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Apple Releases New Sandy Bridge Quad-Core iMacs with Thunderbolt
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Target Display Mode is gone. Look very carefully at what the Apple sales droid said. It is Thunderbolt ports that are supported; not Display Ports (ala the non standards based Target Display Mode hack that Apple did ). Target Display mode is dead. It has been replaced with something similar but it is not the same. If you look at the updated TUAW page you'll see an update that says they only works between computers with Thunderbolt ports. The 99+ % of computers that output DisplayPort or more common graphics output.... won't work.
Which system is does the 'driving" and which one is the "reciever" is somewhat flexible with Thunderbolt. However, it isn't quite the same as just receiving DisplayPort data. Will be interesting to see if this is a standard (possibly option clause) in the Thunderbolt standard that systems can negotiate this at start-up. Or is it once again something non-standard that Apple cooked up that happens to work that may hit another speed bump with a future more standardized revision.
They have CPUs that cost more as they are low power models. They are capable of turbo boosting higher.
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Okay so I am debating buying a new 27 iMac 3.1 ghz core i5 model....my question is, in respect to the quad core i5 and i7 sandy bridge processors, are the only differences in the clock speed?
And are these the same sandy bridge quad core processors in the new MBP's?
Okay so I am debating buying a new 27 iMac 3.1 ghz core i5 model....my question is, in respect to the quad core i5 and i7 sandy bridge processors, are the only differences in the clock speed?
And are these the same sandy bridge quad core processors in the new MBP's?
You're right, but when I posted, I only had the original information to go on.
Now MacWorld has jumped into the fray - and they say the 21" iMacs also will support the new Thunderbolt Target Display Mode - but again, the 2011 iMacs can't only turn into displays for 2011 MacBook Pros. Ugh.
Apple loves killing any sort of backwards compatibility lately, doesn't it. :S
difference between i5 and i7 is hyperthreading, does zero good in games, but if you encode, hyperthreading might be the way to go
I think it's cool that Apple now puts what the actual mobile graphics card is instead of misleading you by using a similar desktop version and leaving you guessing what the actual card was. Takes a lot of confusion out of the buying process in my opinion.
Hi everyone,
I'm a bit of a newbie. I have a Macbook circa 2006, but this is my first desktop. I am curious what people's thoughts are on which I should get.
I will be using the iMac primarily to...
- build my website (MySQL, PHP) and manage my business (Run some accounting software, Excel, Word, etc.)
- Listen to Music
- Browse the Web
- View and Edit Photos (using iPhoto)
- Edit HD home movies (using iMovie or maybe Final Cut)
I don't want to break the bank for features I won't really need, but don't want to be left wanting more. I don't do any gaming online (reserve that for the Wii), so speed and graphics cards for gaming don't do much for me. I have an Apple TV (2nd gen) Iphone 3GS, Ipad and aforementioned Macbook, as well as a 1TB Western Digital HD.
The 27" looks so nice, but is it too big for normal every day work? Seems to be more for watching movies/media then really working. Thoughts on coding, browsing, using Mircosoft Office software on a 27" versus a 21"?
Thanks for any help you can provide!
I'm a bit of a newbie. I have a Macbook circa 2006, but this is my first desktop. I am curious what people's thoughts are on which I should get.
I will be using the iMac primarily to...
- build my website (MySQL, PHP) and manage my business (Run some accounting software, Excel, Word, etc.)
- Listen to Music
- Browse the Web
- View and Edit Photos (using iPhoto)
- Edit HD home movies (using iMovie or maybe Final Cut)
I don't want to break the bank for features I won't really need, but don't want to be left wanting more. I don't do any gaming online (reserve that for the Wii), so speed and graphics cards for gaming don't do much for me. I have an Apple TV (2nd gen) Iphone 3GS, Ipad and aforementioned Macbook, as well as a 1TB Western Digital HD.
The 27" looks so nice, but is it too big for normal every day work? Seems to be more for watching movies/media then really working. Thoughts on coding, browsing, using Mircosoft Office software on a 27" versus a 21"?
Thanks for any help you can provide!
After an effing day at work, nothing better than to see WONDERFUL NEW iMacs with TB and EXCELLENT GPU options!!! I am definitely buying the top model!
GO APPLE! BANZAI!!!
Any configuration will be fine in terms of performance.
The 500gb hard drive of the base model would be a bit limiting when dealing with video, though.
The 27" model is great for work because you can have two applications next to each other, e.g. an editor and a browser when dealing with web stuff.
It will also be great for video editing because you have more space for the timeline.
If you only need a single instance of Word or Excel running in full-screen mode all day, the 27" would be a waste of money, though.
