Is it possible to upgrade the processor in the Aluminum iMac models?

Officially, Apple does not intend for the processor in any Intel-based iMac models to be upgraded.

Apple considers the memory in the Aluminum iMac models to be a "customer installable part", and upgrading the memory is quite easy, but all other internal components are not considered to be "upgradable" without professional service.

However, Kodawarisan -- whom for quite some time one could expect to tear apart just about any new Mac design within days of its release -- disassembled the original Aluminum iMac and found that the processor is mounted on a ZIF socket, just like the earlier "White" Intel iMac models. The "Early 2008/Penryn" models use the same design and the processors are mounted in the same way.

The always excellent iFixit tore apart an "Early 2009" Aluminum iMac model and noted that the processor "appeared to be socketed", just as it is in their predecessors.

Photo Credit: iFixit ("Early 2009" Aluminum iMac Heat Sink/Processor)

Kodawarisan jumped back on the scene to disassemble the 21.5-Inch "Late 2009" Aluminum iMac model and iFixit did the same for the 27-Inch "Late 2009" Aluminum iMac design and both noted that the processors on these models are socketed.

iFixit, in particular noted that the Core 2 Duo-based models -- the iMac "Core 2 Duo" 3.06 21.5-Inch (Late 2009) and "Core 2 Duo" 3.06 27-Inch (Late 2009) -- use an LGA 775 Socket T and the iMac "Core i5" 2.66 27-Inch (Late 2009) uses an LGA 1156 Socket H.

Although disassembling the Aluminum iMac models is rather challenging, and most of the attention has been focused on upgrading the processor in the Intel-based Mac mini systems, the Intel-based iMacs also are good candidates.

However, upgrading the processor in these iMac models is not recommended by Apple, is in violation of the warranty, and consequently, is not endorsed or recommended by EveryMac.com.