Reworking an old Mac 27" iMac

My Mac was built in 2010 and it has a 3.2 GHz intel core i3 processor, 8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 memory with an ATI Radeon HD 5670 512 MB graphics. The i3 processor has only 2 chips and I need to add more to speed up some apps.

Can someone explain how I can do this.

comoxbrit said:

My Mac was built in 2010 and it has a 3.2 GHz intel core i3 processor, 8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 memory with an ATI Radeon HD 5670 512 MB graphics. The i3 processor has only 2 chips and I need to add more to speed up some apps.

Can someone explain how I can do this.

Click to expand...

It’s impossible to “add more chips” to the i3 processor. The only Mac model where anyone even tried to upgrade the CPU was on the 2006-2012 Mac Pro towers, but even then you could not add chips, only replace them with faster ones.

However I think what you really mean to say is that you want to add more RAM (working memory) chips, not i3 processor chips. Adding RAM is one of the two possible upgrades for an iMac. (The other one is upgrading internal storage.)

If this is the iMac you have...

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-i3-3.2-21-inch-aluminum-mid-2010-specs.html

...then you can add your RAM yourself with just a screwdriver.

For the instructions to do that, go to the link above, and click where it says Download PDF Manual. That is the PDF version of the actual Apple manual that came with your Mac. If you look at the Table of Contents in the PDF manual, look for Chapter 3: Boost Your Memory, and click or tap on that to go to that page. That chapter contains easy Apple instructions for adding more RAM to your iMac. It looks pretty straightforward.

As to where to get the chips, many of us have purchased it from macsales.com. Their iMac RAM upgrade section is here:

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/iMac

Pick your model and see your options.

It is probably possible to get the memory chips cheaper at Amazon or other online stores, but you must be careful enough to order the technical exact specification. If you are not comfortable with that, just get it from a reputable Mac website like the one above. Memory prices for old Macs are relatively affordable now.

graybalanced said:

comoxbrit said:

My Mac was built in 2010 and it has a 3.2 GHz intel core i3 processor, 8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 memory with an ATI Radeon HD 5670 512 MB graphics. The i3 processor has only 2 chips and I need to add more to speed up some apps.

Can someone explain how I can do this.

Click to expand...

It’s impossible to “add more chips” to the i3 processor. The only Mac model where anyone even tried to upgrade the CPU was on the 2006-2012 Mac Pro towers, but even then you could not add chips, only replace them with faster ones.

However I think what you really mean to say is that you want to add more RAM (working memory) chips, not i3 processor chips. Adding RAM is one of the two possible upgrades for an iMac. (The other one is upgrading internal storage.)

If this is the iMac you have...

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-i3-3.2-21-inch-aluminum-mid-2010-specs.html

...then you can add your RAM yourself with just a screwdriver.

For the instructions to do that, go to the link above, and click where it says Download PDF Manual. That is the PDF version of the actual Apple manual that came with your Mac. If you look at the Table of Contents in the PDF manual, look for Chapter 3: Boost Your Memory, and click or tap on that to go to that page. That chapter contains easy Apple instructions for adding more RAM to your iMac. It looks pretty straightforward.

As to where to get the chips, many of us have purchased it from macsales.com. Their iMac RAM upgrade section is here:

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/iMac

Pick your model and see your options.

It is probably possible to get the memory chips cheaper at Amazon or other online stores, but you must be careful enough to order the technical exact specification. If you are not comfortable with that, just get it from a reputable Mac website like the one above. Memory prices for old Macs are relatively affordable now.

Click to expand...

And note the fine print; the i3 model supports less total RAM I think.

Whether it will make much difference, hard to say. That's still a very old machine. Good luck.

Hi Derek - I would say based on hacking into some seriously old machines, you may be better off looking for a slightly newer, or same year 27" imac with a higher core processor. For example, RAM upgrades may cost say 75-100 dollars to max out your i3, however if you were to look for an I7 from 2010 you may find one for close to 3-400$ for a seriously higher end processor / graphics card system, which would raise your performance level more than just the RAM upgrade alone. Also if you are using internal spinning drives, the IMAC's speed is boosted way higher by switching to an internal SSD, or even removing the CD drive, and adding an additional SSD there as well - this is well documented on sites like ifixt.com etc.

