Step 1: Crack the Case
First remove the RAM-hatch cover by unscrewing its two screws - note that they're captive screws, so you can't completely remove them. Remove the RAM module(s) inside and tuck the levers all the way into their slot. Remove all of the other screws on the bottom of the iMac and work the outer bezel loose from the bottom. Angle the back piece up a bit, but don't remove it yet. First we need to release a couple of hidden latches at the upper edge.
Mind the RAM-lock levers-you're removing the slot that they poke through.
Sarah Bates Winter
April 27, 2013 at 1:17pm
Does anyone know if upgrading the CPU allows the system to access more RAM? The limit on the original core duo was only 2 GB.
Upgrade went great thanks to your information! thanks!
Krammig
August 27, 2012 at 10:29pm
I have just tried for the second time to upgrade my Core Duo iMac 10" to Core 2 Duo.
When I try to turn the machine it the power light blinks on for a few seconds, then all power is lost.
I can put the original processor back in, and everything works fine.
I have tried this with 2 new processors but the same issue each time. And original Core Duo works fine.
Any thoughts please ?
thanks
joejoethedogfaceboy
October 10, 2012 at 5:03pm
What processor are you trying to put in? Just today, i tried on the same iMac with a T7300 and got same results. Turns out (and I should have noticed this before I bought it) that the T7300 is 800Mhz front-side bus, but the Early 2006 iMac has a 667Mhz fsb. Just ordered a T7200 and will try again with that.
Good luck
-Joe
dscottjr
June 09, 2012 at 8:53am
Has anyone upgraded a MacBook Pro duo core to duo core 2 or higher?
monk1280
September 27, 2011 at 11:36am
hi, you know if I could use this proccesor called "Core 2 Duo E7400 2.8 Ghz" in my mac that have these specifications:
Nombre del modelo: iMac
Identificador del modelo: iMac4,1
Nombre del procesador: Intel Core Duo
Velocidad del procesador: 2 GHz
Número de procesadores: 1
Número total de núcleos: 2
Caché de nivel 2: 2 MB
Memoria: 2 GB
Velocidad del bus: 667 MHz
Versión de la ROM de arranque: IM41.0055.B08
Versión SMC (sistema): 1.1f5
Número de serie (sistema): W86082S5U2P
UUID de hardware: 00000000-0000-1000-8000-0016CB8C4052i will appreciate a lot if you can answer me.
thanks
gswallow
February 14, 2011 at 9:16am
Ok, upgraded in-laws Early 2006 17in 1.83GHz iMac to an Mac Book Pro. Payment? We received the iMac. With a Mac Mini, iBook, PowerMac, and 4 CRT iMacs in the house this is our first intel based unit. WooHoo! Came with 512MB RAM and 2GB on the way. Am figuring 160GB HDD just not going to hack it. Maybe some sort of HDD upgrade for the new iMac and have a 250GB and 300GB HDD sitting around that we could use. Thought maybe should check into CPU upgrades and came upon a question. Max speed we can attain for this Early 2006 iMac looks to be 2.33GHz using a CoreDuo T2700 or a Core2Duo T7600. If I'm not going to be able to use full 64bit from the T7600, would it be better to get T2700? Would the newer technology of the T7600 be cooler and so warrant getting the T7600? Just wondering. T7600 looks to be more available as well and, to some extent, less expensive. Let me know what y'all think.
Ollie4c
July 18, 2011 at 2:00am
Hi, Id assume you completed all your upgrades by now, and I was wondering which CPU you went with? I see the T7600 all over ebay for like $100, and if those work ill just order one of those. And was there anything special you had to do once you installed the processor? Did you just push the power button and it started like normal? Thanks
sonnoio
February 15, 2011 at 3:10am
Hi gswallow,
I cannot address your question but I can say that I just completed a switch from the original T2500 to the T7200 w/o a problem. It is far easier than the article reveals. What I cannot get an answer to is if one can upgrade to the firmware for the Core 2 duo.
Good luck
Sonnoio
gswallow
June 14, 2011 at 3:43pm
Was this the T7200 you used?
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz / 4M / 667 SL9SF Socket M T7200
God Bless,
GregS <><
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November 24, 2009 at 12:46pm
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Tech77
September 22, 2009 at 8:07pm
What socket type do I choose PGA or BGA? Any other info I need to know before choosing a new CPU??
