iFixit teardown of iMac with 5K Retina display reveals hardware similar to 2013 iMac
The repair and teardown experts at iFixit recently cracked open Apple's new 27-inch Retina iMac with Retina 5K display. The 2014 iMac model earned an iFixit Repairability Score of 5 out of 10, with 10 being the easiest to repair.
While the 2014 iMac has a stunning new display, most internal components are similar to previous Apple Mac hardware. The SSD is the same drive that ships with Apple's late 2013 13-inch MacBook Pro, while the AirPort/Bluetooth card, logic board and other components are described as being "nearly exactly the same" to last year's 27-inch iMac.
Though it earned a mediocre Repairability Score, iFIxit notes that most components are modular and relatively easy to replace or repair. Owners can upgrade the RAM via a rear access panel and replace the hard drive and CPU with adhesive removal. Not surprisingly, the hardest component to repair is the display panel from LG, which is no longer held in place by magnets and is designed with the glass and LCD fused together.
The new 27-inch iMac is available with a starting price of US$2499 for a 3.5GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, 8 GB RAM, and 1 TB Fusion Drive.
