Intel iMac CPU Swappable?
Xlr8yourmac provides a reader report on a recent article in MacFan magazine (Japanese). According to the report, the Intel iMac Core Duo CPU is mounted in the standard Intel socket, making it replaceable. As a test, a 1.83GHz iMac's CPU was swapped out for a 2GHz one:
The cost of such a minor upgrade ($480 for a 2GHz chip) doesn't make sense at this time but does offer more of a upgrade path than previously available on the iMac.
However, the author is not sure that it will run completely normally with an upgraded CPU. The author purchased a 2GHz T2500 from a PC shop and installed it in the socket of a 17" iMac and it booted OK. There seemed to be no problems and the About this Mac pane reported a 2GHz duo chip.
The cost of such a minor upgrade ($480 for a 2GHz chip) doesn't make sense at this time but does offer more of a upgrade path than previously available on the iMac.
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79 months ago
The big question is whether this is true of the MacBook Pro? Well for me anyway.:D
79 months ago
all pentium m notebooks that i have peaked inside have sockets, it'd be sweet if you could buy an ibook/mini and upgrade it with a T2500 or something.
79 months ago
Sounds interesting... not.
M
Considering how Macs have always had VERY limited support for processor upgrades, this is very interesting
79 months ago
Seems a good idea. But opening the G5 iMac as well as the iMac Duo is a level 3 task. They're not designed to be user friendly. Save for the "Hay if you can install ram and have a screwdriver, go for it!" slot on the bottom of the machine. The previous generation G5 iMac was quite lovely. The newer version is a bit of a hassle. The iMac Duo is hideous Intel Northbridge/Southbridge madness all shoved in and snapped inside the beautiful case.
Am I happy it's upgradable? Sure. Do I want to? No. And what happens when you install a chip with onboard memory rather than memory on the mainboard?
Le sigh.
Am I happy it's upgradable? Sure. Do I want to? No. And what happens when you install a chip with onboard memory rather than memory on the mainboard?
Le sigh.
79 months ago
all pentium m notebooks that i have peaked inside have sockets, it'd be sweet if you could buy an ibook/mini and upgrade it with a T2500 or something.
You couldn't. The version of the Yonah used in the iMac is higher voltage than the one in the MacBook Pro. Even if/when higher performance low voltage chips come out, I'm not sure I'd want to mess with the thermal management in the MacBook Pro.
79 months ago
You couldn't. The version of the Yonah used in the iMac is higher voltage than the one in the MacBook Pro. Even if/when higher performance low voltage chips come out, I'm not sure I'd want to mess with the thermal management in the MacBook Pro.
no both are T designated chips, if the ibook and mini use L designated chips you could still update them to L2400's
79 months ago
Let the real rumors begin. Some companies do things like that as a strategic move. First, who thinks it's real? Second, who thinks it's a good move?
79 months ago
This is pretty cool for Mac users to hear. We have always been pretty limited when it comes to swapping CPUs. This may not have been a big swap, but it's a start.
79 months ago
This is great- we can upgrade an iMac for as long as Intel uses that socket.
Somehow, some way, somebody will rate this negative, however.
Somehow, some way, somebody will rate this negative, however.
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