What to do with a late-2006 iMac (Intel-based)?

[Elliot B.]

Never used a Mac before.

• Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 (1.83 GHz) (1,028 PassMark CPU score)
• 17" display (1440×900)
• 2 GB RAM (DDR2 PC5300 SODIMM 667 MHz)
• 160 GB hard disk drive (SATA, 7,200 RPM)
• Intel GMA 950 (64 MB shared memory)
• 24× combo drive (DVD-ROM, CD-RW)
• Internal AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g)
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Apple Remote infrared receiver
• iSight Camera (640×480, 0.3 MP)
• Mini-DVI video out
• 3× USB 2.0 ports
• 2× Firewire 400
• Headphone/digital audio output
• Audio line-in/digital audio input
• Mac OS X 10.7.5 "Lion"

For £40, I thought it would be good to have a play with it.

 

I believe it uses Socket M, so theoretical CPU upgrades are:

• Core 2 Duo T7200 (2.00 GHz) (1,167 PassMark CPU score) (£5, eBay UK)
• Core 2 Duo T7400 (2.17 GHz) (1,244 PassMark CPU score) (£6, eBay UK)
• Core 2 Duo T7600 (2.33 GHz) (1,375 PassMark CPU score) (not currently available on eBay UK)

I guess I could install an SSD in it, too.

Edited August 2, 2018 by Elliot B.

[satukoro]

You don't exactly have a lot of power here, but it could make an okay rig for any of the following:

- Apache server

- FTP server

- VPN server

- Plex/Media server

- You could put Debian (or your preferred distro) on it

- You might be able to put Win10 on it

 

You could play around in garage band or something and make some music or do some web browsing or word processing.

I use MacOS personally because it offers a nice software selection while still being unix based. For example I can use photoshop but still have bash (not that win10 "we love linux" garbage).

[margrave]

https://www.neverware.com/freedownload