How is linux on the Apple iMac 27” Retina 5K (2017)

I came across an Apple iMac Retina 5K 27-inch (2017) for a really good price, how well does linux work?
Specs:

  • 4.2GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
  • Upgraded to 64GB DDR4 RAM
  • Radeon Pro 580 8GB Graphics
  • 27” Retina 5K Display
15 points · 12 comments · view on lemmy.world

12 Comments

BartyDeCanter@piefed.social · 12 pts · 17d

It runs just fine on any of the Intel era machines. If you can get it for a good price, that would be a fantastic Linux system.

yxc999@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 17d

As long as you can work around the Broadcom module then you got yourself a good deal. Apart from that you'll have some minor stuff here and there but not more than with your average device.

artyom@piefed.social · 2 pts · 17d (7 replies)

I had the exact same PC for a while. Unfortunately it suffers from the same issues as all Mac machines: Broadcom. Speakers, wifi, and lots of other issues. Won't hurt to give it a try though. I ended up just installing Sequoia with OCLP.

Monkey@piefed.social · 2 pts · 17d (3 replies)

I don't really want to use macOS

artyom@piefed.social · 1 pts · 17d (2 replies)

Well I think I paid $150 for it. And at the end of the day I tossed it and pulled and sold the 64GB RAM 🤣. I wouldn't pay much more than that.

Monkey@piefed.social · 1 pts · 17d (1 reply)

$150

USD?

artyom@piefed.social · 2 pts · 17d

Correct

872XXE@feddit.org · 0 pts · 17d (2 replies)

I have the same setup (running arch) without issues.

artyom@piefed.social · 3 pts · 17d (1 reply)

By "without issues" you mean you spent 3 hours trying to get WiFi and speaker drivers working and don't have issues any longer?

magikmw@piefed.social · 3 pts · 17d

Fair question, and yet oddly, I kinda don't mind doing that.

I was using Dell windows machines for work for a long time and let me tell you for a premium priced machines and systems, you still put in a lot of support time.

When it's nearly free I'm ok with tinkering.

eldavi@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 17d

I used fedora for a couple years on an Intel MacBook Air I found in the ewaste bin.

The camera was the only thing to give me any problems and they were easily fixed.

I spent a lot of time customizing it so that the Mac key combos would work but ultimately gave up, but I learned of a new distro that seems to do a better job at mimicing the Mac ui including the keyboard and I'd be curious to try in your shoes.

TrollAccount69@lemmy.ml · 0 pts · 17d

It’s fine. I’ve used Debian on that machine. You’ll need to do Broadcom but that’s incredibly easy and if you find it to be too complex or hard, and I mean this as helpful assistance as opposed to an insult, it’s likely Linux isn’t really for you right now.