Is your iMac slow? An SSD upgrade makes it feel brand new

Older Intel iMacs — especially the 2013 to 2019 generations — shipped as standard with an HDD (a spinning hard drive) or a Fusion Drive (a small amount of SSD storage combined with an HDD). Because older HDDs are mechanical and have moving parts, they get slower as they age, which means your iMac starts up slowly and is also sluggish when, for example, opening an application. A Fusion Drive is a bit faster because it boots via the SSD portion. However, since it's a combination of SSD and HDD, Fusion Drives also slow down as they get older.

What do you notice with a slow hard drive?
Above all, you'll notice that opening your web browser or an application takes a very long time (sometimes even a few minutes). Loading times just keep getting longer.

Why an SSD makes such a big difference
An SSD has no moving parts and connects directly, much like a chip does. And as an SSD ages, it stays just as fast, because it has no mechanical components.

Which iMacs benefit from this?
An SSD upgrade is worthwhile for iMacs that are fitted with only an HDD or a Fusion Drive.

What does it cost, and what do you get for it?
The biggest benefit is that the system becomes much faster and you get a lot more enjoyment out of your iMac.

The cost of an SSD upgrade is as follows:

• 512GB SSD: €289
• 1TB SSD: €349
• 2TB SSD: €489

DIY or have it done for you?
Because iMacs use double-sided tape, the screen is effectively glued in place, so it's wise to have this done by a professional. The screen needs to be cut free, and that has to be done gradually without forcing the cut, which can otherwise lead to a cracked screen.

Not sure whether your iMac qualifies for an SSD upgrade? Get in touch for a no-obligation recommendation.