Late 2013 iMac - SSD Upgrade

[SAFCasper]

Just wondering if anyone has experience working on this model. A1419

I have a client who needs an SSD upgrade but all work has to be carried out on-site. Never worked on this model before and they are over an hours drive away. I'd rather not any surprises that prevent me from completing the work.

In short - how difficult is it to remove the screen? Will I need a heat gun? Am I crazy for even considering doing this on-site?

 

[DataMedics]

Run away, run away!!!

The screen is bonded to the glass, and the glass is bonded to the shell. You have to cut it with a razor knife, but if you cut 1mm too deep on the top edge, you'll cut a paper thin ribbon cable that is part of the monitor and can't be replaced. Then you'll end up spending nearly $400 to replace the screen.

The only way you should touch it, is if your customer fully understands and is willing to accept the cost of a replacement screen as part of the service.

 

[SAFCasper]

Run away, run away!!!

The screen is bonded to the glass, and the glass is bonded to the shell. You have to cut it with a razor knife, but if you cut 1mm too deep on the top edge, you'll cut a paper thin ribbon cable that is part of the monitor and can't be replaced. Then you'll end up spending nearly $400 to replace the screen.

The only way you should touch it, is if your customer fully understands and is willing to accept the cost of a replacement screen as part of the service.

Well that's more than enough to convince me! Apple clearly want people to buy new instead of upgrading.

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Markverhyden]

Yeah, another Apple success story for the upgrade department. You can do it but you must use a particular tool to prevent from cutting wires. I'd never do it onsite but would do a pickup/drop off. And it would not be cheap. Labor $250. Those things are worse than a laptop.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+27-Inch+EMC+2546+Hard+Drive+Replacement/15796

The nickle solution to the dime problem is to just get a TB drive.

 

[cyabro]

Yea we've had a few of the newer iMacs come in to our store where they've attempted to cut it open themselves and cracked the display.

As already advised, and we do these all the time being an AASP, I wouldn't do one onsite myself, even after having done lots of them in the workshop.

 

[sapphirescales]

I've done quite a few of these by now. Just got 3 in the last week. They are NOT fun, and I would NEVER consider doing one on-site. You MUST use the proper equipment including the pizza cutter looking thingy from iFixit and the adhesive strips. My labor just for opening one is $329. Add the cost of an SSD + OS install and data backup and you're easily pushing $700+. Then again, a new one with an SSD is going to go over $2,000 so a lot of people go for it.

 

[aceraxon]

iMacs in general are pains and a very delicate operation. Those are just nuts. On-Site no, but maybe offer to pick it up and drop it back off? That might be meeting them halfway. Apple...

 

[coffee]

@SAFCasper In case your curious here is a screen replacement on a Macbook. Its going to be pretty similar. I just watched it last night and decided that Macs are not for me.

 

[SAFCasper]

Thanks for the advice.

Decided against it and will probably just do a cleanup & RAM upgrade on the machine. The client never specifically asked for a SSD. They just want it faster and I know a SSD would be the perfect solution. I've done quite a few upgrades on older iMacs where the screen can be removed easily with suction cups. Naively though this wouldn't be much harder...

However... I'm quite intrigued by what Markverhyden mentioned about a TB drive. I had completely forgotten you can run OS X from an external drive and I'm sure it would be leagues ahead of the 5,400 internal drive. Even a decent USB3 enclosure with UASP would be a big upgrade.

 

[NviGate Systems]

Mac's support USB/TB/Etc booting so if a client is really in a jam you can install Mac OS X to an SSD in an enclosure, and it will still function as a boot drive.

That way they keep warranty and get to eat their data too.

 

[SAFCasper]

Well, I went for a SSD in a USB3 enclosure and the client is more than happy with the results. Similar to any SSD upgrade the whole system is more responsive now.

Installation was a breeze - just installed a fresh copy of High Sierra to the external then ran Migration Assistant to transfer everything over. Quickly verified everything was working then formatted the internal as a data drive.

If anyone is interested I benchmarked using Blackmagic

Internal Drive - 61MB read / 57MB write

External Drive - 422MB read / 418MB write

Used this enclosure and an 850 Evo - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00E1JAB3M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1