Upgrading My iMac Early 2008

[MyMac2021]

Hello everybody and macrumors.com

i have an iMac early 2008 with an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz, 4 GB 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM and Graphic Card ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT 128 MB

i wants to upgrade my iMac getting a better CPU more RAM maybe a faster and bigger SSD and a better Graphics Card.

Have someone in here a Solution or a Video in Youtube for upgrading my Mac

 

[B S Magnet]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

The first place you will want to start is to have the full specs of your particular system handy. Everymac is the place to find that.

For your iMac, it lists the early 2008 2.4GHz model as a 20" model. Under the Processor section, you’ll find the iMac is bundled with the Core 2 Duo E8135 Penryn CPU, which is a series that uses the “Socket P” configuration. It appears there were four E8x35-series Penryn CPUs manufactured. CPUs have a rating called Thermal Design Power (in watts), which is the highest wattage that design of CPU can expect to handle. Generally, the number goes up with faster clock speeds, and the logic board is designed with that TDP in mind.

The limit of RAM that series can run is 6GB (4GB SO-DIMM + 2GB SO-DIMM of the same speed). The 4GB SO-DIMMs tend to be a bit pricey relative to later-generation 4GB RAM sticks.

As for the GPU, your options are very few: there is an Apple part, if you can track one down, for the 256MB ATI Radeon HD 2600XT (Apple P/N 661-4436).

For an SSD, your SATA options are plentiful.

If the CPU upgrade is doable with your logic board and you have all the upgrade gear you plan to install handy, you’ll need to plan ahead with the iFixit DIY guides, the right tools (which iFixit outlines for each task), and consumables like 99% isopropyl alcohol, clean, lint-free cloths, and a good, non-metal thermal paste (such as Arctic Silver or Noctua). You can expect the insides to be caked with fine dust from years of use, so having a very soft brush (large makeup brushes are surprisingly good here) and a hand-squeezable blower will help you clean off all the dust on the logic board and throughout the inside (canned air can be too harsh and can damage sensitive components).

And, of course, allowing yourself plenty of space, time, patience, and breaks to go through every step carefully and thoroughly.

 

[Amethyst1]

. It appears there were four E8x35-series Penryn CPUs manufactured. CPUs have a rating called Thermal Design Power (in watts), which is the highest wattage that design of CPU can expect to handle. Generally, the number goes up with faster clock speeds, and the logic board is designed with that TDP in mind.

The E8135 has a TDP of up to 44W, like the E8435's E0 stepping, making this the CPU upgrade to go for. Better yet - the T9900 rated at 35W TDP.

Those oddball E-series Penryns are mobile CPUs with a much higher TDP rating than the standard T-series, ie "pseudo-lemons". The lower the TDP, the better.

 

[B S Magnet]

The E8135 has a TDP of up to 44W, like the E8435's E0 stepping, making this the CPU upgrade to go for. Better yet - the T9900 rated at 35W TDP.

Those oddball E-series Penryns are mobile CPUs with a much higher TDP rating than the standard T-series, ie "pseudo-lemons". The lower the TDP, the better.

From what I understand, only the “Socket P” configuration will work with the E-series, since the T-series uses an “LGA 1150” socket. Please correct me if I might be wrong, though!

 

[Amethyst1]

the T-series uses an “LGA 1150” socket.

Nope - T-series Penryns also use socket P.

LGA 1150 is for desktop Haswell and Broadwell CPUs.

 

[B S Magnet]

Nope - T-series Penryns also use socket P.

LGA 1150 is for desktop Haswell and Broadwell CPUs.

My bad!

What would be the functional difference between the E8435 and the T9900 — especially given how the iMac was bundled with the E8135?

 

[Amethyst1]

The E8435 has a higher TDP, meaning it runs hotter. It also runs at a higher voltage. Apart from that, they're identical. The T9900 was introduced a full year after the E8435.