EveryMac.com also provides RAM upgrade instructions for the subsequently introduced 'Late 2009,' 'Mid-2010' and 'Mid-2011' 21.5-Inch and 27-Inch Aluminum iMac models that have all aluminum cases with a flat, thick edge around the display (model numbers A1311 and A1312) as well as the 'Late 2012' (and subsequent) 21.5-Inch and 27-Inch Aluminum. The Intel-based iMac is a series of Macintosh desktop computers designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Inc. It is a member of the iMac family. It is one of four desktop computers in the current Macintosh lineup, serving as an all-in-one alternative to the Mac Mini, and sits below the performance range iMac Pro and Mac Pro. Easily check which versions of mac OS, iOS, iPadOS, or watchOS are compatible with your Mac model or iDevice. Guide includes OS X 10.8.x to macOS 11.0.x.

• Upgrade Os Imac 2008
• Macos Upgrade To Big Sur
• Macos Upgrade To Catalina Not Big Sur
• Macos Upgrade Python
• Upgrade Os On Imac
• 2009 Imac Os Upgrade
• Imac Os Upgrade

Apple gave the iMac a fresher look in August 2007, the first change from the stark white face introduced with the first G5 iMac three years earlier. The new look puts a black border around a glossy display, has an aluminum finish, and is thinner than its predecessors.

The new aluminum iMac is thinner than the old one.

Upgrade Os Imac 2008

Unlike the Late 2006 iMac, there is no longer a 17″ model – only 20″ and 24″ models.

Three models use a Core 2 Duo Merom CPU (a 24″ 2.8 GHz Core 2 Extreme model was available as a build-to-order option) with the same Santa Rosa chipset and 800 MHz bus found in the Mid 2007 MacBook Pro models. They have three USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400 and 800 ports, gigabit ethernet, 802.11n WiFi, and an upgraded SuperDrive – as well as a brand new slim aluminum keyboard with USB 2.0 ports.

The 20″ 2.0 GHz iMac ships with 1 GB of RAM, a 250 GB hard drive, an 8x SuperDrive, Radeon HD 2400 XT graphics, AirPort Extreme, Bluetooth 2.0, and Apple’s new keyboard and Mighty Mouse. The 2.4 GHz models ship with a 320 GB hard drive and use Radeon HD 2600 Pro graphics.

The new iMac ships with Mac OS X 10.4.10 Tiger and iLife ’08. This is the oldest iMac that supports OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and later (OS X 10.9 Mavericks and later are free, and OS X 10.11 El Capitan is the last version supported).

The Radeon HD 2400 and 2600 Pro graphics processors, while better than the Radeon X1600 GPU in the previous generation 2.0 GHz iMacs in some respects (and worse in others) is a step down from the Nvidia GeForce 7300GT and 7600GT in the earlier 24″ iMac. Gaming benchmarks measure GeForce frame rates as anywhere from 20% to nearly 200% higher. There are also many complaints about reflections due to the glossy display.

Although it is not officially supported, the Mid 2007 iMac can run macOS Sierra using Colin Mistr’s Sierra Patch Tool if you replace its Merom CPU with a Penryn CPU. Even then, WiFi is not supported on this device. See our macOS Sierra page for more details and a link.

What You Need to Know

While 1 GB of system memory is plenty to run OS X 10.4 Tiger comfortably, it is just adequate for OS X 10.5 Leopard and truly inadequate for OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, which isn’t happy with less than 2 GB. For OS X 10.7 Lion, 2 GB is a starting point and 4 GB will make you happier. OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and 10.9 Mavericks really call for 4 GB, and 10.10 Yosemite and 10.11 El Capitan want the 6 GB maximum Mid 2007 iMacs support – even though Apple says Yosemite will run with 2 GB. More RAM always makes OS X run more smoothly.

The CPU is in Socket P and uses an 800 MHz FSB (front side bus). Upgrades as high as 2.8 GHz are possible (see CPU Upgrade Options for Mid 2007 iMacs).

