Posts Tagged ‘iMac’

Apple updates iMac line with Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

Apple on Tuesday refreshed its all-in-one desktop line of iMacs, bringing Intel’s Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors, along with ATI Radeon graphics.

Starting at $1,199, the new iMac line is the fastest ever with dual-core processor speeds up to 3.6 GHz, quad-core speeds up to 2.93 GHz and discrete graphics including the ATI Radeon HD 5750.

“We took the world’s best all-in-one and made it even better,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With the latest processors, high-performance graphics and signature aluminum and glass design, customers are going to love the latest iMac.”

Dual-core Intel Core i3 and Core i5, and quad-core Core i5 and Core i7 bring the best performance yet to the iMac line, Apple said. The processors feature an integrated memory controller to access the system memory directly, allowing the new iMac to take full advantage of its faster 1333 MHz memory.

New discrete ATI Radeon HD processors deliver incredibly smooth, crisp graphics for the most demanding 3D games, creative software and technical applications. iMac displays feature IPS technology to deliver images across a wide 178 degree viewing angle.

The SD card slot on the iMac now supports the SDXC format to handle the latest high-capacity storage cards. Customers of the 27-inch iMac have the option to order a 256GB solid state drive (SSD) as a primary or secondary drive. The iMac SSD supports up to 215 MB/s data transfer rates for faster startup and application launch times.

iMac

Last week AppleInsider first reported that the iMac would be the first Mac to have Intel’s Core i3 processor, and that the refresh would span Intel’s new Core i3, i5 and i7 line across the entire product lineup.

Over the weekend it was revealed that iMac inventory was also limited ahead of an anticipated refresh. That came after Apple warned its direct and indirect sales channels of near-term shortages of hardware.

The new iMac line is shipping now and available through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

The new 21.5-inch 3.06 GHz Intel Core i3 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,199 (US), includes:

  • 21.5-inch 1920 x 1080 LED-backlit display;
  • 3.06 GHz Intel Core i3 processor with 4MB shared L3 cache;
  • 4GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
  • ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics with 256MB GDDR3 SDRAM;
  • 500GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
  • slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
  • Mini DisplayPort for audio and video output (adapters sold separately);
  • AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
  • iSight video camera;
  • Gigabit Ethernet;
  • four USB 2.0 ports;
  • one SDXC SD card slot;
  • one FireWire 800 port;
  • built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
  • Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

Configure-to-order options include up to 8GB of RAM.

The new 21.5-inch 3.2 GHz Intel Core i3 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes:

  • 21.5-inch 1920 x 1080 LED-backlit display;
  • 3.20 GHz Intel Core i3 processor with 4MB shared L3 cache;
  • 4GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
  • ATI Radeon HD 5670 discrete graphics with 512MB GDDR3;
  • 1TB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
  • slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
  • Mini DisplayPort for audio and video output (adapters sold separately);
  • AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
  • iSight video camera;
  • Gigabit Ethernet;
  • four USB 2.0 ports;
  • one FireWire 800 port;
  • one SDXC SD card slot;
  • built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
  • Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

Configure-to-order options include a faster 3.6 GHz Core i5 processor, 2TB hard drive and up to 8GB of RAM.

iMac

The new 27-inch 3.2 GHz Intel Core i3 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,699 (US), includes:

  • 27-inch 2560 x 1440 LED-backlit display;
  • 3.20 GHz Intel Core i3 processor with 4MB shared L3 cache;
  • 4GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
  • ATI Radeon HD 5670 discrete graphics with 512MB GDDR3;
  • 1TB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
  • slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
  • Mini DisplayPort for audio and video input and output (adapters sold separately);
  • AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
  • iSight video camera;
  • Gigabit Ethernet;
  • four USB 2.0 ports;
  • one FireWire 800 port;
  • one SDXC SD card slot;
  • built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
  • Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

Configure-to-order options include a 3.6 GHz Core i5 processor, 2TB hard drive, 256GB solid state drive (SSD) and up to 16GB of RAM.

