Hightlights:
- With the new update of the iMac, each member of the line of all-in-ones gets a strong boost in processor and graphics.
- While the interior of the iMac has gotten a compete overhaul, the exterior is almost exactly the same as the previous version.
- The minimalist design helps draw your eyes to the gorgeous 21.5-inch LCD, which is glossy and LED-backlit.
- The iMac ships with either the Magic Mouse or the Magic Trackpad. (You previously had to pay an extra $69 to get the Magic Trackpad separately. Now it can be bundled with your iMac instead of the Magic Mouse without an additional charge.)
- Apple's new 720p FaceTime HD camera lives in the middle of the top of the screen bezel, along with a camera-indicator light, which lights up to warn you when the camera is on.
- These iMacs are the first desktops to feature the Thunderbolt port (which replaces the mini-DisplayPort connector from previous iMacs), based on Intel's Light Peak technology, which supports both high-performance peripherals and high-resolution displays.
- While (the iMac's) performance isn�t up to the same level you�ll find in a Mac Pro or other high-end desktop, there�s plenty of CPU muscle here for multitasking and even demanding tasks like high-end image and HD video editing.
2011 iMac Lineup | |||||||
21.5-inch (low-end) | 21.5-inch (high-end) | 27-inch (low-end) | 27-inch (high-end) | ||||
Dimensions (inches) | 17.75 H x 20.8 W x 7.42 D | 17.75 H x 20.8 W x 7.42 D | 20.4 H x 25.6 W x 8.15 D | 20.4 H x 25.6 W x 8.15 D | |||
Weight | 20.5 lbs (9.3 kg) | 20.5 lbs (9.3 kg) | 30.5 lbs (13.8 kg) | 30.5 lbs (13.8 kg) | |||
CPU | 2.5 GHz quad-core Core i5 | 2.7 GHz quad-core Core i5 | 2.7 GHz quad-core Core i5 | 3.1 GHz quad-core Core i5 | |||
GPU | AMD Radeon HD 6750M (512MB) | AMD Radeon HD 6770M (512MB) | AMD Radeon HD 6770M (512MB) | AMD Radeon HD 6970M (1GB) | |||
RAM | 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 (16GB max) | 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 (16GB max) | 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 (16GB max) | 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 (16GB max) | |||
HDD | 500GB 7200 RPM | 1TB 7200 RPM | 1TB 7200 RPM | 1TB 7200 RPM | |||
Display Resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 | 2560x1440 | 2560x1440 | |||
Ports | Gigabit LAN, Firewire 800, Thunderbolt, 4x USB 2.0, SDHC slot, separate audio in/out jacks | Gigabit LAN, Firewire 800, Thunderbolt, 4x USB 2.0, SDHC slot, separate audio in/out jacks | Gigabit LAN, Firewire 800, 2x Thunderbolt, 4x USB 2.0, SDHC slot, separate audio in/out jacks | Gigabit LAN, Firewire 800, 2x Thunderbolt, 4x USB 2.0, SDHC slot, separate audio in/out jacks | |||
Price | $1,199 | $1,499 | $1,699 | $1,999 | |||
The entry-level 21.5-inch iMac that costs $1199, and features 2.5GHz Core i5 quad core processor, a 500GB hard drive, AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics with 512MB of video memory, was found to be around 24 per cent faster overall than previous year's entry-level model that featured a 3.06GHz Core i3 dual core processor.
The new $1199 iMac model was found to be faster even than the last year's high-end 27-inch 2.8GHz Core i5 quad core model, by around 10 per cent.
The new $1699 iMac was 25 per cent faster than the last year�s 27-inch 3.2GHz Core i3 dual core model. The $1999 27-inch 3.1GHz Core i5 iMac
Could score just 12 Speedmark points higher than the entry-level $1199 21.5-inch 2.5GHz Core i5 iMac.
Apple does offer a SSD option in its latest iMacs but it involves a replacement 256GB drive rather than the small-capacity drives envisioned for SSD caching. Apple could always add the option of a smaller solid-state drive later. CPUs: The iMac Gets Sandy Bridged
The Sandy Bridge and Thunderbolt upgrades are more or less known quantities at this point � what impressed me most about the new iMacs was the GPU upgrade, especially in the entry-level iMac and the high-end iMac.
