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Apple iMac "Core i5" 3.1 27" (Mid-2011) Specs

Identifiers: Mid-2011 - MC814LL/A - iMac12,2 - A1312 - 2429

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Apple iMac Intel AluminumThe iMac "Core i5" 3.1 27-Inch Aluminum (Mid-2011) is powered by a Quad Core 3.1 GHz Intel "Core i5" I5-2400 (Sandy Bridge) processor with a dedicated 256k level 2 cache for each core and a 6 MB shared level 3 cache. In lieu of a system bus, it has a "Direct Media Interface" (DMI) that "connects between the processor and chipset" at 5 GT/s.

By default, it is configured with 4 GB of RAM (1333 MHz PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM), a 1 TB (7200 RPM) hard drive, a vertically-mounted slot-loading DVD±R DL "SuperDrive", and AMD Radeon HD 6970M graphics with 1 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory.

It also has a built-in "FaceTime HD" video camera and built-in stereo speakers underneath the 27" glossy 16:9 LED-backlit TFT Active Matrix LCD (2560x1440 native) display "with IPS technology".

Connectivity includes four USB 2.0 ports, a Firewire "800" port, built-in AirPort Extreme, Gigabit Ethernet, and an SDXC card slot as well as dual "Thunderbolt" ports that are backwards compatible with Mini DisplayPort and, likewise, each support an external display up to 30" (2560x1600). Thunderbolt also supports other peripherals that use the Thunderbolt standard which provides up to 10 Gbps of bandwidth in both directions.

Externally, the "Mid-2011" iMac line uses the same "edge-to-edge" glass design and "seamless all aluminum enclosure" as the "Mid-2010" models that came before them. Internally, however, the "Mid-2011" line is equipped with faster processors and faster graphics processors, as well as the aforementioned external improvements of a higher resolution (and wider angle) webcam and Thunderbolt.

The "Mid-2011" iMac models included a compact aluminum Apple Wireless Keyboard and the choice of either a multi-touch "Magic Mouse" or a multi-touch "Magic Trackpad" that "enables users to scroll smoothly up and down a page with inertial scrolling, pinch to zoom in and out, rotate an image with their fingertips and swipe three fingers to flip through a collection of web pages or photos" just like on Apple notebooks from the same era. An aluminum remote was offered for an additional US$19, too.

Also see:

  • What are the differences between the "Mid-2011" Aluminum iMac models?
  • How do the "Mid-2011" Aluminum iMac models compare to the "Mid-2010" models that preceded them?

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Click on a category for related details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important. Asterisks (*) reference data in details fields.


May 3, 2011 October 23, 2012
1 (4 Cores) 64-Bit
8357 8878
2589 8005
2784 8658
3226 9072
669 2152
3.1 GHz Core i5 (I5-2400)
Details: This model is powered by a 32 nm, 64-bit Intel Core i5 "Sandy Bridge" processor with quad cores (four independent processor cores on a single silicon chip, each with one thread). Each core has a dedicated 256k level 2 cache and all processor cores share a single 6 MB level 3 cache. It also supports Turbo Boost 2.0 (up to 3.4 GHz) -- which "automatically boosts the processor speed based on workload" (so if an application is only using one of the four cores it will automatically increase the speed of the core in use and turn off the unused cores).

Also see: How much faster are the "Mid-2011" Aluminum iMac models than the "Mid-2010" models?
3.4 GHz 3.4 GHz (Core i7)
LGA 1155 (Socket H2)* Integrated
5 GT/s* 3.1 GHz (Built-in)
EFI 64-Bit
32k/32k 256k (x 4), 6 MB
PC3-10600 DDR3 1333 MHz
Details: Supports 1333 MHz PC3-10600 DDR3 SO-DIMMs (204-pin).

Also see: How do you upgrade the RAM in this Aluminum iMac model? How much RAM does it actually support?
4 GB 32 GB*
Details: By default, 4 GB of RAM is installed as two 2 GB SO-DIMM modules. Two slots free.

*Officially, this model supports four 4 GB modules -- one in each slot for a maximum of 16 GB of memory. However, third-parties have discovered that it actually will support 32 GB of memory using four 8 GB modules.

In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells memory -- as well as other upgrades -- for this iMac.

In the UK, site sponsor Flexx sells memory and other upgrades for this iMac.

In Germany, site sponsor CompuRAM sells memory and other upgrades for this iMac.

In Australia, site sponsor Upgradeable sells memory and other upgrades for this iMac.

Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs.
None 4
Radeon HD 6970M GDDR5
Details: By default, this model has an AMD Radeon HD 6970M graphics processor with 1 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory. By custom configuration, the same graphics processor can be equipped with 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory for an extra US$100.

Also see: What type of video processor is provided by the Aluminum iMac systems? Is it upgradable?
1 GB 2 GB*
27" 16:9 Widescreen 2560x1440
Details: This model has a 27" glossy LED-backlit 16:9 widescreen TFT active matrix display with "IPS technology" and a native resolution of 2560x1440. Apple also reports a viewing angle of 178 degrees horizontal and 178 degrees vertical. The contrast ratio is 1000:1.

