[alliteration]

Hey all,
I'm in the market for a new computer and am currently looking into macs (specifically iMacs). My only question is regarding weather or not it is possible to upgrade the video cards and/or processors inside of them, as you can do with the RAM.
Thanks!

[gooser]

not after it's built

[Andrew_Campbell]

You could probably do it manually, of course that would void the warranty. If you want a more upgrade friendly Mac computer, I suggest you look into the Mac Pro Towers.

[ghporter]

You CAN upgrade the memory without voiding the warranty. However, the hard drive is not "user serviceable", so to upgrade that yourself would void it. And I think the guts are pretty much all on the logic board, so there's no way to upgrade any of that. Not sure if the processor is socketed or not.

[mduell]

Intel iMacs have upgradeable RAM (2/3/4GB depending on model), CPUs (all are socketed), hard drives (3.5" SATA), and optical drives (slim slot-loading) with industry standard components. The first will not void your warranty, while the latter three will.

[CharlesS]

While it's possible to replace the hard drive, optical drive, or CPU, you will get a heart attack if you look up what you have to go through in order to do it.

On the original iMac G5, it was so much easier to do this. I don't understand why Apple changed it.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by CharlesS 

On the original iMac G5, it was so much easier to do this. I don't understand why Apple changed it.

From what I've heard: heat, airflow, and noise.

Taking apart the new Al iMac is especially painful because of the glas pain on the front. While the design with no screws is undoubtedly beautiful, the flip side is that you need suction cups to remove the glas. Fortunately the magnets holding it in place take care of proper alignment for you, but you still need to make sure you don't get any dust or other crap in there. If you reassemble the iMac in a not completely dust free environment you'll likely trap some stuff between the glas and the screen. Bummer.

[mduell]

Originally Posted by CharlesS 

On the original iMac G5, it was so much easier to do this. I don't understand why Apple changed it.

While the original G5 iMac made it easier to upgrade the hard drive, I don't think upgrading the optical drive was so easy, and of course the CPU is not upgradeable. But in order to get that easy access to the hard drive (and maybe optical drive), they had to make a lot of design compromises on the internal flows, driving up noise or limiting heat production.

[Simon]

The optical drive wasn't bad.

To get to the HDD you needed to remove the back cover:

(HDD is on the top right, the optical's on the top left)

Once you made it that far, taking out the optical was a piece of cake:

(two screws hold the drive in place)

[cjrivera]

Is there any place you can take your Intel iMac to have the hard drive upgraded? Will your local Apple store do it? And for how much, if they do?

[MacosNerd]

Some apple stores will, it really will depend on the individual store. I've heard of some that will and conversely others that refuse.

Another option other then the apple store is to take it an authorized apple dealer. They will replace the hard drive for a modest fee and your warranty will remain intact.

[Simon]

Yeah, any decent AASP should do it for you at a reasonable price.

[tintin220]

Wow, I didn't know you could upgrade the CPU...