Apple Releases New iMacs with Upgraded ATI Radeon HD Graphics Cards

[jettredmont]

I wonder if there's a small bay in there for 2.5inch drives or something? Be interesting to see the tear downs to find out.

A tear-down will be great. I'm curious to see how easy it will be to add our own SSD drive, or even just a 2nd HD. Apple's two-drive option is pretty damn expensive, but I do like that it will support two drives now.

My guess is that there is room for a 2.5" disk there and ALSO the assumption that such a disk will produce virtually no heat.

In other words, feel free to put an SSD in there aftermarket (I can't see any issues with putting an aftermarket SSD in there), but putting a "normal" laptop drive (say, another 1TB drive) would disappoint both because it's going to "want" to be the default boot drive (rather than the 1-2TB 3.5" drive with much better throughput than any 2.5" physical disk drive) and because it will generate heat.

I'd never put anything besides an SSD in there because it would ruin the thermal envelope. It's a tight envelope inside that slender case.

The SSD + hard drive option is tempting, but I’d only want an Intel X-25 80GB in there for OS and apps, and keep my home folder on the HDD. Too bad Apple’s only option is a $600 256GB SSD. I wonder if the 2.5” bay will be user-accessible after the fact. I don’t like the idea of opening up and operating on an iMac (dust, screen, etc.), but to save $600? I might be convinced.

It's actually rather easy to open up. Yes, you want a room free of lint / pet dander / etc, and a good microfiber cloth to clean the glass cover and the LCD screen off before re-mating them. However, aside from the need to use suction cups (I actually used two small hand toilet plungers for this ... it's a very small amount of suction needed), and then to make sure you are carefully following instructions in removing cables (don't just unscrew and lift that big screen out; it's attached with 3-4 other cables you'll need todetach from the "top" down) it's definitely something an "advanced" amateur could do. I mean, I'm a good ten years out from assembling my last PC, and never really had the patience for that in the first place, and opening up the iMac was a walk in the park for me.

Of course, the problem with the iMac HD in the 2009 models is that the drive has special firmware and so can't be replaced by anything but an Apple-supplied drive unless you want to have the middle HD fan going full-bore all the time (see notes on thermal envelope, above). The Apple firmware on the drive puts the thermal sensor output onto two of the drive's auxiliary pins rather than relying on an external thermal sensor, so any other drive in there won't be able to tell the iMac what its temperature is.

I wouldn't expect a similar issue for the SSD, though, as the thermal contribution from an SSD is negligible at best. So, I suspect you'd be able to replace that drive fairly quickly and easily (and cheaply).

 

[truz]

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

21.5" / 3.06GHz Core i3 / 4GB / 500MB / ATI Radeon HD 4670
21.5" / 3.20GHz Core i3 / 4GB / 1TB / ATI Radeon HD 5670
27" / 3.20GHz Core i3 / 4GB / 1TB / ATI Radeon HD 5670
27" / 2.8GHz Quad-Core Core i5 / 4GB / 1TB / ATI Radeon HD 5750
27" / 2.93 GHz Quad-Core Core i7 BTO option

The iMacs were last updated in October 2009.

Article Link: Apple Releases New iMacs with Upgraded ATI Radeon HD Graphics Cards

Looks like a typo.. 500MB? > 500GB

 

[mosx]

Wow. $1699 for Core i3. $1,999 for Core i5. Apple must really hate their customers if they charge prices like that.

In the PC world, that $1199 system would be Core i7, with blu-ray, a larger display, and a significantly more powerful GPU.

 

[Kempalino]

Is quad core really worth it? Because i am going to be either buying a high end 21.5 inch model or a high end 27 inch model.
Basically i don't want a huge screen, (27inch) but i've heard that quadcore boosts performance nicely, especially for video editing and music software usage (which i do a lot).
But i'm also confused about the Ghz specs- why on the high end 27 models the ghz is lower?
if somebody could answer i would really appreciate it.
THanks alot!

 

[portishead]

I just bought an iMac less than 3 weeks ago. Hopefully they'll let me exchange it once they get some in stock.

 

[Horus]

I'm feeding the troll, sorry.

Wow. $1699 for Core i3. $1,999 for Core i5. Apple must really hate their customers if they charge prices like that.

In the PC world, that $1199 system would be Core i7, with blu-ray, a larger display, and a significantly more powerful GPU.

Really?
Does mean all the hardware comes free with the display?, since a comparable display is already over $1000.

Also, In the PC world you would be smart but here...

 

[prne10]

Wow. $1699 for Core i3. $1,999 for Core i5. Apple must really hate their customers if they charge prices like that.

In the PC world, that $1199 system would be Core i7, with blu-ray, a larger display, and a significantly more powerful GPU.

What about OSX, AppleCare, and the best looking stuff on the market? I tried to do a pricecheck on those, but no one else is offering them!

Sorry you're a poor, bro.

