It is now July 2019 and I have this Late-2009 iMac.
macOS High Sierra Version 10.13.6 iMac (27-inch, Late 2009) Processor: 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Memory: 4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3 Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 4670 256
I can't use it anymore because it is super-super-slow. But I am considering upgrading it.
Will adding memory and replacing the HDD with an SSD turn this into an acceptably running machine? Or is the processor simply not up to it? 'It' being mostly email and browsing (and, eg, YouTube).
So what exactly are my upgrading option on this iMac?
Best Answer
Whether it's 'worth it' will be up to you.
You can get 16GB RAM in there & you can swap the HD to an SSD.
The SSD will feel like day after night compared to an HD - especially as you're on an OS that is designed for SSD & almost forgets spinning rust ever played a part.
You will be bound to 10.13 so you might not need more RAM unless you’re sure you will run apps where the current amount is not enough.
Since SSD is a big speedup, more RAM will let it 'breathe' a lot better doing multiple tasks... like having more browser windows open. And you’ll likely want to use it more once it’s speedy.
It won't turn it into any kind of powerhouse compared to a 2015 MacBook even or any new portables, but inexpensive upgrades will make it all feel more relaxed.
Expect 4 to 8x speedup in system start time with an SSD that’s moderately priced.