CPU Upgrade iMac Mid 2011

[m0bil]

I've got the following results:

1 Thread
FID (aprox. average) 36.87 (Multiplier 37x?)
PKG Max Power 28W
Temp (max) 58 oC
iMac total power 90W
Result 115.708

2 Threads
FID (aprox. average) 35.9 (Multiplier 36x?)
PKG Max Power 37W
Temp (max) 62 oC
iMac total power 104W
Result 59.338

4 Threads
FID (aprox. average) 34.01 (Multiplier 34x?)
PKG Max Power 53W
Temp (max) 66 oC
iMac total power 132W
Result 32.472

8 Threads
FID (aprox. average) 33.2 (Multiplier 33x?)
PKG Max Power 61W
Temp (max) 67 oC
iMac total power 138W
Result 27.324


Fans set to full blast. Win 11

Did some testing on this.

First, CPU TDP includes the iGPU (HD2000), I have not found Intel officially released iGPU power consumption, but some online sources quote it as max 15W. Since iGPU it's not used in the iMac, we can expect max measured TDP to be 15W lower (that's good, less heat to dissipate).

In my testing with an i7-2700K I got (physical cores clock and power):

4 x 3.5 GHz: 63.7 W
4 x 3.8 GHz: 79.3 W
4 x 4.0 GHz: 86.0 W

The i7-2600 with stock iMac firmware will Turbo run at 4 x 3.5 GHz, so the power you're seeing is ok and, while the CPU is able of running at 4 x 3.8 GHz this requires "overclocking" and the iMac firmware will not allow it. I think the power values you are seeing are fine, and Intel quoted max TDP as the real max the cpu is able to reach (4 x 3.8 GHz = 79.3 W + iGPU 15 W).

I'll soon release a firmware patch to enable overcloking on Sandy Bridge iMacs, that should let you run the i7-2600 at 4 x 3.8 GHz and 80W, keep an eye on this thread for release news.

 

[iamnotscottmorrison]

Upgraded my 27" from the i5-2400 to the i7-2600 - the boot chime went from instant to 15 seconds after I press the power button. When I press the button, before and after, I hear the DVD drive spin, but it now takes about 15 seconds between the drive spinning up to the chime. Any possible reason for that? I have performed the 1600MHz RAM patch and the iGPU disable patch.

D2 revision Sandy Bridge. Is 2F the most recent microcode?

 

[kirya]

Upgraded my 27" from the i5-2400 to the i7-2600 - the boot chime went from instant to 15 seconds after I press the power button. When I press the button, before and after, I hear the DVD drive spin, but it now takes about 15 seconds between the drive spinning up to the chime. Any possible reason for that? I have performed the 1600MHz RAM patch and the iGPU disable patch.

D2 revision Sandy Bridge. Is 2F the most recent microcode?

i heard i7 2600 doesn't work without (s) lock policy

 

[rc3105]

My 2011 27" came with an i7-2600

iMac "Core i7" 3.4 27" (Mid-2011) Specs (Mid-2011, MD063LL/A, iMac12,2, A1312, 2429): EveryMac.com

Technical specifications for the iMac "Core i7" 3.4 27" (Mid-2011). Dates sold, processor type, memory info, hard drive details, price and more.

everymac.com

and I put an i7-2600 yoinked from a Dell desktop into a 2011 21" iMac w/o any trouble.

Shouldn't make a difference, but all my 2011 iMacs had their failing video cards replaced with Quadro K1100M 2G, which run Monterey just fine.

 

[m0bil]

Upgraded my 27" from the i5-2400 to the i7-2600 - the boot chime went from instant to 15 seconds after I press the power button. When I press the button, before and after, I hear the DVD drive spin, but it now takes about 15 seconds between the drive spinning up to the chime. Any possible reason for that? I have performed the 1600MHz RAM patch and the iGPU disable patch.

D2 revision Sandy Bridge. Is 2F the most recent microcode?

Probably not cpu related, it should be a clean upgrade. Never see any of the firmware patches delaying boot either.

Try pram reset several times in a row, if that does not fix delay maybe disconnecting all usb and internal sata devices to see if some device is delaying boot...

 

[Leandrgb]

Hoy he actualizado mi iMac 21,5” de 2011 a i7 2700k 32GB de RAM, y gráfica K1100M 2G, todo funcionando perfectamente! Actualmente con BIG SUR Y Windows 10

 

[___]

Would an i5 2500T work?

 

[pilotanatoliy]

Hi everybody. There is an imac 9.1 e8135 penryn processor with 8 GB 1333 MHz RAM. An Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9300 processor is available, but it does not start. Is it possible to modify EFI for this processor? Or please help me find a topic on the forum. Thanks!

 

[pilotanatoliy]

Hi. Do you think the imac 9.1 (early 2009) will launch the intel T9900 processor (currently costs e8135)?

 

[inck243]

I have a 2011 imac 27 inch and I upgraded the CPU to the 2700K: 3.5 GHz. The graphics card is Quadro K4100M. Running windows 10.

Sleep/hibernate doesn't work on my computer. It won't wake up. Do you think it's because the CPU or the graphics card? Is there a way to write something so the 2700K will be supported and support sleep/waking the computer?

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

I have a 2011 imac 27 inch and I upgraded the CPU to the 2700K: 3.5 GHz. The graphics card is Quadro K4100M. Running windows 10.

Sleep/hibernate doesn't work on my computer. It won't wake up. Do you think it's because the CPU or the graphics card? Is there a way to write something so the 2700K will be supported and support sleep/waking the computer?

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[Darek2116]

Hi!yesterday i install cpu xeon 1240 and i dont have any info from temp sensors...everything its connected properly
i need some drivers?i have oclp 1.5.0 and fresh sonoma.Computer works fine but benchmarks are low for cpu,but FPS are ok in movies for example.I decide to try xeon because its TDP -80W,i have i7 2600 but my GPU is 130W TDP
If this not work i go back to i7
Thanks for any advice

 

[Darek2116]

L5500 and L5501 are ok

 

[Darek2116]

ill do some test and change cpu for i7 2600 and its same situation - no signals from any temp sensors!i dont see faulty elements or scratches and something,its like another motherboard fault

 

[inck243]

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I know I sleep wake works with the graphics card. It doesn’t work with the 2700k even though the processor works in the socket. The computer runs fine despite it not being supported. What I’m asking for is if someone will be willing to write a custom bios so the 2700k can be fully supported. Thx

 

[m0bil]

I know I sleep wake works with the graphics card. It doesn’t work with the 2700k even though the processor works in the socket. The computer runs fine despite it not being supported. What I’m asking for is if someone will be willing to write a custom bios so the 2700k can be fully supported. Thx

The 2700k works and sleeps fine even on non-modded bios, I have tested it on many 12,2 iMacs and never had a sleep problem.

 

[inck243]

The 2700k works and sleeps fine even on non-modded bios, I have tested it on many 12,2 iMacs and never had a sleep problem.

I should say I'm using windows 10... do you know how to make it work like that in windows 10? Thx

 

[MacAfricaKE]

Successfully upgrade my iMac 21.5" 2011 from i5-2400s to Xeon E3-1270.
Using as GPU the AMD FirePro M5100. I don't mind that I need to Reset Pram on cold Boot. The benefits outweigh the small issue.
macOS Sonoma is way more responsive and Snappier.