Would like to see a workstation GPU (preferably NVIDIA) and Thunderbolt 3.
Any chance of a desktop GPU, or eGPU?
Any chance of a desktop GPU, or eGPU?
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2017 iMac refresh wish list [merged]
- Thread starter Sirmausalot
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A desktop GPU with cooling is HUGE and won't fit in an all in one unless the all in one is no longer the size of an all in one. For that you need, wait for it, a desktop. However, each generation of mobile GPU chips gets stronger and stronger with the recent NVIDIA ones being the best. Yes, the 2017 iMacs will support full speed eGPUs over thunderbolt 3 just like the 2016 Macbook Pros.
Eh, desktop vs mobile GPUs tends to be mostly semantics. The M395X currently in the iMac generates roughly 125 W of heat, which is more than some low end "desktop" GPUs. I think what a lot of us are hoping for is Apple improving the thermal system to allow hotter and faster GPUs. For example if they bumped it up to 175 W, this could probably handle down clocked versions of even the biggest GPUs.
eGPU is something that Phil Schiller mentioned as "having a place" so it is a possibility. For full support including supporting the LG 5k monitor Apple would probably have to release their own.
Sure, a traditional add-in-board is huge, but Apple would use its own custom design to fit within the enclosure. But yes, the iMac's cooling system/enclosure would need to be beefier to handle a hotter card.
This Quadro P2000 is only 75W, and only 4.5" x 8".
http://www.pny.com/nvidia-quadro-p2000
Any chance they could put this in an iMac Pro?
http://www.pny.com/nvidia-quadro-p2000
Any chance they could put this in an iMac Pro?
It's on par with the AMD WX 7100 in terms of G3D Mark so a decent mid-range card.
This is roughly equivalent performance wise to the m395x except the linked card is more efficient.
More stable drivers (they don't tune them for maximum performance). I expect the parts themselves are better binned for reliability. So for gamers, no or negative benefit due to less performance. But for graphic applications (visualization, CAD, etc.) you get better stability.
Space grey iMac Pro with xeon processors and desktop grade gpu and ram.... or apple branded external gpu casing.
Entirely touch based keyboard with haptic feedback. (I hate how a little bit of dust can ruin my current late macbook pro's keyboard).
Entirely touch based keyboard with haptic feedback. (I hate how a little bit of dust can ruin my current late macbook pro's keyboard).
I think desktop-class GPU's will become viable in this new iMac. My feeling is they're gonna scrap HDD/Fusion Drives, partly because they're becoming more dated against SSD's, partly because HDD's are just physically enormous for an all-in-one desktop. So when the HDD's gone, it gives them a lot more room inside. We know this redesign needs to do a few things - handle higher end 'pro' specs with less cooling issues, and get Apple through another few years until the next redesign. So if we think they might drop HDD in 1 or 2 years, they're probably gonna do it right now and build this new iMac with all that new space in mind. Could be what allows xeons as rumors suggested, I'd suspect much better GPU's while they're at it.
Another thing I've noticed is Microsoft starting to use vapor chambers, both on their new surface laptop and in the upcoming Xbox Scorpio - if this tech is becoming much more affordable to manufacture I could see Apple using it to help with iMac's thermal issues.
Another thing I've noticed is Microsoft starting to use vapor chambers, both on their new surface laptop and in the upcoming Xbox Scorpio - if this tech is becoming much more affordable to manufacture I could see Apple using it to help with iMac's thermal issues.
Although I hope you're right and I too think that we'll get a redesigned iMac, I fear Apple will take every opportunity to make it thinner. They're more concerned with size than power, even for desktops.
With all the talk about a bezel-less iPad Pro and the iPhone 8 being bezel-less, i wonder if Apple would release an iMac that is also bezel-less? for example it could help reduce the size of the 27" iMac while still keeping that 27" screen.
There are rumours and even patents that also show Touch ID being in a new keyboard the iMac could be interesting this year.
yes, an imac bezeless is more natural since you dont have to hold it. So i hope this year is the year for the bezel-less iphone, bezel-less ipad and bezel-less imac
I wonder when Vega will be announce? and what card can fit into the future imac (probably a 120W card)
I wonder when Vega will be announce? and what card can fit into the future imac (probably a 120W card)
A re-designed iMac is likely in the works, but my guess is that (iMac Pro) is coming next year. The current iMac would simply get a speed bumped processor in the summer/fall.
As for size, they may need to go thicker if they plan on beefing up the internals which would need space for cooling. I could see a bezel-less display but only on the top, and sides. The lower 'chin' would remain to keep some visual interest.
AMD has said repeatedly that a Vega card is coming this quarter. So in theory it should be out before the end of June. This is a high end card though, and would probably be too big and hot to fit in the existing iMac. Not much is known for sure about other iterations of Vega.
Something to keep an eye on is Intel's upcoming high end desktop platform featuring Kaby lake and Skylake. If Apple adopted this in the 27" iMac, it could alleviate one of the issues they have in a future iMac in that they don't have enough PCIe lanes to drive a full 16x GPU, 2 thunderbolt 3 controllers and a SSD with the traditional consumer oriented platform they have been using. This is rumored to be released in mid-June.