Note that 20″ aluminum iMacs use an 18-bit LCD, which can only display 262,144 colors, not the “millions” all other iMacs can display. This should be good enough for most users.

Unlike earlier iMacs, where every USB port could provide 500 mA of power, only a single high-powered device can be attached to the USB ports, and software will enable one of its downstream ports to supply 500 mA of power. If a second high-powered device is attached, it will behave like a normal bus-powered hub and only provide 100 mA per downstream port.

Intel-based Macs use a partitioning scheme known as GPT. Only Macintel models can boot from GPT hard drives. Both PowerPC and Intel Macs can boot from APM (Apple’s old partitioning scheme) hard drives, which is the format you must use to create a universal boot drive in Leopard. PowerPC Macs running any version of the Mac OS prior to 10.4.2 cannot mount GPT volumes. PowerPC Macs won’t let you install OS X to a USB drive or choose it as your startup volume, although there is a work around for that.

Details

• introduced 2007.08.07 at US$1,199 (20″ 2.0 GHz), US$1,499 (20″ 2.4 GHz), US$1,799 (24″ 2.4 GHz), and US$2,299 (2.8 GHz); discontinued 2008.04.28 and replaced by Penryn iMac.
• Model identifier: iMac7,1
• Model no.: A1224 (20″), A1225 (24″)
• Part no.: MA876 (20″ 2.0 GHz), MA877 (20″ 2.4 GHz), MA878 (24″)
• Latest EFI version: EFI 1.3

Mac OS

• Requires Mac OS X 10.4.10 or later, macOS 10.13 High Sierra requires a CPU with SSE 4.2. macOS 10.4 Mojave and later are not supported.
• Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard compatibility
  • Grand Central Dispatch is supported.
  • 64-bit operation is supported.
  • OpenCL is not supported.
• OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion compatibility
  • AirPlay Mirroring is not supported.
  • AirDrop is not supported.
  • Power Nap is not supported.
• OS X 10.10 Yosemite compatibility
  • AirDrop is not supported.
  • AirPlay Mirroring is not supported.
  • Handoff is not supported.
  • Instant Hotspot is not supported.
  • Power Nap is not supported.

Core System

• CPU: 2.0/2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Merom, 2.8 GHz Core 2 Extreme option, Socket P makes CPU upgrades possible (see CPU Upgrade Options for Mid 2007 iMacs and CPU Upgrades So 2007 iMacs Can Run High Sierra)
• L2 cache: 4 MB shared cache on CPU
• Bus: 800 MHz
• Performance, Geekbench 3:
  • 32-bit single core: 1093 (2.0 GHz), 1286 (2.4 GHz), 1464 (2.8 GHz)
  • 32-bit multicore: 1914 (2.0 GHz), 2279 (2.4 GHz), 2605 (2.8 GHz)
  • 64-bit single core: 1173 (2.0 GHz), 1381 (2.4 GHz), 1601 (2.8 GHz)
  • 64-bit multicore: 2077 (2.0 GHz), 2454 (2.4 GHz), 2895 (2.8 GHz)
• RAM: 1 GB, officially expandable to 4 GB using two PC2-5300 DDR2 SODIMMs but capable of supporting 6 GB.

Video

• Graphics, 2.0 GHz: ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128 MB RAM (256 MB optional), supports up to 1920 x 1200 external digital display, 2048 x 1536 analog display, and monitor spanning
• Graphics, 2.4 GHz: ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro with 256 MB RAM, supports up to 1920 x 1200 external digital display, 2048 x 1536 analog display, and monitor spanning
• Display:
  • 20″ 1680 x 1050 flat panel display (18-bit LCD)
  • 24″ 1920 x 1200 flat panel display
• Video out: mini-DVI, VGA, S-video, composite (requires adapter)

