Can I upgrade my iMac 27 inch mid 2010?
Apple considers the memory in the "Late 2009," "Mid-2010" and "Mid-2011" Aluminum iMac models -- all Aluminum iMacs with 21.5-Inch and 27-Inch displays and flat sides -- to be a "customer installable part" but the hard drive is not intended to be upgraded by end users.
A Mid 2010 iMac can be upgraded to macOS 10.13 High Sierra.
With regards to the iMac; machines released in late 2009 or newer can still be useful today. These models are: Unibody iMac (Late 2009 to 2013) Slim Unibody iMac (Late 2012 to 2021)
| Number of memory slots | 4 |
|---|---|
| Base memory | 4GB (but is configured to order) |
| Maximum memory | 16GB For iMac (Late 2009), you can use 2GB or 4GB RAM SO-DIMMs of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM in each slot. For iMac (Mid 2010) and iMac (Mid 2011), use 2GB or 4GB RAM SO-DIMMs of 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM in each slot. |
If the Mac is no longer functional, or if it's too old, you can recycle it. Apple's recycling program will take any of your devices and recycle them. They may even give you a gift card if the computer still has some value. You won't get a lot, and lately Apple's prices for Mac trade-ins have been very low.
- Clean up system files and documents. ...
- Detect & kill demanding processes. ...
- Speed up startup time: Manage startup programs. ...
- Remove unused apps. ...
- Run a macOS system update. ...
- Upgrade your RAM. ...
- Swap your HDD for an SSD. ...
- Reduce visual effects.
If Apple deems your Mac to old to run Ventura, Monterey, or any other versions of macOS, updating is not simple, but it is possible. You can run newer macOS versions on older Macs by using a patcher. Don't expect things to be plain sailing though – in fact you should expect to encounter problems.
No. High Sierra is the limit1 for a 2010 Mac... unless you go for an unofficial dosdude1 type hack. Note that if you have a Metal capable GPU then Mojave might work on a 2010 Mac Pro.
Mac Hardware Requirements
MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer) MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer) Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer) iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
iMacs typically last between 3 to 8 years depending on how they are configured. Most iMacs will come with larger hard drives as a standard configuration. A Mac Mini is usually more of an entry level Mac, but can be configured with faster processors, expanded memory and larger hard drives that will extend the life span.
Which iMacs are upgradeable?
- iMac 27-inch (2009 - 2011) Memory Upgradeable: Maximum Capacity: 32GB Repair time: 60 minutes.
- iMac 27-inch (2012 - 2014) Memory Upgradeable: Maximum Capacity: 32GB Repair time: 60 minutes.
- iMac 27-inch (5K, Mid 2015) ...
- iMac 27-inch (5K, Late 2015) ...
- iMac 27-inch (5K, 2017)
The device was released on July 27th 2010 with a MSRP of $1,999. Overall dimensions are 20.4 x 25.6 x 8.15 inches with a weight of approximately 30.5 lbs.
Screen Size and Resolution
The iMac featured a 27 inch screen with “glossy” TFT active matrix LCD display and a native resolution of 2560×1440.
Best memory for 2020 iMac (27-inch): Our recommendation
For most people, 16GB will be enough, and because of that, we'd recommend the OWC 16GB DDR4 RAM kit. It's only one stick, but it leaves your other RAM slots open if you want to expand up to 64GB by just buying this kit three more times.
The Mac RAM Upgrade Problem
In those cases, the RAM is soldered to the motherboard and can't be upgraded after purchase. In general, for most regular users, 8GB of RAM should be enough for running basic applications and a few browser tabs.
By far, the best upgrade you can make to an old Mac is replacing its old mechanical hard drive with a solid-state drive (SSD). This is a relatively simple procedure you can do on older Macs that don't have the storage drive soldered to the logic board.
Transfer wirelessly.
If you didn't transfer your data when you first set up your iMac, you can use Migration Assistant at any time. Open a Finder window, go to Applications, open the Utilities folder, then double-click Migration Assistant and follow the onscreen instructions.
High Sierra is the latest version of macOS a Mid 2010 iMac can run.
Your Mac may be slow due to an outdated macOS or an overloaded cache. Malware can also infect your Mac and slow it down by hogging system resources. If your Mac is old, it might struggle to run modern software, and you may need to replace it.