The thing is as thin as it can be due to CPU/GPU TDPs unless Apple goes to "exotic" active cooling systems like liquid or vapor. Plus you can only make it so thin due to the depth of the USB-C ports.
That isn't necessarily true. Right now the imac is cooled by a single blower fan that dissipates roughly a 100 W CPU and a 125 W GPU that share a heatsink. They could expand the cooling capacity without increasing the thickness by giving each component their own heatsink and blower fan and then add a second vent in the back. This is just one example, they could also just expand the heatsinks and make one larger fan.
I think it might be hard to squish all the stuff behind a 27 with no bezels and I don't see major shrinkage even without standard hard drives. So either we would see a little smaller but still apparent bezels or a larger screen to compensate for the room loss, or an entire re-thinking of the form factor, which seems unlikely based on the mac pro comments.
Personally, I'd prefer something like the surface pro take where the screen looks more like a modern zero bezel TV and the box is either the base or in a deeper back that is similar to today's imac or maybe even more like an LG oled panel where the bulge is set to the lower middle rear which makes it almost disappear from most viewing angles. I guess this sort of thinking is too much to ask...
Personally, I'd prefer something like the surface pro take where the screen looks more like a modern zero bezel TV and the box is either the base or in a deeper back that is similar to today's imac or maybe even more like an LG oled panel where the bulge is set to the lower middle rear which makes it almost disappear from most viewing angles. I guess this sort of thinking is too much to ask...
I hope they don't do something like the Surface desktop computer with the box in the base. May as well just run the Mac mini.
Also that layout wouldn't go over so well for users of VESA mounts, which I would imagine a fairly decent chunk of Professional users are setup with. A fairly common configuration for professionals in many different sectors, and not just design/development/programming etc. is a dual-monitor setup. Sometimes an open laptop and external screen, but a lot of dual-screen setups.
The problem now is the mis-match between iMac screens, and external monitors. There needs to be some thought put towards how to provide a proper dual-screen setup for users of MacBook Pros, pro iMacs and Mac Pros.
I agree with Stacc. My thoughts exactly. For cooling, I think better airflow in general through the iMac without really adjusting its size too much would do the trick. A bit larger in the rear, with carefully designed air inlets at the bottom of the screen, and more venting above the stand or VESA mount on the current iMac would work better. Currently the air vent isn't placed as well as it could be - the vent exits right into the back of the stand, or VESA bracket. It should be above that area so hot air doesn't accumulate back there as readily. Either that, or dual vents - to separate the GPU from CPU.
A dual fan setup with larger, slow spinning fans with all they've learned from their MacBook Pro cooling improvements would work very well in a newly designed iMac as well. Apple needs to provide separate heatsinks and heat pipes for the graphics chip, and the CPU with as mentioned - a dual fan setup and more attention paid to airflow through the system. Also, getting rid of the spinning disks and going pure SSD will help thermal issues out a bit too by comparison with some of the systems that still use the traditional disks.
Also that layout wouldn't go over so well for users of VESA mounts, which I would imagine a fairly decent chunk of Professional users are setup with. A fairly common configuration for professionals in many different sectors, and not just design/development/programming etc. is a dual-monitor setup. Sometimes an open laptop and external screen, but a lot of dual-screen setups.
The problem now is the mis-match between iMac screens, and external monitors. There needs to be some thought put towards how to provide a proper dual-screen setup for users of MacBook Pros, pro iMacs and Mac Pros.
I agree with Stacc. My thoughts exactly. For cooling, I think better airflow in general through the iMac without really adjusting its size too much would do the trick. A bit larger in the rear, with carefully designed air inlets at the bottom of the screen, and more venting above the stand or VESA mount on the current iMac would work better. Currently the air vent isn't placed as well as it could be - the vent exits right into the back of the stand, or VESA bracket. It should be above that area so hot air doesn't accumulate back there as readily. Either that, or dual vents - to separate the GPU from CPU.
A dual fan setup with larger, slow spinning fans with all they've learned from their MacBook Pro cooling improvements would work very well in a newly designed iMac as well. Apple needs to provide separate heatsinks and heat pipes for the graphics chip, and the CPU with as mentioned - a dual fan setup and more attention paid to airflow through the system. Also, getting rid of the spinning disks and going pure SSD will help thermal issues out a bit too by comparison with some of the systems that still use the traditional disks.
I have thought long and hard about this. After much deliberation I have decided this will be my last Mac. Even if the 'new model' has a total redesign and includes consumer installed upgrades, the price post Brexit in the UK is going to be off the scale.
I have priced up the parts for a good spec 'self-build' and they come to just over a third of Apple's current prices and that's for a lesser spec. I'm confident with self-builds and if one part goes or needs upgrading then it's a simple matter of pop the case lid, remove component, plug in new one. I already have a nice 24" IPS monitor gathering dust.
Windows 10 is a good OS so what's not to like.
I have priced up the parts for a good spec 'self-build' and they come to just over a third of Apple's current prices and that's for a lesser spec. I'm confident with self-builds and if one part goes or needs upgrading then it's a simple matter of pop the case lid, remove component, plug in new one. I already have a nice 24" IPS monitor gathering dust.
Windows 10 is a good OS so what's not to like.
