iMac SSD Upgrades
The vast majority of iMacs up to models from 2019 still use mechanical hard disk drives (HDDs). HDDs use moving parts, which wear out over time, slowing down the iMac before failing completely! These drives hold back the true potential of these machines, keeping them a lot slower than they can and should be! These machines, otherwise solid, are simply let down by this outdated piece of hardware.
More recent iMacs had the option to have a fusion drive fitted on purchase. This is where a small solid-state drive (SSD), typically 32GB, is paired with a 1TB HDD to make up 1 volume. In our experience, this doesn’t prevent a dreaded machine slow down, long startup times and spinning beach balls! Due to the SSD’s small size, the operating system and applications end up running off of the slow HDD!
To get your slow iMac running fast and staying fast, a full SSD upgrade is the best choice!
SSDs have several benefits:
• Up to 5x faster
• Offers shock resistance
• Silent Operation
• Runs Cooler
• Much more reliable compared to a HDD
Older iMacs (Late 2009 – Late 2011)
The iMacs from before 2012 are identifiable with their thicker profile, along with a DVD drive. All of these machines were factory fitted with HDDs. 21.5” + 27” models from 2009 – 2011 are still capable and quick machines today once upgraded!
When the SSD is fitted, we will install the latest OS that your iMac can support. The iMacs from Late 2009 – Late 2011 all support the same OS:
OS 10.13 High Sierra
You can see the speed difference in the tests below!
Newer iMacs (Late 2012 – 2019) 
The iMacs from Late 2012 – 2019 all have a much slimmer profile with no DVD drive. These machines are commonly fitted with just a HDD, though newer ones may be configured with a fusion drive. A lot of these newer iMacs can support an even quicker type of SSD (NVMe SSD). This is what the SSD part of the fusion drive will be. However, this quicker type can’t always be fitted. On some newer models, if the iMac was not configured with a fusion drive at purchase, the socket for the NVMe SSD will not be present. The standard SSD (SATA SSD) can be fitted in all these iMacs regardless, and will provide a noticeable performance increase. Load times and general responsiveness will be very similar regardless of which SSD is fitted. The difference would be more noticeable when transferring huge files!
When the SSD is fitted, we will install the latest OS that your iMac can support. This depends on the year of the iMac.
Late 2012 – Late 2013: OS 10.15 Catalina
Mid 2014 – Mid 2015: OS 11 Big Sur
Late 2015 – 2019: OS 12 Monterey
You can see the speed differences in the tests below!
Cost
SSD Size |
Price |
250GB |
£135 |
500GB |
£199 |
1TB |
£279 |
2TB |
£419 |
The fitted SSDs are blank and require a reinstall for which we charge an additional £59.
We can backup and restore your data to the SSD for £10.
If your iMac is a slim 21.5” model, there is an additional £40 for the seal kit and to fit the screen.
If it is a slim 27” model, then there is an additional £90 for the seal kit and to fit the screen.
The SSD upgrades typically take 2 – 3 business days.
