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Retina iMac Mockup

russofris said:
While two displays is 5120x1440 (vert stays the same), a number of cards can drive 2560x1600 via a single digital output. To drive higher resolutions, you need to use multiple outputs, much like you would with multiple monitors. Driving 5120x2880 is the same as driving four 2560x1440 displays.

The geforce 680 is capable of doing this, as it can drive 4 displays. I'm not certain if the 680m can though. Now you're in a position where you can't drive an external monitor in tandem because all 4 outputs are in use. Then you get creative as stack 3 5120x960 display outputs vertically to free up a fourth, so that you can have a single external, but GPU based scaling doesn't work. Everything slows down.

We're probably going to see an RiMac after the next generation of GPUs is released (ATI 8000 series and Nvidia 700 series). I'm not saying that it cannot be done now, only that the compromises exceed what Apple and its customers will likely tolerate.

I think Ars (or some engineering) did a write-up on retina where they discussed the RMBP and some of the technical hurdles it faced. Regardless, the only piece that you were really missing is that retina requires 4X (not 2X) the horsepower.

F
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The GTX 680M is basically a GTX 670 desktop. It's limited to 3840x2400 if I remember correctly, the 7970M on the other hand is perfectly capable of powering resolutions up to 7680x4320. In gaming you'll need to run at a lower resolution no matter what card they put in there.

I hope but don't expect to see a riMac this year, but because I believe yields for a 5120x2880 27 inch display won't be high enough. They could opt for 3840x2160 (~163 PPI) and work their way up, but I don't think they'll do that.
 
MythicFrost said:
The GTX 680M is basically a GTX 670 desktop. It's limited to 3840x2400 if I remember correctly, the 7970M on the other hand is perfectly capable of powering resolutions up to 7680x4320. In gaming you'll need to run at a lower resolution no matter what card they put in there.

I hope but don't expect to see a riMac this year, but because I believe yields for a 5120x2880 27 inch display won't be high enough. They could opt for 3840x2160 (~163 PPI) and work their way up, but I don't think they'll do that.
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Apple never does things by half. It's the real thing or nothing.
 
MythicFrost said:
I agree mostly, however this is a unique circumstance. Perhaps they'll introduce a 21.5 inch riMac with a 3840x2160 resolution, and then bring along the 27 inch model when it's available.
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I'm all for a 21.5" riMac NOW! :D

I agree that I think it's more likely for Apple to introduce only one screen sized retina iMac first, just like with the MBP.
 
MythicFrost said:
I agree mostly, however this is a unique circumstance. Perhaps they'll introduce a 21.5 inch riMac with a 3840x2160 resolution, and then bring along the 27 inch model when it's available.
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Which is what they're doing with the rMBP so I guess it would be understandable.
 
jji7skyline said:
Which is what they're doing with the rMBP so I guess it would be understandable.
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Do you mean introducing the 15 inch model and then releasing the 13 inch model later when it's ready? Yeah it'd be good if they did the same with the iMac... 21.5 inch model w/ 3840x2160 and then 27 inch model six months later with 5120x2880.
 
jji7skyline said:
The iMac was the original 'i' product. Apple is never going to change that. I is for internet, innovation, invention. It stands for good things.
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The ultra-thin MacBook Air re-invents a whole form factor, a sub market. Apple didn't call it iMacBook. They actually dropped the iBook moniker a long time ago. Now the laptop is simply called MacBook/Air/Pro. For laptop & desktop machines, Apple could still make performance improvement but increasingly less room for radical innovation. Real innovation would mostly be applied to handheld devices which need to be thinner & lighter & more durable.
 
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nagareru said:
LMAO I would love to see that 12-core +128GB of RAM plus desktop class GPU not to mention dual ones or even a Quadro class GPU, Plus availability to put in a KONA card and still call it a 'mini'...
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The new Mac Pro 2014

minicube.jpg
 
I highly doubt they will be able to put a workstation class desktop GPU there even if you could, still no slot for a Kona Card..
 
Razorhog said:
I'd have the front all glass, but have a glowing apple at the bottom - something to easily differentiate it from the apple displays.
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I would not because this way if you can somehow do dual displays I'd want uniformity.
I like the mockup but isn't the chin very necessary to the internal design?
 
As cool as it is, nice mockup by the way;) Apple will never be able to put a full size desktop GTX 670 in an iMac.
 
Dazant said:
The 3770k is actually 3.5GHz excluding turbo boost , also the GTX 670 idea is not so crazy when you think its actually cheaper than the 680m as a low TDP (only 70w more than the 680m but a lot more power) and can be soldered on to the motherboard. I'm sure apple can figure out a cooling solution maybe new side vents like with the macbook pro's .
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It consumes over 300W at peak load.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5818/nvidia-geforce-gtx-670-review-feat-evga/17

This is more than just a heat dispersion issue. Combined with increased pixel density, it would potentially bump the power supply requirements significantly. In the case of macbook pros, some of them have been known to drain the battery even while plugged in at max load. I'm not sure what the PSU in the imac can support over an extended period of time. It's more likely that the resolution increase would be less aggressive once again due to a greater anticipated distance from your eyes to the display. If I recall correctly, the imac currently has much of its ventilation in the chin. If this is the case removing it could be problematic. If it's going to be that thin, why not just go with all black? It's less distracting.
 
OMFG. I saw the thread and thought, oh boy, another mockup, but holy mock ups Batman, I want one!

I wannnnt wwwwoooon naaaaaoow.
 
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