Early 2006 iMac SSD Speed Test - Upgraded CPU, RAM, Lion 10.7

Early iMac 4,1 with an Intel 320 Series 160GB SSD. Running 10.7 Lion with the PlatformSupport.plist file removed. (Early '06 Core Duo Macs are unsupported by 10.7 and it will not install)

The top case is missing because I am not done upgrading, an Airport antenna is on order for the 802.11n Wi-Fi card I recently installed.

This iMac used to be a 2.0Ghz Core Duo. It has been upgraded to a T7200 2.0Ghz Core 2 Duo and the speed difference has been quite noticeable.

I flashed the firmware to that of an iMac 5,1 to remove the 2GB ram limit. It now has 4GB physical ram and 3GB are recognized in Activity Monitor.

The firmware tool is available here: http://forum.netkas.org/index.php/topic,1122.0.html (Need to be a member to download the file)

With the Core 2 Duo, large images now display on the screen quicker without loading in blocks, and I can play 1080p video full screen without any hiccups. It would stutter before.

The operating system was installed using a Core 2 Duo MacBook with the iMac in firewire Target Disk Mode. Once it was done installing to the iMac, I removed the PlatformSupport.plist file on it using the MacBook before booting the iMac for the first time. (System/Library/CoreServices)

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• iMac
• Ssd
• Speed
• Boot
• Photoshop
• OSX
• Lion

[burnout8488]

@111Jovan111 I wouldn't risk it after doing some reading, noone has mentioned that the 5,2 can be reflashed from what I've seen thus far... you could brick the system if it isn't compatible. I'd imagine the 5,2 is no different than my 4,1 but you need to be sure just in case.

[specialdo]

excuse me but it's the model imac 4.1 of the year 2006? how much ram has? and how did you install lion?

[burnout8488]

@specialdo Please read the video description

[111Jovan111]

@burnout8488 I haven't yet but every source including the apple website states the maximum is 2GB. Im sceptical about using the tool as the uploader said it would only work for flashing 4,1 to 5,1.

[burnout8488]

@111Jovan111 Have you tried installing 3 or 4Gb and it doesn't show up? Wikipedia says your 5,2 should recognize 3Gb as mine does, but it could definitely be wrong. The firmware tool I posted in the comments should work for you just fine.