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Model A1224 / Mid 2007 and Early 2008 / 2, 2.4, or 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo processor

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iMac 2008 20inch - CPU upgrade

Hi there,

I´m the owner of a 20¨ iMac, early 2008. I do not plan to replace this machine yet, so I looking for (cost effective) ways to speed it up.

Current specs are:

2,4 GHz CPU

6GB RAM

120GB SSD ( OS and Applications only )

I know the CPU can be upgraded to a 2,66 GHz model. A small speedbump, but also very cheap: $10 on eBay.

My question:

Is it possible to use the 2,8 Ghz CPU from the 24¨ model.

According to Wikipedia, the TDP is the same:

44W - Core 2 Duo E8235 - SLAQB (C0) - 2.8 GHz

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_In...

Benjamin

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On my early 2008 20" iMac (in addition to 6MB RAM, and installing an SSD drive), I just upgraded the following:

Core 2 Duo E8335

  • 2.67 GHz 6 MB 1066
  • 44 W
  • Socket P

to a Core 2 Duo E8435

  • 3.07 GHz 6 MB 1066
  • 44 W
  • Socket P

Make sure to remove and add thermal paste.

Seems to work fine. They are the same size, use the same wattage, and same bus speed.

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Hey I just did the same upgrade! I was going to go with the X7900 CPU upgrade I have seen people talk about here, but this CPU you suggested ended up being faster, cheaper and my iMac is still working great! thanks

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Came across your post in 2016, wonder what OS you were using after cpu upgrading ? How is your iMac doing ? I would like to upgrade my iMac 2008 20 inch, have done RAM, SSD upgrading, running EI Capitan, now looking into CPU and OS upgrade. Thanks

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My apologies David444. I did not see your comment until now. I run El Capitan, but I couldn't further upgrade it. It works great I have it connected to high speed ethernet, and use it almost everyday in my workshop. It continues to do everything I need it to do.

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Hey are there any guides to changing the cpu? Can't seem to fine any online

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Hi where do we buy teh new cpu?

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I upgraded the hard drive on mine to a 250G Crucial SSD. Then installed Mojave from a 16G USB key with a patch tool from Dosdude 1. It works perfectly even with the old 2.4Ghz Original Cpu and 4Gigs of Ram. Warning though. Do Not upgrade to Catalina, I tried it, and it &&^&* your computer speed. Cheers.

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Very glad to know you could install Mojave without upgrading old CPU, would like to know if Airdrop can be supported from Mojave? I have a early 2008 iMac, 20inch, running EI Capitan, no Airdrop support. Thanks

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You mentioned not to upgrade to Catalina , so I’m just wondering how come ? And is it still slow ? Currently doing the Catalina patch but is Mojave jus fine ?

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Liam,

Would you be interested in helping me upgrade my 2008 iMAC to Mohave?

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I have a 2006 imac i was told it wasnt worth trying to upgrade you have a 2008 it might be possible.

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You might want to start your own question on this and tell us exactly which 2006 machine you have. Yesterday I took a 2006 MacMini Core Duo to a Core2Duo.

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Can you run later versions of the iMac OS X. like El Capitan?

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Yes. I did this with my old early 2008 iMac, but it requires that you apply a patch to the MacOs app to install it on your machine. I used these instructions: http://dosdude1.com/sierrapatch.html

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El Capitan should run without any patches. Consider RAM (unofficial) upgrade to 6Gbyte.

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Yes, I updated mine to El Capitan version 10.11.16. So far, I haven't been able to upgrade further.

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You can update the 2008 iMac to El Capitain without any patchers.

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Benjamin van den Berg crwdns2934231:0crwdne2934231:0
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