Drives

• Hard drive bus: 3 Gbps SATA Rev. 2
• Hard drive: 250/320 GB 7200 rpm SATA drive
• Optical drive bus: Ultra ATA/100 (operates at ATA/33 or ATA/66)
• SuperDrive: writes DVD±R and DVD+R discs at up to 8x speed, dual layer at up to 4x; DVD-RW at up to 6x; reads DVDs at up to 8x, writes CD-R discs at up to 24x, writes CD-RW discs at up to 16x, reads CDs at up to 24x

Expansion

Macos Upgrade To Big Sur

• USB: 3 USB 2.0 ports, only 1 high-powered device device allowed
• FireWire 400: 1 port, 7 Watts
• FireWire 800: 1 port, 7 Watts
• Modem: optional 56 kbps USB modem supports v.92
• Ethernet: 10/100/gigabit
• AirPort Extreme: 802.11n
• Bluetooth 2.0: included
• IR receiver: supports Apple Remote (included)
• Microphone: internal

Physical

• H x W x D (20″): 18.5 x 19.1 x 7.4 in/46.9 x 48.5 x 18.9 cm
• H x W x D (24″): 20.5 x 22.4 x 8.1 in/52.0 x 56.9 x 20.7 cm
• weight (20″): 20 lb/9.1 kg
• weight (24″): 25.4 lb/11.4 kg
• Power supply: 180W

