Graphics Card on iMac

volcom1206 · October 30, 2005 10:18AM

I have an iMac G5 1.8ghz. It has a 64mb graphics card (which is complete crap) Apple being the geniuses that they are did not leave room to upgrade this card. I was wondering how difficult it would be to upgrade this card. Maybe have it be externally out of the iMac? Anyway I lag in WOW way to much with this crap card, so I need a better one.

lundy · October 30, 2005 12:16PM

The graphics chips in Apple's consumer models are never removable or upgradeable. Only the Power Macintosh models have that capability.

volcom1206 · October 30, 2005 12:57PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lundy

The graphics chips in Apple's consumer models are never removable or upgradeable. Only the Power Macintosh models have that capability.

Are you sure that no professional could upgrade it?

krzysiek · October 30, 2005 1:47PM

In consumer models are never removable or upgradeable

powerdoc · October 30, 2005 1:48PM

Quote:

Originally posted by volcom1206

Are you sure that no professional could upgrade it?

Yes. I never heared a single story relating this. I am sorry but it's totally impossible.

My Imac G5 20 inch will be stuck with the lame geforce 5200 forever.

pb · November 1, 2005 12:16PM

Quote:

Originally posted by krzysiek

In consumer models are never removable or upgradeable

In professional too (Powerbooks). Unless we talk about Power Macs, the only Macs with upgradeable graphics.

pb · November 1, 2005 12:24PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Powerdoc

Yes. I never heared a single story relating this. I am sorry but it's totally impossible.

What he said. The iMac GPU is soldered on the motherboard. In order to change it, you have to cut its connections to the board, find a compatible chip for the upgrade, solder it in place and make sure it will play well with the other computer components and the OS. Oh, and avoid ruining something during the surgery. As far as I know, no one can do this change in the iMac internals.

algol · November 1, 2005 7:10PM

If you need a better comp to play WOW just buy a refurbished or discounted older generation PowerMac G5 and stick a better graphics card in it. That's the best option.

slughead · November 1, 2005 9:30PM

you should've listened to me! I was posting like hell the day this came out! "YOU WILL ALL PAY FOR YOUR MISTAKE! REPENT NOW OR FOREVER BE DOOMED TO MEDICRE VIDEO CARDS"

But noooo you didn't believe me, you were like "it's just a little bunny rabbit, it can't hurt ME"

I would advise rolling in at 1 infinite loop in Cupertino, building a trebuchet, and hurling it at Apple HQ before tearing ass out of there.

relic · November 2, 2005 10:12AM

Run away, run away!

gon · November 2, 2005 10:46AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Algol

If you need a better comp to play WOW just buy a refurbished or discounted older generation PowerMac G5 and stick a better graphics card in it. That's the best option.

Is it, really? The PowerMacs and graphics cards are rather overpriced. I think it might make more sense to upgrade to a newer 17" iMac or buy a gaming PC in addition to the Mac. Voice comm software used by most guilds does not work on the Mac anyway.

This is the very same problem for which I think Apple should offer the headless computer similar to iMac in specs.

pbg4 dude · November 2, 2005 12:28PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slughead

you should've listened to me! I was posting like hell the day this came out! "YOU WILL ALL PAY FOR YOUR MISTAKE! REPENT NOW OR FOREVER BE DOOMED TO MEDICRE VIDEO CARDS"

But noooo you didn't believe me, you were like "it's just a little bunny rabbit, it can't hurt ME"

I would advise rolling in at 1 infinite loop in Cupertino, building a trebuchet, and hurling it at Apple HQ before tearing ass out of there.

Why not use the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch?

[edit]

Heck, I wish my Rev A iMac would stay on long enough so that I could complain about the 5200 Ultra.

I just got it back last night from its second repair and it seems my problems have been upgraded; instead of randomly going to sleep, my iMac now randomly shuts off, with a loud POP no less.

volcom1206 · November 3, 2005 10:40PM

I do not understand why Apple would not be normal and just have the graphics card removable, I could really care less if they were less "stylish". It just doesn't make sense. Practicality/style

blackcat · November 7, 2005 4:45PM

To sell more iMacs mebbe?

commodus · November 7, 2005 5:21PM

The iMac is Apple's quintessential all-in-one: it's supposed to emphasize simplicity and ease of use. There's no point in adding room for expansion that either hurts this main focus or won't go used by the vast majority of the target audience.

What people here want isn't an iMac with upgradeable graphics. They just want a cheap PowerMac. I'd love it, but until Apple is using Intel processors in its desktops, that isn't going to happen.

lundy · November 7, 2005 6:00PM

Quote:

Originally posted by volcom1206

I do not understand why Apple would not be normal and just have the graphics card removable, I could really care less if they were less "stylish". It just doesn't make sense. Practicality/style

Because it's not a "card". It's the ATI chip soldered directly onto the mobo. Apple's all-in-ones and laptops have always been like this.

Putting a slot and all the accompanying circuitry in there, then having to make room for any one of numerous video cards, when less than 5% of buyers would ever pay $200-$400 to change the card, is a waste of money and would raise the price of the computer. Not to mention the engineering required to measure the power draw of that slot and adjust the fan speed accordingly, because you never know which card the user is going to put in there, so you have to design it for all kinds of heat situations.

If you want replaceable parts, you have to go with the PowerMac. That is one of their main features over the all-in-ones, the others being faster CPUs and expandability.

Graphics Card on iMac

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