Apple Updates iMac with Haswell and Faster PCIe Flash Storage

[DShadravan]

Purchased!

Just ordered the new 27" with 3 GB Fusion. This is my first Mac ever. I just left Microsoft last week after 17 years of employment, and have been waiting to jump on the new iMac since the moment I left. Super excited to get it! I'm pretty sure this is going to be one amazing computer...

 

[Aylan]

Is it correct to say that models other than low-end 21.5" got a bigger upgrade, in terms of graphics performance then?

Yes, definitely. The new GPUs are very nice for this machine.

 

[pkr]

re new iMacs

So what does this ay about a possible update to the Mini? Or will that come with the MacBooks?

 

[Asclepio]

where is gold?

 

[Aylan]

They WILL drop the dGPU eventually, the question is when. It is not likely in Haswell because Iris Pro isn't there yet, it's still weaker than 650M but it is in the range.

Intel is working overtime to improve their iGPU and they made a lot of progress in the last two years alone. There's going to be more improvements in the next few generations as well.

I agree, just not with GT3. Maybe with Broadwell, since with the die shrink, they can dedicate more TDP to the graphics core.

 

[ionjohn]

This is just a spec bump. The 780 is an improvement over the 680MX and it uses less power too. It's possible they have overclocked it, as well.

I'm eyeing the 27 inch w/ GTX 780M. The 775M isn't good enough at all for 1440p imo.

It's an inprovement but it's nothing compared to the real thing, i mean, the desktop version.

 

[xVeinx]

Seems like a solid upgrade all around. I'm impressed.

 

[hardikdim]

what about mid2013 imacs??

so what about ppl who bought recently launched imacs which is just 10months old.
apple think that it can silently refresh new imacs and people will easily accept the fact that they are fools.
not so cool stop fooling people apple

they should atleast replace processors for newly bought imacs

 

[yabot]

Does anyone else think that because the have put a 1GB 750m in the 21.5 inch iMac.... they might not put it in the 15 inch retina macbook pro... to distinguish them apart abit? They'd basically be the same specced machines then.... i dunno, just my 2 cents.

 

[leman]

Will a Haswell really make any difference in the iMAc?

Now, an important thing to understand about Haswell is that its a new CPU architecture which has expanded the instruction set greatly. But software has to be recompiled/updated/optimised to make use of those instructions. For programs which do lots of calculations (graphics etc.), Haswell can bring huge improvements (30-40%). This is not immediately visible though because compilers/software are only now catching up.

 

[HenryDJP]

I guess this explains why the iMac I ordered 2 weeks ago still hasn't come in!

I don't know why you'd have a mad face at this point? You'll get automatically upgraded to the latest model....unless you were just clamoring for the older model with lesser specs for the same price?

 

[TallManNY]

Me too, I was half way to my credit card before I read 'iMac' and flopped down in a crumpled heap on the floor. My MBP fritzed up a couple of weeks ago and I'd really like to hold off until the next refresh, get the power efficiency of the Haswells (which I was 5 weeks to early to get on my Macbook Air!).

Yeah, you can't buy a non-Haswell laptop at this point. It is just too important an upgrade and you are too close not to wait. You have to stand strong at this point. My work got me a new laptop this summer (when I started). It was just a month or so before Haswell started coming to PCs. It is an HP and while light and decent, the three hour battery life is annoying and basically a relic of the past as of now.

 

[Serban]

Now is kind for sure they do the same for 15" rMBP like imac
the base model Iris Pro and high end models get the geforce 7xx series

 

[ElectronGuru]

Agreed. But if Apple wants to have greater adoption in higher education (as they sort of half-heartedly claim), they should either give us a clearer roadmap so we know when to adopt, or accommodate our rather rigid purchasing schedule.

It's all part of the same program. Funnel remaining stock of the older model into the education channel, give them an extra discount on top of the multi hundred dollar per unit discount they normally get. Do so when they are redoing labs, and have empty shelves for the new full priced models going into the holiday shopping season. School wins, apple wins,

Now if you paid standard edu for that many units, it's time to have words with your rep.

Just ordered the new 27" with 3 GB Fusion. This is my first Mac ever. I just left Microsoft last week after 17 years of employment, and have been waiting to jump on the new iMac since the moment I left. Super excited to get it! I'm pretty sure this is going to be one amazing computer...

Sounds like an awesome story. Welcome!

 

[woddy]

I'm curious if the flash only configurations do have a "free" SATA port and only one PCI/e for the SSD (where in the fusion case the SSD part sits), or with two PCI/e ports, one where the SATA had been and one where the old fashioned previous fusion drive blade SSD had taken place.

I'm looking forward to the first teardown =)

Any guesses?

 

[WJKramer]

Sold

Just pulled the trigger....been waiting for years.....replaces my 2007 first gen aluminum.

 

[HenryDJP]

Where's the mac mini refresh? Ugh.

macbook pros next

Why does this happen with every refresh of a product? People have to come here and hijack the thread tripping about some other product. Can we please celebrate what's being released today without hijacking threads about products that have nothing to do with the thread? If this product isn't for you don't post. What's the point? Sheesh.

 

[DisMyMac]

Is it me, or does Apple just really love Tuesdays? Why is that?

Maybe to reduce the returns/exchanges from people who just bought one.

 

[Count Blah]

so what about ppl who bought recently launched imacs which is just 10months old.
apple think that it can silently refresh new imacs and people will easily accept the fact that they are fools.
not so cool stop fooling people apple

they should atleast replace processors for newly bought imacs

Please try that with Asus, Dell, lenova, etc...

This update does not make your machine any less usable. Same with the iPad 3 folks, who only enjoyed the "king of the hill" label for 6 months.

 

[ionjohn]

Well, the 780M is still faster than 95% cards currently on steam hardware survey

Maybe, but they don't have a 1440p display so they probably get equal or better performances than you, ohh and they didn't pay $2500$

 

[leman]

so what about ppl who bought recently launched imacs which is just 10months old.
apple think that it can silently refresh new imacs and people will easily accept the fact that they are fools.
not so cool stop fooling people apple

they should atleast replace processors for newly bought imacs

What do you suggest? That they stop selling iMac's until the next upgrade or what? Don't be silly.

 

[Count Blah]

Just pulled the trigger....been waiting for years.....replaces my 2007 first gen aluminum.

Holy schnikes, hope you didn't have to sell a liver or anything like that.

Congrat, should last as long as the prior version - other than storage But that is what external drives are for - specifically for desktops.

 

[Bear]

So what does this ay about a possible update to the Mini? Or will that come with the MacBooks?

• SSDs will be PCIe based.
• Haswell processor
• 802.11ac
• Mini: still integrated graphics
• rMBP: possibly Iris Pro on 13", 7xx series graphics otherwise.

 

[ninja2000]

I don't see what all the fuss is about with regards to the gpu update! this seems to be merely a rebrand in most cases. 750m is just a rebranded 660m with maybe slightly higher clocks. 780m is just a rebranded 680mx with maybe slightly faster clocks (do we know what the clocks are yet?) the 680mx already had amazing overclock potential, and mine easily clocks to a default GTX 680 clocks in wondows obviously.
I haven't seen the specs of the 775m but I expect it to be a rebrand of the 675mx.

The only thing that give me the upgrade itch is the pcie ssd option

 

[leman]

Maybe, but they don't have a 1440p display so they probably get equal or better performances than you, ohh and they didn't pay $2500$

Thats not the point. The point that I am getting absolutely acceptable performance on my all-in-one which weighs arounds the same as their monitor. And I gladly pay $2500 for such a setup. Its not like a comparable desktop will be much cheaper...