crwdns2936637:0crwdne2936637:0 crwdns2853008:0crwdne2853008:0 crwdns2861143:0crwdne2861143:0

Model A1311 / Mid 2010 / 3.06 & 3.2 GHz Core i3 or 3.6 GHz Core i5 Processor

crwdns2934591:0343crwdne2934591:0 crwdns2934593:0crwdne2934593:0

crwdns2933897:0crwdne2933897:0

Upgrading iMac CPU, need help finding the right Chip...

Hello ifixit, I have recently used a guide on this site to help me upgrade my iMac mid-2010, 21.5 inches to an Intel i5, 3.6. Now I’m looking to upgrade to an i7. I know the whole thing about how the regular i7´s have too high of a Wattage to bring me to the boot screen, but the Intel Core i7-860S/i7-870S have a lower wattage consumption, and I was wondering if anyone could help me figure out if this CPU would be compatible with my machine. I would really hate to work on my machine for 4+ hours, only to figure out the CPU is not compatible, and have to undo everything I just did. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!

crwdns2934081:0crwdne2934081:0 crwdns2934083:0crwdne2934083:0 crwdns2934093:0crwdne2934093:0

crwdns2934109:0crwdne2934109:0

crwdns2853045:0crwdne2853045:0 crwdns2853046:0crwdne2853046:0
crwdns2889612:0crwdne2889612:0 0
crwdns2934285:0crwdne2934285:0

crwdns2933313:01crwdne2933313:0

crwdns2934221:0crwdne2934221:0
crwdns2931211:0crwdne2931211:0 crwdns2931215:0crwdne2931215:0 crwdns2934225:0crwdne2934225:0
crwdns2934051:0crwdne2934051:0

crwdns2933897:0crwdne2933897:0

Sadly I haven’t heard of anyone getting a i7 series CPU to work in this older system.

Apple never offered an i7 in the 21.5” model and the i7 (I7-870) the 27” offered won’t work in your system as its a higher TDP chip. The Ivy Bridge version of CPU’s is the first lower TDP version of i7 CPU’s (I7-2600S) but it requires a different micro-code which is not present in your systems EFI.

crwdns2934105:0crwdne2934105:0

crwdns2853045:0crwdne2853045:0 crwdns2853046:0crwdne2853046:0
crwdns2889612:0crwdne2889612:0 2

crwdns2944067:02crwdne2944067:0:

I7-2600S is a Sandybridge, and use socket LGA1155, so physically incompatible.

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

@Pascal Baillargeau - You are correct! That is also the case. We just used different points saying the same thing! There is no possible i Series chip that would work here.

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

crwdns2934285:0crwdne2934285:0

crwdns2934229:0crwdne2934229:0

Charles Pilling crwdns2934231:0crwdne2934231:0
crwdns2936625:0crwdne2936625:0:

crwdns2936751:024crwdne2936751:0 0

crwdns2936753:07crwdne2936753:0 1

crwdns2936753:030crwdne2936753:0 2

crwdns2942667:0crwdne2942667:0 109