iMac Intel (White) Upgrades

This page covers all the upgrades we sell for the earlier (white rather than Aluminium) iMacs with Intel CPUs. Choose the type of upgrade you are looking for from the tabs below.

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If you want specific upgrades for your exact model, choose it from the Model ID links below, or enter your serial number here:


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History

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.

How to Identify these Machines

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.

Memory Upgrades

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.

OWC DDR2 PC5300 SODIMM - 2GBStock: Special Order£15.50 + vat (£18.60)1
1Only for the second (Late 2006) revision, which can take up to 3GB in 1 x 2GB + 1 x 1GB modules.

Any fitting information below is intended as a guide before purchase ONLY, when fitting these products you should refer to the original manual for your computer, and any instructions that come with the item. Please see this page for more information, or here for information on our fitting service.

Difficulty 2 / 5 - Easy

Turn off machine and lie it face down on a soft cloth to prevent scratching. There is an access panel on the bottom of the screen which allows you to access the RAM slots.

Apple's instructions for fitting memory can be found here.

See OWC installation videos here.

If you are unsure on how to carry out this procedure our engineers can help. Call on 01223 833412 or email.

CD/DVD/Blu-ray Drive Upgrades

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.

INSTALL SERVICE - Internal CD/DVD Drive in an iMac, eMac or pre 2009 Mac MiniStock: Available£49.00 + vat (£58.80)
REFURB 8x Internal DVDRW for Al PowerBook, iBook G4, iMac G5 or EarlyMac Mini and MacBook ProStock: Available£49.00 + vat (£58.80)
External USB 2.0 CD/DVD-RW Drive - Bus PoweredStock: Special Order£29.00 + vat (£34.80)

Any fitting information below is intended as a guide before purchase ONLY, when fitting these products you should refer to the original manual for your computer, and any instructions that come with the item. Please see this page for more information, or here for information on our fitting service.

Difficulty 5/5 Very Hard (internal replacement)

Professional installation recommended.

Internal Hard Drive & SSD Upgrades

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.

Installation Services

INSTALL SERVICE - Internal Drive in Intel iMacs up to Early 2009Stock: Available£49.00 + vat (£58.80)
INSTALL SERVICE - Clone Original Internal DriveStock: Available£25.00 + vat (£30.00)
INSTALL SERVICE - Fit Customer Supplied PartStock: Available£17.50 + vat (£21.00)

3.5in Hard Drives

Seagate Barracuda SATA 600 1TB 7200RPM 32MBStock: Special Order£43.10 + vat (£51.72)
Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM SATA 600 2TB 7200RPM 64MBStock: Available£60.11 + vat (£72.13)
Seagate Barracuda 5900RPM SATA 600 8TB 256MBStock: Available£167.19 + vat (£200.63)

Internal SSD Drives to Replace Main Hard Drive

OWC Mercury 120GB Electra 3G with 2.5 to 3.5 adaptor SATA 300 SSDStock: Available£46.26 + vat (£55.51)
OWC Mercury 250GB Electra 3G with 2.5 to 3.5 adaptor SATA 300 SSDStock: Special Order£60.08 + vat (£72.10)
OWC Mercury 500GB Electra 3G with 2.5 to 3.5 adaptor SATA 300 SSDStock: Special Order£88.13 + vat (£105.76)

HDD Mounts for Optical Bay

Optical Drive Bay 2.5" Hard Drive Caddy IDE - SATA for 12.5mm DrivesStock: Special Order£19.00 + vat (£22.80)1
1This allows you to fit a 2.5in drive - a laptop drive rather than the ones listed on this page.

Any fitting information below is intended as a guide before purchase ONLY, when fitting these products you should refer to the original manual for your computer, and any instructions that come with the item. Please see this page for more information, or here for information on our fitting service.

Difficulty 5 / 5 - Very Hard

We recommend professional installation for replacing the hard drive in the Intel iMac. We can sell you a drive to install yourself, but we cannot provide help for the installation process.

See OWC installation videos here.

