2011 iMac Upgrade - Media/Server Station

[Gizmo22]

Currently looking to swap my 2012 rMBP base with a 2011 27" iMac plus cash. My plan is to install a larger 3.5" drive with a 2.5" SSD for boot, and upgrade it to OSX Server for Time Capsule backups.

The items I am less comfortable with involve the thought of the CPU or GPU. I have heard the CPU can be swapped for other 1155 Sandy Bridge chips with no issue, but have heard mixed reviews regarding a GPU swap - is it possible, and if so, any restrictions? I would be more interested in an Nvidia chip than the offerings from AMD.

Anything specific I should be wary of regarding compatibility?

 

[goodcore]

About swapping CPU you can read here. For now only Sandy Bridge CPU's will work (i7-2700k is best choice). GPU can be replaced too (read here)

i'd thinking all days about get working Ivy Bridge on iMac 2011 (DDR3-1600 and PCIe 3.0)

 

[iMerik]

Currently looking to swap my 2012 rMBP base with a 2011 27" iMac plus cash. My plan is to install a larger 3.5" drive with a 2.5" SSD for boot, and upgrade it to OSX Server for Time Capsule backups.

The items I am less comfortable with involve the thought of the CPU or GPU. I have heard the CPU can be swapped for other 1155 Sandy Bridge chips with no issue, but have heard mixed reviews regarding a GPU swap - is it possible, and if so, any restrictions? I would be more interested in an Nvidia chip than the offerings from AMD.

Anything specific I should be wary of regarding compatibility?

You can just buy my maxed 2011 27"