iMac 2017 CPU performance

[MadDane]

Hello everyone

I thought it could be interesting to compare the performance of the various processors found in the new 2017 iMac's. I haven't come across any benchmarks yet, but please share any might you find.

Personally I am interested in knowing the difference between all the CPU's in the 27" version and it is definitely something I will look more into.

 

[jmpage2]

The difference in GPUs is going to be far more interesting to most consumers than the CPU improvements which will mostly be of benefit to those doing photo/video work.

 

[camresu]

Hello everyone

I thought it could be interesting to compare the performance of the various processors found in the new 2017 iMac's. I haven't come across any benchmarks yet, but please share any might you find.

Personally I am interested in knowing the difference between all the CPU's in the 27" version and it is definitely something I will look more into.

The previous iMacs that were still using the "Haswell" will definitely see a notable performance increase with the move to Kaby Lake. The Skylake processors are very similar to Kaby Lake, so actual CPU speed and performance increases are modest for the jump to Kaby Lake. That said I believe all of the 27" iMac's were using Skylake. So in line with what jmpage2 said, the excitement is indeed about the new GPUs. And as I understand it, the Kaby Lake architecture is required to work with these types of GPUs. So it's not so much about a big performance increase from the CPUs in this generation, but it's the support for GPU technology that allows more intense graphics applications like VR development, etc.

 

[MadDane]

The previous iMacs that were still using the "Haswell" will definitely see a notable performance increase with the move to Kaby Lake. The Skylake processors are very similar to Kaby Lake, so actual CPU speed and performance increases are modest for the jump to Kaby Lake. That said I believe all of the 27" iMac's were using Skylake. So in line with what jmpage2 said, the excitement is indeed about the new GPUs. And as I understand it, the Kaby Lake architecture is required to work with these types of GPUs. So it's not so much about a big performance increase from the CPUs in this generation, but it's the support for GPU technology that allows more intense graphics applications like VR development, etc.

Thanks for the reply. I realize that most people are interested in the GPU but I am personally more interested in the CPU options

I am coming from a late 2009 iMac with a 2.8 GHz i7 Nehalem processor so I am quite interested in benchmarks for the new machine. But if Skylake and Kaby Lake are very similar, that means that the Geekbench score should be around 13,000 for the i5 versions and 18,000 for the i7 version (multicore)?

 

[ljeffs]

My new i5 3.8 GHz machine benched single-core at 5304 and multi-core at 15240. Both faster then my old 2012 i7 3.4 GHz iMac.

 

[CWallace]

Barefeats has released a preliminary review and the Geekbench score is around 5.6% faster on single-core test and 15% faster on multi-core than the Late 2015 5K.

 

[MadDane]

My new i5 3.8 GHz machine benched single-core at 5304 and multi-core at 15240. Both faster then my old 2012 i7 3.4 GHz iMac.

Thanks for the reply. That is a decent amount faster than, say the 3,3 i5 of the late 2015 (around 4,700 single-core, 13,000 multi-core).

Barefeats has released a preliminary review and the Geekbench score is around 5.6% faster on single-core test and 15% faster on multi-core than the Late 2015 5K.

I hadn't seen that. It sounds like the i7 is pretty fast. Here is a link: http://barefeats.com/2017imac.html

 

[-Ryan-]

My 3.4GHz i5 came out at 4662 single core and 13730 multi core.

 

[MadDane]

My 3.4GHz i5 came out at 4662 single core and 13730 multi core.

Sounds like even the base model is pretty fast

For fun I just looked up my current iMac vs. the new i7 on Geekbench.
Single-core 2009 i7: 2,514
Single core 2017 i7: 5,692

Multi-core 2009 i7: 7,363
Multi-core 2017 i7: 19,478

In other words, the new 4.2 i7 is almost as fast in single-core performance as my current 2.8 i7 is multi-core!

 

[atlatnesiti]

Huge difference in geekbench between iMac i5 and bto iMac i7 - 15,000 against 20,000 score...
It is $1000 more though...

