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2 Interesting Notes about my new 2011 iMac 27-inch

CheesePuff

CheesePuff

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 3, 2008
1,458
1,584
Southwest Florida, USA
I just purchased the 3.1 GHz 27-inch iMac today and found these 2 items:

1. Came with 10.6.6, and after running Software Update, restarting, running it again it shows that there are no updates (10.6.7 came out in March).

2. In System Preferences under Keyboard it has all the options active and showing for keyboard illumination, which obviously isn't available. I am using the stock standard supplied Apple keyboard and Mighty Mouse.

FYI, Geekbench score of 8,400. All stock. 32-bit version only.
 
CheesePuff said:
I just purchased the 3.1 GHz 27-inch iMac today and found these 2 items:

1. Came with 10.6.6, and after running Software Update, restarting, running it again it shows that there are no updates (10.6.7 came out in March).

2. In System Preferences under Keyboard it has all the options active and showing for keyboard illumination, which obviously isn't available. I am using the stock standard supplied Apple keyboard and Mighty Mouse.

FYI, Geekbench score of 8,400. All stock. 32-bit version only.
Click to expand...

WHATT!! A 3.1Ghz is flagship non BTO iMac, and you scored 8400? Well i mean that's quite low for a hi-end iMac model. But you should try it in 64bit, hmm but still, i doubt it will reach 10000

Keyboard illumination, i think future iMac wireless keyboard could support this, so no bragging anymore from Macbook Pro's owner :D
 
iSayuSay said:
WHATT!! A 3.1Ghz is flagship non BTO iMac, and you scored 8400? Well i mean that's quite low for a hi-end iMac model. But you should try it in 64bit, hmm but still, i doubt it will reach 10000

Keyboard illumination, i think future iMac wireless keyboard could support this, so no bragging anymore from Macbook Pro's owner :D
Click to expand...

Yeah I thought it was kind of low too... ran it after a fresh restart. Don't own it so can't run it in 64-bit.

I upgraded from a 3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo 27-inch and that didn't have the keyboard illumination on the preferences so thought it was kind of odd.
 
iSayuSay said:
WHATT!! A 3.1Ghz is flagship non BTO iMac, and you scored 8400? Well i mean that's quite low for a hi-end iMac model. But you should try it in 64bit, hmm but still, i doubt it will reach 10000

Keyboard illumination, i think future iMac wireless keyboard could support this, so no bragging anymore from Macbook Pro's owner :D
Click to expand...

It still smokes the previous iteration at that price point by 1500. It won't touch the i7 though, as that has hyperthreading.
 
The Keyboard backlighting is interesting, and there is also this:
iMac Description Page said:
Apple Wireless Keyboard
Full-size keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys (inverted “T” arrangement), and embedded numeric keypad
Click to expand...
Integrated numeric keypad. It seems that Apple intended to release a new keyboard with this iMac but scrapped it at the last second.
 
Hmm that is interesting.

I also just downloaded the 10.6.7 update from Apple's site and it the installer says the volume doesn't meet the correct criteria and then my only option is to quit...
 
CheesePuff said:
Hmm that is interesting.

I also just downloaded the 10.6.7 update from Apple's site and it the installer says the volume doesn't meet the correct criteria and then my only option is to quit...
Click to expand...

I was just coming here to ask this. I have one sitting at work but didn't get a chance to check the build number. Sounds like they are still screwing me. Thanks Apple!

What is the build number?
 
appleguy123 said:
The Keyboard backlighting is interesting, and there is also this:

Integrated numeric keypad. It seems that Apple intended to release a new keyboard with this iMac but scrapped it at the last second.
Click to expand...

Nice find! I was wondering why there was such an option for the keyboard.

OP, you have a powerhouse of a machine over your C2D powered iMac. If you find anything else out of the ordinary, then keep us posted! :) I cannot wait to read more about the new iMacs.
 
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Man, I'm really bummed about that Geekbench score. I realize it's only synthetic, but it's still an interesting, well, benchmark by which to compare systems.

