Looks like the new iMac’s with its Intel CPUs pop out just fine and readily accept a new and faster CPU. A Japanese magazine, MacFan, went out and tore its new 1.83GHz iMac apart and stuffed in an Intel Core Duo 2GHz T2500 CPU. A kind reader of xlr8yourmac.com translates the details in the magazine from the land of the rising son, stating:

The CPU in the new iMac is mounted in a socket that should mean it can be changed easily. However, the author is not sure that it will run completely normally with an upgraded CPU. The author purchased a 2GHz T2500 from a PC shop and installed it in the socket of a 17″ iMac and it booted OK.

There seemed to be no problems and the About this Mac pane reported a 2GHz duo chip. The CPU is exactly the same as that used in Windows PCs. At present, the 2GHz chip costs 53,000 yen and the 2.16GHz T2600 costs 80,000 yen, so it is not really cost effective to do this upgrade.

So, it appears that Apple may have embraced (doubt embraced is the correct word ;) ) user upgrades of its new spiffy Intel boxes. Well, at least the iMacs as it’ll probably be a bit hard prying out a soldered chip from the MacBook Pro. But what great news this is for those that like to upgrade on their own. Good news indeed!

Tags: intel, upgrade, imac, 2.0ghz