Updating your 27-inch iMac from 2017 ensures it runs the latest features and security patches.
Updating your 27-inch iMac from 2017 ensures it runs the latest features and security patches.
Hello everyone! My name is Rafael Ferreira and I’m from Brazil. Last week my company approved a hybrid work setup, so I’ll spend some days at home. It would be nice because I can help with my one-year-old daughter’s needs. I’ve been a Mac user for a long time—starting with a 2010 base model, it lasted through college, three jobs, and even outlasted my wife’s computer until last year when she upgraded to a 2019 model. I upgraded mine with 16GB RAM and a 500GB SSD from Kingston (the black one with DRAM cache). It was tough opening the screen, but it was worth it. Now I own a 2017 27-inch mid-tier Mac with an i5-7600K, 24GB RAM, a 2TB Fusion drive (128GB NVMe + spinning 2TB), and an 8GB Radeon 580. I’m really considering upgrading everything—needing an i7-7700K, a Samsung 980Pro SSD (with adapter), and a WD Blue 1TB SATA drive. Would this really boost performance? Since most of my work is web-based with some local database queries, it would make a big difference. Upgrading to new hardware would cost around $400 USD. Another thought: using the Fusion drive with the 980Pro and WD Blue might be better than running everything separately. If you have any ideas or alternatives, feel free to share. Thanks!
The CPU improvement would certainly assist the performance. Upgrades are restricted to the CPU, RAM, and storage options available. The GPU is permanently attached to the motherboard, meaning a full replacement would require swapping out the entire board. Be sure you understand the process. Newer iMacs can be difficult to disassemble and maintain.
The main boost from switching from i5 to i7 comes from Hyperthreading; both models offer four physical cores with similar timing. Improving your storage will pay off, particularly for databases.
I figured out the tough part of upgrading my wife's 21.5-inch MacBook Pro—this time I’m hiring someone. Does the base clock upgrade and HyperThread support really make a difference in daily tasks? The storage space is something I notice will boost performance on a regular basis... Is the 980 Pro paired with WD Blue a solid choice? And should I keep the Fusion Drive, or is it better to stick with one drive for smoother operation if it hurts speed?
Higher clock speeds and additional threads, even on systems with only four cores, can significantly improve performance. It's unlikely that pairing an SSD with an HDD will change things much compared to today's hybrid drives, but having extra storage is always beneficial.
Just an update to everyone. The SSD upgrade was great. The kingston SC3000 with the adapter worked great. Blackmagic disk test is giving me consistent 2.8GB/s reads and writes. The system is really responsive. I can really recommend this to anyone with an 2017 or 2019 iMac. the cleaning and changing to new thermal past from thermal grisly also helped a lot. The internal heatsink was really dirty. 15* lower temps on idle and on stress.
SSDs offer the greatest improvement over traditional mechanical HDDs. Keep in mind that if you're considering a CPU upgrade, do thorough research. Many Apple systems use CPU models without the "K" designation, such as i7 7700 instead of i7 7700K. Focus on ensuring the socket provides sufficient power and can handle the CPU's power requirements.
Hello everyone, it's been a while, and here are some updates about the 2017 5k iMac. I switched the processor to the 7700K, grabbed a good deal in Brazil, and installed it. After the change, I had to repaste everything—there was an issue with my 4 x 8GB RAM sticks not fitting. I reinserted the CPU, but it kept turning on yet remained unstable. The system would crash as soon as the OS started using RAM. Using just two sticks resolved the problem, so I ordered two 16GB Kingston Impact 32000 MT/s CL 20 units. The RAM performance is excellent, making the system very responsive. One thing to note is that this CPU is hotter than the original 7600K; it can reach up to 100°C under heavy load. Anyone have experience with the 7700K or similar high-temperature CPUs on a 27-inch iMac? Also, my Intel Power Gadget showed the 7600K never exceeding 45-50W despite its TDP. I thought I was sacrificing performance, but now the 7700K can go up to 80W when needed. Some tests I ran (using Microsoft Teams, Outlook, WhatsApp, Safari) showed stable temperatures.