I foudn this pic of a dissasembled one on Kodawarisan and it looks like its sitting in a unique kind of socket. See pic:
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Intel iMacs' CPU upgradeable?
- Thread starter vniow
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I saw that too and had the same thought. It does not have the standard locking mechanism for user upgradable sockets (there would be a metal bar running from the large plastic end up one side). I think the small circle may be some sort of locking mechanism. So it's possible that you could replace the CPU with one which uses the same socket/FSB and has the same sort of thermal envelope.
That looks like the same sockets that are used in intel mobile processors that are in laptops. The cpu is removed by using a flat head screwdriver and turning the screw mechanism which unlocks the socket.
That would be really awesome if the new imacs are upgradeable.
That would be really awesome if the new imacs are upgradeable.
definitely seems like it will be a possiblity. it'll be nice if this is an option. makes the iMacs that much more attractive.
DVK916 said:
LOL!! No, you think?
Sorry for the sarcasm! Right now these chips are faster than all but the most expensive desktop (read P4EE) chips so upgrading them anytime soon would be pointless anyway. Not to mention there's nothing you could upgrade them with that's better right now!!
Now what will be interesting to know is how long it'll take for overclocking tools to become available. Although I doubt Apple's EFI 'bios' will let users overclock themselves you've been able to overclock computers using applications in Windows for years and so far all chips based upon the Pentium-M architecture have been massively overclockable. 1700Mhz -> 2600Mhz on air is a very reasonable outcome with many hitting way more. Can you imagine what a dual core 2Ghz iMac would be like overclocked?? An extra fan may be needed but 2800Mhz and maybe 3Ghz might quite reasonably be attainable.
Basically when the warranty's expired on these babies in three years time and your computer's beginning to feel a bit long in the tooth you should hopefully be able to without much effort make it run 50% faster.
haha... that's a good one.grapes911 said:
On topic, I would love to be able to upgrade my iMac's CPU in 2 or 3 years. I doubt Apple would let it happen but who knows. The only way it could be better is if you could upgrade the GPU too.
Morn said:If you can replace ram without voiding warranty why not CPU.
Theres a cover on the iMac designed for upgrading memory..
To do the CPU one has to remove the whole back panel..
This is great!
These machines were designed to go beyond 2Ghz. That means that when 2.2 or 2.5 Ghz chips come out, they should work if it's the same socket and the same FSB (which Intel does not change much).
It would be really nice to get a 1.83 17" iMac and in a few months, when Intel releases new chips, grab something faster from newegg or tigerdirect and plug it in! (If it's reasonable)
This is something us Mac guys that like tinkering with hardware have dreamt of for years!
These machines were designed to go beyond 2Ghz. That means that when 2.2 or 2.5 Ghz chips come out, they should work if it's the same socket and the same FSB (which Intel does not change much).
It would be really nice to get a 1.83 17" iMac and in a few months, when Intel releases new chips, grab something faster from newegg or tigerdirect and plug it in! (If it's reasonable)
This is something us Mac guys that like tinkering with hardware have dreamt of for years!
neonart said:
The 2.18 GHz core duo is out now: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/172909/
Same power consumption rating (31w) as the 2.0. That would be a wee upgrade.
Assumptions?
Just because the chip is in a socket doesn't mean you can change it out. It is very possible that the motherboard locks the chip clock multiple or rejects a differently clocked chip. Since CPUs were always soldered to the board in the past, people are not used to getting a mac with a serial # indicating a 2Ghz, but it actually is a 1.83Ghz since someone swapped the CPU.
Apple has made upgrading it's consumer products very difficult in the past and I see no reason why they'd suddenly make it easy and convenient.
Just because the chip is in a socket doesn't mean you can change it out. It is very possible that the motherboard locks the chip clock multiple or rejects a differently clocked chip. Since CPUs were always soldered to the board in the past, people are not used to getting a mac with a serial # indicating a 2Ghz, but it actually is a 1.83Ghz since someone swapped the CPU.
Apple has made upgrading it's consumer products very difficult in the past and I see no reason why they'd suddenly make it easy and convenient.
the EFI is accessible and the multiplier is locked in the cpu by intel, thus you can drop in any yonah based cpu and bam you got yourself an upgraded imac
personally knowing this news i'm pretty certain i'll wait for a 13" macbook pro then about 12 months down the line drop in a 2.2/6GHz yonah or if merom's are socket compatible run one of them.
as for the socket intel seems intent on changeing the thing around every cpu revision so it looks like we'll probably only get yonah's to upgrade with unless a company makes an adapter board.
personally knowing this news i'm pretty certain i'll wait for a 13" macbook pro then about 12 months down the line drop in a 2.2/6GHz yonah or if merom's are socket compatible run one of them.
as for the socket intel seems intent on changeing the thing around every cpu revision so it looks like we'll probably only get yonah's to upgrade with unless a company makes an adapter board.