In real world terms replacing any spinning drives will produce way more speed boost than a CPU, or RAM upgrade on these old machines - just something to keep in mind Now if you're maxing out your RAM - well of course the answer is usually more RAM space - however you were referencing Chips, or cores on board - which are not realistically swappable on the imac series. You would probably have to replace the entire main board / logic board system, and at that point its much much easier to purchase a new used imac with the higher specs, since outside of a "see if you can do it" project, the replacement would be cost prohibitive and difficult

FYI I'm writing this on a seriously modified Dell server workstation, with all sorts of weird hacks and mods - so I find it fun to do so, and have had the 27" imac in the past, complete with dusty handprints on the internal display So - please enjoy and have fun whatever you choose

robgendreau said:

graybalanced said:

comoxbrit said:

My Mac was built in 2010 and it has a 3.2 GHz intel core i3 processor, 8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 memory with an ATI Radeon HD 5670 512 MB graphics. The i3 processor has only 2 chips and I need to add more to speed up some apps.

Can someone explain how I can do this.

Click to expand...

It’s impossible to “add more chips” to the i3 processor. The only Mac model where anyone even tried to upgrade the CPU was on the 2006-2012 Mac Pro towers, but even then you could not add chips, only replace them with faster ones.

However I think what you really mean to say is that you want to add more RAM (working memory) chips, not i3 processor chips. Adding RAM is one of the two possible upgrades for an iMac. (The other one is upgrading internal storage.)

If this is the iMac you have...

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-i3-3.2-21-inch-aluminum-mid-2010-specs.html

...then you can add your RAM yourself with just a screwdriver.

For the instructions to do that, go to the link above, and click where it says Download PDF Manual. That is the PDF version of the actual Apple manual that came with your Mac. If you look at the Table of Contents in the PDF manual, look for Chapter 3: Boost Your Memory, and click or tap on that to go to that page. That chapter contains easy Apple instructions for adding more RAM to your iMac. It looks pretty straightforward.

As to where to get the chips, many of us have purchased it from macsales.com. Their iMac RAM upgrade section is here:

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/iMac

Pick your model and see your options.

It is probably possible to get the memory chips cheaper at Amazon or other online stores, but you must be careful enough to order the technical exact specification. If you are not comfortable with that, just get it from a reputable Mac website like the one above. Memory prices for old Macs are relatively affordable now.

Click to expand...

And note the fine print; the i3 model supports less total RAM I think.

Whether it will make much difference, hard to say. That's still a very old machine. Good luck.

Click to expand...

If you go to Crucial they do have a machine checker app that will match the correct module that are compatible. (does OWC have the same thing? - being in the UK I haven't used them for RAM).

Thanks everyone for replying..I will keep running the Mac until it dies and then buy a new one.

Thanks again.

comoxbrit said:

Thanks everyone for replying..I will keep running the Mac until it dies and then buy a new one.

Thanks again.

Click to expand...

I'm running an old 2013 27" iMac, although mine has the four core i5 3.2GHz processor, it's not a bad machine, and I did up the RAM to 16GB when I got it. Changing the internal HDD to a 500GB SSD did transform it somewhat though.

However, it's got to the point of being obsolete (won't upgrade to Big Sur), and I have pretty much replaced it with an iPad Pro now. The performance of the iPad is extremely good compared to the iMac, and I find photo editing easier and faster, despite the smaller screen (which is much higher resolution).

Some things are still easier on the iMac, but generally I can do everything if I need to on the iPad - if the iMac did die, then I would just stick to the iPad.

OP wrote:
"Thanks everyone for replying..I will keep running the Mac until it dies and then buy a new one."

That's ok, but don't expect it to perform anywhere close to a new or late-model-used Mac.

After 10+ years, I'd say that it's time to start shopping for a replacement.

Be aware that NEW iMacs that will use the new m-series CPU are coming and probably should be here around June/July.

JPAlbert said:

That's ok, but don't expect it to perform anywhere close to a new or late-model-used Mac.

Click to expand...

I assumed they meant they just want a hardware upgrade to run what they run right now a little faster, not to upgrade the software. Since recent versions of macOS and photo apps won’t even let themselves install on a Mac that old anymore.

