At what age should I replace my IMac?

Could be the original hard disk drive is tired, near full capacity, or both.

And some older models were slower to run more recent OS X versions.

The 2009 computer probably would run like new with Snow Leopard 10.6.8
and a new replacement 7200-RPM internal hard disk drive; one with specs

correct for the iMac version you have, in case there is a sensor port or wire

for the temperature and fan controls.

You could see what kinds of update or upgrade hardware is available for your

older iMac 2009 (late, early, mid?) by looking online to macsales.com or use

everymac.com database to compare your model to their information. I have

and use the mactracker.ca download database for all mac specification.

If you like the older applications and the way they work, then consider what

you'll get with a new or newer computer hardware and resulting OS upgrade.

Look at new models and check them out where they're sold; if you have no

experience with any iOS iDevices, then the new OS X versions will startle

you. If you like the feel of the older vintage OS X, as some do, they stick to

older models and check into the availability of restored ones from those few

companies whose business it is to repair and guarantee various mac models.

Early iMac (intel) and late iMac G5 (PPC) had some similar issues, in that the

capacitors may fail and there are some of these in the power supply and also

on the logic board; as they age they may bulge, leak, and fail. A later model

computer is advised, but that does not mean yours is bad; it may do OK with

a new replacement hard drive, and if the RAM memory has upgrade capacity,

that too may help it work better. An older OS X would zip along in there.

Once restored, it may be a good one to give away, running 10.6.8 & with its

original install restore DVD software kit included.

Newer model computers generally have a fixed soldered-in amount of RAM,

and limited upgrade potential after you buy one. The upgrade is usually a

case of you buy the higher specification model before you think you need it.

That is the extent of most newer Mac upgrades.

So hopefully you can get a feel for the newer OS X and what it brings to the

experience of computing, to use the App Store and the internet capacity of

your location to see if the huge files and the cloud are worth paying for. At

least the newest models are supported, directly online via App Store.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

My mid 2007 iMac still serves me great, perhaps we can find out what is slowing it down?

So we know more about it...

At the Apple Icon at top left>About this Mac, then click on More Info, then click on Hardware> and report this upto but not including the Serial#...

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: iMac

Model Identifier: iMac7,1

Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo

Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz

Number Of Processors: 1

Total Number Of Cores: 2

L2 Cache: 4 MB

Memory: 6 GB

Bus Speed: 800 MHz

Boot ROM Version: IM71.007A.B03

SMC Version (system): 1.21f4

EtreCheck is a simple little app to display the important details of your system configuration and allow you to copy that information to the Clipboard. It is meant to be used with Apple Support Communities to help people help you with your Mac.

http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

How much RAM & Free Disk space do you have?

walk44alone- wrote:

when should I get rid of my IMac,

When it no longer is capable of doing what you require it to do. Age itself does not cause a Mac to become slow. It is the software that you choose to install that generally becomes more resource-intensive, and a Mac's hardware resources are finite.

slow down when changing programs,files ect.

This is one sign of not enough ram. I'll guess you need to max out the memory on this machine.

Yosemite has an official requirement for 2gig of ram. My guess is that you have 8gig of ram.

people on these forums recommend crucial or owc memory.

http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/apple-memory/?gclid=CLCy5u7Z_8kCFckWHwodZmsJCg&cm_ mmc=google-_-us-_-dram-_-null&ef_id=ViHQ…

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/

You can still take an older Apple computer (if not too ancient) to an Authorized Apple

Service Provider or AASP; as they can often provide service and access to original

replacement quality parts, on older Macs. The Intel-based Macs aren't all that old.

Find an Apple Authorized Service Provider

If you happen to have older powerPC based hardware, then you may need to look

a bit further for qualified service, repair, and harder to find replacements parts.

There likely are a few qualified trained authorized Apple and Mac service providers

who could provide upgrade or replacement repairs to the computer at seven years.

Ask them, too, if you have upgrade interests that may require items not in stock.

In any event...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

In former builds of Apple computer, several users kept their old models around

quite some time even though the newer MacOS had passed the ability of the

hardware to run them. Standalone usefulness hasn't been a problem in cases

where you have older software that may not have a modern quality replacement.

If the device can be maintained to fulfill a mission, and you have a need to keep it,

(or like the design, have old games that runs OK in there, etc) that's reason enough.

My oldest Mac (still in possession) is a PowerMac 7600 that runs MacOS 8.6.

While my oldest presently-owned iMac G4 (3) are in various states of dis-repair

but I'm unwilling to set them on the curb even though they're senile & forgetful.

A first-edition MacBook1.1 coreduo whose latest supported OS X 10.6.8, hasn't

been reached yet, is running 10.5.8 with upgraded RAM and better HDD. My

iBook G4 (2005) last model still works great, needs new battery & larger HDD.

And my old last model G4 Mini could run faster -- only with an SSD installed...

The last item is used daily, with only 1024MB RAM and 100GB HDD, in 10.5.8.

Some research into whatever upgrade direction you may find suitable has a lot

to do with the expectation of the usefulness of owning a computer. But to set

the older ones out to the curb may be a bit soon. An iFixit repair guide and other

free information can be used to help the old Mac function better.

In whatever you choose...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

I love your attitude. Thanks for the info.