Apple Releases New iMacs

[johnmcboston]

During the new Montevina period, the introductory CPU is updated Penryn chips. So, NO these new iMacs do NOT have Montevina chips (because there's NO such thing), they are updated Penryn chips.

But it is nice to have a name for things. So droll saying I have the 'august 07' or 'April 08' imac CPU...

 

[JPark]

i just want to make sure if these iMac use montevina platform

from Wikipedia.org

Montevina platform (2008)

The code-name Montevina refers to the fifth-generation Centrino platform, now formally named Centrino 2 to avoid confusion with previous Centrino platforms. It is scheduled for release at Computex Taipei 2008, taking place on June 3-7, 2008[8]. Montevina will support Penryn, Intel's 45nm die-shrink version of Core 2 processors. On the 28th of April 2008, Apple has released new iMacs with the Montevina platform. It's the first PC with this chipset, appearing before the official scheduled release by Intel.

Yeah, I added that to the Wikipedia entry a few minutes ago, but my source was this thread.

 

[BenRoethig]

Blah blah blah, what an underwhelming update. Once again, you can only get a machine with a 512mb card for over $2000. That's insane. I'm sorry but this is just another example of Apple bumping the specs and we're all supposed to drool and fawn over it. How about a reasonable priced machine that has decent graphics? No, that would actually take listening to your customers. I really could care less what chip set it is, or what new fab memory it comes with. This is still a throw away machine. When people complain that there's no good games for the Mac, or that you can't play any decent games on it, well Apple is continuing to play into that. Good job guys.

Oh well, it looks like I'll be taking the $700-800 hackintosh route since Apple doesn't seem to care to give an option that makes sense. It's such a shame that I will be buying my first non-Apple computer in 20 years because they just can't produce a decent box with a decent price tag.

Hey its better than it was.

 

[JPark]

The iPhone is MADE IN CHINA, isn't it?

Yes, but to be fair they never specified who's economy they were trying to stimulate.

 

[BenRoethig]

OK

Does this iMac have Montevina?

And somebody said on here somewhere that it uses desktop processors now

May Refresh Penryn (even numbers)

 

[Cougarcat]

I'll be at the store first thing tomorrow (It's still a Tuesday release here in Japan).
I'll be getting the 2.8Ghz 24" model and I've got an extra 200 dollars to spend.

I'm wondering which would be a better use of my money, upgrading the processor from 2.8 to 3.06, or the memory from 2gb to 4gb?

Go with the processor upgrade. You can always get more memory later. Plus apple charges an arm and a leg for it.

 

[diamond.g]

I believe there would be no more northbridge/southbridge as well as no more front-side bus - all of these things would be replaced by QPI links. As for the GPU, it would still sit in a PCI Express slot like it always has, but this would be connected to the motherboard by another QPI link, instead of a dedicated PCI Express bus connected to the northbridge or southbridge.

Basically, what all this means is that communications between the different hardware parts in a computer will be a heck of a lot faster than they used to be.

There is still a southbridge (and northbrigde) as you need to talk to your peripherals somehow and and PCI(-E) bus isn't going away (well yet).

1) I have no idea... I'm just as confused as you are.

2) My understanding is that all of the iMac offerings have 1066 MHz front side buses and use 800 MHz RAM - but this RAM is installed in a matched pair, for dual-channel operation - this means it operates at an effective 1600 MHz, faster than the FSB. Therefore, there's no real need for 1066 MHz RAM in these machines - you would see zero speedup.

Nope the effective rate is the listed rate. DDR ram is double clocked, so you divide by two to get the real clock rate. Intel CPU's are quad clocked so divide the FSB by 4 to get the real (read: original) FSB speed.

http://guides.macrumors.com/Understanding_Intel_Mac_RAM

Careful DDR2-800 RAM has some timing issues when clocked back to 667 on Penryn Macs.

The majority of the specifications point to it.

The 8800GS is a nice video card and competes nicely with the Radeon HD3850. The limitation is the 192-bit memory interface but it's much better then 128-bit.

How does it have a 192 bit interface if it has 512MB of ram? Each ram chip should be a 64bit chip. The numbers just don't make sense...

A lot of the numbers with RAM are pure marketing.

The "667", "800" or "1066" number is the clock speed of the memory. But there is another number that you need to know: The number of clocks that the memory takes to deliver data. It is quite possible that a company builds 667 MHz RAM that takes four cycles to start delivering data, 800 MHz RAM that takes five cycles, and 1066 MHz RAM that takes six cycles. So the 1066 MHz RAM wouldn't actually be a lot faster.

Anyway, 800 MHz sells better than 667 MHz

Effective clock speed. Not actual.

I'd just like to point out a few things since people seem to be confused by the naming. There is no such thing as a Montevina CPU as well as there was no such thing as a Santa Rosa CPU. These are platforms that are used by PCs. Why do you think PCs have Intel Centrino Duo (codename: Santa Rosa) sticker on them, when the Macs have only Intel Core 2 Duo?