Alpich
July 18, 2009 at 6:54am
I did it. I now have a Intel iMac 17" 2006 Core 2 Duo system. Further more the Network card worked as well. I have noticed a speed improvement but that could be due to the clean install. Still it seems snappier. I am not too sure how or if it is possible to post pics but unfortunately there is no video. Ended up my fault was not the Capacitors on the logic board at all but was the power supply. Still I now know a Core 2 Duo iMac for a $400 upgrade. Yay If anyone wants pics for proof I will happily send them. I can show pics of the CPU in the main board. and a screen shot of sys info for both the CPU and the Network card. The network card is definitely working as I can force my Apple Airport Express N router to just do N and the iMac still connects.
Alpich
June 23, 2009 at 9:24pm
I have an early 2006 Intel 7" iMac that is working for the moment but with suspected pregnant capacitor. A friend of mine thinks he can fix this. I asked 'While it is open can we make other changes?' He said "Yes". So now I am upgrading to the Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 2Ghz 667 Processor which only cost me $100. I am also upgrading the Network card since with it now being a Core 2 Duo I am hoping that it will work. According to everything I am reading the card should fit into the same slot so I will document that too. And while I am at it I am going to change the HDD. I am hoping that my friend will let me video the experience and I will post it on Youtube and post here the results. The capacitor repair could take up to 3 weeks as he is ordering the capacitors from his work. So hope for the best for me. The next step will be to try to install Snow Leopard on to it. Will let you know how that goes in October.
Alpich
June 23, 2009 at 9:23pm
I have an early 2006 Intel 7" iMac that is working for the moment but with suspected pregnant capacitor. A friend of mine thinks he can fix this. I asked 'While it is open can we make other changes?' He said "Yes". So now I am upgrading to the Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 2Ghz 667 Processor which only cost me $100. I am also upgrading the Network card since with it now being a Core 2 Duo I am hoping that it will work. According to everything I am reading the card should fit into the same slot so I will document that too. And while I am at it I am going to change the HDD. I am hoping that my friend will let me video the experience and I will post it on Youtube and post here the results. The capacitor repair could take up to 3 weeks as he is ordering the capacitors from his work. So hope for the best for me. The next step will be to try to install Snow Leopard on to it. Will let you know how that goes in October.
WiredPig
May 07, 2009 at 6:29pm
I think I'm being a tad dense, so please bare with me.
I have a new, to me, early 06 iMac that I want to swap out the CPU on. Using this procedure, will swapping out the CPU to a C2D allow me to run 64bit O/S'?
Thanks,
Wired Pig | On Twitter | Blog
Luis
June 10, 2008 at 5:07pm
Has someone done this and installed 64bit OS in the iMac successfully? Please let me know at luisrh@mac.com
Jerry
March 09, 2008 at 7:10pm
How fast of a processor can I get to replace the old Core duo? Will a T7400 work also?
Jim
February 16, 2008 at 8:42pm
I have a 17" iMac that I wanted to upgrade. I used this site as reference and it was very helpful. The hardest part of the upgrade was getting the case apart and then removing the various wires connected to everything. Once those 2 issues was resolved, everything was fairly easy. I've done a number of upgrades to Cubes and my mac mini and this one was the most trying. But, the machine did boot the 1st time and I am happy to say, all is well. Thanks Mac Life for the help.
john
February 27, 2008 at 11:03am
So the real question is... Can I take a logic board from a core 2 duo macbook and swap it with my core duo macbook? The form of the case is the same and from what I have seen the logic board seems to be the same size and shape.
Any ideas on this one?
Thanks!
John
Steven
December 16, 2007 at 9:29pm
Oh my god, all that just to replace the chip. Curious with all that removal just to look on the other side of the logic board. You think it would possible to just cut a door right where the processor is? I mean you're killing the warranty anyways.
Anonymous
July 05, 2007 at 12:50am
Will any Merom socket M chip work? Conversely, will any other core 2 – Conroe, for example – chip work?
upgraded and breathing easier
October 31, 2007 at 3:47pm
I followed these instructions while I updated my late 2006 20" imac and found that once open my imacs insides looked different, so some of the screws noted for taking out did not apply (must have been a different model) However the basic principals still held, with a few variations. on mine there were two sets of plugs from the power to LCD..watch for that as I broke the top set as I pulled out the LCD! still workable though so no worries. disconnect all contacts as in instructions take lots of pictures, it really helped me. even with the different architecture you still have to take the whole mother board out and flip over. The CPU is the bottom right chip attached to teh heat sink (I guess the other is the graphics card?). Popped in the intel core 2 duo T7600 2.33 GHZ that I got on ebay, but you can order any M style core 2 duo chip at various online stores including newegg.com, I just went for the cheapest I could find ~$350USD. I used Torx scredrivers #6-10, a regular philips screwdriver (for the heat sink screws), and a couple of different sets of pliers for the plugs. While I was in there I put in a 802.11n wireless card and put it all together. bong!!! awesome, have yet to do any speed tests but everything is working fine. I've been monitoring teh CPU temp and its seems a few degrees higher 48.0 c - 52.0 on idle (was low 40s before) but haven't really cranks the processor yet.
all in all well work the ~$430 i spent!
