Apple Refreshes 21.5-Inch and 27-Inch iMacs With Brighter Displays, Kaby Lake Processors, and Faster Storage

[theluggage]

But if you did not have a RAID on the iMac, could you not run a 5K display off each of the two TB3 ports?

...people still haven't got the hang of Thunderbolt and 5k:

The new iMac has one Thunderbolt controller, giving two TB3 ports.
Each TB controller supports two Displayport 1.2a streams.

...but to run a 5k display, you need both of those DisplayPort streams (even though they both fit down one cable).
Hence, you can only run one 5k display per TB3 controller.

The MacBook Pro and the upcoming iMac Pro each have two Thunderbolt controllers giving 4 ports, so they can support two 5k displays.

To summarise: Intel threw two spanners in the works:
(A) They only supported DisplayPort 1.2a in Thunderbolt 3. DisplayPort 1.3/1.4 can do single-stream 5k.
(B) Kaby lake was rumoured to have an on-chipset TB3 controller, so the iMac could have had 4 ports/2 controllers for the price of one. But it didn't happen - so, waiting for European Wine Lake (or whatever its called).

hence the MacBook Pro supports more displays and more pixels than the iMac. Bizarre.

I think I could just about muddle through with one 5k flanked by a pair of 4ks...

 

[CWallace]

The new iMac has one Thunderbolt controller, giving two TB3 ports. The MacBook Pro and the upcoming iMac Pro each have two Thunderbolt controllers giving 4 ports, so they can support two 5k displays.

And I am guessing that decision was driven by continuing to support USB-A so people wouldn't bitch about needing to buy a new cable or using a dongle.

 

[Maetzle]

And I am guessing that decision was driven by continuing to support USB-A so people wouldn't bitch about needing to buy a new cable or using a dongle.

Only that the iMac is the one system where adapters aren't quite as annoying as on a mobile device (but I'm very glad that they have both).

 

[theluggage]

And I am guessing that decision was driven by continuing to support USB-A so people wouldn't bitch about needing to buy a new cable or using a dongle.

...then it was a good decision. No point putting extra TB3 ports on if you have to "waste" them by hanging off dongles for backup drives, 1Gb Ethernet, keyboards, mice or USB 3.0 backup drives that don't make use of TB3 bandwidth.

By the next update, intel chips will have one TB3 controller built-in so it will be cheaper to support 4 ports, and we'll all be a bit closer to the day when we don't need so many USB-A devices.

 

[Asclepio]

i didn't watch the keynote, they have tb3 ports?

 

[JHankwitz]

Love the focus on the iMac, but was hoping for a redesigned enclosure. Oh well, looks great.

Pretty hard to improve on perfection.

 

[EdT]

Bring on the complaints about iMac Pro prices from people that have no real reason to need the power it offers.

"This Porsche 959 is far too expensive!"

What I was hoping for was something that could compare to a Windows gaming machine. My brother in law has a new home built computer with VR that he plays Elite Dangerous on. The 3D, at least for that game, is impressive. It takes a lot of memory, an extremely good graphics card and a top end processor. I don't remember what he put into his but it's water cooled.

Not expecting that level all at once but I'm not sure Apple is interested in moving that way at all. For most people who are using their computer recreationally, games are the only reason that they need power. Average computers have been able to do most everything else for 10 years, no matter what OS or manufacturer.

 

[mig0]

Can they be used as external monitors and what kind of upgradeability exists (for the pro also). Can I update ram or SSD? I don't expect to upgrade the gpu without using a thunderbold enclosure.

 

[mandoman]

No updated Mac Mini

 

[CWallace]

Not expecting that level all at once but I'm not sure Apple is interested in moving that way at all. For most people who are using their computer recreationally, games are the only reason that they need power. Average computers have been able to do most everything else for 10 years, no matter what OS or manufacturer.

So you missed that Steam VR is now supported on macOS? And missed the Star Wars VR demo on the iMac? Yes, the 580 is a mid-range card for VR, but at least a Mac can now do it.

 

[kazemer]

The 27' imac looks very appealing to me.

 

[CWallace]

i didn't watch the keynote, they have tb3 ports?

Two TB3+USB-C and 4 USB-A. They replaced the two TB2 with TB3+USB-C.
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...then it was a good decision. No point putting extra TB3 ports on if you have to "waste" them by hanging off dongles for backup drives, 1Gb Ethernet, keyboards, mice or USB 3.0 backup drives that don't make use of TB3 bandwidth.

