New 'Server-Grade' iMac With Next-Gen Xeon Processor Coming End of 2017

[MacRumors]

Apple's new range of iMacs will launch in the second half of 2017 and will include a "server-grade" model to cater for the high end creative professional market, according to Taiwan-based supply chain sources.

Apple has already confirmed it is working on new iMac models for release later this year, but today's report offers another hint at what could be in store for creative pros and puts a more specific timeframe on those plans. According to the report, production of two new iMacs is said to begin next month, with a view to launching the consumer desktops between July and September and a "server-grade model" at the tail end of 2017.

Apple currently has a 21.5-inch and a 27-inch iMac available in the market and the new products are expected to be the upgrades of the two models and are expected to hit the market in the third quarter to catch up with the year-end holiday season.

The report comes from DigiTimes, which has a mixed track record when it comes to rumors, but with Apple already having taken the unusual step of confirming it is working on new iMac models for a late 2017 release, this latest information presents a reasonable timeline.

In addition, the technical details from the supply chain line up with previously leaked specs for Apple's upcoming upgrades. According to Tuesday's report, the high end iMac will feature Intel's as-yet-unreleased Xeon E3-1285 v6 processor, options for 16 to 64GB error-correcting ECC RAM, up to 2TB NVM Express PCI-e solid-state storage, and more ambiguously, a "latest discrete graphics card".

Typically, iMacs include a mobile-class GPU rather than a desktop-class card, so this last spec could refer to either, while AMD has a contract with Apple to supply the discrete graphics chips for future high-end 27-inch iMacs. The new iMacs for 2017 are said to be manufactured by Quanta Computer, which is expected to remain the largest all-in-one PC maker in 2017.

The earlier report detailing identical tech specs claimed Apple's new iMacs would be accompanied by a brand new keyboard. A previous report said Apple was exploring a standalone keyboard with a Touch Bar and Touch ID, but its release is said to depend on how well those features have been received on the latest MacBook Pro.

The original source of the iMac tech specs, Pike's Universum, also claimed Apple is working on an 8K external display, which would presumably feature as part of the company's highest end iMac offering. All iMacs are expected to ship with USB-C ports and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity.

Article Link: New 'Server-Grade' iMac With Next-Gen Xeon Processor Coming End of 2017

 

[PlayUltimate]

awesome! looking to replace my 27" 2013 model.

 

[maflynn]

I wonder about the heat dissipation with xeon processors.

 

[grennis]

Yes but how thin will it be?

 

[Crosscreek]

This sounds great but if it's not user upgradeable then not so great. And I don't mean just Ram.

 

[jayducharme]

I still can't see the new iMacs being for "pros" since most professionals want a machine they can upgrade (beyond just more RAM). And we all know that iMacs are one of the least upgradable machines on the market. This will probably be another "prosumer" offering.

 

[recoil80]

I hope we'll be able to upgrade the RAM on the new iMacs.
And no more HDD, fusion drive or SSD standard please

 

[deadlystriker]

Matte screen option please

 

[otternonsense]

Meanwhile, the "revolutionary" 2016 MacBook Pro, with all its anaemic glory, hasn't exactly caused a revolution in the industry. Quite the opposite, as Apple used to top this chart since 2010. Cupertino's apologists may be purposefully obtuse, but the market sure isn't.

At this point, I put little trust on anything that comes out of Apple's fabled "pipeline". Hope I'm proven wrong.

 

[Roadstar]

I wonder about the heat dissipation with xeon processors.

Me too. If they don't increase the thickness, there's quite a risk for a heat death.

 

[MacFather]

Deleted.

 

[blackcrayon]

I wonder about the heat dissipation with xeon processors.

I don't think the prospective chips in question (Xeon E3-1285 v6) will be any different heat-wise from the i5 and i7 chips Apple already uses, or maybe better. The main difference is that they can use ECC RAM. It won't be as if they will be putting in 12 core chips or something with huge (for an iMac) power and cooling requirements.

I still can't see the new iMacs being for "pros" since most professionals want a machine they can upgrade (beyond just more RAM). And we all know that iMacs are one of the least upgradable machines on the market. This will probably be another "prosumer" offering.

