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That $200-Cheaper iMac's RAM is Not Upgradeable

By - Source: Rocket Yard | B 60 comments
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Guess what? That new iMac we told you about that was $200 cheaper, well, its RAM is not upgradeable.

Recently, we informed you that Apple had released a new, cheaper iMac that cost $200 less than its predecessors. That is all still true, although it turns out that Apple has made a couple of changes to the standard design, as OWC (Other World Computing) presented in its Rocket Yard blog.

As it turns out, the RAM on this $1099 iMac is not user-upgradeable. Despite the difficulty you'll have accessing it, even if you get to it, you'll find that the RAM is soldered to the PCB. The standard configuration is 8 GB of DDR3-1600 memory. In the online configurator, you also cannot upgrade this – 8 GB is the only option you have.

Granted, most users who need more memory will also want more CPU power, therefore choosing another model, but for the tiny crowd that might be interested in more memory, this might be a small nuisance.

We suspect that this was done to lower the production costs, as the only customizable part in the machines is the storage. Due to this, the motherboard (or what Apple likes to call a Logic Board) in all of the $1099 iMacs will be identical, making them cheaper to mass produce.

Follow Niels Broekhuijsen @NBroekhuijsen. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

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Top Comments
  • 15 Hide
    Lightbulbie , June 27, 2014 3:55 PM
    It's 8GB of RAM. When is the average Apple user going to use more than four? All they really do is visit the same sites and do the same thing a PC user does, but get ripped off harder.
  • 15 Hide
    pills161 , June 27, 2014 3:47 PM
    Measily 8GB of ram which you can't upgrade period? Wow again Apple is soooooo innovative.
  • 14 Hide
    punahou1 , June 27, 2014 4:02 PM
    Very sneaky profitable move for Apple. My company had an imac where the $125 graphics card went bad. It too was soldered to the mobo. In order to fix this part you had to spend $650 to but a new mobo. Now if your $40 RAM chip goes bad you will have to spend many more $$ o replace the mobo. Of course this was all per-planned by Apple, most likely with the guidance of their finance department...
Other Comments
    Display all 60 comments.
  • 8 Hide
    skit75 , June 27, 2014 3:35 PM
    "It just works"
  • 9 Hide
    Anonymous , June 27, 2014 3:42 PM
    Oh that just blows! Boo!
  • 15 Hide
    pills161 , June 27, 2014 3:47 PM
    Measily 8GB of ram which you can't upgrade period? Wow again Apple is soooooo innovative.
  • 15 Hide
    Lightbulbie , June 27, 2014 3:55 PM
    It's 8GB of RAM. When is the average Apple user going to use more than four? All they really do is visit the same sites and do the same thing a PC user does, but get ripped off harder.
  • 14 Hide
    punahou1 , June 27, 2014 4:02 PM
    Very sneaky profitable move for Apple. My company had an imac where the $125 graphics card went bad. It too was soldered to the mobo. In order to fix this part you had to spend $650 to but a new mobo. Now if your $40 RAM chip goes bad you will have to spend many more $$ o replace the mobo. Of course this was all per-planned by Apple, most likely with the guidance of their finance department...
  • 9 Hide
    skit75 , June 27, 2014 4:07 PM
    95% of Apple users would not care about this. Yes, I pulled that 95% number from a very dark place but I bet it is quite accurate. I bet more PC users reply to this article... including, me.
  • -1 Hide
    fudoka711 , June 27, 2014 4:09 PM
    GG
  • 13 Hide
    applegetsmelaid , June 27, 2014 4:13 PM
    Makes sense. I couldn't upgrade the memory on my speak and spell either.
  • 8 Hide
    apone , June 27, 2014 4:16 PM
    What's the problem? Apple fans should be used to not being able to upgrade their overpriced devices. Nothing to see here Apple folks, move along now...
  • 0 Hide
    InvalidError , June 27, 2014 4:34 PM
    Quote:
    This is seriously anti-customer. Shame on you Apple!

    Soldered memory and CPUs in ultra-thin non-user-serviceable devices is quite common - the socket and memory sub-PCB add unnecessary weight, thickness, labor, components, potential failure points and cost.

    Microsoft's Surface 3 Pro also uses 8GB of DDR3 soldered directly to the main board.
  • -9 Hide
    xxsk8er101xx , June 27, 2014 5:24 PM
    Apple isn't the only company doing this though? SOC has been used by every company. You just choose to focus on Apple because of your irrational dislike for the company.

    Quote:
    One of the reasons why I will never buy an Apple product.

    This is seriously anti-customer. Shame on you Apple!
  • 13 Hide
    Solandri , June 27, 2014 5:31 PM
    Quote:
    Soldered memory and CPUs in ultra-thin non-user-serviceable devices is quite common - the socket and memory sub-PCB add unnecessary weight, thickness, labor, components, potential failure points and cost.

    Microsoft's Surface 3 Pro also uses 8GB of DDR3 soldered directly to the main board.

    Soldered memory to make a computer you carry around with you thinner and lighter is completely understandable. The tradeoff may not be worth it for everyone, but it's definitely addressing two features generally considered to be important in a portable computer.

    Soldered memory on a computer which sits on a desk all day is pointless. It takes a special kind of vanity to think that the couple mm thickness and few grams saved are a "feature" in such a device.
  • 2 Hide
    Blazer1985 , June 27, 2014 5:37 PM
    Yes invalid error.. But the surface pro 3 is a 800gr 12" device, this is SUPPOSED do be something professional given the price and the fact that it is a 21" device but to reduce the cost they merely strapped a mba on the back of a large screen.
  • 1 Hide
    hotroderx , June 27, 2014 5:44 PM
    People complaining are complaining about what? 8 gigs of ram is plenty in a PC and more then enough in a Mac. I own both a PC and Mac (Air) and I gotta say. The Mac uses resources more wisely then my pc does. I think this boils down to Apple isnt designing there OS to work with millions of different vendors and parts. Instead they can design it to work with there unique echo system.

    Also you cant over look the fact that 95% of users ( a special apple users) aren't going to need more then 4gigs of memory for the life of there mac. Other then digital animation what do you really even need above 4 gigs of memory for on a Mac? I personally cant think of a single thing. Special since 99% of games out there arent mac compatible. I pretty sure office doesn't use 8gigs of memory

    The only down side I can see is what someone else mentioned if the memory goes out then your in trouble. Tell yea the truth with the smaller form factors (ITX) I think this might start to become the norm in PC's also. Makes since with AMD's APU's to package everything in a ITX form factor solider everything to the board bingo now you have something that takes up a 10th of the room of a standard PC but is way more powerful for everyday users.
  • 5 Hide
    Blazer1985 , June 27, 2014 5:49 PM
    Sk8er, as you can see this is a 21" screen. Now put a mba motherboard on the back and tell me if there is not enough residual volume for 8gb of detachable ram. If there is not you are free to call me apple hater.
  • -8 Hide
    xxsk8er101xx , June 27, 2014 6:18 PM
    https://www.apple.com/imac/design/

    Look at how thin they are and tell me if you can fit ram slots on that thing. Common be reasonable.
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