This, again, will drastically improve the new iMac�s utility as a gaming machine � the 6970M is much more capable of driving the 27� iMac�s 2560x1440 pixel display. Quad core processors and beefier dedicated GPUs make these better buys, relatively speaking, than last year�s models, but the iMac is still the iMac: a midrange-to-high-performance all-in-one with a high-quality display. Today�s upgrades do nothing to change the iMac lineup on a fundamental level.
Today�s iMac is faster and more capable than yesterday�s iMac on all fronts. Given that no Windows all-in-one desktop manufacturer offers a model with a 27-inch display, Apple's highest-end iMac was unique and competitive even before yesterday's update. With the new, second-generation Core i5 CPU and a current, high-end AMD graphics chip, Apple has made the new iMac one of the fastest all-in-ones available.
Given that no Windows all-in-one desktop manufacturer offers a model with a 27-inch display, Apple's highest-end iMac was unique and competitive even before yesterday's update. With the new, second-generation Core i5 CPU and a current, high-end AMD graphics chip, Apple has made the new iMac one of the fastest all-in-ones available.
With a fast new second-generation Core i5 CPU, a high-end 3D card, and support for promising Thunderbolt high-bandwidth peripheral connection ports, the new, highest-end iMac has plenty to offer media professionals and enthusiasts in terms of performance and peripheral device flexibility. For serious media editors, or those looking for a vanity desktop, the $1,999 Apple iMac remains one of the fastest, most attractive systems available.
As it upgraded its MacBook Pro laptops earlier this year, Apple has introduced to the iMac Intel's second-generation Core CPU family (formerly code-named Sandy Bridge). Lastly, Apple has incorporated the new Thunderbolt data throughput standard into the iMac, and two Thunderbolt ports on the back of the 27-inch models replace the single Mini DisplayPort input found on older iMacs. That capability is certainly welcome, and it makes extending the iMac's display easy, but multimonitor support in general isn't unique to the iMac. We've compared the iMac here with one of the fastest Windows-based all-in-ones we've tested, HP's TouchSmart 610q 1065qd, as well as a less expensive Dell XPS 8300 desktop.
From a features standpoint, the iMac and the HP TouchSmart compare well. The large screen remains the iMac's most obvious advantage, but it also boasts a faster graphics card and a more up-to-date CPU than the HP system. HP can't match the iMac's Thunderbolt ports, but it also offers two HDMI inputs, which means, unlike the iMac, you can connect current-generation home entertainment devices to the TouchSmart without having to buy an adapter.
We're unclear how a more casual home user would take advantage of the iMac's Thunderbolt ports, though. The new 27-inch iMac offers the best all-around performance among all-in-ones. The iMac's 3.1GHz Core i5 2400 CPU lacks HyperThreading, and thus remains a pure quad-core processor.
As expected, the Dell XPS 8300 and its current-generation Core i7 2600 CPU give the iMac a tougher fight. The solution for the iMac lies in the Core i7 option available from Apple for an additional $200. With that CPU, the iMac will likely approach, if not bypass, the XPS 8300's performance, and it will still offer a better deal for its complete hardware package thanks to the iMac's large, high-resolution display. For others, the Core i5-based iMac's competitive performance, combined with its large display, make it a well-priced high-end desktop package.
Game testing on the iMac always feels like a bit of an academic exercise. Apple demonstrated Valve's Portal 2 for us to show off the iMac's new Radeon HD 6970 graphics card. Aside from a pair of Thunderbolt ports replacing the previous 27-inch iMac's single Mini DisplayPort, the rest of the new iMac's external connectivity remains the same. Power efficiency is one of the hallmarks of Intel's second-generation Core CPUs, and given the new iMac's performance edge over the previous model, the fact that it consumes only marginally more power speaks highly of both Intel and Apple. A fast new Intel CPU and an AMD graphics chip provide Apple's new 27-inch iMac with competitive performance for its price, and the advent of Thunderbolt offers the iMac the potential for exciting peripheral devices later this year.
The bottom line: We recommend Apple's new 27-inch iMac to digital media editors and others with serious performance needs on the strength of its impressive speed, its connected device potential, and its market-leading 27-inch display.
New iMac 2011 (video)
New iMac unboxing (video)
2011 iMac Review Specs and Features (video)
2011 Model comparisons and tips on which ones to buy (video)
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