Can you upgrade G5 power mac 1.8 processor (late 2004) to 2.7Ghz

It's my understanding that the processors are on a daughter card, not the motherboard and that they cannot be upgraded. This was info I found on a site when searching for the specs on a 1.8 GHz G5 last week.

Check this page: http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac_g5/index-powermac-g5.html

If the specs of your G5 Power Mac is 'Late 2004' it has a single-core ppc CPU and both directions from it (earlier and later G5) have dual-core processors - AND - way different system bus speeds.

A Late 2004 has a 600MHz bus speed and single core G5. June 2004 is dual core with 900, 1.0, or 1.25MHz bus; and the later series 'Early 2005' had the upper end option of 2.7GHz CPU with dual-cores, and the system bus speed of dual 1.0, 1.15, or 1.35GHz.

There are a few bits of information in the MacTracker

download database from: http://mactracker.ca

So it is unlikely much gain would be had, since both cores would not be supported; a better path would be to go on the lookout for a later dual-core G5. Or, an early Intel based MacPro with similar case if you like the look. People who have upgraded to the later design MacPro occasionally sell the older G5-look MP tower. A local one on anchorage CL ads with dual displays looked good the other day, for near $600. A matter of the software you need to perform tasks, with limits in hardware.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

G5 processors cannot be changed to anything other than the type and speed which shipped with the computer. That is why there were no upgrade processors for sale like the G3 and G4 computers before it.

Part of the reason (for no) is explained in a general way, here:

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac_g5/faq/powermac-g5-processor-upgr ade-pci-pcix-pcie.html

The PCI. PCI-E, & PCI-X slot upgrades give some measure of faster graphics, when supported by applications, or when the cards available fit the computer model in question; not all Power Mac G5s could use them.

There were some clever third party upgrades for tweaking PowerMac G3 and G4 computer CPU, including a basic method, over-clocking. Other means involved custom cards that provided alternative CPUs, not just graphic processors. Sonnet, among others. And pre-G3 PowerMacs had a few tricks that could make them faster, usually limited in effectiveness by the slower bus speeds, a choke-hold on faster overall dataflow function.

Anyway, maybe you can set up a multiple computing array with several G5s?

They likely could heat a poorly insulated house.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

I've seen a couple of reports of 2.0 GHZ G5s working on a 1.8 Ghz DP board, but nothing really beyond that, & likely it requires the same era 2.0s.

And then, an upgrade route to a different processor + internal architecture.

A few choices, with several in stock Today, after none available for weeks...

•aluminum MacPro tower:

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/mac_pro

This may be a way to use later applications & still have that metal look.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Thanks, also some older ones...

http://www.powermax.com/parts/code/PM_CU_MP