It's made me consider saving the money and going with the base 21.5", which is apparently benching around 7300. That's honestly pretty respectable for a machine that is $800 cheaper.
 
appleguy123 said:
The Keyboard backlighting is interesting, and there is also this:

Integrated numeric keypad. It seems that Apple intended to release a new keyboard with this iMac but scrapped it at the last second.
Click to expand...

Are you sure? I ran my tests long back and my iMac 27" base model scored over 9000. It's possible that I remember it wrong but I think it was somewhere around that number.
 
pcguru83 said:
Man, I'm really bummed about that Geekbench score. I realize it's only synthetic, but it's still an interesting, well, benchmark by which to compare systems.

It's made me consider saving the money and going with the base 21.5", which is apparently benching around 7300. That's honestly pretty respectable for a machine that is $800 cheaper.
Click to expand...

Sir, you must consider the rest of the trimmings! :D The OP has the upgraded GPU, two Thunderbolt connectors, and the 27" screen. I am sure I left some things out, but not purposefully. :)
 
100Teraflops said:
Sir, you must consider the rest of the trimmings! :D The OP has the upgraded GPU, two Thunderbolt connectors, and the 27" screen. I am sure I left some things out, but not purposefully. :)
Click to expand...
Yeah, the GPU is the big one for sure, I'm just sure if it's worth $800. :) A 1GB should have been standard in the base 27" IMO. Had that been the case, that's almost certainly what I'd be getting.

The extra Thunderbolt port is nice too, but with the daisy chaining capabilities I'm not sure it's as big of a deal either.

But I get your point, sometimes it's about the bigger picture. :)
 
Something minor I noticed is that the new iMacs have an ambient light sensor, which should help when you use the display in a bright room (and the screen needs to increase brightness to compensate for the glare/distractions).

You can see it when you compare both user manuals. It is also listed on the "Better Hardware" page of "Why You'll Love a Mac" - so the MacBook, MacBook Pro and iMac now have this feature.

twLd8.png
 
kevin2223 said:
Something minor I noticed is that the new iMacs have an ambient light sensor, which should help when you use the display in a bright room (and the screen needs to increase brightness to compensate for the glare/distractions).

You can see it when you compare both user manuals. It is also listed on the "Better Hardware" page of "Why You'll Love a Mac" - so the MacBook, MacBook Pro and iMac now have this feature.

Image
Click to expand...

Yeah that's something else I was just about to post.

In the Displays preference pane the brightness slider pulses the whole time, and it has a checkbox option to automatically dim the display in low-light situations. Wasn't available in my previous model (same design Late 2009).
 
Well I just called my local Apple store and it turns out they have the 27-inch 3.4 GHz i7 model in stock and said I can come switch it out with no fee, so I may end up doing that tomorrow...
 
kevin2223 said:
Something minor I noticed is that the new iMacs have an ambient light sensor, which should help when you use the display in a bright room (and the screen needs to increase brightness to compensate for the glare/distractions).

You can see it when you compare both user manuals. It is also listed on the "Better Hardware" page of "Why You'll Love a Mac" - so the MacBook, MacBook Pro and iMac now have this feature.

Image
Click to expand...

The infared receiver for the remote has moved into the Apple logo according to that image.
 
That Geekbench score just can't be right. My '11 2.3GHz quad i7 MBP gets over 10k with 32-bit Geekbench. :confused:

 
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daneoni said:
Already explained above. Your processor is an i7 which supports HT whilst the above is an i5 which doesn't.
Click to expand...
Yep. It really is amazing how much of a different hyperthreading makes. But admittedly, there are very few apps that can take advantage of that many threads. This is one of those instance where perhaps a synthetic benchmark really isn't a good way to compare real-world performance.
 
daneoni said:
Already explained above. Your processor is an i7 which supports HT whilst the above is an i5 which doesn't.
Click to expand...
I realize that the i5 doesn't have HT and the i7 does, but I thought that at best HT alone would yield a ~20% improvement. His significantly higher clock speed should more than make up for that difference, no?

I guess we'll know for sure once some i7-2600 benches get posted...
 
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