2007 imac need help keeping it going.

[elf69]

I plan on buying a newer model but have other priorities right now.

So need keep this one going for as long as I can.

Running el cap with 6gb ram and a 2.0GHz core2duo.

This evening it hung/crashed.

well music still playing and mouse moving about screen but unable click on anything.
Rear case is warm but it has always been warm.

Installed MagicanPaster app and it says the CPU is 129 degrees and HDD is 53 degrees.

this seems hight for CPU.
no motherboard temp readings in app.

I have a X7900 cpu to upgrade it.
which is 44w compared to the 35w 2.0GHz cpu in it.
The cooling system is capable of 45w max so just within limits.

I realize an SSD is a good upgrade but for moment cannot afford it.

I have a spare 64GB SSD and an adaptor to put a 2.5" drive in the optical bay.
So if move my home folder to the optical bay drive will this be enough to keep it going for a bit until can get a 2009/2010 model or newer.

I know lots ask about the impossible and I know its old machine just almost literally have no money right now.
[doublepost=1512763895][/doublepost]macs fan control gives these readings....

seem more realistic than 129 degrees

 

[mikas]

It seems, and I'd guess, that your processor thermal paste has dried up. Everything else you say you wanted to do seems ok, and is probably gonna beneficial, but you might not need to do anything more, but to change aka renew your CPU thermal paste.

If you do that, you might want to renew the GPU thermal paste at the same time. They tend to disrupt as well as time goes by.

iFixit is a good source for a lot of different repairing procedures, in my opinion.

Good Luck!
[doublepost=1512764283][/doublepost]Oops, now that you attached a picture of temps, I am not so sure anymore. Your CPU shows only 47 °C. That's not so much. CPU at 129 °C would be a catastrophe though.

 

[elf69]

Cannot hurt to do the compound anyway.

I pulled a 2009 imac apart with ifixit help.
but swapping to SSD might fix my hangs if it drive related.

Will be clean install not TM restore.

 

[xxbeefydjxx]

it cannot be 129 degrees, your cpu will have thermal throttled and shut down asap if it was true.

As stated, you seem to have picked a good upgrade, and if it hasn't been opened or maintained internally since you've owned it then it's a good idea to change that thermal paste asap since it's probably dried up.

 

[elf69]

Never opened since I had it no.
It only ran out of warranty few months ago.

i bought it refurbed with 12 months warranty.
I need get a bigger SSD as 145GB of apps alone!

I have a 240GB SSD in my 2010 macbook that failed (macbook not SSD) so might steal that.

Tried take apart today but my torx tool is damaged and slipping so put back together until can get to hardware store for new tools.

 

[elf69]

got bit arriving soon so this time think take it slow.

firstly think fit the SSD and get that running as one of easier jobs.
then do the CPU or should I do CPU first? as it is most involved job.

then got swap out optical for HDD.
and then install High Sierra.

it should see me thru another year or so while I look for a newer model.
But this thing just keeps on going and has never really let me down bar odd freeze/hang but very few and far between.

 

[thefriendshipmachine]

just be careful swapping the SSD and CPU. I just did this on an old powerbook and while it all went fine there was a lot of steps. Watch youtube videos and be careful.

Also are you sure the new CPU you bought will work with high sierra? It has to be at least Penryn based I think.

 

[nambuccaheadsau]

Be wise to purchase a new SATA cabler and these do get brittle with age and heat and fracture inside causing no end of problems. Also do not purchase a SATA III SSD which are 6Gb/ps and often have trouble being compatible with your SATA 1.5Gb/ps.

 

[elf69]

my cpu has been tried and tested by many others as is Sierra/high Sierra compliant.
only issue is "about this Mac" reports it at 400MHz, but running a terminal code shows the correct speed.

the ssd I have is sata III (data 240GB) and again have seen user fit sata III without issues.
This is why I want do baby steps rather than do it all at once then not know where fault is.

 

[elf69]

Located a cheap 240GB SSD on wish.com for £56.

It's due in next few weeks.

It is a sata 2 drive 370 read and write speed.

I'm going to do. a fresh install not TM or migration as I get random issues with safari and it is only partially syncing with my MacBook Air. In that saved stuff on air shows on the iMac but not other way around. Passwords are not sharing via keychain either, logs show keychain off in the iMac but in settings it is on.
Fresh install only way know if corrupt safari.