how to get a few more years out of an old iMac

[JyBorg]

I've got an iMac 11.1, 2.8gHz, that's almost ten years old. I use it for video editing and it handled things really well and I thought I could continue to use it, as long as I don't try to cut 4K... but I'm having some problems, tbh.

I can't afford a new editing suite, at all, so I'm looking into ways to upgrade this. I found this memory package:

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/8566DDR3S32S/

and some of my searching said I can install a 3gb/s SSD, but I've got some questions.

1. Can anyone recommend a cheap source for these parts? I'm in Canada, if that makes a difference.

2. Will this really make a difference? Or is my machine just too **** old.

3. This is probably going to cost about $500-600... should I just grab a used laptop for that price? Can a used laptop do the same job as a machine that's almost a decade old?

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: I just found this page:

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...-21.5-inch-27-inch-how-to-upgrade-memory.html

And explains that my computer is limited to 16 gigs. I was never able to upgrade past 10.6 and it needs 10.6.2 and 64 bit to install 32g RAM.

 

[pm-r]

I've got an iMac 11.1, 2.8gHz

This is your specific model and its specs:
https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-i7-2.8-27-inch-aluminum-late-2009-specs.html

How much RAM is currently installed??

What editing suite are you using??

Does your new Panasonic camera provide options for different video settings??

I don't know where you live in Canada (it's a BIG country), but CanadaRAM has a very good reputation for memory and other supporting Mac products:
Canada RAM sells Memory, Hard Drives, SSD and Computer Accessories in Canada

I have no idea why you could not upgrade past 10.6 and maybe you explain some of the problems you had.

That should still be a fairly capable Machine for what you want to do.





- Patrick
======

 

[JyBorg]

This is your specific model and its specs:
https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-i7-2.8-27-inch-aluminum-late-2009-specs.html

How much RAM is currently installed??

8 Gigs

What editing suite are you using??

Final Cut Pro 7

Does your new Panasonic camera provide options for different video settings??

I believe it's .mts and .mkv. I edited my post to remove the bit about the computer struggling with the footage because I found out what the problem was. MPEG STREAMCLIP wouldn't convert the .mts files so I used a new program to convert to Quicktime Pro Res, but that program didn't do the job properly. Once I realized that, I used the program to turn the .mts files into .mpg files and then used Stream Clip on the .mpg files.

So now I'm editing without lag.

So that helped me realize the computer is still useful and I was panicking for nothing.

I don't know where you live in Canada (it's a BIG country), but CanadaRAM has a very good reputation for memory and other supporting Mac products:
Canada RAM sells Memory, Hard Drives, SSD and Computer Accessories in Canada

I have no idea why you could not upgrade past 10.6 and maybe you explain some of the problems you had.

That should still be a fairly capable Machine for what you want to do.

I don't remember why I couldn't upgrade. I think I reached the highest level I could upgrade without purchasing a new OS and people told me not to bother because I anticipated buying a new suite before too long. Lol. This would have been around 2012, I think.

I could be wrong about the reason why, though. I just remember hitting a ceiling in the upgrades.

Thanks for that link! I'll look into them. I looked at some used computers online and they were specced much lower than mine, even though they were at least 4 years newer.

 

[pm-r]

I don't remember why I couldn't upgrade. I think I reached the highest level I could upgrade without purchasing a new OS and people told me not to bother because I anticipated buying a new suite before too long. Lol. This would have been around 2012, I think.

If you are running Snow Leopard at any version less than 10.6.8, there should still be an update available via Software Update.

The last COMBO Update requires Mac OS X 10.6.7
https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1400?viewlocale=en_CA&locale=en_CA

For other versions, try here:
https://support.apple.com/kb/index?...support&type=organic&page=search&locale=en_CA

The last 10.6.8 version provided access to the Apple Store and some other stuff, but of course Apple has changed a lot of it and its access — again!!!

I'd say there's still lots of life left in that iMac and potential to go to a later OS X version as well, but SL was one of the best and still is IMHO, even if they say it's "unsupported"!!!




- Patrick
======

 

[ferrarr]

You should look into if your software versions will still work with El Capitan (OS X.11). As some software you use may require Rosetta?