New iMac teardown shows replaceable RAM, HDD and CPU
Apple's latest desktop has been taken apart, and the bad news is it's not easy to put back together.
The new iMac -- which went on sale on Friday -- is ludicrously slim. If you've wondered exactly how Apple managed to fit a working computer in a chassis that's only 5mm thin at its slimmest point, wonder no more -- the screwdriver-wielding bloggers at iFixit have performed their teardown magic on Apple's latest desktop.
The good news is that, like on previous models, the RAM, hard drive and CPU are all replaceable, should any of them fail. (The hard drive of every iMac I've ever owned has died after about two years, so I'm glad to hear this.)
However, because of the ridiculously slim nature of the machine, none of the parts are easy to get to. If you want to access the RAM, you'll need to remove the entire screen, for example. Which will be a bit of a faff, to put it lightly.
But iFixit has unearthed some tech nuggets while picking through the desktop's bones. Dual microphones should pick up your every mutter and sigh on FaceTime calls, which could prove quite dangerous, so careful what you say under your breath. The computer should also be more hardwearing, thanks to the friction stir welding helping to keep everything firmly together. Handy if you're lugging it about and accidentally give it a knock or two.
Apple has gone from three fans inside to just one, saving plenty of space. How does that impact on performance? We'll have to wait and see when we get our review unit.
So it's good news if you want to save space on your desk without compromising on performance, not so hot if you were looking forward to cracking open your iMac and fiddling with its insides. You can't have it both ways.
What do you think of Apple's latest iMac? Would you rather it was easier to mod? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, or on Facebook.
Image credit: iFixit