mod 2008 or 2009 imac to add esata ports via pci-e slot (sacrificing wifi)

[chrisNova777]

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/imac_esata_mod2/imac_estata_mod.html#storytop

or you could just upgrade the wifi + bluetooth to 802.11AC!

Apple Broadcom BCM94360CSAX combo card
https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/162178/Wireless+Airport+Card+Replacement+with+New+802.11ac

everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-2-duo-2.8-24-inch-aluminum-early-2008-penryn-specs.html

[chrisNova777]

an easier "upgrade" for these old imacs is to use an SSD with a firewire 800 enclosure and run your OS off the External SSD via fw800...

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/eSATA_FW800_FW400_USB
this type of enclsoure costs around 70$ + the cost of the SSD would make it around 100$ but the system is much more fast + responsive after booting up with the SSD over firewire..without the need to even open up the imac to remove the internal drive, which has problems with heat sensor compatibility etc

my 2008 imac 24" is working faster then ever after booting from external SSD via firewire, even only running on the firewire 400 bus speed.

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/ME3QHKIT0GB/

[chrisNova777]

i just saw a real world test where the guy dragged a 16gb folder to the same drive from the same computer.. and the results for moving that 16gb was 3:33 for the fw800 and 3:21 seconds for the usb3 so although on paper usb3 is vastly superior in real world tests it would seem like it isnt neccessarily that much better than firewire!!!

a great way to put this knowledge to use is to buy a used imac which is not working properly and simply install the OS on a firewire800 SSD drive and voila! the computer is fast again