Guaranteed compatible upgrades for:

Apple iMac 2017 (Mid) Core i7 3.6 GHz 21.5-inch (Retina 4K) (iMac18,2)


System Specifications
Maximum Memory:
  • 32GB (advanced installation)
Expansion:
  • 2 Sockets
Standard Memory:
  • 8GB
CPU/Chipset:
  • Intel Core i5 3.6 GHz
Upgrade Path:
  • The RAM in this system is upgradeable to a maximum of 32GB (16GB x2), and the hard drive can be upgraded to an SSD too, but it's a task that's for advanced users only. Follow the guides below closely.
Comments:
  • Model Identifier: iMac18,2 Mid-2017 21.5-inch EMC 3069

  • INSTALLATION GUIDES

  • - RAM upgrade guide
  • - HDD/SSD replacement guide

  • RAM Upgrade

  • To upgrade the RAM in this iMac, you’ll need the general servicing kit to open it up, and your choice of RAM upgrade shown on the left. Follow this guide to install the RAM modules.

  • HDD-> HDD or SSD

  • The iMac late 2016 21.5-inch iMac models have a standard 1TB 2.5-inch factory HDD with a 6 Gb/s SATA port. At the time of purchase, Apple offered a 1 TB "Fusion Drive" (which combines a 128GB ‘blade’ SSD and a 1 TB hard drive), or a stand-alone 256GB/512GB blade SSD. To upgrade the factory 2.5-inch HDD, you’ll need the general servicing kit, plus a larger 2.5-inch HDD or 2.5-inch SSD.

  • No additional thermal cable is needed for all 21.5-inch 2012-onward iMacs. If your fans are running fast after upgrading, you may not have reconnected one of the temperature sensors properly. Use the iStat widget to check which fan is running fast and check the associated sensor is connected properly.

  • To clone your existing OS/app setup first, purchase a cloning cable or 2.5-inch HDD/SDD enclosure to connect your new HDD/SSD to your mac, then use the Super Duper app to perform the clone, then switch the drives. Your old 2.5-inch HDD can then be housed in the enclosure.

  • If you have a ‘Fusion drive’ setup, then you’ll need to split the fusion drive first and then perform the clone operation.

  • HDD + SSD or SSD->SSD

  • There are currently no supported aftermarket upgrades for the ‘blade’ SSD in the Late 2013 and onward 21.5-inch iMac models. (The only upgrade path is to install a genuine Apple SSD pulled from another machine). However, unlike the early 2013 model, even if your system was ordered with only a HDD installed, the PCIe connector for the blade SSD is still present on the motherboard.

  • You can house your original factory Apple blade SSD in the Envoy Pro enclosure for June 2013 to current Macs.

  • If you have only have a 'Blade' SSD installed

  • All 'Tapered Edge' iMac's from the Late 2012 iMac13,1 up to the "Mid-2017" iMac18,3 models have a 6 Gb/s Serial ATA (Revision 3.0) connector that is occupied by a hard drive in the default configurations. However, if you customised your model and it only has a 'Blade' SSD installed, then you can still install a standard SATA 2.5" hard drive in 21.5-Inch models and a 3.5" hard drive in 27-Inch models. An SSD can also be installed in this hard drive space as well.