Upgrade iMac Intel Core i3 CPU to Core i7

User-Contributed Guide

User-Contributed Guide

An awesome member of our community made this guide. It is not managed by iFixit staff.

Upgraded my mid 2010 27 inch Apple iMac from a Core i3 3.2GHz (Dual core) upgraded to Core i7 2.93GHz (Quad core) processor.

  • Author: EnglandGreen
  • Time required: 30 minutes to 1 hour
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Add Note x
  • x 8

Upgrade mid 2010 27 inch Apple iMac from a Core i3 3.2GHz (Dual core) to Core i7 2.93GHz (Quad core) processor.

I used this guide for disassembly and reassembly.

http://www.btobey.com/learn/imac-ssd-ins...

Also added a 3TB SATA drive and 32Gb of RAM to max out this system under Lion 10.7

  • Update : Removed the 3Tb SATA drive and replaced with 512Gb SSD and upgraded to Mountain Lion 10.8
  • If you upgrade or change the HD, you will need to buy HDDFanControl software to control the HDD fan which will run at full speed otherwise.
  • April 2013 - 1 year later : This system has been absolutely ROCK SOLID with no crashes, no kernel panics and no freezes!
Tools
Relevant Parts
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Add Note Edit Step 1 — CPU  ¶ 

  • Start by gathering your parts, tools, anti-static strap and gloves (gloves are for glass & LCD)

  • Remove glass

  • Then remove LCD. iFixit has step-by-step- write-ups on how to do this.

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Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • Core i7 2.93GHz Quad Core processor, Arctic Silver thermal compound and iFixit + OWC tools

  • Processor is Intel Core i7 870 2.93GHz 8MB LGA 1156 Quad Core Processor 95W. I bought this CPU used on eBay.

  • http://ark.intel.com/products/41315/Inte...

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Add Note Edit Step 3  ¶ 

  • Remove HD, Superdrive and motherboard. Follow the excellent iFixit guides to remove these items.

  • To remove motherboard (a little tricky), I followed this excellent guide - http://www.btobey.com/learn/imac-ssd-ins...

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Add Note Edit Step 4  ¶ 

  • Flip over motherboard, gently remove 4 x Torx 8 heatsink screws on the bottom (not the big Phillips screws on the top).

  • Please note : Warranty is void with this step.

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Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • Use Arctic Silver thermal compound remover and preparation solutions to get rid of factory compound.

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Add Note Edit Step 6  ¶ 

  • Goodbye Core i3 and hello Core i7.

  • Note arrow on CPU (bottom left in picture). New CPU must be installed in the same orientation.

  • Apply Arctic Silver thermal compound with finger covered in plastic. Spread evenly on CPU only. Guide is here - Applying Thermal Paste

  • Reverse to reassemble. Enjoy the new speed demon!

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

For more information, check out the iMac Intel 27" EMC 2390 device page.

Required Tools

Heavy-duty Suction Cups (Pair)

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Arctic Silver Thermal Paste

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Pro Tech Toolkit

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Arctic Silver ArctiClean

$7.95 · 11 In stock

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