In the UK, site sponsor ALB Repair offers component-level logic board repair, display repair, and other repair services for this iMac. No fix, no fee!

In Spain, site sponsor iRepairs provides affordable repair and data recovery services. In-person and by mail repair services include the display, graphics card, motherboard, power supply, and more for this iMac.

In Hong Kong, site sponsor iCertified provides well-reviewed repair services for the display, logic board, water damage, and more, all with a 180-day warranty; free diagnostics and estimates; and optional pickup and delivery for this iMac.
Dual/Mirroring (x2) 2560x1600
Details: Apple reports that this model simultaneously supports the native resolution of the built-in display and up-to two 30-inch external displays (2560x1600) by using both Thunderbolt ports.
1 TB HDD 7200 RPM
Details: Also see: How do you upgrade the hard drive in the "Late 2009," "Mid-2010" and "Mid-2011" Aluminum iMac models? What type of storage do they support? Is it even possible to upgrade these models?

In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells storage upgrades for this iMac.

In the UK, site sponsor Flexx sells storage upgrades for this iMac.

In Australia, site sponsor Upgradeable sells storage upgrades for this iMac.

Also see: SSD Compatibility Guide for All G3 & Later Macs.
3.5" (26.10 mm)/2.5" (7 mm) Serial ATA (6 Gb/s*)
8X DL "SuperDrive" None
None 10/100/1000Base-T
Details: N/A
802.11a/b/g/n (450 Mbit*) 2.1+EDR
4 (2.0) 1 (800)
SDXC SD Card None*
Details: *This iMac has an extra 6 Gb/s Serial ATA connector and power for the optional SSD, but if one is not installed at the time the system is purchased the connector cables and mounting bracket are not present. Nevertheless, it is possible to install a 2.5" SSD in addition to the hard drive if an SSD is not installed initially it's just a bit of a "hack."

In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells a wide variety of external expansion options and hand-picked accessories like external storage, stands, keyboards, cables, adapters, speakers, and more for this iMac.
Apple Wireless Keyboard Magic Mouse/Trackpad
All-in-One iMac (Late 2009)
MC814LL/A Mid-2011
A1312 (EMC 2429) iMac12,2
Details: Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model.

Also see: All Macs with the A1312 Model Number, the 2429 EMC Number, and the iMac12,2 Model Identifier.

For more about these identifiers and how to locate them on each Mac, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section.
N/A N/A
X 10.6.6 (10J4026) X 10.13.x*
7 (32-Bit)* 8.1 (64-Bit)*
None Boot/Virtualization
Details: Also see: Are there any third-party programs to run Mac OS 9/Classic applications on Intel Macs?

For more on running Windows on Intel Macs, please refer to the exhaustive Windows on Mac Q&A.
20.4 x 25.6 x 8.15 30.5 lbs. (13.8 kg)
US$1999 US$150-US$250
Details: Photo Credit: Apple, Inc.


Click on a category for additional details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important. The icons correspond with the icons for each port on the computer.


2 (Thunderbolt) None
Details: This model is equipped with two Thunderbolt ports rather than a Mini DisplayPort. Thunderbolt is backwards-compatible with Mini DisplayPort-equipped displays as well as adapters that are compatible with Mini DisplayPort (DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI and HDMI). It also can support other peripherals that use the Thunderbolt standard, which provides a maximum theoretical 10 Gbps of bandwidth in both directions.
None None
None None
4 (2.0) 1 (800)
Details: Four USB 2.0 ports and one Firewire "800" port (7 watts).
None 1 (RJ-45)
Details: No internal modem. Gigabit Ethernet, AirPort Extreme (802.11g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR standard.
None None
1 (Built-in) 1
1 1
1 None
1 None

Global original prices for the iMac "Core i5" 3.1 27" (Mid-2011) in 34 different countries and territories follow; organized alphabetically by region.

For global original prices for Intel Macs in one particular country on a single page, please refer to EveryMac.com's Global Original Prices section.

Original Prices - North & South America

C$1999 R$7.399
MXN $29,999 US$1999

Original Prices - Europe

€1899 €1899
DKK 14,999 €1929
€1899 €1899
€1899 €1899
€1804,83 €1899
NOK 15.490 €1929
€1899 SEK 17.995
CHF 2,249 £1649

Original Prices - Asia

RMB 15,498 HK$15,488
Rs 107,900 Rp 19,999,000
¥178,800 KRW 2,590,000
RM 6,299 PHP 99,990
S$2,748 NT$65,900
THB 66,900 VND 49,999,000

Original Prices - Australia & New Zealand

A$2299 NZ$3298

If you have additional original prices for this model, please get in touch. Thank you.


Ten of the most popular Q&As about the iMac models follow.



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