Graphics Cards and Displays

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.

There are none available.

Expansion Card Upgrades

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.

There are none available.

Keyboards & Mice

The following keyboards and mice are compatible with this Mac.

Trust 3 button USB Optical MouseStock: Available£6.75 + vat (£8.10)
Cherry Strait 3.0 USB Keyboard - UK Mac LayoutStock: Available£32.00 + vat (£38.40)

Power Supplies & Batteries

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

INSTALL SERVICE AND PARTS - Power Supply for iMac Intel 2006-2011Stock: Available£115.00 + vat (£138.00)
3V Coin Cell Lithium PRAM/Clock BatteryStock: Available£4.00 + vat (£4.80)

Any fitting information below is intended as a guide before purchase ONLY, when fitting these products you should refer to the original manual for your computer, and any instructions that come with the item. Please see this page for more information, or here for information on our fitting service.

Cables & Tools

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

Cables & Adaptors

USB 3 to 2.5in SATA Drive Cable (for accessing a 2.5in SATA drive via USB)Stock: Available£6.49 + vat (£7.79)1
FireWire 400 - 800 Adaptor Cable M/M (6pin - 9pin) 6 ftStock: Available£11.00 + vat (£13.20)
Mini-DVI - DVI M/F Video AdaptorStock: Available£10.50 + vat (£12.60)
Mini-DVI - HDMI M/F Video AdaptorStock: Available£12.50 + vat (£15.00)
Mini-DVI - VGA M/F Video AdaptorStock: Available£12.50 + vat (£15.00)

Tools

Precision Screwdriver Set, 31 Piece - Phillips/Torx/TR6Stock: Available£12.50 + vat (£15.00)
Anti Static Wrist StrapStock: Available£8.50 + vat (£10.20)
1This can be connected to this Mac to access a 2.5in SATA drive. But this Mac does not use a 2.5in SATA drive internally.

External Drives & Enclosures

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

3.5" USB 3 External Drives

WD Elements USB 3 (USB 2 compatible) 3.5in External HDD - 4TBStock: Available£91.46 + vat (£109.75)1
WD Elements USB 3 (USB 2 compatible) 3.5in External HDD - 6TBStock: Available£141.51 + vat (£169.81)1

2.5" USB 3 External Drives

Seagate 1TB Portable 2.5in USB 3 External Hard DriveStock: Available£41.73 + vat (£50.08)
Seagate 2TB Portable 2.5in USB 3 External Hard DriveStock: Available£58.21 + vat (£69.85)

3.5" USB Enclosures

Startech USB 3.0 Enclosure for 3.5in SATA DrivesStock: Available£33.67 + vat (£40.40)

2.5" USB Enclosures

Startech USB 3.0 (USB 2 compatible) Enclosure for 2.5in SATA Drive with UASPStock: Available£17.27 + vat (£20.72)2
1Requires OSX 10.6 or later.
2This can be connected to this Mac to access a 2.5in SATA drive. But this Mac does not use a 2.5in SATA drive internally.

Complete Machines - Refurbished

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.

There are none available.

Repair Services for this Mac

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.

Evaluation Services

Mac Repair - Evaluation ServiceStock: Available£39.00 + vat (£46.80)

Repair Services

INSTALL SERVICE AND PARTS - Power Supply for iMac Intel 2006-2011Stock: Available£115.00 + vat (£138.00)

Installation Services (parts not included)

Collection ServiceStock: Available£24.68 + vat (£29.62)
INSTALL SERVICE - Internal Drive in Intel iMacs up to Early 2009Stock: Available£49.00 + vat (£58.80)
INSTALL SERVICE - Clone Original Internal DriveStock: Available£25.00 + vat (£30.00)
INSTALL SERVICE - RAM in an iMac (excludes 21.5in Late 2012 and later)Stock: Available£10.00 + vat (£12.00)
INSTALL SERVICE - Internal CD/DVD Drive in an iMac, eMac or pre 2009 Mac MiniStock: Available£49.00 + vat (£58.80)