New iMacs Shipping January 2009?

[BenRoethig]

Perhaps this has already been discussed, if so please post of link to the correct discussion, but could someone explain the advantages of the NVIDIA chipset over the Intel chipset?

-Single chip solution opposed to separate North Bridge, South bridge, and Integrated graphics chips.
-Far superior performance of the GeForce 9400M IGP over Intel's x4500 IGP
-Support for Hybrid SLI (combining the 9400M IGP with a dedicated GPU for better performance)
-DDR3 memory support
-Support for displayport.

From what I understand, the quad-core gives more performance for a lower cost, but why is Apple making the brand switch to NVIDIA?

The quad core refers to intel's CPUs. The chipset are a series of support chips that help the CPU do its job. In most motherboards you have a North bridge which has the memory controller and the 16-lane PCI Express bus for the dedicated graphics solutions. After the North bridge, there is the south bridge. The south bridge contains the USB2.0, ATA, and Serial ATA controllers and PCI and PCI-Express buses for connections to the drives, ethernet controller, audio chipset, bluetooth, firewire controller, and System firmware. A third chip is included on motherboards with onboard graphics which is the IGP or integrated graphics processor. The 9400M combines these three chips into one.

Here's an example of the traditional model from the iMac:
http://developer.apple.com/document...html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP90004831-TPXREF101

 

[mgrafton]

Thanks Ben for the great information and prompt response.

 

[AidenShaw]

Fast, but unfortunately not quite right.

Two chips - the "integrated" in "integrated graphics" means that the GPU is part of the Northbridge.

-Single chip solution opposed to separate North Bridge, South bridge, and Integrated graphics chips.
...
A third chip is included on motherboards with onboard graphics which is the IGP or integrated graphics processor. The 9400M combines these three chips into one.

The Intel X4500 does support DisplayPort, and the G4x chipsets support DDR3 - http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/quick-reference-guide-to-intel-integrated-graphics and the diagram above

-DDR3 memory support
--Support for displayport.

 

[freem]

When would the new iMac be available to buy?

So let's assume that an iMac update will be announced at MacWorld (regardless of what the specs might be).. Would it be likely to be available in stores immediately, or will Apple announce in January for (say) March availability?

 

[Tallest Skil]

So let's assume that an iMac update will be announced at MacWorld (regardless of what the specs might be).. Would it be likely to be available in stores immediately, or will Apple announce in January for (say) March availability?

Any announcement would be immediate. If something would be shipping in March, they won't announce it at MacWorld.

 

[Patcoola]

there due for an update and the new nvidia chipsets and ddr3 should be great

 

[klrobinson999]

Will Apple be going "black" on the new iMacs, like they are on the Mac Minis?

 

[Tallest Skil]

Will Apple be going "black" on the new iMacs, like they are on the Mac Minis?

They already are black...

 

[Ed V]

I'm new here (first post) so hopefully I do this right.

I am a long time PC user who wants to upgrade my desktop in order to do primarily photo processing. I waffle for weeks between a PC upgrade and and iMac before finally deciding this week that I will go in the iMac direction.

I had decided on the the 24" iMac with the following:
* 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU
* 4GB (2x2GB) RAM
* 1TB Hard Drive
* SuperDrive
* nVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS
* 24" Glossy Widescreen Display
* Integrated Camera and Microphone
* Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
* Airport Extreme
* Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

Then I came upon this website and learned that new iMac is scheduled to be released next week (MacWorld). I guess that means I should wait (hard to do) for the new release. My question is how soon after the announcement will I be able to order the new iMac?

Thanks.

 

[Tallest Skil]

My question is how soon after the announcement will I be able to order the new iMac?

1. Welcome.
2. Follow the rules and search.
3. Immediately.
4. We know nothing.

 

[klrobinson999]

They already are black...

yes, looks black to me....

 

[Eidorian]

Definitely not black.

 

[klrobinson999]

I want a black iMac...completely and totally black...

once you go black.....

 

[MrZebra]

yes, looks black to me....


He was probably talking about the rear, which is in fact made of black plastic.

 

[klrobinson999]

yes, looks black to me....


He was probably talking about the rear, which is in fact made of black plastic.

I know. And I was talking about the entire unit.

 

[YamahaYZFstyle]

new i mac

i need to buy one asap regadless to the spec. please bee cheap!

 

[Tallest Skil]

I know. And I was talking about the entire unit.

That's not happening, then.

i need to buy one asap regadless to the spec. please bee cheap!

If you really didn't care, you'd buy one now. You obviously care. Get one now. They're cheap now. Heck, get a refurb now if you don't care about the specs.

 

[mgrafton]

If (and that's a sizable 'if') Apple does indeed update the iMacs, will we see a price increase?

 

[Eidorian]

If (and that's a sizable 'if') Apple does indeed update the iMacs, will we see a price increase?

Why do people think updates are going to mean a price increase?

 

[mgrafton]

Well, that's why I'm just asking around. I'm waiting to buy my first iMac and I don't really know what the pricing/upgrade trends have been in the past.

 

[Eidorian]

Well, that's why I'm just asking around. I'm waiting to buy my first iMac and I don't really know what the pricing/upgrade trends have been in the past.

Buyer's Guide.

 

[mgrafton]

Buyer's Guide.

I've looked at that guide so many times, hoping for an update on the new iMacs ... Just keep waiting, I suppose!

 

[BenRoethig]

Why do people think updates are going to mean a price increase?

Price freezes or increases have been Apple's M.O. of late. You really haven't seen them making anything more affordable (save the "clearance" white MacBook) when it comes to computers.

 

[Eidorian]

Price freezes or increases have been Apple's M.O. of late. You really haven't seen them making anything more affordable (save the "clearance" white MacBook) when it comes to computers.

I still don't understand where people get the whole new hardware = higher prices mentality. Maybe they should take a look at the component price lists.

 

[Arcadie]

I would love to see an imac with the ability to have 8GB Ram.

Also a unibody, although unnecessary also give apple a reason to say they changed something. I dont know why we would need a lighter imac though, unlike a laptop, you dont carry it anywere..