Smaller form factor is unlikely. They may tweak the dimension but the volume probably won't change dramactically.... at least if they want to keep the same price point ( which they do. ). The Mac Pro is still going to be a "full sized truck" to the iMac "car". They just need to shave some of the somewhat gratuitous height off the Mac Pro.
The bigger upgrades should be internal ( Xeon E5's with higher clock rates than these i5's , possible PCI-e 3.0 , etc. ) ; not the case.
It's not good, it's EXCELLENT! The 6970M is among the top ten mobile GPUs in the world right now, with excellent overall performance:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-AMD-Radeon-HD-6970M-Graphics-Card.44438.0.html
This might help answer some questions - this is from netkas's latest blog post -:
These new imacs has gpus 6970M, 6770M, 6750M.
what is these 6970M and 6770M you may wonder.
6970M is basicaly same as 6850, blackcomb xt with 960 vliw5 shaders, has uvd3 and dp1.2 support, which could be used for 3200×2000 display in future. Clocks 680/900
6770M is same as 6670: 480 shaders, uvd3, DP1.2. Clocks 725/800.
6750M is 6770M with lower core clocks 600 mhz
Not that impressive for desktop computer.
So this means no proper support for Cayman GPUs yet the true 6970 card.
what is these 6970M and 6770M you may wonder.
6970M is basicaly same as 6850, blackcomb xt with 960 vliw5 shaders, has uvd3 and dp1.2 support, which could be used for 3200×2000 display in future. Clocks 680/900
6770M is same as 6670: 480 shaders, uvd3, DP1.2. Clocks 725/800.
6750M is 6770M with lower core clocks 600 mhz
Not that impressive for desktop computer.
So this means no proper support for Cayman GPUs yet the true 6970 card.
I have a question though, sorry if its already been asked. But are the new iMacs being shipped with snow leopard on a USB stick or DVD rom drive, or both?
Waiting for ivy bridge (2012) which will come with USB3 standard unless Apple somehow purposefully downgrades to USB2. Then you won't have to get a Thunderbolt to USB3 hub (if one will ever come out) to use the more standard peripherals. I already have a USB3 external hard drive which works on my Mac at USB2 speeds...
USB3 is really going to remain the standard, unfortunately... at least for a few years. There are just too many USB peripherals around.
Agree. No sale for me until I see proof of a USB3/TB interface in development. Intel has said this is possible but there is nothing definitive yet. There is tons of speculation out there but no facts that I can find.
For example: At some point in the not too distant future the iPhone will connect via USB3. They won't use TB because they would shut out most computer users and shipping a dongle with the phone or making people go out and buy a dongle is not something I think Apple would do on such a large scale. Sure, it would be backwards compatible with USB2 but who wants that when you just bought this newly announced ($2200 in my case) Mac a year or so ago?
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That's pretty much what I thought (as far as the 1TB). Am leaning towards the 27" 2.7Ghz but if I go with the 21", will go with the 2.7Ghz with the 1TB. Think I need to find a store and sit in front of both thee 21" and the 27" for a while to get a feel for both.
Thanks for the confirmation on performance. I figured for what I need it for, any of the models would be fine as far as speed is concerned. What do people do that they need so much more horsepower... other then gaming?
The problem is that you shouldn't be comparing a high end 27" desktop to a notebook.
For the class of machine the iMac occupies, the top GPU is Ok at best, not excellent.
So I know I am one of many people disappointed by the changes to Target Display Mode, and the fact that the source now has to be a ThunderBolt output. I was planning to pick up the $150 HDMI to mini-DP converter and connect my 360 among other things.
Is this something that could still be a possibility with future firmware updates?
or...
Will there be an external converter that mimics a TB output, as the current one does with mini-DP?
Is this something that could still be a possibility with future firmware updates?
or...
Will there be an external converter that mimics a TB output, as the current one does with mini-DP?
I'm in the same position as you: ~2006 MacBook, iPhone 4, and iPad 1. I mainly do the things you do (PHP/MySQL dev, music, etc.). I'm going to spring for the lower-end 27". The screen real estate just makes for great two-window coding/previewing. I've tired it on the 21" and it's just too small for my taste.
As said above, that's an EXCELLENT GPU. And yes, it's the BEST AMD has out there in terms of mobile GPUs, apart from Crossfire ones. As for the WHOLE mobile GPU market, only the NVIDIA GTX 485M is equivalent performance-wise, apart from Crossfire/SLIs setups.
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html
Would have purchased one hours ago if there was a matte option.
My 4 year old diy in the office remains my business computer for at least another year I guess. And this glossy reflective monstrosity I'm using right now will continue to annoy my eyes on a daily basis. As I am typing this I can also see my deck, my grill, a bunch of trees, my sliding door... what a fancy expensive mirror I bought.