Intel iMacs' CPU upgradeable?

[neonart]

Just because the chip is in a socket doesn't mean you can change it out. It is very possible that the motherboard locks the chip clock multiple or rejects a differently clocked chip. Since CPUs were always soldered to the board in the past, people are not used to getting a mac with a serial # indicating a 2Ghz, but it actually is a 1.83Ghz since someone swapped the CPU.

Apple has made upgrading it's consumer products very difficult in the past and I see no reason why they'd suddenly make it easy and convenient.

The only reason Apple "has made it difficult" has been that most of the late model portables and all-in-ones have had the CPU's soldered on the board, not that some evil Apple engineers have sat in a world domination room and plotted against upgrading while laughing MUAHAHAHA.

Otherwise Apple CPU's are just as upgradeable, albeit more expensive due to the limited numbers.

Check all the upgrades available for the G4 towers and you'll get an idea. In fact, these Intel chips appear to be MORE upgradeable than the G4's since they are not on a daughter card at all. It's just the CPU by it's lonesome self!

In a matter of months these iMacs (and probably MacBooks) will be upgraded by those who are adventurous, and like this stuff. Yes, the vast majority of Mac users are not into hardware tweaking, but there are a few of us who thrive on tearing apart anything Apple makes. *

* I've completely disassembled almost every Apple Computer I've ever owned (and my friends), including my iBooks (about 10 times), Powerbooks(3+ times), iMacs(too many to count), Minis (also a bunch). It's fun!

 

[Mord]

these imacs are not that upgradeable because intel changes their socket all the time, socket 479 is essentially a 478 P4 socket slightly modifed and it still has two versions one for yonah and one fore dothan and bias, thus you'll only be able to put yonah's in imacs so their will be a cap of like a maximum of about 2.4GHz, whereas you can upgrade a G4 imac to 1.92GHz from daystar.

 

[neonart]

these imacs are not that upgradeable because intel changes their socket all the time, socket 479 is essentially a 478 P4 socket slightly modifed and it still has two versions one for yonah and one fore dothan and bias, thus you'll only be able to put yonah's in imacs so their will be a cap of like a maximum of about 2.4GHz, whereas you can upgrade a G4 imac to 1.92GHz from daystar.

Sorry, but I must disagree. Intel does not change their sockets "all the time". Socket 478 has been around for how many years? It can be used for P4 1.6 to 3.4 Ghz, Celeron 1.7 to 3.2 Ghz, and even Celerond D and P4Ex.
You can buy 17 different Socket 847 P4's from $65 to $202 for a 3.2Ghz and 7 Celerons from $53 to $82.50 for a 3.06 Ghz from Geeks.com.
I know that socket 479 may not be as prolific, it's still something that can be unplugged and a new one put in, unlike the iMac G4, most Powerbooks, Minis, iBooks, etc.

Here is the list of Intel Sockets used from the P2 to the PM:

Pentium II:
Slot 1

Pentium III:
Slot 1
Socket 370

Pentium 4:
Socket 423
Socket 478
Socket T/LGA 775

Pentium M:
Socket 479 PGA & BGA

 

[Mord]

i'm talking recently, their are already two types of socket 479 one for dothan P-M's and one for yonahs, and likely another for merom, while the pin count does not change one of the pins always changes position to make them incompatible, intel has been doing this allot lately, with their 775 boards they are not forwards compatible, sure they can accommodate older cpu's but say you bought a board pre dual core P4 and want to upgrade you have to buy a whole new motherboard, intel boards historically have not been forward compatible more than a couple of hundred MHz whereas i have a dual 1.7GHz G4 sitting in my G4 cube that originally ran at 450MHz.

pc's are less upgradeable than macs on the cpu front, sure you have more choice in the first place, but if want to upgrade chances are you need a new mobo.

 

[neonart]

i'm talking recently...whereas i have a dual 1.7GHz G4 sitting in my G4 cube that originally ran at 450MHz.

If you are talking recently then a comparison of current Intel Chips to G4 of 5 years ago would be inappropriate.

Within their current generations, Intel chips can be upgraded easier, and for less money. Just try to upgrade a G5 and see how that goes.

Not trying to start a debate here, but I'm happy we have the opportunity of removing CPU's with a socket like the days of your Cube and those older, non-soldered Apple CPU's, and that replacements may very well be available at hundreds of retailers like newegg.com, geeks.com, tigerdirect, outpost.com, and hundreds of others.

 

[Mord]

what i'm saying is that although it's good it's not much use, yonah will only go up annother 333MHz if we are lucky so anyone who spends 800 bucks on a 12% speed increase has wasted their money, if apple haddent switched to intel their would be G5 upgrades at the moment, as it stands sonnect abandoned the project as their was no future to it as only single 1.6 owners would bother with it.

 

[Morn]

And that's because... intel makes the chipsets and makes money when you buy a new motherboard.