iMac 2020 upgradable to Intel 11th Gen Processor?

[astr627]

We know that 11th gen processor will be on the same LGA 1200 socket as used in current gen 2020 iMac. Intel Rocket Lake-S processor allegedly has improved IPC by up to 18%. Since there is no physical change in the motherboard hardware, in theory this should be user upgradable. What your thoughts on this?

 

[robbieduncan]

The ifixit tear down (https://www.ifixit.com/News/43287/apples-last-dance-with-intel-imac-27-2020-teardown-with-x-rays) shows it is a socketed CPU so the first hurdle is passed. Whether the Apple UEFI implementation would accept the CPU? Don’t think there is any way of knowing without trying...

 

[hoodafoo]

The ifixit tear down (https://www.ifixit.com/News/43287/apples-last-dance-with-intel-imac-27-2020-teardown-with-x-rays) shows it is a socketed CPU so the first hurdle is passed. Whether the Apple UEFI implementation would accept the CPU? Don’t think there is any way of knowing without trying...

what is the opposite of socketed?

 

[robbieduncan]

what is the opposite of socketed?

Soldered to the logic board. Some CPUs with BGA type interfaces have each connection soldered. So 1000+ soldered connections in a tight space. Good luck upgrading that!

 

[hoodafoo]

Soldered to the logic board. Some CPUs with BGA type interfaces have each connection soldered. So 1000+ soldered connections in a tight space. Good luck upgrading that!

Oh, I could have guessed that.. thought there was a fancy term. Anyhoo, reworking soldered BGA can be done - we have the technology!

 

[chscag]

What your thoughts on this?

My thoughts are: I would leave well enough alone. It's hit and miss the new CPU whether socketed or not, is going to be compatible with the 2020 iMac.

And with Apple switching architecture to its own silicon, and very likely coming out with new iMacs sometime late this year, upgrading an iMac that is going to be obsolete in a few years is not worth the effort.

Just my opinion.

 

[wilberforce]

My thoughts are: I would leave well enough alone. It's hit and miss the new CPU whether socketed or not, is going to be compatible with the 2020 iMac.

And with Apple switching architecture to its own silicon, and very likely coming out with new iMacs sometime late this year, upgrading an iMac that is going to be obsolete in a few years is not worth the effort.

Just my opinion.

I tend to agree. I bet the real-world performance improvements will be underwhelming, going by Intel's recent generations which have shown small incremental gains, other than by piling on more cores. And I understand the 11th gen i9 actually has less cores (8 cores) than the 10th gen i9 (10 cores)

 

[astr627]

My thoughts are: I would leave well enough alone. It's hit and miss the new CPU whether socketed or not, is going to be compatible with the 2020 iMac.

And with Apple switching architecture to its own silicon, and very likely coming out with new iMacs sometime late this year, upgrading an iMac that is going to be obsolete in a few years is not worth the effort.

Just my opinion.

Mostly a hit and miss as you said. It's totally up to Apple at that point to support it or not. If Apple opts to refresh iMac with 11th gen processor, that would be great for people who jumped on 2020 model. Anyway, Rocket Lake is on a new microarchitecture and will bring the first real IPC gain for the past few years.

 

[mdgm]

You would want to have the latest Boot ROM installed before attempting any upgrade. If Apple did add support for 11th gen chips it would be more likely to be present in the latest Boot ROM than an older one.