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Core2Duo > Core2Quad upgrade?

E

EdbBob

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 25, 2008
97
0
Hi all you geeks,

I was just wondering if anyone knows if it's possible to change my core2duo in my iMac7,1 to a core2quad?

I know it's not a simple operation (more like a challenge), but does anybody know any compatibility issues? The sockets (775) are the same, and let's face it: We're basicly running on PC hardware now ;) (In a pretty box though...)

The chip is available at about 200$, and double as many cores, should double the speed in some (multithreaded) applications... :)
 
in short. NO

reasons

1) imacs use mobile CPU's, your looking at desktop CPUs, a mobile chip will therefore cost you upwards of $1000.
2) correct me if im wrong, but they are soldered on.
3) goodluck doing it all by your onsies even if you can work a solder very well!
 
DoFoT9 said:
in short. NO

reasons

1) imacs use mobile CPU's, your looking at desktop CPUs, a mobile chip will therefore cost you upwards of $1000.
2) correct me if im wrong, but they are soldered on.
3) goodluck doing it all by your onsies even if you can work a solder very well!
Click to expand...

Ok, Thanks :) Would have been nice though...
 
DoFoT9 said:
in short. NO

reasons

1) imacs use mobile CPU's, your looking at desktop CPUs, a mobile chip will therefore cost you upwards of $1000.
2) correct me if im wrong, but they are soldered on.
3) goodluck doing it all by your onsies even if you can work a solder very well!
Click to expand...

Well, "soldered on" seems to be relative to the iMac in question:

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/faq_cd/imac-intel-processor-upgrade-video-upgrade.html

But, no doubt, you'll loose the warranty... ;)
 
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I didn't know they even had quad core mobile processors yet...
 
minicoop503 said:
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I didn't know they even had quad core mobile processors yet...
Click to expand...

they dont, the OP was referring to desktop CPU's. the imacs (unfortunately) have mobile cpus
 
But there is an Intel mobile quad. google Q9100 or QX9300 (both penryn cores and use socket P)
 
Yes there are mobile quad core processors.

No they would not work on some of the iMac's because of the chipset would not support the quad (at least on the older imac's pre 2008). There might be a work around since I do know of Hackintoshes using C2Q processors.

Technically they would fit the board at least on the newer Intel iMacs since the processor is not soldered on. I have taken apart a broken 24" white and the processor is not soldered on.
 
nick9191 said:
Certainly there are, because they're desktop systems.

Its a hardware limitation not an OS X limitation, OS X has no idea what it is running on ;)
Click to expand...

I don't believe that is correct - OSx needs to know how many cores there are for process scheduling. The lowest levels of any OS know quite a bit about what processor they are running on - they need to know what instructions are valid and a number of other things.
 
Yeah, but what he is saying is that it doesn't matter what version of OSX you have, it will see all processors/cores. It isn't a limitation of the software because it will work on just about whatever you throw at it, mostly. The ones we use in our iMacs would run on a quad core set up just as well as a dual core setup (now that doesn't mean it can take full advantage of such).

The only real thing you would get out of upgrading to quad core is faster encoding times and a more robust os. The software side of things will see a minimal increase mostly because software is just getting fully optimized for a dual core work space. Enter quad core and you don't have hardly any consumer-based programs that can take advantage of such. Upgrading RAM would have much more of an impact!

It is a hardware limitation, not only the fact that it is a mobile processor (I wished they used faster desktop variants), but it is also a socket limitation as well as a power limitation. We don't know if the iMac could handle the power consumption, or if the socket can put out the power needed for the quad core. You are doubling the processors which turns into more heat. We have our fair share of "overheating imac" threads as it is.

I will be honest, this cannot be done. If you want to do it it will end up costing way more than you anticipated. It would end up being cheaper just to get a Mac Pro from the start...
 
iMac and Mac mini processors are socketed as of now. The Q9100/QX9300 are on Socket P but they require Montevina and I haven't seen any word on nVidia's support of them.
 
old-wiz said:
I don't believe that is correct - OSx needs to know how many cores there are for process scheduling. The lowest levels of any OS know quite a bit about what processor they are running on - they need to know what instructions are valid and a number of other things.
Click to expand...
Certainly,

I was pointing out that OS X would not refuse to run because it found out that you were running on a Core 2 Quad processor. OS X knows how many cores you have, and can report back to you what processor you have, but its a generic architecture (hence why the OS X is optimized for Macs notion is a myth).

With the correct tools and drivers OS X will happily run on any Intel or AMD processor.
 
Rapmastac1 said:
Yeah, but what he is saying is that it doesn't matter what version of OSX you have, it will see all processors/cores. It isn't a limitation of the software because it will work on just about whatever you throw at it, mostly. The ones we use in our iMacs would run on a quad core set up just as well as a dual core setup (now that doesn't mean it can take full advantage of such).

T
Click to expand...

nick9191 said:
Certainly,

I was pointing out that OS X would not refuse to run because it found out that you were running on a Core 2 Quad processor. OS X knows how many cores you have, and can report back to you what processor you have, but its a generic architecture (hence why the OS X is optimized for Macs notion is a myth).

With the correct tools and drivers OS X will happily run on any Intel or AMD processor.
Click to expand...

Exactly as I said several posts above.
 
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