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Nezu · Jan 30, 2005, 05:21 AM

Hiya, thanks for taking the time to read this post. I have an 800mhz G4 flat pannel iMac. I was wondering if it's possible to upgrade the CPU? I've looked all over the net but haven't been able to find any upgrades for G4 imacs. I was told Other World Computing was a good place to look but they have nothing in the way of G4 processor upgrades. Any help would be much appreciated!

Detrius · Jan 30, 2005, 01:19 PM

The CPU is soldered to the logic board. You will never have a CPU upgrade option.

Krypton · Jan 30, 2005, 02:38 PM

Originally posted by Detrius:
The CPU is soldered to the logic board. You will never have a CPU upgrade option.

That's not entirely true, the original iMacs have cpu upgrades. However, I agree it's unlikely.

WizOSX · Jan 30, 2005, 03:23 PM

Krypton--which flat-panel iMacs had processors that were not soldered on?

IEEE1394 · Jan 31, 2005, 01:47 AM

Originally posted by WizOSX:
Krypton--which flat-panel iMacs had processors that were not soldered on?

IIRC there was a company that would de-solder the G3 processor on an iMac DV and solder on a new (faster) one. I don't remember specifics about it, but I think it was financially, well, stupid.

So I guess theoretically you could do the same with an iMac G4, however not at this point in time�

EDIT: The orginal iMac had its CPU on a daughterboard so was easily upgraded.

mubach · Jan 31, 2005, 02:26 AM

I know the iMacs G5s just came out, but is the CPU soldered onto the mobo as well? Is there any hope for upgrades with my new imac after a year or so etc?

Krypton · Jan 31, 2005, 06:10 AM

Originally posted by WizOSX:
Krypton--which flat-panel iMacs had processors that were not soldered on?

None of them - the original CRT iMacs are the ones you can buy upgrades for (you send your motherboard away, and they send you back a new one with a G4 on it).

P · Jan 31, 2005, 06:51 PM

Originally posted by mubach:
I know the iMacs G5s just came out, but is the CPU soldered onto the mobo as well? Is there any hope for upgrades with my new imac after a year or so etc?

I think it is. I'll remember to check when I open it up next time, but they usually are these days.

Eriamjh · 09:18 PM

The tray and slot loading iMacs had the CPU on a daughtercard. Direct upgrades are available.

The iMac G4 is soldered. While it is possible to send someone your mobo, have them desolder the CPU and install a faster one, no one is doing it.

It might be because there is no pin-for-pin CPU faster than 1.25GHz or that no one is stupid enough to try.

The easiest way to upgrade is to sell and buy new.

P · Feb 3, 2005, 02:37 PM

Originally posted by Eriamjh:
The tray and slot loading iMacs had the CPU on a daughtercard. Direct upgrades area vailable.

The slot-loader also had the CPU soldered on. The CPU upgrade requires you to send in the mobo for them to replace the CPU.

Captain Egotist · Feb 4, 2005, 11:07 AM

Argh. The only imac you could ever upgrade was the 1st generation imacs (233-333mhz G3s). Their CPUs were on small daughtercard which could be replaced with an aftermarket unit.

All imacs since then have had the CPU soldered directly to the board.

- Ca$h

Detrius · Feb 6, 2005, 02:44 PM

Pulling the logic board out of an iMac G4 is a very different procedure from pulling it out of a slot-load iMac G3. I don't imagine any sane company is going to request customers remove the logic board from these machines and ship them off.

Captain Egotist · Feb 6, 2005, 03:14 PM

Originally posted by Detrius:
Pulling the logic board out of an iMac G4 is a very different procedure from pulling it out of a slot-load iMac G3. I don't imagine any sane company is going to request customers remove the logic board from these machines and ship them off.

You mean motherboard?