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

[King Mustard]

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 10.6.8 "Snow Leopard"

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.

 

[pigoo3]

To me the biggest issue with this computer is that the newest macOS it can run is 10.7.5 Lion. Newest macOS is 10.13 High Sierra...with macOS 10.14 "Mojave" to be out soon. macOS 10.7.5 obviously being 7 versions old.

As far as what to do with this computer...that's up to you. Do whatever you normally do on a computer...then you can assess what this 2006 iMac can do for you. If (for example)...50% of the things you do on a computer are just too slow on this 2006 iMac...then you know that for you...50% of the things you like to do aren't possible on this 2006 iMac & 50% of them are.

HTH,

- Nick

 

[Raz0rEdge]

As stated by Nick, for running OS X/macOS and recent applications, this machine is useless to you. Most apps require 10.10 Yosemite as the minimum version.

 

[ferrarr]

Yes, you could put an SSD in it, but it only has SATA 1 speed.

I don't know if you are aware of this site, but EveryMac.com has every Mac listed and here's yours, https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-2-duo-1.83-17-inch-specs.html.