Intel iMac CPU Swappable? - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Intel iMac CPU Swappable?

Xlr8yourmac provides a reader report on a recent article in MacFan magazine (Japanese). According to the report, the Intel iMac Core Duo CPU is mounted in the standard Intel socket, making it replaceable. As a test, a 1.83GHz iMac's CPU was swapped out for a 2GHz one:

However, the author is not sure that it will run completely normally with an upgraded CPU. The author purchased a 2GHz T2500 from a PC shop and installed it in the socket of a 17" iMac and it booted OK. There seemed to be no problems and the About this Mac pane reported a 2GHz duo chip.

The cost of such a minor upgrade ($480 for a 2GHz chip) doesn't make sense at this time but does offer more of a upgrade path than previously available on the iMac.

Related Roundup: iMac
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iMac

Popular Stories

Apple iMac M4 hero feature

Apple's Next Big iMac Upgrade Revealed

Tuesday April 14, 2026 8:48 am PDT by
Apple's next major iMac upgrade will be an OLED panel, according to ZDNet Korea, though it won't arrive until 2029 or 2030. Apple has apparently asked Samsung Display, LG Display, and other suppliers to produce 24-inch OLED panel samples on their mass-production lines, targeting 600 nits of brightness and around 218 pixels-per-inch (PPI). The current iMac's 24-inch LCD offers 500 nits at the ...
imac new purple

Major iMac Upgrade Coming in 2029

Tuesday April 28, 2026 5:46 am PDT by
Apple is planning a major upgrade to the iMac in 2029, adopting an OLED panel for the first time, according to ZDNet Korea. Apple has apparently asked Samsung Display, LG Display, and other suppliers to produce 24-inch OLED panel samples on their mass-production lines, targeting 600 nits of brightness and around 218 pixels-per-inch (PPI). The current iMac's 24-inch LCD offers 500 nits at the ...
iOS 27 on iPhone 17 1

iOS 27 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Saturday May 2, 2026 8:43 am PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil iOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote on June 8, and there are already many rumored features and changes for iPhones. The first developer beta of iOS 27 will likely be available immediately following the keynote, and a public beta typically follows in July. Following beta testing, the software update should be released to all users with a compatible iPhone in...
Related Apple News: Politics | Ipad | Opinion | Reviews | Sport