 

[tjm111]

We just bought a 27" 3.06 Core duo 8GB two days ago and just set it up last night. Do you think it is worth bringing it back and paying a restocking fee for the i3? My husband will be using it for Pro Tools mostly and some video editing. I would use it for photo editing in Photoshop.

 

[portishead]

We just bought a 27" 3.06 Core duo 8GB two days ago and just set it up last night. Do you think it is worth bringing it back and paying a restocking fee for the i3? My husband will be using it for Pro Tools mostly and some video editing. I would use it for photo editing in Photoshop.

They most likely won't charge you a restocking fee. I'd bring it in.

 

[nlr]

We just bought a 27" 3.06 Core duo 8GB two days ago and just set it up last night. Do you think it is worth bringing it back and paying a restocking fee for the i3? My husband will be using it for Pro Tools mostly and some video editing. I would use it for photo editing in Photoshop.

Yes definitely it will be 20% faster and there wont be a restocking fee.

 

[tjm111]

Yes definitely it will be 20% faster and there wont be a restocking fee.

Thanks! I'll definitely go in and chat with them in person. I had called the store earlier and they told me there would be a restocking fee.

 

[Hilmi Hamidi]

Forget the new Macs, the Apple Battery Changer is the winner!

 

[Bass Ackwards]

Curious question, and sorry if this has already been brought up. But on the old iMacs the quad core was 2.8ghz i7; I see on the new quad core the low end one is 2.8ghz i5.

Is there a difference between the 2009 2.8ghz Core i7 and the 2010 2.8ghz Core i5?

 

[mosx]

Really?
Does mean all the hardware comes free with the display?, since a comparable display is already over $1000.

Also, In the PC world you would be smart but here...

A comparable display? Depends on your definition of "comparable".

I'll take my 23" LG over any of the Apple displays. Why? It's a matte display! It also has a 2ms response time. Everything stays nice and sharp during movement. Even when I hook my Xbox 360 up and play Forza 3. Nice and sharp even at the highest speeds. It also has a significantly higher contrast ratio, and the same brightness level as an Apple Cinema Display. It doesn't have an LED backlight. But Apple uses edge-lit LED displays anyway, not RGBLED. So the only real world benefit you get is less power draw and "instant on". But this display is at full brightness before the Apple logo displays during the boot process.

As far as other hardware goes, Core i7 is nearly 2 years old now. Apple didn't finally introduce it into the iMac until a year after release and notebook hardware, though its the dual core version, until many months after notebook PCs had the quad core version.

So yes, you can easily build a system several times faster than that $1699 iMac for hundreds less. And you can build a system outperforming the top end Core i7 iMac for, again, several hundred less with actual modern and high performing GPUs.

And, I have to join others when I say, wheres blu-ray? An 8x DVD writer in a $2200 system? No blu-ray?

Edit: Forgot to add the benefit of having a separate display. Look at all of the display issues the iMac had when it was revised. Had the display been a separate piece, people wouldn't have gotten weeks or months without their new computer as they went through several exchanges to get the problem fixed.

Even now, if my display goes bad, I don't need to worry about having to ship the entire computer out for repair. I just swap the display with another one. I live very close to many retailers that sell high quality displays. I would be down for maybe 30 minutes at the most. While an iMac user will be down for several days at a minimum.

What about OSX, AppleCare, and the best looking stuff on the market? I tried to do a pricecheck on those, but no one else is offering them!

Sorry you're a poor, bro.

AppleCare? Apple has taken care of me in the past, but there are far better manufacturer provided warranties out there. Dell and HP both offer warranties with in-home service and accidental damage coverage for about the same price as Apple Care.

OS X? Don't care. I have 10.6.4 on my MacBook. Its nice for basic browsing and listening to music. And if you're an iOS developer. But anything else needs Windows. I have to have half of my HDD dedicated to Windows 7.

Best looking stuff? Functionality is far more important than form. Always. I'm not a vain person. I don't need someone to look at my computer or my iPhone or my iPad and be like "wow that person has nice looking gadgets". I care about what it does. Looks come in a very distant third, after functionality and price.

It's funny you call me "poor". As I type this post on my original unibody MacBook ($1406 after taxes), while syncing my both my 32GB wifi iPad, and my 16GB iPhone 4.

I'm not "poor". I've just come to my senses since I purchased my Mac. I love my iPad. It's the coolest thing I own. And my iPhone has become an important part of my every day life. But I know that Macs are a ripoff. The fact that Apple is charging $1699 for a Core i3 system with a low-end GPU is proof that they only see their customers as ATM machines and are seeing just how high they can push their prices and profit margins before their customers finally realize they're getting ripped off.

 

[Franktv415]

I waited too get a New IMAC and reading all of these post i am sad at Apple. I thought these New IMACs where going too kick ass with at least USB 3.0.

 

[MorphingDragon]

I waited too get a New IMAC and reading all of these post i am sad at Apple. I thought these New IMACs where going too kick ass with at least USB 3.0.

And connect your fleet of USB3 devices?

 

[Joko]

I just bought an iMac 6 years ago, really hoping Apple will swap it for a new one.