CPU Upgrades

• none

Online Resources

• What’s the Best Version of OS X for My Mac?, Ian R Campbell, The Sensible Mac, 2008.02.28. Which version of Mac OS X is best for your hardware depends on several factors.
• The iMac Legacy: After the G3, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.08.15. The G3 iMac influenced the whole industry, but Apple continued to move forward with innovative designs using G4, G5, and Intel processors.
• Know Your Mac’s Upgrade Options, Phil Herlihy, The Usefulness Equation, 2008.08.26. Any Mac can be upgraded, but it’s a question of what can be upgraded – RAM, hard drive, video, CPU – and how far it can be upgraded.
• Why the 20″ iMac is perfect for home or school, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 2009.09.29. The aluminum iMac has plenty of power and screen space, yet it’s small enough and light enough to tote from place to place.
• iMac Graphics Firmware Update 1.0.2, Mac News Review, 2009.09.11. For iMacs with an ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro or ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT graphics.
• The 64-bitness of Mac OS X 10.6 ‘Snow Leopard’, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.08.19. Although Apple is promoting ‘Snow Leopard’ as a fully 64-bit operating system, it defaults to running in 32-bit mode.
• The Road Ahead: 64-bit Computing, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.08.19. Personal computers started with 8-bit CPUs, Macs started out with a 24-bit operating system, and 32-bit computing is starting to give way to 64 bits.
• OS X 10.6 requirements, why Apple owns the high end, when to upgrade your Mac, and more, Mac News Review, 2009.08.14. Also Microsoft Word patent infringement, BackPack shelf for iMac and Cinema Displays, two updated Bible study programs, and more.
• OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard for $29, run Windows on your Mac for Free, Update Breaks Office 2008, and more, Mac News Review, 2009.08.07. Also getting your Mac ready for Snow Leopard, Time Capsule doubles capacity, Picasa 3 for Mac, Bodega Mac app store, and more.
• Computer disaster ends happily, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2009.08.05. The iMac was getting slower and slower, and Disk Utility kept trying to fix the same problems. With a new hard drive, the iMac is running as well as ever.
• Optimized Software Builds Bring Out the Best in Your Mac, Dan Knight, Low End Mac’s Online Tech Journal, 2009.06.30. Applications compiled for your Mac’s CPU can load more quickly and run faster than ones compiled for universal use.
• Intel’s promise fulfilled: More processing power per processor cycle, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.06.30. Apple promised improved CPU efficiencies when it announced the move to Intel in 2005. Three years of MacBooks show the progress.
• Macs lose top reliability rating, eSATA doomed by USB 3, Mac mini Bluetooth and audio problems, and more, Mac News Review, 2009.03.27. Also an abandoned iMac in New York City, 17″ iMac still available to education, IT pros are demanding Macs, and more.
• Ubuntu Linux and Boot camp make it easy to create a triple boot Mac, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2008.12.24. Boot Camp makes it easy to install Windows on Intel Macs, and Ubuntu now makes it easy to install Linux to a virtual Windows drive.
• The ‘Better Safe Than Sorry’ Guide to Installing Mac OS X Updates, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.12.16. Most users encounter no problems using Software Update, but some preflight work and using the Combo updater means far less chance of trouble.
• Why You Should Partition Your Mac’s Hard Drive, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.12.11. “At the very least, it makes sense to have a second partition with a bootable version of the Mac OS, so if you have problems with your work partition, you can boot from the ’emergency’ partition to run Disk Utility and other diagnostics.”
• Virtualization shootout: VMWare Fusion 2 vs. Parallels Desktop 4, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 2008.11.20. Both programs do the same thing, but one runs Windows XP smoothly alongside Mac apps, while the other bogs down everything but Windows.
• One OS to rule them all, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.10.29. With Fusion or Parallels letting you run Windows at full speed, Mac OS X gives you the best of both worlds.
• How to clone Mac OS X to a new hard drive, Simon Royal, Tech Spectrum, 2008.10.07. Whether you want to put a bigger, faster drive in your Mac or clone OS X for use in another Mac, here’s the simple process.
• CodeWeavers brings Google’s Chrome browser to Intel Macs, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2008.10.02. Google’s new Chrome browser uses separate processes for each tab and brings other changes to Windows users. Now Mac fans can try it as well.
• Tiger vs. Leopard: Which is best for you?, Simon Royal, Tech Spectrum, 2008.09.22. Two great versions of Mac OS X, but unless your Mac is well above the minimum spec for Leopard and has lots of RAM, stick with Tiger.
• Apple Trumps Microsoft in Making the 64-bit Transition Transparent to Users, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.09.18. To use more than 4 GB of RAM under Windows, you need a 64-bit PC and the 64-bit version of Windows. On the Mac, OS X 10.4 and later already support it.
• SATA, SATA II, SATA 600, and Product Confusion Fatigue, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.09.08. In addition to the original SATA specification and the current 3 Gb/s specification, SATA revision 3.0 is just around the corner.
• Does running OS X system maintenance routines really do any good?, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.08.26. Mac OS X is designed to run certain maintenance routines daily, weekly, and monthly – but can’t if your Mac is off or asleep.
• Free VirtualBox for Mac now a virtual contender, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2008.07.21. A year ago, the Mac version of VirtualBox lacked some essential features. Over the past year, it’s grown into a very useful tool.
