iMac 27-inch Repair 2013 & 2014
iMac 27-inch Repair2013 & 2014 Intel models
The first 27-inch iMac with a PCIe SSD slot, and the first 5K Retina iMac ever made — both ten years old now, both classified vintage. RAM still upgradeable via the rear panel, GPU still restorable, Fusion Drive still swappable, macOS still OCLP-able to Sonoma. Free diagnostic, nationwide courier.
Free diagnostic · Runs Sonoma via OCLP · RAM via rear panel · 6-month warranty
iMac 27-inch (2013–2014) at a glance
Display
2560×1440 27-inch (Late 2013) · Retina 5K 5120×2880 (Late 2014)
Models
iMac14,2 (Late 2013) · iMac15,1 (Late 2014)
Processor
Intel Core i5 / i7 3.2–4.0GHz (Haswell)
RAM
Up to 32GB DDR3 1600MHz SO-DIMM · rear panel · easy upgrade
Storage
SATA HDD · optional PCIe SSD blade · Fusion Drive on some configs
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 775M/780M (2013) · AMD Radeon R9 M290X/M295X (2014)
Ports
4× USB-A · 2× Thunderbolt 2 · SD card · Ethernet
macOS
Native max: Big Sur · Runs Sonoma via OpenCore Legacy Patcher
What we repair on the iMac 27-inch 2013–2014
Don't let Apple decide when your iMac is obsolete
Apple dropped the Late 2013 and Late 2014 27-inch iMac from official macOS support at Big Sur. OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP) removes that restriction — allowing a clean macOS Sonoma installation that brings your machine back to a current, supported-feeling operating system.
| Without OCLP | With OCLP (Sonoma) |
|---|---|
| Stuck on Big Sur (2020) | Runs macOS Sonoma (current) |
| Apps stop receiving updates | Full App Store compatibility restored |
| Safari outdated — banking issues | Current Safari — all sites work |
| Security vulnerabilities accumulate | OCLP security patches applied |
| Machine feels abandoned | Machine feels current |
iMac 27-inch (2013–2014) repair price guide
Estimates only. Final price confirmed after free diagnostic. Written quote before work begins.
| Service | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Screens & display | |
| 5K display replacement (Late 2014) First 5K iMac — display assembly replacement. |
R5,500 – R8,500 |
| 2560×1440 display replacement (Late 2013) Non-Retina panel replacement. |
R4,000 – R6,000 |
| Backlight / TCON repair Flashlight effect or display lines. Panel may be reusable. |
R1,500 – R2,500 |
| Logic board & GPU | |
| GPU fault — logic board assessment (2013 NVIDIA) GTX 775M/780M BGA board replacement and restoration. |
Assessment + quote |
| GPU fault — logic board replacement (2014 AMD) R9 M290X/M295X chip-level board replacement. |
Assessment + quote |
| Logic board — component-level repair Power rail, USB/TB controller, SMC, NVRAM fault repair. |
R1,500 – R5,500 |
| Power supply replacement (300W) PSU unit + display removal labour + OEM adhesive strips. |
R4,500 – R5,000 |
| Storage & memory | |
| RAM upgrade — per 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Rear panel access. No display removal. Same-day. |
R1,600 / 8GB |
| SSD upgrade / Fusion Drive conversion SATA or PCIe blade upgrade. Full SSD conversion available. |
Quote on request |
| Thermal & other | |
| Thermal paste + full dust clean CPU/GPU thermal compound replaced + internal dust clean. |
R2,500 |
| Liquid damage treatment Ultrasonic clean, corrosion removal, component repair. |
R900 – R2,800 |
| Data recovery No T2 chip — drive removable. High recovery success rate. |
R900 – R2,800 |
| macOS upgrade via OpenCore Sonoma via OCLP. SSD + 8GB RAM required. R1,500 flat. |
R1,500 |
| Collection and return — Gauteng Door-to-door via Eliz Courier. |
R500 |
Which iMac do you have?
Jump to your exact model for model-specific pricing, parts, and known faults.
iMac 24-inch M-series
View M-series repairs → 2017 XeoniMac Pro
View Pro repairs → 2019 - 2020iMac 27-inch (late Intel)
View 27" late Intel repairs → 2015 - 2017iMac 27-inch 5K
View 27" 5K repairs → 2013 - 2014iMac 27-inch
View 27" early repairs → 2017 - 2019iMac 21.5-inch 4K
View 21.5" 4K repairs → 2013 - 2015iMac 21.5-inch
View 21.5" early repairs →Free diagnostic
We confirm the exact fault before quoting — no charge if we can't help or the repair doesn't make financial sense.
Component-level repair
Microsoldering means we fix what others write off. We replace the failed chip, not the whole board.
Written quote first
Fixed price confirmed in writing before any work begins. No surprises on collection.
6-month warranty
All parts and labour carry a 6-month warranty. If the same fault reoccurs, we fix it.
Data stays safe
We never start a repair that could affect your data without securing it or getting your explicit approval first.