 

[macryan1]

My new i5 3.8 GHz machine benched single-core at 5304 and multi-core at 15240. Both faster then my old 2012 i7 3.4 GHz iMac.

Talk more about your experience with your new iMac...love it...short comings....etc. This is the iMac I plan on purchasing in a month or so....I'd be interested in your comments. Tx

 

[Brian Y]

I'm really tempted to wait for the teardown to double check if the CPU is upgradable in the 27".

My ideal spec is i7, 256GB SSD (don't need more, can just use externals) and 64GB RAM. I don't care about graphics, so I could, in essence, buy the base with 256GB SSD, upgrade to the 7700 myself (and sell the CPU in there), and upgrade the RAM.

Could probably to the whole lot for less than the cost of the top model with an i7 and 8GB RAM.

Looks like a relatively easy swap on the 21" (I've done a CPU change on my 2011 27" and I have no problem taking iMacs apart) - although I've not opened up a taped-screen model before.

 

[MadDane]

Looks like a relatively easy swap on the 21" (I've done a CPU change on my 2011 27" and I have no problem taking iMacs apart) - although I've not opened up a taped-screen model before.

I've opened up a 2012 iMac before (to replace a broken HDD with an SSD) and with the right tools it really is not that difficult. I think the hardest part was to put the screen back on completely flush, but with some patience it is not all that difficult. So if you were comfortable taking apart the 2011 version I think you will be fine with the new one as well.

 

[Brian Y]

I've opened up a 2012 iMac before (to replace a broken HDD with an SSD) and with the right tools it really is not that difficult. I think the hardest part was to put the screen back on completely flush, but with some patience it is not all that difficult. So if you were comfortable taking apart the 2011 version I think you will be fine with the new one as well.

Yeah, if anything it'll probably be easier - and no cleaning! The 2011 era iMacs had a ridiculous amount of cabling too - made worse my by addition of 2 extra SSDs!

I guess ifixit sell replacement adhesive strips - so it shouldn't be too bad if it's socketed. Hell regular double sided tape would probably be enough. To be honest, considering I don't move it around, I'd be quite tempted to just put a little bit of in the corners to make future removal easier.

Would also be quite interesting to see if the HDD mounting points are still there on the ssd-only version. Would be nice if all you needed was a SATA cable to add a normal HDD.

 

[MadDane]

I guess ifixit sell replacement adhesive strips - so it shouldn't be too bad if it's socketed. Hell regular double sided tape would probably be enough. To be honest, considering I don't move it around, I'd be quite tempted to just put a little bit of in the corners to make future removal easier.

I have found a video of MacSales and OWC doing a teardown on the basic model. And, according to them, it looks like the CPU is non-swappable. See from 10:00

 

[ljeffs]

Talk more about your experience with your new iMac...love it...short comings....etc. This is the iMac I plan on purchasing in a month or so....I'd be interested in your comments. Tx

Well coming from a 2012 i7 to this 2017 i5, both with Fusion Drives, performance in general use is only slightly better. The GPU and the SSD component of the Fusion Drive in the new model is significantly quicker going by the benchmarks although I haven't noticed any major differences, but I haven't put these under any pressure yet. Still early days.

The main difference I notice is the Retina 5K display. The new model also has AC wifi compared to N on the old one, but I use ethernet anyway. My Apple Watch will now unlock my iMac as my old one didn't support this feature.

In the past I have always specced out my iMacs. Back in 2012, the AU$ was at parity with the US$, but this time around Apple products are 33% more expensive. I had been expecting that my next iMac would be specified with just SSD, but I couldn't justify the AU$320 cost difference over the Fusion Drive.

For the first time ever, I also dropped back from the i7 to the i5. I found with my previous i7, I never went close to using it's full potential, so I thought the saving of AU$320 would be better spent buying some extra Crucial RAM.

My optioned up 2012 iMac i7 cost just under AU$2900, but if I had optioned out this one it would of been over AU$4000. Hence the cost rationing with this stock model at AU$3450. So my purchasing this time had a greater focus on cost compromising given our poorer AU$.