iMac graphics & display

[2ms]

Is it possible at all to upgrade the graphics card on, say, a Core 2 17" iMac? I mean, is it possible to swap out the ATI card for any other card, at least the nvidia7600GT?

Secondly, is the response time of the LCD any good? For years lcds were no good for gaming because they were too slow, but this seems to be changing -- how'd the one in a 17" iMac measure up in this critical area for gaming?

I know Macs are not the machines to buy if you are a gamer -- I'm not a gamer -- I'm just wondering whether or not I'd get raped due to too slow hardware if ever I was to wander into an online FPS arena just for old times sake (back when I used to play Quake3, more and more as my computer became slower than everyone elses I started to have more and more of disadvantage in competition)

 

[SpankyPenzaanz]

no

 

[SpankyPenzaanz]

oh i put bootcamp on my 2footer and completely obsessed with the dark messiah of might and magic demo and the xbox360 wired controllerr works fine with it and plays at highest settings at 1920x1200

 

[2ms]

so, just to clarify...NONE of the current iMacs have upgradeable graphics? I would have thought that with at least the 24" not to mention the 20" it would maybe be possible since it appears from the specs that they truly have discrete graphics cards.

 

[SpankyPenzaanz]

the 24" is using the interchangeable technology but it is HIGHLY unlikely apple will ever make that a user serviceable option and the apple stores don't get their hands too dirty in that type of stuff as they will direct you to order online if you have bto.

 

[2ms]

what do u mean a user serviceable option? I guess I am wondering whether or not it is physically possible to open up the case of an imac 20" and replace the card with an off-the-shelf higher performance card. Or do they use some nonstandard graphics card format or something.

 

[Chundles]

what do u mean a user serviceable option? I guess I am wondering whether or not it is physically possible to open up the case of an imac 20" and replace the card with an off-the-shelf higher performance card. Or do they use some nonstandard graphics card format or something.

The 17" and 20" iMac, like all other Macs apart from the Mac Pro, have their graphics systems hard wired into the logic board making them impossible to upgrade.

The 24" iMac uses an MXM module - the graphics card technically is removable but there are no other cards on the market that support the Mac in this form factor so either way, you can't upgrade the graphics on any Mac other than the Mac Pro.

 

[2ms]

the specs call the graphics PCI Express connected, but that doesn't actually mean detachable from a PCI Express port?

 

[Chundles]

the specs call the graphics PCI Express connected, but that doesn't actually mean detachable from a PCI Express port?

No, the graphics components in the 17" and 20" iMacs are incorporated into the logic board. Yes, they run off the PCIe bus but they are most certainly not removable.

Trust me on this one 2ms.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

If you have a 24" iMac with the 7300 you can probably get a 7600GT module from an Apple reseller as a part (many won't sell you just a part without service but some will, especially online) and swap the cards out.

The 17" and 20" models don't have the removable modules - if future versions start using them it will be possible to upgrade the video card yourself...probably. But you'd still have to use an Apple module, and they won't be available retail.