That's because the platforms are for PCs and Macs don't use those platforms, which are PC-specific. A platform includes all the following things: Intel PRO/Wireless network adapter, Intel mobile processor, Intel mobile chipset (southbridge and northbridge).

During the Santa Rosa period, there were two CPU upgrades, the original Merom (later updated with what you people refer to as Santa Rosa CPUs, which is incorrect since all they were were updated Merom chips) and Penryn.

During the new Montevina period, the introductory CPU is updated Penryn chips. So, NO these new iMacs do NOT have Montevina chips (because there's NO such thing), they are updated Penryn chips.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrino#Montevina_platform_.282008.29
for the non-believers (and I will recopy this post into every thread where people ask if the new MBP will have Montevina chips and I can tell you that they won't, they'll have updated Penryn chips MEANT for the PC Montevina platform).

You are beating a drum I gave up a long time ago... It is easier for everyone even if it is wrong...

 

[Roderick Usher]

Apple's market share has never been so high.

Global or U.S.? And I thought market share wasn't supposed to matter?

The current product range is fine for 90% of people.

Interesting number. Where did you get that from?

You won't ever see lots of games being released on OS X because Macs will never have the market share of Windows so it doesn't make sense financially.

Now go away.

Why are games looked upon as an annoyance and not as an enhancement, a strength?

 

[nimbuscloud]

Blah blah blah, what an underwhelming update. Once again, you can only get a machine with a 512mb card for over $2000. That's insane. I'm sorry but this is just another example of Apple bumping the specs and we're all supposed to drool and fawn over it. How about a reasonable priced machine that has decent graphics? No, that would actually take listening to your customers. I really could care less what chip set it is, or what new fab memory it comes with. This is still a throw away machine. When people complain that there's no good games for the Mac, or that you can't play any decent games on it, well Apple is continuing to play into that. Good job guys.

Oh well, it looks like I'll be taking the $700-800 hackintosh route since Apple doesn't seem to care to give an option that makes sense. It's such a shame that I will be buying my first non-Apple computer in 20 years because they just can't produce a decent box with a decent price tag.

Would you like some cheese with that?

And all the people whining about "no Blu-ray!", a BD-R costs $25...for ONE. Also, why would you want to watch a Blu-ray movie on a 20"-24" screen with no surround sound?

Are you just looking for something to complain about? You want games? There's games for the Mac, but not like a DirectX PC. Besides, PC games ARE dying. It's too late to jump into that ditch. Even Epic is mainly concerned with consoles, especially after seeing how Unreal Tournament III and Crysis BOMBED on the PC.

Stop expecting Apple to turn water into wine. I'll settle for grape juice.

 

[BlizzardBomb]

During the new Montevina period, the introductory CPU is updated Penryn chips. So, NO these new iMacs do NOT have Montevina chips (because there's NO such thing), they are updated Penryn chips.

OK, there's some confusion here, but this is only Intel's fault and the average consumer isn't to blame. With so many things going on and two processor types (Merom and Penryn) going under the Core 2 Duo brand, it's easy to see why people are getting confused. Generally, I say the last generation were Penryn iMacs, and would call this generation Montevina-based, but call it whatever you want, I'm sure people would get the picture.

In other news, nice update! Shame there was no Radeon HD 3000 series update on the rest of the line, but other than that (arguably small) complaint (we did get Montevina early after all), it's looking mighty delicious.

P.S. It looks like the Mac Pro now needs a better line up of graphics cards, seeing as this iMac might take away from some of the power appeal of the Mac Pro.

 

[!¡ V ¡!]

Seems pretty impressive. Still I'm happy with my matte iMac.

As am I, good old matte to the rescue.

FWIW, when will the iMac come with the option to not include the MM and KB. I already have them and would be nice if offered a discount for customers who already own a KB and mouse. They did it with the Remote.

Shave another $100 US for the Al KB and MM and the top end model starts getting very attractive. Until I notice that its Glass and GLossy.

 

[Telp]

The Mac Mini wasn't updated.

Not yet atleast. . The new specs are great!! I can't wait to check these out.

 

[gcmexico]

Same here!

Just in time for the "economic stimulus" monies that will begin to hit bank accounts today in the US.

Nice, predictable bump. I sure wish I could justify replacing my original white CD 20" iMac... but I'm not there yet. For everyone else, enjoy!

**
I just got the MBA...my Imac is fine...my next purchase is the new iphone...can't wait!!!

 

[Globetrotter]

Hmmm,

It seems everyone is missing Apple's ploy here.

They are shipping the update and and have included a new video card for the 24" model as an option.

But that's it in terms of graphics? I smell a rat.

Video card prices have plummeted recently, and Apple know that people waiting for an improved graphics card will now go for the 24" and upgrade the video card, and everyone else doesn't really care about the graphics capabilities anyway. So they get to take a huge extra profit margin for the 20" and force those looking for good graphics to go for the 24".