If you still ask "Should I wipe my Mac to make it faster", you're in the right place. Formatting a Mac absolutely makes it faster because all useless files and data and applications on your Mac are removed completely.
What Macs can no longer be updated?
Macs that are sold for an abnormally long time—the 2014 Mac mini that was available until 2018, the 2013 Mac Pro that was available until 2019, or the 2015 MacBook Air that was available until 2019, to pick three examples that Ventura doesn't support—don't get software updates for longer just because Apple sold them ...
In the memo, Apple said the 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMac from Late 2013, the Mid 2014 21.5-inch iMac, and the Retina 5K 27-inch iMac from late 2014 will be marked as obsolete on November 30, 2022. When marked as an obsolete product, the iMacs will no longer be eligible for any repairs and services.
This means that Apple doesn't currently support software updates for Macs from before 2012, and as of the end of 2023 this is likely to extend to Macs from before 2013. All other Macs that pre-date those mentioned above are no longer supported by Apple's software updates.
- From the Apple menu in the corner of your screen, choose System Settings or System Preferences. If you chose System Settings, click General on the left side of the window. ...
- Software Update then checks for new software. If Software Update finds new software, click the button to install it.
Starting in mid-2010, Apple's iMac systems support up to 32GB of RAM, even though Apple claims the systems can only be upgraded to half that amount.
Hold down the [option] or [alt] (⌥) key on the keyboard and power on the device. When you see the boot selection screen as shown, release the [option] key. Use either the keyboard's arrow keys or the mouse to select "Install MacOS High Sierra." Press [enter] or click your selection with the mouse.
Simply launch the “Install MacOS Monterey. app” installer found in your /Applications folder and walk through the installer to upgrade directly to Monterey. At this point, the upgrade process is the same as every other upgrade of MacOS.
It depends on whether your Mac is compatible with macOS Mojave or not. Try to install it by using this link (which will direct you to the Mac App Store): Download macOS Mojave from the App Store. It should notify you whether your Mac is supported or not.
Ensure Mac computer has a proper and reliable internet connection. Install macOS Sierra in Safe Mode. Hold Power until your Mac shuts down > Turn your Mac on and hold the Shift key > Release Shift when the Apple logo appears > The Mac shall be booted into the Safe Mode. Then try to install macOS 10.13/10.13.
Apple considers Mac "vintage" if they were released between 5 and 7 years ago, and obsolete if older than 7 years. Obsolete Macs no longer qualify for service and support. Security updates are no longer available.
Can a Mac last 20 years?
Hardware. Apple hardware typically lasts much longer than that from competing manufacturers. Lots of people have Macs that are 10 or even 20 years old that still work. And there are a few that are even older than that.
Should I Throw Away My Old MacBook? Even if your MacBook is old and out of date, throwing it away is rarely the best option. Your MacBook may be useful for its parts, a vintage Apple collector may be interested in it, and you can always turn it into an electronics recycler as a last resort.
The 27-inch iMac still has a backdoor for RAM
That means you can buy additional RAM any time you want, long after you've bought your new iMac, and install it yourself. It's fairly easy to do. We also have a guide that shows you how to replace the RAM in your 27-inch iMac.
- From the Apple menu in the corner of your screen, choose System Settings or System Preferences. If you chose System Settings, click General on the left side of the window. ...
- Software Update then checks for new software. If Software Update finds new software, click the button to install it.
I think it is a good machine, pretty much as good as my M1 Pro MBP. The 5K screen is excellent. At this point, in 2022/2023, I suggest think of it as lasting about 3 years. If you are good with that, really want the 27" 5K screen, and the price is right, then I think it could serve well.
However, a recent wave of nostalgia for classic Apple products is pushing these little computers up in value. iMac G3s routinely go for $300 or more on eBay, and prices are only expected to go up from here.
According to www.everymac.com the estimated value is $700 to $900. Similar to selling a car, it will very according to location, condition and extras.
MacBook Pro “Sell” Prices (What you can expect to sell for as of 05/19/2023) Want to sell a MacBook Pro? You can expect to get between $65 and $1,171, depending on model and condition.
For most setups, you'll need to use a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 cable to use the iMac as a display. However, if you're using an iMac from 2009 or 2010 as the display, you'll need to connect the devices with a Mini DisplayPort cable.
