Upgrading a mid 2010 27" iMac

https://www.apple.com/logic-pro/specs/

"Minimum System Requirements

• macOS 10.15.7 or later"

The 2010 iMacs can only go up to macOS 10.13.

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-i7-2.93-27-inch-aluminum-mid-2010-specs.html

"Maximum MacOS:X 10.13.x* - It is not compatible with macOS Mojave (10.14) or later versions of the operating system."

They have a SATA II interface. OWC offers the SSD upgrades in both 3G and 6G: 3G up to 2TB capacity, the 6G will operate at the slower SATA II speeds, but go up to 4TB capacity. Any new computer you get for music production would really benefit from the near totally silent operation of an SSD, the computer doesn't get as hot and the fans run less if at all also.

The 2010 are the last models that are actually not totally impossible to open up and DIY a hard drive replacement, and with the built-in DVD drive, they may make a nice older computer to keep around as an entertainment screen, but maybe not as a primary home office or hobby workhorse computer.

I'd also put the money towards a new iMac. The M1 desktops probably won't be out till later this year but the current 2020 iMacs are a good choice if you can't wait.

If you get a new iMac get a 27" model with only 8 GB of RAM and upgrade it yourself via Crucial.com or MacSales.con to 24 GB (two 8 GB modules) for about ⅓ of what it would cost you to go to 16 GB via Apple. Also get the largest SSD drive your budget can afford. Get at least the i7 CPU for what you want to process.

mattwithcats wrote:

Second, hard drive.

The 2010's have a Sata II(2) hard drive, 3 gigabytes a second,

but a SATA III(3) interface, 6 gigabytes a second...

No, the 2010 iMac has a 3GB/sec drive bus. The 6GB/sec drive bus started with the 2011 iMac. We have one of each.

A great resource for helping here is the MacTracker database, available free in the Mac App Store. You get good stuff like this:

Yes, an SATA II 3GB/sec SSD will be an improvement over what eh OP now has, but with transfer speeds of around 250MB/sec instead of about 500MB/sec for an SATA III 6GB/sec SSD in a 2011 iMac.

The MM M1 is a nice replacement if you want another desktop of the MBA M1 is nice too. You should put your money towards it's replacement. Why, very simple your computer is now 12 years old and the latest version of Mac OS it will support is High Sierra 10.13.6 which is now 3 generations removed. Also due to it's age it has zero value, it is considered obsolete by Apple (and has been for many years now) so replacement parts are expensive and scarce. The downside is current versions of Mac OS (Big Sur) will only run 64 bit apps, so some of your old legacy apps need to be updated or replaced so you need to research that a bit before you pull the trigger.

Depending on the processor, a 2010 still has some life in it...

First memory. Most 2010 iMacs shipped with two 2 gigabyte memory chips.

Also, Core I3 processor machines have a maximum memory of 16 gigabytes,

the Core I5 and I7 have 32 gigabytes maximum...

Adding 16 gigabytes gives you 20, iTunes import was much faster with 20 on my 2011...

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/iMac/2010/DDR3_21.5_27

Second, hard drive.

The 2010's have a Sata II(2) hard drive, 3 gigabytes a second,

but a SATA III(3) interface, 6 gigabytes a second...

I get my hard drives from NewEgg

https://www.newegg.com/black-wd4005fzbx-4tb/p/234-000G-000W6

SSD

https://www.newegg.com/samsung-860-evo-series-1tb/p/N82E16820147673

Get a 2.5 to 3.5 converter, it makes life so much easier...

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/ADPTADRV/

You will need a new temperature sensor, the old drive has one built in, the new one does not.

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIDIMACHDD09/

Last, but this is VERY VERY VERY hard, a processor swap. If you have a I3 processor, putting a i5 750S, 860S, or 870S is possible, but you need to have an expert do this... You go from two cores to four, and 16 gigs max to 32...

I want to get back into music production with Ableton and Logic.

Before spending money on upgrades, be sure to check the minimum system requirements for those apps you plan to use. Regardless of the upgrades you install, that Mac will never run a macOS version higher than 10.13 "High Sierra."

If this is a SATA II interface, then why does Other World Computing list 6G ( SATA III ) drives as compatible?

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/imac-27-inch/2010

Look at the 2009iMac, only a 3G drive...

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/imac-27-inch/late-2009

Look at the 2011, both 6G and 3g drives...

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/imac-27-inch/2011

The connections/cables fit, so technically it’s compatible. But even though the drive is capable of faster speeds, the buss limits it.

I have a 2010 iMac with the fastest (at that time) 2.97 GHz processor. I’ve done the replacement, and a SSD IS certainty faster than a 7200rpm spinning HD. But it’s limited and in today’s era/terms I wouldn’t urge anyone to upgrade an 11 year old iMac.

Then get a new M1 MacBook Pro with at least 16 GB RAM (more if you can afford it) (the new M1s can't be upgraded by the user) and the largest SSD drive your budget can afford.

That's fine but remember there is always a trade off, when you go with a laptop the cost for speed is normally much higher however that being said, the M1 laptop is a fine machine.

Go To "About This Mac", then "System Report", then "SATA/SATA Express"

See if you have a Intel 6 series chip...