iMac Intel (White) Upgrades

This page covers all the white coloured iMacs with an Intel CPU. These machines replaced the previous iMac G5, and were later replaced by the Aluminium Intel iMacs.

Announced in January 2006 alongside the MacBook Pro, the Intel iMac was the first Apple desktop to use the new Intel Core Duo processor. This first range of iMacs could take up to 2GB of RAM. Apple specs for the original model can be found here.

In September 2006 Apple refreshed this line, moving from the Core Duo to the Core 2 Duo processor (claiming a 50% increase in performance for some tasks) and introducing a new 24" display model. These white Core 2 Duo iMacs could take up to 3GB of RAM. Apple specs here.

In August 2007, Apple redesigned the iMac with a new Aluminium case type, upgrades for those later machines can be found on the iMac Aluminium page.

The white Intel iMac looks very similar to the previous iMac G5 - the later versions of that model have the same iSight camera built into the top of the screen, and look very similar. To tell the difference between the G5 and Intel iMacs, open System Profiler and check the CPU type. These newer iMacs also have a mini-DVI video output, rather than the mini-VGA on earlier models.

You can identify between the first and second generation white Intel iMacs by looking at the processor type in the System Profiler utility - the first generation (Apple specs here) had Core Duo CPUs, the second generation (Apple specs here) had Core 2 Duo CPUs.

The later Aluminium Intel iMacs are easily distinguished by their different case design and colour.

You can identify between the first and second generation white Intel iMacs by looking at the processor type in the System Profiler utility - the first generation (Apple specs here) had Core Duo CPUs, the second generation (Apple specs here) had Core 2 Duo CPUs.

All white Intel iMacs use DDR2-PC2-5300 SODIMM RAM (667MHz), and have 2 memory slots. The original Core Duo model could take maximum of 2GB, the later Core 2 Duo model could take up to 3GB using 1 x 1GB module and 1 x 2GB.

There is no need to install RAM in matched pairs in these iMacs.

Memory is very much a user installable part.

All the white Intel iMacs came with a slot-loading internal SuperDrive (a DVD-RW drive). These can be replaced if they have failed, and it is also possible to use an external USB 2.0 device.

The internal hard drive can be upgrade on any white Intel iMac, with a larger drive. A Solid State Drive can also be fitted, but due to the slow speed of the SATA controller (SATA 150), it is not going to give the same performance as in a modern Mac, although it will perform noticably better than a hard drive. The optical (DVD) drive can also be replaced with a 2.5in (laptop type) SATA drive, but since this is done by adapting the IDE type controller in that bay, performance will be impacted.

If you don't want to fit a new hard drive yourself, you can take advantage of the MacUpgrades Installation Service. Add the installation service from the list below to your cart along with your chosen hard drive. We can also clone your existing hard drive onto the new one, simply add the Clone Original Hard Drive service below to your cart.

Once you have booked the service, send your machine to us, we will carry out the work and return it to you. Alternatively, we do offer a Collection Service with our courier, please see here for details.

Some white Intel iMacs can technically have their graphics card replaced, but there are no third party upgrades available. If you have a machine with a failed graphics card we may be able to source a part for repair, but this will be a refurbished part of the same type as the failed one, so these will not be an upgrade. Please contact us for more details.

Your iMac has no slots for expansion cards, apart for a slot for an Airport Extreme wireless networking card - all models of this machine were sold with a card fitted as standard, so this would only be useful to replace a failed card.

The following keyboards and mice are compatible with this Mac.

Listed below are power supplies, batteries and related products we supply for this Mac.

Listed below are power cables, tools and related products we supply for this Mac.

This Mac can use any of the following external hard drives.

Any complete machines of this type or similar that we have for sale are listed here. Please note that these are refurbished models with a 3 month warranty, and that delivery is likely to take 3 - 5 working days. These can be purchased online with the standard website courier delivery charge for the mainland UK only. Please contact us for a quote on shipping to other areas.

Here are the various repair services we offer for this Mac. You can have us take the machine in for evaluation, or book a fixed-price repair if you already know what the fault is and the service is listed below (for services without parts, please see the relevant tab on this page for compatible parts that we sell). If you know what the fault is, but we don't have a fixed-price repair listed below, please contact us for a quote.