Then, when everyone has paid up, and the profits are sealed, they'll put the new graphics in after 2-3 months. They cannot expect to leave the 2400 & 2600 until 2009. That would be frankly, ridiculous.

Montevina, if it has been used, is a great step forward. But, to me this is part 1 of 2. The completion of the upgrade to Montevina will come in the summer with a sweet graphics update, and along with it, serious graphics updates across the whole mac line, given the drop in prices.

I suspect this is also because they did not want to spoil the introduction of Montevina and the new imac by bumping the graphics elsewhere.

 

[Eidorian]

How does it have a 192 bit interface if it has 512MB of ram? Each ram chip should be a 64bit chip. The numbers just don't make sense...

Ask nVidia or Apple. 512 MB isn't what the 8800 GS desktop version ships with. It's either 384 or 768 MB (9600

It's looking more like Apple might have just slapped on 8800 GS for the sake of comparison for the average consumer.

 

[BenRoethig]

It is a myth that Apple switched to Intel because of performance. On some benchmarks, the G5 still kicks the pants of the latest Intel specs...and the G5 is an awfully OLD chip by now. Apple's reality distortion field really went overtime making some of you believe this was because of performance per se, or because IBM "didn't hit 3Ghz as promised". Supremely entertaining but silly stuff.

It performs well on pure speed and applications designed to take advantage of altivec and the PowerPC. The for the other 90% of Macdom, where companies aren't going to spend the time and money to optimize for them, its a large leap in capability.

 

[sasza]

Apple pricing seems to unfairly vary in Europe

So the cheapest iMac is slightly cheaper in Finland than in UK, 999€ comparing to 799£ (1015€) and the top iMac is 1919€ comparing to 1389£ (1764€ !!!) so much more expensive in Fin then in the UK.
(prices in Finland are the same like in other € countries)
I don't get it why such stupid differences has place...

 

[EagerDragon]

So any ideas on why a Monday update? Have they ever updated before on a Monday?!?

Saving Tuesday for the new 3G iPhone.

 

[adamcz]

Can someone please help me with a link to where I can buy the discontinued 24" model? I can't find it on the Apple website. Thanks in advance.

 

[zeebe]

i just want to make sure if these iMac use montevina platform

from Wikipedia.org

Montevina platform (2008)

The code-name Montevina refers to the fifth-generation Centrino platform, now formally named Centrino 2 to avoid confusion with previous Centrino platforms. It is scheduled for release at Computex Taipei 2008, taking place on June 3-7, 2008[8]. Montevina will support Penryn, Intel's 45nm die-shrink version of Core 2 processors. On the 28th of April 2008, Apple has released new iMacs with the Montevina platform. It's the first PC with this chipset, appearing before the official scheduled release by Intel.

Yeah, and you can believe EVERYTHING on wikipedia!!

 

[jasonklee]

So, is the high end model suitable for FINAL CUT STUDIO 2?

 

[HLdan]

I wouldn't. It would run, but at the slower speed.



Oddly, Montevina isn't suppoed to be released for another month. Has someone ordered a new rig yet? If so when is the ship date?

This isn't new, you shouldn't be surprised, Apple had the exclusive on the 2.8Ghz chip for the 24" iMac one month before it's release.

 

[KnifeCarrier]

Here's where that 8800 GS falls in with NVIDIA's offerings.

Core Clock (MHz) Shader Clock (MHz) Memory Clock (MHz) Memory Amount Memory Interface Memory Bandwidth (GB/sec) Texture Fill Rate (billion/sec)
GeForce
8800 Ultra 612 1500 1080 768MB 384-bit 103.7 39.2
GeForce
8800 GTX 575 1350 900 768MB 384-bit 86.4 36.8
GeForce
8800 GTS 500 1200 800 640MB or
320MB 320-bit 64 24
GeForce
8800 GTS 512MB3 650 1625 970 512MB 256-bit 64 41.6
GeForce
8800 GT 600 1500 900 512MB 256-bit 57.6 33.6
GeForce
8800 GS 550 1375 800 384MB 192-bit 38.4 26.4
GeForce
8600 GTS 675 1450 1000 256MB 128-bit 32 10.8
GeForce
8600 GT 540 1190 700 256MB 128-bit 22.4 8.64
GeForce
8500 GT 450 900 400 256MB 128-bit 12.8 3.6
GeForce
8400 GS 450 900 400 256MB 64-bit 6.4 3.6

 

[amac4me]

These are very solid updates to the iMac line. Now, I wonder what Apple has planned for the Mac mini. Perhaps an update is imminent.

 

[!¡ V ¡!]

Similar to the G5 White iMac, this model is a filler and the model that will be released in Aug-Oct timeframe for Christmas will have some integrated features, similar to the iSight and Remote. (for those who remember some history).