Well I am sure the iMac Pro will have multiple TB3 controllers and more ports so if you need that level of connectivity, you might also need high-core CPUs and more powerful GPUs.

I'm happy with a single secondary 5K display and my only TB device is a Drobo 5D (which is TB2) so not worried about a single TB controller.

 

[JWatt68]

Apple has announced a few new iMac models at WWDC today, which the company said include the best Mac displays ever with 500 nits of brightness and support for 1 billion colors, resulting in displays that are 43% brighter than previous models.

The new iMacs have up to three times more powerful graphics abilities in comparison to previous generations, faster processors, Thunderbolt 3, and faster storage options. Apple said that the updates, along with refreshes of the MacBook, represent a lineup of Mac devices that are "stronger than ever."
With the refresh, a Retina 4K display is also coming to the 21.5-inch iMac. Both the 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMacs feature faster Kaby Lake processors up to 4.2 GHz, with Turbo Boost speeds up to 4.5 GHz. The computers support twice the memory as the previous generation, and Fusion Drive will now be standard on all 27-inch iMac configurations, as well as on the top-end 21.5-inch iMac.

SSD storage will become 50 percent faster on the refreshed iMacs, and graphics on the computers are more powerful thanks to new Radeon Pro 500-series cards with up to 8GB of vRAM. In terms of faster performance, the 21.5-inch model delivers up to three times faster speeds in comparison to the previous iMacs, while the 27-inch model is up to 50 percent faster.

The models start at $1,099 for the 21.5-inch iMac, $1,299 for the 4K 21.5-inch iMac, and $1,799 for the 5K 27-inch iMac. All models will go on sale today.

Article Link: Apple Refreshes 21.5-Inch and 27-Inch iMacs With Brighter Displays, Kaby Lake Processors, and Faster Storage

 

[Stella]

Those GPUs are the Apple specific AMD GPUs - "Radeon Pro 580".

Wondering if they are slower ( i.e., less heat ) GPUs than the regular desktop AMD 580s.... as per the mobile variations.

Definitely nice updates, and finally VR capable...

 

[MacsRgr8]

Anyone knows how the AMD Radeon Pro 580 (in the iMac) compares with the "standard" Radeon RX 580?

 

[deany]

Looks like Apple are ditching the Mac Pro and giving the iMac the Pro status.

Good move, the iMac Pro looks absolutely gorgeous with class leading hardware, best of both worlds.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

I am surprised how cheap they are sold.

The iPhone and services are the bigger market for Apple. That is the reason why they offer their hardware at affordable prices.

 

[b0rg]

Who has a link to the new blue cloudy wallpaper of the iMac Pro?

 

[MacRazySwe]

FANTASTIC! Fantastic update to the iMac line!

Finally Fusion Drive as standard across the 27" Line-up. USB-C while still keeping "Legacy ports" around. The "MacBook Air on a stick" is also GONE, while price was also reduced.

They are finally listening.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

Looks like Apple are ditching the Mac Pro and giving the iMac the Pro status.

Good move, the iMac Pro looks absolutely gorgeous with class leading hardware, best of both worlds.

The heat of a 18 core Xeon together with a pro-level AMD VEGA GPU destroys the display in no time.

 

[MistrSynistr]

Let the whining about something or another begin!

I'll take you up on this offer.

The chassis on the iMac's should of been re-designed. Especially for the new iMac Pro. This is lazy. They tossed that space gray on it as camouflage.

 

[wallysb01]

Oh it is already in full-force in the WWDC thread. Everything we asked for, and yet we still bitch.

I'm skeptical of the iMac Pro, but this iMac update is a good one. My wife has been complaining lately about a PC I built here several years ago now, its tempting to go with the bottom end 21" 4K, add a fusion and that's a nice computer at a decent price point.

 

[EdT]

So you missed that Steam VR is now supported on macOS? And missed the Star Wars VR demo on the iMac? Yes, the 580 is a mid-range card for VR, but at least a Mac can now do it.

I'm at work. Anything that didn't make it to my twitter feed I don't know about yet.

 

[Motagaly]

Target display mode? looks like base model can be a nice display for MacBook pro 2016 if TDM is supported

 

[MistrSynistr]

Pretty hard to improve on perfection.

The chin and black screen bezels are insane. They could of re-approached this.