Chosen Solution
Greetings all, I’m going to rebuild a relative’s Early 2006 iMac, currently with a Core Duo processor. First thing - upping the storage capability. I come from the Windows world (no offense) and older machines have a BIOS limit (like 8.4 GB for real old machines, 137 GB, etc), where the BIOS could only see a certain amount of drive space, but the OS would create 2 partitions. I am aware that Mac doesn’t have BIOS, but I’ve heard everything under the sun about the capacity that can be used, like 2 TB, 750 GB, then 2.2 TB, then really anything. I was shooting for 3 TB - is that doable with this machine, or am I going to hit a HDD limit? Also, side question somewhat related - the replacement processor (T7600) - is Socket M, correct? Thanks!
OK lets start at the beginning here: A SSHD is a special kind of HD. It is a HD which then has a SSD added as a deep cache. So it leverages the SSD for cached hits, so it acts like a stand alone SSD! But, unlike a SSD it also has the deep storage of a HD. Lets look at the boot up process, the OS is held in cache so the boot up is quicker. But, if you load something thats not in cache it will take longer more like a HD in that case. The size of the drive only becomes a factor in its physical size that it will fit is tight spaced systems (that shouldn’t be an issue here). The Seagate SSHD desktop drive offers SATA auto I/O speed sense. Review the specs sheet: Seagate Desktop SSHD spec sheet. Note the line: SATA Transfer Rates Supported (Gb/s) Here we can see all three SATA specs are supported 6.0/3.0/1.5. Not all drives (HD or SSHD) can do this! Some use a jumper and may only offer two options (were neither is the correct setting you need) and others, no options at all. The SSHD comes in three size options 1TB, 2TB & 4TB any one will work here Seagate Desktop SSHD
Mac’s don’t have the same issue as that other OS ;-} Here’s a good reference: Mac OS X: Mac OS Extended format (HFS Plus) volume and file limits. As far as the socket there are a few different models in this series. I would strongly recommend you review the EveryMac web site to double check which system you have using the last three digits of the systems serial number. Once you locate the system locate the CPU and then refer to the Intel ARC web site to then cross reference what is possible with that series system. Be careful here! You need to not only worry about the socket but also the Max TMP as well as the North & South bridge chips needed for the replacement CPU.
