen looks puny to me..

And you're right: I had an appointment at the Genius Bar for my iPad and most people were playing with iPads. However, the Geniuses were busy helping with iMacs, MBPs, etc.

babowa wrote:

FWIW, once you have a 27", you'll never go back!!!!

Add to that... SSD, i7 add a trackpad and max out ram.

I got this last year the second they went on sale and I'm still amazed:

27" mid-2011

3.4GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7

16GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 4x4GB

2TB Serial ATA Drive + 256GB Solid State Drive

AMD Radeon HD 6970M 2GB GDDR5

Apple Magic Mouse + Magic Trackpad

Apple Wireless Keyboard

Yikes' I used to think the Early Core Duo's were tough nuts to crack open and work on.

Plus, how cheap looking compared to all the earlier Intel models. 😟

http://www.macworld.com/article/1159692/imacmid2011benchmarks.html

My Imac is the mid 2010 2.93 GHz i7 and compares very favorably with the 2011 tested - that's why I got that one.

Apple RAM upgrade is twice the cost of OWC. But if you wanted the 16GB, you'd be better of getting it as a custom build from Apple rather than dealing with a user upgrade.

I can't believe if I wanted to replace my iMac in 2013 I would be almost forced into moving to the 27" model with a screen size I really don't want with an extra price I don't want.

I was in an Apple retail the other day and they had two iMacs on display. The rest of the store was all IOS.

???? It's not clear from the OP whether he is buying the 21'5" or the 27"- a 27.5" there is not!!

If it's the 21.5", then yes, get the Apple installation on buying it. If it's the 27", no, buy from Crucial, OWC etc, a 2 minute juob to install and no loss of warranty.