 

[Bonham]

Cheers Apple

I decided to pull the trigger and ordered a 2.8 GHz Core i7 8GB RAM last Friday. Luckily it hadn't shipped by the time of the new release and got up this morning to find Apple had very kindly upgraded my order to the BTO 2.93 GHz Core i7 with 8GB RAM....for no additional cost.

Cheers Steve!

 

[50548]

The current Apple lineup is simply blowing everything out of the water.

It always amazes me to see how many whiners infest this forum...my C2D 24" iMac is MORE than capable to execute any job I throw at it, including playing the latest games...EVERYONE I have helped convert to Apple (more than 10 people now) can't even think about coming back to an inferior world of beige boxes and Windows systems.

Blu-Ray - a stupid, borndead technology;
USB 3.0 - too early;
xMac - GO buy a Mac Mini.

And then when Apple releases updated iMacs (which are, HANDS DOWN, the BEST DESKTOPS on Earth), PC-loving children start bitching that the company used the ATi 5750 instead of the ATi 5799.7 or whatever ridiculous revision they come up with to give them 1 more fps in Portal...

GPU pissing contests do not apply here; get a grip, people!

 

[chrmjenkins]

The current Apple lineup is simply blowing everything out of the water.

It always amazes me to see how many whiners infest this forum...my C2D 24" iMac is MORE than capable to execute any job I throw at it, including playing the latest games...EVERYONE I have helped convert to Apple (more than 10 people now) can't even think about coming back to an inferior world of beige boxes and Windows systems.

Blu-Ray - a stupid, borndead technology;
USB 3.0 - too early;
xMac - GO buy a Mac Mini.

And then when Apple releases updated iMacs (which are, HANDS DOWN, the BEST DESKTOPS on Earth), PC-loving children start bitching that the company used the ATi 5750 instead of the ATi 5799.7 or whatever ridiculous revision they come up with to give them 1 more fps in Portal...

GPU pissing contests do not apply here; get a grip, people!

It's a shame you don't get paid for this. Never have I seen someone so ardently loyal and willingly ignorant.

 

[Digital Skunk]

We just bought a 27" 3.06 Core duo 8GB two days ago and just set it up last night. Do you think it is worth bringing it back and paying a restocking fee for the i3? My husband will be using it for Pro Tools mostly and some video editing. I would use it for photo editing in Photoshop.

They most likely won't charge you a restocking fee. I'd bring it in.

Actually, it's a VERY good chance you will pay a restocking fee if you want to bring it back. Every store is different, but don't go in there blasting off at the mouth about how you heard you didn't have to pay a restocking fee.

Prepare to pay one.

Or you can do a return and rebuy and get some money back.

Yes, I did work Apple retail for slightly over a year, and had the same issues with customers on four product releases. And again, every store is different since people are different, but the general rule was to charge the customer a restocking fee for a return.

 

[booned]

Yes!! God I hope it's an Intel drive and not a Samsung one.

It most likely will be Intel because Samsung is coming out with their own laptops/computers in the US. Their exclusivity contract ended this year.

 

[50548]

It's a shame you don't get paid for this. Never have I seen someone so ardently loyal and willingly ignorant.

So prove me wrong instead of spreading ad personam BS.

 

[portishead]

Actually, it's a VERY good chance you will pay a restocking fee if you want to bring it back. Every store is different, but don't go in there blasting off at the mouth about how you heard you didn't have to pay a restocking fee.

Prepare to pay one.

Or you can do a return and rebuy and get some money back.

Yes, I did work Apple retail for slightly over a year, and had the same issues with customers on four product releases. And again, every store is different since people are different, but the general rule was to charge the customer a restocking fee for a return.

Of course there is no guarantee either way, but if you speak to a manager and ask nicely, your chances are higher. Your chances are even higher if you are upgrading to something. I'm not sure what happens if you are exchanging for a new model. Anyway, it won't hurt to ask, and IMO, I think it's still worth a restocking fee, but you'll have to decide that yourself.

 

[Queso]

I waited too get a New iMac and reading all of these post i am sad at Apple. I thought these New iMacs where going too kick ass with at least USB 3.0.

If you'd followed the iMac update threads you would have read that the likelihood was just a speed bump with a move to Core i3/i5 at the low-end of the range, which is pretty much what we've got. Everything else is waiting on Intel, as stated by a few of the posters in the threads that were very much in the know about chipset and processor roadmaps. It wouldn't have changed the machines as they are, but it would have managed your expectations better.

It's up to you what to do now. If you were waiting for a 27" you've not really gained much by waiting. Not much more could be done really, not until Sandy Bridge processors at the end of this year.

So prove me wrong instead of spreading ad personam BS.

Rather than bitching about the graphics chips we (as customers) need to start bitching at Apple for using the completely outdated OpenGL 2.1 standard when everyone else is moving to 3.3. If they can start optimising the drivers for their current chipsets it would remove part of the bitching about the medium-strength GPUs that do get used.