Chosen Solution
Will the iMac 27" Mid 2017 support the new i7-8700k or better yet the i7-8086k processor? I want to upgrade to the best CPU it can handle but im still trying to get a grasp on Skylake vs. Kabylake vs. Coffeelake chipsets Thanks ! -Zach
You are limited to the CPU’s Apple has used in their systems. The Systems EFI (BIOS) limits you as well as the TDP of the chip. So here is the 2017 iMac models: iMac18,3 The best CPU Apple offered is a i7-7700K which has a TDP of 91W and uses a FCLGA1151 socket. The two CPU’s you were looking at here: i7-8700Ki7-8086K Both have a TDP of 95W and also uses a FCLGA1151 socket. Again, Apple’s EFI won’t support either and the TDP is a bit high from what Apple has used. If we look at one of the Xeon W-2145 CPU’s the iMac Pro uses we can see the TDP is 140W so I’m suspecting the newer cooling system and power supplies is a requirement for these higher TDP CPU’s in this frame. My guess is Apple will be intro’ing newer systems in the fall which might include newer iMac’s which are using the more powerful CPU’s and I bet you they will likely use the newer cooling design the iMac Pro. We’ll need to wait and see.
Coffee Lake will never run on 2017 models. These Macs has a Z170 chipset and Coffee needs Z370.
That is so disappointing. I thought I’d be able to swap in a 6-core into my 2017 5k
Is there any Xeon cpu that can be installed on that Imac 21.5 4k 2017 model that is kinda similar to the i7700 or i7700k? I think Xeon CPUs are being sold for a lesser price than the i7. Trying to upgrade and save some bucks.
