Upgrading CPU on old iMac :-)

[NumberCruncher]

Hey forums, this is my first post and first day on here. Glad to be here!
Anyways, I made a similar post on ifixit but the community there isn't really prepared for this type of question. Here's hoping there are some informed apple people here!

This is the specs of my system:
iMac A1224
EMC 2266
P Socket 478 pin chip
Link to everymac: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...o-2.66-20-inch-aluminum-early-2009-specs.html

Long story short, I want to change the CPU of my system. Is this cost efficient, or smart? Not really. Do I care? Nope ;-)
I found a CPU that would fit in the socket and that matches the type.

Here it is: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Original-In...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

What is interesting is this is a really obscure CPU, one of the only quad cores for this socket. I confirmed with the seller, they are both the same. Big Question for you guys: Will my iMac post with this CPU? Will there be EFI issues? And if so, is there any way around it?

Thanks for the consideration guys, this is a really obscure question but what do you guys think?

 

[keysofanxiety]

As far as I know, Apple have never released a Mac with a Core2Quad (Kentsfield/Yorksfield) processor.

Based on that, there’s no reason you should expect it to work. There’s no EFI support or OS support for that processor.

However if you’re happy to risk making a lemon out of your iMac, there are many here (myself included) who would be interested to see if it works.

Let me know your thoughts!

 

[NumberCruncher]

As far as I know, Apple have never released a Mac with a Core2Quad (Kentsfield/Yorksfield) processor.

Based on that, there’s no reason you should expect it to work. There’s no EFI support or OS support for that processor.

However if you’re happy to risk making a lemon out of your iMac, there are many here (myself included) who would be interested to see if it works.

Let me know your thoughts!

You know what... I might just try it. And if the EFI doesn't support it, do you think I can do something to make it work using Linux or Windows?

Thanks

 

[nambuccaheadsau]

Like those big round lollies on sticks ~ suck it and see. And of course report back.

 

[jerwin]

Apparently so. But you won't be able to get a quad core working.

 

[casperes1996]

Well, aren't both the Quads and the Duos Penryns? In that case, since it's the same architecture, wouldn't it be necessary to explicitly blacklist them rather than whitelisting them from the EFI?

 

[NumberCruncher]

Well, aren't both the Quads and the Duos Penryns? In that case, since it's the same architecture, wouldn't it be necessary to explicitly blacklist them rather than whitelisting them from the EFI?

What do you mean by this? I am no expert. Would like to gain some knowledge here

Thanks

 

[casperes1996]

What do you mean by this? I am no expert. Would like to gain some knowledge here

Thanks

That comment was more oriented towards other people more knowledgable than me. I'm no expert either, but as far as I can tell, both the Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad in question are the same architecture, and so for one to work in the motherboard/EFI and not the other would be more work (explicitly disallowing it).

 

[AnonMac50]

I don’t think the EFI should be an issue, considering the chips are the same architecture and from the same series. At worst, I reckon the EFI might not be able to read the last two cores. I might be wrong of course. OS X support is probably fine, OS X supports quad core Penryns (as in the Mac Pro), and there are many Hackintoshes that use Core 2 Quad chips too.
[doublepost=1549193969][/doublepost]

You know what... I might just try it. And if the EFI doesn't support it, do you think I can do something to make it work using Linux or Windows?

Thanks

If the EFI really doesn’t support it, I don’t think changing the OS would make a difference. But I doubt the EFI won’t support it.

 

[iHeardAMacRumor]

@NumberCruncher

Any updates on this? I'm very curious to see if it worked.

Hey forums, this is my first post and first day on here. Glad to be here!
Anyways, I made a similar post on ifixit but the community there isn't really prepared for this type of question. Here's hoping there are some informed apple people here!

This is the specs of my system:
iMac A1224
EMC 2266
P Socket 478 pin chip
Link to everymac: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/...o-2.66-20-inch-aluminum-early-2009-specs.html

Long story short, I want to change the CPU of my system. Is this cost efficient, or smart? Not really. Do I care? Nope ;-)
I found a CPU that would fit in the socket and that matches the type.

Here it is: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Original-Intel-Core-2-Quad-Q9000-2-GHz-Quad-Core-BX80581Q9000-Processor-CPU/282388921705?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

What is interesting is this is a really obscure CPU, one of the only quad cores for this socket. I confirmed with the seller, they are both the same. Big Question for you guys: Will my iMac post with this CPU? Will there be EFI issues? And if so, is there any way around it?

Thanks for the consideration guys, this is a really obscure question but what do you guys think?

 

[uller6]

I also have an early 2009 20" 2.66 C2D and am interested to see if you can get a C2Q working. My biggest concern is TDP of the CPU - since the C2Q of that generation are essentially 2X C2D dies stuck together, the chip will likely put out 2X the heat of the original CPU. Even if you get it working, the computer will probably be pretty toasty.