• Virtual PC works with Leopard, Intel vs. PowerPC performance, beyond the Mac mini, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.05.20. Also upgrading Intel iMacs, Compact Flash in a PowerBook 2400, and thoughts on low-end Macs.
• SheepShaver brings Classic Mac OS to Intel Macs and Leopard, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2008.05.20. Mac OS X 10.5 doesn’t support Classic Mode. Neither does Leopard. But SheepShaver lets you emulate a PowerPC Mac and run the Classic Mac OS.
• Open source virtualization for Macs, iMac shutdowns, Psystar reviews, and more, Mac News Review, 2008.05.16. Also aluminum iMac USB power concerns, Penryn iMac twice as powerful as fastest G5 iMac, Radeon vs. GeForce in top-end iMac, Odysseus email client in beta, and more.
• Windows on Macs: Three paths for integration, Jason Packer, Macs in the Enterprise, 2008.05.14. Mac users have three routes for running Windows apps: Run Windows using Boot Camp or virtualization, or use a compatibility layer such as WINE.
• Value of old Power Macs, old computers in school, Panther or Tiger on Pismo, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.05.12. Also new 20″ Penry iMac vs. 24″ Santa Rosa and great results with a low-cost external SuperDrive.
• Prosumer Mac suggestions, bring back the 12″ ‘Book, Pismo displays, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.05.06. Readers offer more thoughts on a midrange Mac, the need for a new 12″ ‘Book, using F-keys as F-keys in OS X, and lid closed video mode for Pismo.
• Mac growth 4x PC rate, USB power famine, Montevina chips not in new iMacs, and more, Mac News Review, 2008.05.02. Also reducing energy waste from peripherals, fixing the Mac’s shortcomings, Open Computer shipping and reviewed, why Apple bought PA Semi, 5x the range for Time Capsule, Mac gaming mouse, and more.
• The 2008 Penryn iMac value equation, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.04.29. Comparing prices, features, and performance, three of four new models are value champions, and there are some surprising refurb values as well.
• Using the aluminum iMac: Color me impressed, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.04.22. A MacBook is a wonderful thing, but an iMac with a 20″ display can really spoil you.
• 6.6 percent Mac market share, OS X safe but not secure, still using older Macs, and more, Mac News Review, 2008.04.18. Also IBM letting some employees switch to Macs, iMac vs. Gateway One, hacks for Macs and iApps, USB-to-UltraSCSI converter, personal television software, and more.
• 18 bits can’t display millions of colors, today’s magic is different from yesterday’s, and more, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.04.16. Also more feedback on Mac browsers, slow dialup Internet, and a SCSI-to-USB 2.0 solution.
• Add a second display, overlooked Leopard features, Nehalem chips hits 3.2 GHz, and more, Mac News Review, 2008.04.11. Also Apple and Canada, firware updates, Kensington keyboard with 3 USB ports, Magic Mail Folder, Newton Connection software, and more.
• 18-bit video inadequate, restoring AppleWorks speed, Macintosh display info, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.04.09. Also problems importing AppleWorks drawings and a damaged, unfixable mail database in Outlook Express 5.
• Millions vs. thousands of colors: What’s the difference?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.04.07. Once again Apple is being sued over a Mac that can display ‘only’ 262,144 colors per pixel, not the millions it claims. Does it realy matter?
• Megapixels, noise, image quality, and fixing photos in software, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.02.27. Also iMac vs. Mac mini, a possible fix for failing optical drives, optical mice for ADB Macs, and where to buy Macs in Philly.
• Too few USB ports in too many Macs, developer Leopard ran on Yikes, Mac IIfx RAM heaven, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.01.16. Also Macworld Expo disappoints, Pismo a great field computer, using flash memory in vintage Macs, and Word vs. Pages for academic writing.
• Restore stability to a troubled Mac with a clean system install, Keith Winston, Linux to Mac, 2008.01.15. If your Mac is misbehaving, the best fix just might be a fresh reinstallation of Mac OS X – don’t forget to backup first.
• Ultimate Leopard tweaking guide, used Mac beats new PC, the megapixel myth, and more, Mac News Review, 2008.01.04. Also ‘spectacular’ growth in Mac usage to continue through 2008, why Leopard trumps Windows, Dell XPS and Apple iMac ‘both suck’, ditch your DVD player for a Mac mini, and more.
• The best alternatives to Apple’s USB keyboards, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.12.10. There are a lot of USB keyboards out there, even for the Mac, but these two have great keyboard action, are solidly built, and have features Apple’s keyboard don’t include.
• Leopard on older Macs, 13-port USB 2.0 hub, Mac Plus emulator, WD’s ‘green’ hard drives, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.11.30. Also how to squeeze the OS X 10.5 installer onto a single-layer DVD, the top Macs, iMac Graphics Firmware Update, low cost USB DriveDock, and more.
• Core 2 Extreme hits 3.4 GHz, free old Mac software, restore pre-Leopard Dock folders, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.11.16. Also iMac “still the desktop star”, a more intuitive Spaces experience, VMware Fusion updated, Dead Sea Scrolls for Accordance, and more.
• Cross-platform computing: Better than it’s ever been, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 2007.11.13. Macs can read PC media, both Macs and Windows PCs play nice with each other on networks, and emulation makes it easy for Intel Macs to run Windows apps.
• Beyond Google, 10 years on the G3, the Cube is not a Road Apple, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.11.13. Also the 64-bit advantage of Core 2, OS 9 on a USB flash drive, sound problems since switching to Leopard, and 7200 rpm in an eMac.
• Proof Macs cost less, Leopard spanks Vista, Mac pride pins, Arabic OS X 10.4.10, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.11.09. Also the pitfalls of Macintel recovery, waiting for the 10.5.1 update, QuickTime 7.3 released, new Leopard books, and more.