I have another question: if I buy a Mac tower could I hook up my existing 27" iMac to it and use it as a monitor?

comoxbrit said:

My Mac was built in 2010 and it has a 3.2 GHz intel core i3 processor, 8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 memory with an ATI Radeon HD 5670 512 MB graphics. The i3 processor has only 2 chips and I need to add more to speed up some apps.

Can someone explain how I can do this.

Click to expand...

Just adding more RAM and or swapping out the spinning HD for SSD - is a little akin to putting wide wheels on a old Ford Taurus.. There are quite a few places that will Trade - From my experience you cannot use the iMac as an external monitor.. In all honesty - you need a more powerful unit... L

Thanks for replying. I will start looking for a new computer.

comoxbrit said:

I have another question: if I buy a Mac tower could I hook up my existing 27" iMac to it and use it as a monitor?

Click to expand...

If it is a 27", Late 2009 or 27", Mid 2010 iMac, you can use it as a Mini DisplayPort display by putting it into Target Display Mode.

Apple – Use your iMac as a display with target display mode

It has to be running High Sierra or earlier. That shouldn't be a problem – since neither of those machines can go beyond High Sierra.

Thanks for the link Tom_N

Very true! I was going to suggest that this is the case Makes a pretty interesting giant sized display

comoxbrit said:

Thanks everyone for replying..I will keep running the Mac until it dies and then buy a new one.

Thanks again.

Click to expand...

Just to give my own four pennorth.. These are the best ways to speed up your machine:

1. For overall major speed bump, replace the HDD with an SSD
2. To speed up memory-hungry apps increase the RAM to between 16 - 32 GB

For that particular machine, nothing else will come near. Yes, you would get a small increase with an i5 or i7 machine, but not as much as you get from those other improvements. And if - like me - you're a Brit, then Crucial is your best source for memory.

ChrisLumix said:

comoxbrit said:

Thanks everyone for replying..I will keep running the Mac until it dies and then buy a new one.

Thanks again.

Click to expand...

Just to give my own four pennorth.. These are the best ways to speed up your machine:

1. For overall major speed bump, replace the HDD with an SSD
2. To speed up memory-hungry apps increase the RAM to between 16 - 32 GB

For that particular machine, nothing else will come near. Yes, you would get a small increase with an i5 or i7 machine, but not as much as you get from those other improvements. And if - like me - you're a Brit, then Crucial is your best source for memory.

Click to expand...

Great Ideas - B U T - Cost & Time involved (not too mention possible damage to the computer when disassembled/reassembled etc) will outweigh the minimal improvement.. L

Replacing the hard drive with a hybrid drive or SSD can greatly improve an old Mac's responsiveness, if not its actual processing power. OWC has a great video showing how to do this. It doesn't look terribly difficult, but it's not exactly simple or risk-free.

According to EveryMac.com, this iMac can support up to 16GB of RAM.

Jacques Cornell said:

Replacing the hard drive with a hybrid drive or SSD can greatly improve an old Mac's responsiveness, if not its actual processing power. OWC has a great video showing how to do this. It doesn't look terribly difficult, but it's not exactly simple or risk-free.

According to EveryMac.com, this iMac can support up to 16GB of RAM.

Click to expand...

I have somewhere in the past (on the Apple Forum) read that lots of RAM can even slow down an iMac.. No real (cheap) way to upgrade Processors on iMacs - Scientists have done it, no way for Joe Shmo. L

--
“Hold the vision, trust the process.” –

Leica Eye said:

Jacques Cornell said:

Replacing the hard drive with a hybrid drive or SSD can greatly improve an old Mac's responsiveness, if not its actual processing power. OWC has a great video showing how to do this. It doesn't look terribly difficult, but it's not exactly simple or risk-free.

According to EveryMac.com, this iMac can support up to 16GB of RAM.

Click to expand...

I have somewhere in the past (on the Apple Forum) read that lots of RAM can even slow down an iMac.

Click to expand...

That would be if you install two chips of different capacities. If you install identical pairs of chips (in this case, and pair of 8GB chips), this would not be an issue.

LeicaEye said:

No real (cheap) way to upgrade Processors on iMacs - Scientists have done it, no way for Joe Shmo. L

Click to expand...