Yeah "Pro" always means different things. I worked at a company for many years with a mix of laptop and desktop Macs. I can't say any Mac (or PC) was EVER upgraded except for RAM. However all of the people using them were indeed professionals using Pro apps for a living. That said, if Apple embraces Thunderbolt GPUs and such they could introduce another upgrade path for their whole Mac line.

 

[Spunkmeyer]

Sorry, Apple. Too little, too late. I transitioned my architecture practice to Windows 2 years ago because you completely ignored the needs of users like me, and provided no roadmap on which we could make our equipment purchases.

 

[marviio]

I wonder about the heat dissipation with xeon processors.

Probably not an issue since Xeon E3 line is basically the same as i5/i7, but with ECC RAM.

 

[Nozuka]

Looking at the Surface Studio, i think they will have to put alot more effort into the next imac.

 

[stevet]

This sounds great but if it's not user upgradeable then not so great. And I don't mean just Ram.

Ridiculous, iMacs haven't been upgradable for years, other than ram.

Wait for the Mac Pro and then start complaining about the price of the modular system.

 

[designaholic]

I still can't see the new iMacs being for "pros" since most professionals want a machine they can upgrade (beyond just more RAM). And we all know that iMacs are one of the least upgradable machines on the market. This will probably be another "prosumer" offering.

I'm a professional and have been using iMacs since 2007. Apart from maxing the RAM with third-party parts as soon as I opened the box, I've been very happy with them. I do more video and VFX now though, so I've been contemplating a Hackintosh as I need more graphics grunt. Will see how this new machine fares, but somehow doubt it will be enough.

 

[stevet]

Sorry, Apple. Too little, too late. I transitioned my architecture practice to Windows 2 years ago because you completely ignored the needs of users like me, and provided no roadmap on which we could make our equipment purchases.

Why do you still follow apple rumors then? Seems like a waste of time.

 

[maflynn]

This sounds great but if it's not user upgradeable then not so great. And I don't mean just Ram.

I'll be surprised if there's any major change to allow replacement, but I would hope

 

[TwoBytes]

Looking at the Surface Studio, i think they will have to put alot more effort into the next imac.

Agreed. Competition is good and Apple have to start racing a bit harder

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Is there really a market for prosumers/Professionals that require ECC RAM, and want an iMac?

I don't get whom this model is for, unless this was Cooks half-assed solution for the Mac Pro costumers, before Apple decided to rescue the sinking ship with a 2019 (?) Mac Pro model.

 

[shiseiryu1]

I don't care about a "thin" computer...I'm not carrying it around in my pocket. I really hope Ive puts that obsession aside for the good of iMac consumers.

Beefed up hardware is welcome, although I hope they didn't make us wait so long just to give CPU and GPU a bump. I'd really like to see support for the Apple Pencil so creatives don't need to buy Cintiqs anymore. I'm sure Apple's designers have Cintiqs...hasn't it dawned on them yet they could offer that functionality? I don't care if it's only available on the highest end model; as long as the price increase is less than a Cintiq it'll be worth it. The Surface Studio is very tempting but we just don't like Windows. Come'on Apple!

 

[Juuro]

I still can't see the new iMacs being for "pros" since most professionals want a machine they can upgrade (beyond just more RAM). And we all know that iMacs are one of the least upgradable machines on the market. This will probably be another "prosumer" offering.

Of course! This is just Apples attempt to minimise fleeing customers until the next Mac Pro is available. I suppose this will be the first and last time Apple offers an iMac model thats supposed for "pros". But it will still be an iMac, just with better or higher upgradable specs. If you want a Mac Pro you have to wait for it.

 

[maflynn]

Is there really a market for prosumers/Professionals that require ECC RAM, and want an iMac?

Maybe Apple is thinking this is a bandaid solution for those who need a macpro but don't want to spend the money on a discontinued product that isn't upgradeable.

 

[kazmac]

A design refresh would be nice, but I will wait and see what does with all of their desktops before considering a replacement for my 2013 model.