• Leopard to slow down PowerPC Macs?, powerline networking, iMac freeze up, Mac Pro in color, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.10.12. Also 10 years since Michael Dell said ‘shut down Apple’, Mac use quadruples at Princeton, new Mac keyboard prevents accidental caps lock, a Flash decompiler for the Mac, and more.
• External $100 Sony DVD burner likes Macs, Brian Gray, Fruitful Editing, 2007.10.10. The box and manual say nothing about Mac compatibility, but this 18x USB 2.0 DVD burner is plug-and-play (at least with Tiger).
• FastMac 8x SuperDrive and BurnAgain DVD: Fast and easy multisession disc burning, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.10.08. FastMac’s 8x SuperDrive upgrade is remarkably fast compared with older PowerBook burners, and BurnAgain DVD makes it easy to append files to a previously burned CD or DVD.
• 3.2 Gbps FireWire, 4.8 Gbps USB coming, Macs cost less to use, a Core Image-based image editor, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.09.28. Also wireless USB to hit 1 Gbps, Mac sales are surging, aluminum iMacs have great image quality, 802.11n WiFi for most modern Macs, and more.
• ‘I will switch from Apple’, AMD’s 3-core CPU, Carbon Copy Cloner 3.0 released, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.09.21. Also new 24″ iMac disappoints, new driver does not improve iMac GPU performance, aluminum keyboards “atrocious”, QuickerTek WiFi antenna for Mac Pro, free 3D home interior software, and more.
• Importing video into iMovie, jumping the gun on G3s and Leopard, interference robustness, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.09.18. Also, Intel Macs support 802.11a WiFi alongside b, g, and n, and USB card options for beige G3 Power Macs.
• PC war losers, Mac ‘just works’, $68 802.11n for older Macs, a free font manager, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.08.31. Also DVD region locking, the iMac’s glossy screen, Mac mini powerful enough, Chromac iMac housings, SanDisk’s 8 GB flash drive, and more.
• Macs roar to #3 in US, ‘one amazing iMac’, 3 GB upgrade for Core 2 Mac mini, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.08.24. Also aluminum iMac reviews, aluminum keyboard “packed with improvements”, and QuickerTek’s antenna array for AirPort Extreme.
• Macs ‘more enjoyable’ than PCs, end of the G4, enthusiastic aluminum iMac reviews, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.08.17. Also Apple’s USB 2.0 keyboard, business looks a iMacs, Core 2 Mac mini benchmarked, miniStack NAS server, Virtual PC update improves security, and more.
• No junk from Apple, Mac mouse dies after 18 years, time to cut the gigabyte BS, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.08.10. Also new iMac and Mac mini models, Apple’s aluminum keyboards, new NAS drive looks like a Mac mini, first software update for aluminum iMacs, and more.
• The 2007 iMac value equation, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.08.09. A faster bus, faster CPU speeds, and a new look. Are close-out 2006 iMacs good values?
• Does a college freshman need to run Windows on a MacBook?, Al Poulin, My Turn, 2007.07.24. While you can run Windows on today’s Intel-based Macs, is there any reason most college students would want to or need to?
• Software to darken iMac display, columnist returns iPhone, Logitech introduces air mouse, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.07.20. Also a USB turntable for turning your record albums into MP3s, a retractable flash drive, iPhone: The Missing Manual, Parallels Desktop 3 a major update, and more.
• VMware Fusion beta 3 adds new features, takes a giant step toward release, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2007.04.11. Looking for a virtualization solution for your Intel Mac? The latest beta of VMWare Fusion makes several improvements and includes some unique features.
• 1 core, 2 cores, 4 cores, 8: How Much Difference Does It Make?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.04.10. Geekbench scores make it possible to compare the newest 3 GHz 8-core Mac Pro with the 1.5 GHz Core Solo Mac mini – and all the models in between.
• 11 No Cost Tips for Optimizing Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger Performance, Ed Eubanks Jr, The Efficient Mac User, 2007.03.12. If your Mac is getting sluggish, here are 11 tips that can help restore its original performance.
• CrossOver: Run Windows Apps on Intel Macs Without Windows, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2007.02.28. If you need to run Windows apps on your Intel Mac once in a while, CrossOver may be the least expensive way to do so since it eliminates the need to buy a copy of Windows.
• Parallels Revisited: Release Version Far More Polished than Beta, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2006.11.21. Parallels lets you run Windows or Linux without rebooting your Intel-based Mac, and it’s made great strides since the beta came out earlier this year.
• To AppleCare or not to AppleCare?, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.11.20. Consumer Reports, which generally recommends against extended warranties, says AppleCare makes sense. But does it?
• Pre-2006 Software: The Big Reason You Shouldn’t Buy an Intel Mac in 2006, Ted Hodges, Vintage Mac Living, 2006.11.09. If you work with software that predates the Intel transition, you may be better off sticking with PowerPC Macs. And if you use classic apps, you definitely want to avoid Intel.
• Region Free DVD Viewing Options for Intel and PowerPC Macs, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 2006.09.12. Several hardware and software options that will let your view ‘wrong region’ DVDs on your PowerPC or Intel Mac.
• Comparing Apples to Apples: When is Macintel faster? When does PowerPC make more sense?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2006.01.29. Benchmarks show the Intel Core Duo flies through native code but plods through PowerPC programs. Will PowerPC or Intel give you the more productive workflow?
• Macintel stumbling block: Sometimes you need Classic, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 2006.01.25. As nice as the new Intel Macs seem to be, the lack of any Classic environment makes it impossible for some people to upgrade.

