I thought I read a while back that I can upgrade my Core Solo Processor in an Mac Mini or iMac to one of the new Core 2 Duo chips just being released. Are the existing set ups compatable with both Conroe & Merom or just one? I'd love to just drop a new chip in and boost the performance by a noticable margin. Thnx, Train
Unless it was explicitly stated that you could, then no. Unless the hardware has been designed to support the lower voltages that Conroe and Merom require, it won't work.
"Backwards Compatibility Intel's Core 2 Duo mobile launch is one of those very rare moments in Intel history where a brand new CPU is introduced and it is backwards compatible with existing motherboards. If you've got a Core Duo notebook with a PGA Socket-M interface, all you should need is a BIOS update and a Core 2 Duo CPU to upgrade your notebook. If you've got a BGA CPU, then you're unfortunately out of luck as desoldering 479 balls from your motherboard without damaging it isn't for the faint of heart. Obviously there are some caveats, and you'll want to check with your notebook manufacturer to make sure it supports Core 2 Duo on your particular model before upgrading. As far as Intel is concerned, the only stipulations for Core 2 Duo support are on the chipset side and are as follows: (see link) If you've got a 945GM or 945PM equipped notebook, then the Core 2 Duo should be a drop in replacement for your Core Duo processor. The upcoming Low Voltage and Ultra Low Voltage Core 2 Duo processors will also work in the 945GMS chipset, and none of them will work in the 940GML chipset." Taken from AnandTech - see this article: AnandTech: Mobile CPU Wars: Core 2 Duo vs. Core Duo