R500 Gauteng collection
Insured door-to-door collection and return anywhere in Gauteng. iMacs are heavy — we handle transport.
Three ways to get your iMac to us
Drop it off, arrange Gauteng collection, or ship from anywhere in South Africa. iMacs are heavy and the displays are fragile — we transport them properly.
Drop it off at the workshop
Walk in to our Silvamonte workshop any business day. Free parking, free diagnostic on the spot. Bring the original box if you still have it — otherwise we have appropriate transport packaging on hand.
11 Swemmer Rd, Silvamonte, Johannesburg
Mon-Fri 08:00-17:30 · Sat 08:00-14:00
Door-to-door via Eliz Courier
Eliz Courier & Messenger Services collects and returns your iMac across Joburg, Pretoria, Centurion, and the East Rand. R500 round-trip — slightly higher than our laptop rate because iMacs need specialist transport packaging and careful handling.
WhatsApp to book collection →Ship via The Courier Guy
Anywhere in South Africa — Cape Town, Durban, PE, Bloem, Polokwane. We arrange Courier Guy collection from your door with proper iMac packaging, repair, and return. Pricing depends on size; WhatsApp us with your model.
WhatsApp to arrange courier →Service areas across Gauteng
iAssist Repair serves the entire Gauteng province. Collection and delivery across Johannesburg and Pretoria (R500 for iMacs). If your area isn't listed, contact us.
Find Your Service Area
Start typing your suburb to filter the areas below
Johannesburg & Pretoria Service Areas
Click to expand service areas. Tap any suburb for local collection details & pricing.
Johannesburg Central & Parks Click to expand
Sandton & Surrounding Suburbs Click to expand
Randburg & Northcliff Click to expand
Fourways & Midrand Click to expand
Roodepoort & West Rand Click to expand
Johannesburg South & Alberton Click to expand
Bedfordview & Edenvale Click to expand
East Rand (Ekurhuleni) Click to expand
Centurion Click to expand
Pretoria Click to expand
Apple repair by province — nationwide courier
Outside Gauteng? We collect and return your iMac nationwide via secure courier.
iMac 27-inch 2013–2014 — FAQ
Can my 2013 or 2014 iMac 27-inch run a newer version of macOS?
Yes. Both the Late 2013 and Late 2014 27-inch iMac can run macOS Sonoma via OpenCore Legacy Patcher. iAssist performs a clean install for R1,500 flat. An SSD and minimum 8GB RAM are required before the upgrade.
Is the GPU in my 2013/2014 iMac 27-inch repairable?
Yes. Both NVIDIA (2013) and AMD (2014) GPU solder failures are repairable at chip level. This is a common fault as these machines age — thermal cycling over years causes BGA solder joint failure. GPU restoration resolves the fault in most cases.
How much RAM can I put in my 2013 or 2014 iMac 27-inch?
Up to 32GB DDR3 1600MHz via four SO-DIMM slots accessible through the rear panel. Display removal required. iAssist charges R1,600 per 8GB module.
Can I add an SSD to my 2013 iMac 27-inch that shipped with a hard drive?
Yes. The Late 2013 27-inch iMac has a PCIe SSD connector on the logic board even if the machine didn't ship with an SSD fitted. We can fit a compatible PCIe blade SSD alongside the existing hard drive. Contact us for a quote.
Do you offer collection for the iMac 27-inch?
Yes — R500 insured door-to-door collection and return across Gauteng. WhatsApp us on 078 742 4769.
My Late 2013 iMac 27-inch has a separate SSD blade slot — can I add an SSD without touching the hard drive?
Yes. The Late 2013 27-inch iMac has a PCIe SSD blade connector on the logic board even if the machine shipped without an SSD fitted. You can add a compatible PCIe blade SSD alongside the existing hard drive, giving you fast SSD for macOS and apps while keeping the hard drive for storage. This requires display removal but is a popular upgrade on this specific model. Contact us via WhatsApp to confirm compatibility and pricing.
The screen on my 2013 or 2014 iMac 27-inch has dust trapped inside — can that be cleaned?
Yes. On 2013 and 2014 27-inch iMac models the display glass is held by magnets and can be carefully removed to clean dust from the LCD surface and the inside of the glass. We do this as part of any service requiring display separation — and can do it as a standalone clean. It makes a significant visible difference on machines that have accumulated internal dust over years of use.
Will OCLP Sonoma on my 2013/2014 iMac 27-inch receive security updates?
Yes — the OCLP project actively maintains security patches for supported macOS versions on legacy hardware. After a macOS security update (e.g. Sonoma 14.x), the root patches applied by OCLP may need to be refreshed. iAssist installs the latest stable OCLP version and advises you on the simple update process. Your machine stays protected.
Visit Our Repair Centre
iAssist Repair– Johannesburg
Shop 4, Silvercrest Centre
11 Swemmer Rd, Silvamonte, Johannesburg
Prefer convenience?
We offer collection & delivery across Johannesburg.
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