The new 27-inch 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:

  • 27-inch 2560 x 1440 LED-backlit display;
  • 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 processor with 8MB shared L3 cache;
  • 4GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
  • ATI Radeon HD 5750 discrete graphics with 1GB GDDR5;
  • 1TB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
  • slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
  • Mini DisplayPort for audio and video input and output (adapters sold separately);
  • AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
  • iSight video camera;
  • Gigabit Ethernet;
  • four USB 2.0 ports;
  • one FireWire 800 port;
  • one SDXC SD card slot;
  • built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
  • Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

Configure-to-order options include a 2.93 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 processor, a 2TB hard drive, 256GB solid state drive (SSD) and up to 16GB of RAM.

iMac

Additional accessories include: Magic Trackpad, Apple Battery Charger, wired Apple Mouse, wired Apple Keyboard, wired Apple Keyboard with numeric keypad, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, the AppleCare Protection Plan; and pre-installed copies of iWork, Logic Express 9, Final Cut Express 4 and Aperture 3.

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Apple Releases New iMacs with Upgraded ATI Radeon HD Graphics Cards

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010


As predicted, Apple launched new iMacs today featuring the latest Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors and new graphics cards.

“We took the world’s best all-in-one and made it even better,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With the latest processors, high-performance graphics and signature aluminum and glass design, customers are going to love the latest iMac.”

The new iMacs all feature dedicated graphics cards rather than relying on slower integrated graphics chips. A breakdown of the new models is provided here:

$1199 / 21.5″ / 3.06GHz Core i3 / 4GB / 500MB / ATI Radeon HD 4670
$1499 / 21.5″ / 3.20GHz Core i3 / 4GB / 1TB / ATI Radeon HD 5670
$1699 27″ / 3.20GHz Core i3 / 4GB / 1TB / ATI Radeon HD 5670
$1999 27″ / 2.8GHz Quad-Core Core i5 / 4GB / 1TB / ATI Radeon HD 5750
+$200 27″ / 2.93 GHz Quad-Core Core i7 BTO option

The iMacs were last updated in October 2009.

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27-Inch LED Cinema Display Coming Tomorrow Alongside iMacs and Mac Pros?

Monday, July 26th, 2010


Mockup of existing 24″ LED display (left) next to 27″ model (right)
In announcing the return of his podcast talk show, the plugged-in John Gruber slyly hints, as he is wont to do, that Apple may be set to release a new 27-inch 16:9 widescreen display alongside updated Mac Pros and iMacs tomorrow.

We’ll have much to talk about, what with the new Mac Pros (finally, right?), speed-bump iMacs, and the gorgeous new 16:9 27-inch Cinema Display that Apple might hypothetically release tomorrow.

The Mac Pro and iMac have been subjects of considerable discussion over the past few days as their availability has begun slipping in several of the company’s distribution channels. A 27-inch LED Cinema Display is not a new rumor, however, as a report from March of this year pinpointed a release of just such a display along with revised Mac Pros “by June” of this year. While Apple did not meet the rumored release timeline, it appears that both products may be set to finally make their appearance along with minor bumps to the company’s iMac line.

Update: In an update to his post, Gruber suggests in a “doubly-hypothetical” manner that Apple’s “Magic Trackpad” that was approved by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission last week could also make an appearance tomorrow.

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iMac Shipments Running Low Ahead of Refresh?

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010


AppleInsider reports that Apple has begun advising third-party retail partners of impending shortages of the company’s iMac models, suggesting that a refresh of the company’s popular all-in-one desktop line may be in store for the near future.

In particular, a person familiar with the matter says the Mac maker is informing some of its distributors not to expect any further stock of the entry level 21.5-inch, 3.06GHz iMac, implying that production of that model has ceased.

Meanwhile, those with ties to the company’s stateside reseller channels are being advised to sell through their stock of all existing iMac models and to keep their inventories as lean as possible for the next few weeks.

Just last week, Hardmac reported that the Mac Pro would see an “end of summer” update, with iMac updates not following until several weeks after that. The site also claimed that the iMac may gain USB 3.0 and faster FireWire connectivity as part of the refresh.

The iMac was last updated in October, when it saw a major redesign to shift to 21.5-inch and 27-inch LED displays.

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USB 3.0 and Faster FireWire in Next Mac Pro, iMac?

Friday, July 16th, 2010


HardMac provides some long awaited rumors about the overdue Mac Pro and iMac updates. According to the site, Apple won’t be releasing a new Mac Pro until “end of summer” with the iMac revision to follow a few weeks later.

They also report that Apple will be introducing two new technologies into their desktop machines: USB 3.0 and faster FireWire:

On this occasion, Apple should inaugurate two great innovations, the arrival of USB 3.0 and a faster Firewire interface, 1600 or 3200. Thus, Firewire will not forgotten.

The also report that Lightpeak isn’t expected for another year, and, of course, we won’t see Blu-Ray in these desktop Macs either.

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