YOUR FACE
June 24, 2007 at 3:39pm
Is it possible to hire a person to do this for you? I would like to upgrade my processor but I don't think I want to attempt this. If so, where would I find such a person?
Anonymous
February 28, 2007 at 3:55pm
Please give us a tutorial on how to add an eSata port to the imac. Then this thing would give the Mac pro a run for the money!!! I'm always out of hard drive space and firewire/usb drives are out of date!
Lance
February 24, 2007 at 9:06am
Is it possible to upgrade to a quad core processor?
Caslon
February 20, 2007 at 10:01pm
I upgraded my 20' Early 2006 Core Duo to a 2.16 Core 2 Duo and it works great. I'll upgrade my other one too soon.
CN
March 28, 2008 at 11:05pm
Hi, there:
i felt confused of the socket M;478;479... Which of the following/or all of them can replace my imac 20" 2.0 Dual Core cpu?Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 2.50GHz Mobile Processor - 800MHz FSB - 6MB L2 - 478-pin FC-PGA Socket 478;
Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.20GHz Mobile Processor - 4MB L2 - 478-pin Socket 479;
Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 2.0GHz Socket 478 Mobile Processor - 2.0GHz - 667MHz FSB - 2MB L2 Cache;
Intel Core 2 Duo T7800 2.60GHz Mobile Processor - 800MHz FSB - 4MB L2 - 478-pin FC-PGA Socket 478;
Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 2.40GHz Mobile Processor - 800MHz FSB - 3MB L2 - 478-pin FC-PGA Socket 478;
Intel Laptop Computer Notebook - Core 2 Duo T7700 2.40GHz Mobile Processor - 2.40GHz - 800MHz FSB - 64KB, 64KB L1 - 4MB L2 - Socket 478 - BX80537T7700And T7700 price seems good, can my imac use it?
regards
Urgent to know,
CN
CN
March 28, 2008 at 11:01pm
Hi, there:
i felt confused of the socket M;478;479... Which of the following/or all of them can replace my imac 20" 2.0 Dual Core cpu?Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 2.50GHz Mobile Processor - 800MHz FSB - 6MB L2 - 478-pin FC-PGA Socket 478;
Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.20GHz Mobile Processor - 4MB L2 - 478-pin Socket 479;
Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 2.0GHz Socket 478 Mobile Processor - 2.0GHz - 667MHz FSB - 2MB L2 Cache;
Intel Core 2 Duo T7800 2.60GHz Mobile Processor - 800MHz FSB - 4MB L2 - 478-pin FC-PGA Socket 478;
Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 2.40GHz Mobile Processor - 800MHz FSB - 3MB L2 - 478-pin FC-PGA Socket 478;
Intel Laptop Computer Notebook - Core 2 Duo T7700 2.40GHz Mobile Processor - 2.40GHz - 800MHz FSB - 64KB, 64KB L1 - 4MB L2 - Socket 478 - BX80537T7700And T7700 price seems good, can my imac use it?
regards
Urgent to know,
CN
Mike Bailey
June 02, 2007 at 1:15am
How much did it cost for the Core 2 duo chip? Where did you buy it from? How difficult was it to DIY?
Are there any downsides that you've noticed?
Mike
Mike Bailey
May 12, 2007 at 6:43am
Where did you buy the Core 2 Duo upgrade? How much did it cost, $US or £GB?
Did you get anyone to fit it for you?
It looks a little daunting, the article says it's very easy to break some of the plugs on the motherboard.
If as I suspect you're in the USA, do you know where I could source the Core 2 Duo upgrade within the UK?
How much faster does the iMac run with the Core 2 Duo over say the 2 Ghz Core Duo as supplied in the early 2006 Intel Imac Core Duo?
Thanks in anticipation.
Mike
Anonymous
April 15, 2007 at 9:56am
what kind of processor you use to upgrade your imac core duo?
is it the same one in newegg site
intel core 2 duo T7400 merom 2.16 GHz soket M processor model.what's the different between the pc processor and intel mac processor.
i need to upgrade my imac too.
Daniel Jhoty-Borge (danibo77)
February 02, 2007 at 2:43am
My old iMac G5 had a much simpler approach to opening the case...
