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

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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!

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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.

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

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@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.

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