Memory specifications
For iMac (Mid 2010) and iMac (Mid 2011), use 2 GB or 4 GB RAM SO-DIMMs of 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM in each slot.
What processor is in the iMac 2010?
The iMac (27-inch Mid 2010) is a Mac desktop with an Intel Core i7-870 processor.
New RAM is not the only way to improve Mac performance. Although a RAM upgrade will improve Mac performance, it's not always an option. If RAM is too expensive or your Mac doesn't allow for an upgrade, try a comprehensive performance tool to speed up your Mac and give it the boost you need.
| Amount of RAM | Suitable for: |
|---|---|
| 8GB | Internet, text processing, making spreadsheets, watching movies and series, editing photos and videos as a hobby. |
| 16GB | All of the above and professional photo and video editing. |
Officially, Apple supports 32 GB of memory, but OWC has determined that 64 GB actually will work if the memory conforms to exacting standards.
However, if you're editing large 4K videos or doing other extremely intensive tasks, you might benefit from additional unified memory in your system. You can upgrade to 16GB for a measly $200.
Having 16GB of unified memory, therefore, is pretty much the sweet spot for most demanding users. That's still not an incredible amount of memory, but it'll nonetheless suffice for both light and heavy workloads alike.
Generally, we recommend 8GB of RAM for casual computer usage and internet browsing, 16GB for spreadsheets and other office programs, and at least 32GB for gamers and multimedia creators.
Can I upgrade an apple Mac Pro mid 2010 running mohove 10.14 to catalina 10.15. You need a late-2013, or 2019 Mac Pro to run Catalina. If you are abbreviating MacBook Pro as Mac Pro, then you would need a mid-2012 model or later (but not Apple Silicon) to support Catalina.
And when Big Sur launched in 2020 compatibility was limited to the 2014 iMac, 2013 and 2014 MacBook Air, 2013 and 2014 MacBook Pro, and 2015 MacBook.
Go to the Download OS section and click on macOS High Sierra. Before upgrading make a full back up of your Mac. Check that third party apps you use have updates available for the new OS. Check that your printers/ scanners etc have updated drivers and software available for the new OS.
Can you upgrade a 10 year old Mac?
Apple considers Mac "vintage" if they were released between 5 and 7 years ago, and obsolete if older than 7 years. Obsolete Macs no longer qualify for service and support. Security updates are no longer available.
If you are wondering whether upgrading your macOS to the new version will delete everything, the answer is no. Upgrading your Mac will not delete any photos, files, or other data. However, it's always better to have a backup plan in case something goes wrong.
If you don't see an item named Software Update in System Settings or System Preferences, click the Spotlight icon in the corner of your screen, then type System Update in the search field. From the search results, choose Software Update. If your older Mac doesn't include Software Update, use the App Store app instead.
In terms of performance, there is not much of a difference between Big Sur and Monterey updates. There is not much of a difference between the two options. If you are looking to upgrade to a new update aiming for performance enhancement, updating may not be a preference.
Put simply, it's more demanding of resources than its predecessor, and so you might find your Mac runs more slowly after you install it. Here's what to do to speed up macOS Big Sur. Tip: Many of the reasons that cause the slow performance of macOS Big Sur are common to other versions of macOS.
What to Do if Your Mac Won't Update. If you're having issues updating your Mac, make sure that you have enough RAM and storage space to download the update. You can also try restarting your computer and downloading the update manually. Finally, try booting in safe mode or repairing your hard drive in Disk Utility.
Ensure Mac computer has a proper and reliable internet connection. Install macOS Sierra in Safe Mode. Hold Power until your Mac shuts down > Turn your Mac on and hold the Shift key > Release Shift when the Apple logo appears > The Mac shall be booted into the Safe Mode. Then try to install macOS 10.13/10.13.
Due to the "age" of old iMac, drivers for Win7/8 are sufficient to be used in Win 10. However, when running Win 10 in iMac, the screen will off after a period (power saving?).
Startup Time Seems Slow
Have you noticed that after installing Mojave, the time it takes for your Mac to start up seems to have taken a nosedive? Surprisingly, this isn't all that unusual and happens to a small percentage of users after a major macOS upgrade.