The back just slided up giving you access to the inside, just to bad it wasn't replacable..They made it extremely more hard... although more fun.. to open the case now.
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SamsLembas
February 01, 2007 at 1:41pm
How did it go? How was the speed increase? Did anything not work?
Jason wolven
February 01, 2007 at 9:05am
I jumped into the burning of fire to soon and got burnt. I hate the fact that this MacBook Pro of mine got an upgrade so soon after coming out. I'm not about to spend an amount equally to a good car to buy a brand-new MacBook Pro.
After all my next Mac is going to be a Macintosh Pro desktop. So I would like to know is it possible to upgrade my MacBook Pro Core Duo to Core 2 Duo without trashing everything on my current system?
Anonymous
February 05, 2007 at 1:02pm
Simple Answer is... no. Your processor is not socketed, it's soldered onto the board. Sorry.
Dr. Allan Zeldman
February 26, 2007 at 11:30am
I read the "Simple Answer - No!" to the question. Which pseudo-logic tells me - could a 'complicate answer' be 'Yes'?
I understand that the the obstacle is the processor being soldered to the motherboard instead of socketed (as it is in the iMac). Well, soldering is cetainly not an undoable process - it's really just an application of appropriate heat with the right tool (gun) and precision. But with the delicate, highly compact, and genrally unmodifiable construction of most of the Powerbook/MacBook line I understand the "No" answer on the MacLife forum.
I've disassembled and assembled many many (not a double-typo) PBs, iBooks, Minis, installed DVD drives, HDs, among other replacements, and even rewired a PB-G4 (667MHz) whose main unit and LCD had become completely separated. That was quite the task, and involved adding/extending and 'soldering' a number of new wires to make up for the shortened length of the wiring (5 wires) after the separation. Funny thing is, it never stopped working after the separation. The main issues were a) it was no longer portable (as you might imagine in two pieces with dangling wires) and b) the LCD backlighting was shot due to the severed wire carrying that signal. Still, with some front light you could see the desktop. I used it with an external monitor for while befoee the 'operation'. But in the end I replaced the hinges (much cheaper on eBay), got it working, and my 5yr old is very happy since his MacMini's motherboard died (anyone know where to get one) and now uses the PB?
So, I guess my few questions are: just how precarious or dangerous (e.g. non-afterlife of the MacBookPro) would the de-soldering/resoldering process be? What could be damaged in the process? Would resoldering be absolutely necessary or could the thermal compound be used instead in the reconstruction, as in the iMac directions/process? Also, there are a few hardware and software based advantages and differences with the "Core 2 Duo " vs. "Core Duo" MacBook Pro. Anything lost or damaged in the process of such an upgrade? Finally, if you know, would I use the same Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 from NewEgg, or some other - possibly at a higher speed?
Grateful for all thoughts and input.
Dr. ALlan Zeldman
Senior Data Analyst
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Toronto, Canada
(private e-mail: azeldman@rogers.com )
Wayne Winquist
February 01, 2007 at 1:44am
What Core 2 Duo did you drop in? Did oyu try to match what was in there, or were you going for more of a speed boost? Also, how well would the Quad-core Core 2 Extreme work?
(Hey Apple, time for an iMac Quad-Core! I know you wanna! LOL)
vince
February 01, 2007 at 12:27am
I've been wanted a Mac Mini Core 2 Duo. Would this chip also fit in that system? Will it run ok with bus speeds, etc?
Bill
March 22, 2007 at 7:00am
works lie a charm,replacing the CPU is easy,but
BEWARE the ribbon cable from interconnect to main board.
Had to spend an extra 40.00 to replace interconnect.
Origanal yonah 1.66 upgraded to Merom 2.o ghz.I have doubled level 2 cache.System is much more responsive and grades out about 20-25 per cent faster on most benchmarks.
If we could just do something about graphics.
My mini runs cooler and has the 64 bit azz to handle leopard.Runs 40 to 48 celcius.Machine Name: Mac mini
Machine Model: Macmini1,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MM11.0055.B08
SMC Version: 1.3f4
macalicious
February 02, 2007 at 6:00am
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Gary
February 01, 2007 at 10:22pm
Yes Vince you can upgrade your Mac Mini depending on which one you have. Check out this link from Xlr8yourmac.com. It gives a pretty complete run down on how to do it and provides some links for additional info. Only question would be is the cost to do it may be as much or close to what you paid for your Mini if you got one of the higher speed CPU's
http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/mac_mini_core_2_duo_swaps.html#storytop