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Aluminum iMac Q&A - Updated July 14, 2016

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How do you upgrade the RAM in the 'Mid-2007,' 'Early 2008,' 'Early 2009' and 'Mid-2009' (20-Inch and 24-Inch) Aluminum iMac models? What type of RAM do they use? How much RAM do they actually support?

Please note that this Q&A explains how to upgrade the RAM in the 20-Inch and 24-Inch Aluminum iMac models that have black plastic backs. Apple refers to these systems as the 'Mid-2007,' 'Early 2008,' 'Early 2009' and 'Mid-2009' models. They can be identified by model numbers A1224 and A1225.

EveryMac.com also provides RAM upgrade instructions for the subsequently introduced 'Late 2009,' 'Mid-2010' and 'Mid-2011' 21.5-Inch and 27-Inch Aluminum iMac models that have all aluminum cases with a flat, thick edge around the display (model numbers A1311 and A1312) as well as the 'Late 2012' (and subsequent) 21.5-Inch and 27-Inch Aluminum iMac models that also have all aluminum cases but with edges that taper sharply around the display (model numbers A1418 and A1419).

The memory upgrade procedure in all 20-Inch and 24-Inch iMac models is extremely quick and easy, but different lines use different types of memory and there are differences between official and unofficial RAM capacity as well. Precise identification can be tricky, too.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (20-Inch & 24-Inch Aluminum iMac)

Identification Help

If you're not sure which Aluminum iMac you have, the 20-Inch and 24-Inch models can be most readily identified externally via EMC Number -- located inconveniently under the 'foot' supporting the computer -- and in software by Model Identifier for the purpose of upgrading the RAM. These models can be uniquely identified when combined with a secondary identifier like display size, processor speed and/or processor type.

EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature -- as well as the EveryMac app -- also can uniquely identify these models by their Serial Number, which is listed on the underside of the foot along with the EMC number and within the operating system alongside the model identifier. More details about specific identifiers are provided in EveryMac.com's extensive Mac Identification section.

To locate the model identifier in software, select 'About This Mac' under the Apple Menu on your computer and click the 'More Info...' button. If the iMac is running OS X 10.7 'Lion' or later, you will need to click the 'System Report' button after clicking 'More Info...' as well. As always, EveryMac.com has carefully hand documented each EMC number and model identifier for your convenience.

These identifiers for each of the 20-Inch and 24-Inch iMac models follow:

RAM Types & Actual Maximum RAM Capacities

All 20-Inch and 24-Inch Aluminum iMac models have two RAM slots that are readily accessible via a small access panel on the underside of the display, but the type of SO-DIMMs as well as the actual maximum capacity varies.

Specifically, the 'Mid-2007' (iMac7,1) models use 667 MHz PC2-5300 DDR2 SO-DIMMs (200-pin), the 'Early 2008' (iMac8,1) models use 800 MHz PC2-6400 DDR2 SO-DIMMs (200-pin), and the 'Early 2009' and 'Mid-2009' (both iMac9,1) models use 1066 MHz PC3-8500 DDR3 SO-DIMMs (204-pin).

Officially, the 'Mid-2007' and 'Early 2008' models support a maximum of 4 GB of RAM, but they actually can support 6 GB. The 'Early 2009' and 'Mid-2009' models, however, both officially and unofficially support a maximum of 8 GB of RAM.

Much like the identification help, these details are easiest to visualize as a chart:

*Apple originally supported 4 GB of RAM in the education-only iMac 'Core 2 Duo' 2.0 20-Inch (Mid-2009) model, and it was believed to have an artificial EFI limitation that prevented 8 GB of RAM from being recognized. However, Apple later began to support 8 GB of RAM in this model, too.

RAM Upgrade Instructions

Upgrading the RAM in all of these 20-Inch and 24-Inch iMac models is the same and quite simple, too. To protect the iMac display, first place a soft towel on a table or other stable surface, place the iMac 'face down' on top of the towel, unscrew the small access panel on the underside edge of the iMac display, and swap out the two SO-DIMMs.

Apple helpfully provides the RAM upgrade procedure silkscreened on the bottom of the 'foot' itself, and this likely will be sufficient for many users. However, the below step-by-step video from site sponsor Other World Computing is more detailed:

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From watching the video, it should be clear that upgrading the RAM is simple. However, if you do not feel comfortable -- or have the time -- to perform the upgrade yourself, hiring a professional always is a good option.

iMac RAM Purchase & Professional Installation Options

Just because RAM meets the minimum listed criteria does not mean that it will necessarily function as intended in a particular Mac. Be sure to buy from a quality vendor that has tested their RAM with your Mac to ensure full compatibility.

In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells memory for all iMac models for do-it-yourself upgrades.

In the UK and Ireland, site sponsor Flexx sells Aluminum iMac compatible memory with free shipping. The company provides flat rate shipping to France, Germany, and Switzerland and inexpensive shipping for all of Europe, too.

In Canada, site sponsor CanadaRAM sells memory for all iMac models with guaranteed compatibility, fast shipping, and no customs.

In Germany, site sponsor CompuRAM sells quality memory for all iMac models with affordable delivery country-wide and in person pick up and professional installation service available in Munich.

In Australia, site sponsors Macfixit and Upgradeable sell iMac compatible memory with fast shipping, a money-back guarantee and more.

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In New Zealand, site sponsor Upgradeable New Zealand sells iMac memory with fast delivery to all corners of the country, precise compatibility, a lifetime warranty, and a money-back guarantee.

Also see: How do you upgrade the hard drive in the 'Mid-2007,' 'Early 2008,' 'Early 2009' and 'Mid-2009' (20-Inch and 24-Inch) Aluminum iMac models? What type of hard drive do they support? Can you swap the hard drive for an SSD?

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