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Future iMac Speculation

X

xXFLuffeeXx

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 7, 2010
10
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When do you think it will be released. What will it include?

I personally would like:
-A quad-core option for the 21.5" models 3.33 GHz Quad-Core 27"
-The ATI Radeon HD 4850 in the 21.5" models and ATI Radeon HD 4870 for the 27" models. Maybe dual video cards?
-2 TB HDD option
-512 GB SSD option
-HDMI-in
-Better Speakers

Most of those ideas seem entirely possible except for dual video cards.
 
We already have plenty of threads on new iMac speculation-- in fact there's a good 3 of them on the very first page here.

Quad core cpus in low end iMacs and 3.33ghz quads in high end iMacs won't be fully realizable until late 2011.
 
TMRaven said:
We already have plenty of threads on new iMac speculation-- in fact there's a good 3 of them on the very first page here.

Quad core cpus in low end iMacs and 3.33ghz quads in high end iMacs won't be fully realizable until late 2011.
Click to expand...

If so, I can wait until then to buy my first Mac. My PC will be three years old by then and perfect to throw away.
 
You sound like quite the enthusiast to trash your whole computer for a new computer after only 3 years!
iMac might not be for you if you plan to stay on top of tech.
 
TMRaven said:
You sound like quite the enthusiast to trash your whole computer for a new computer after only 3 years!
iMac might not be for you if you plan to stay on top of tech.
Click to expand...



true.. you shouldnt throw away your computer unless it has problems... i will use my imac and macbook pro until their burned out in which then i will be done with college XD
 
TMRaven said:
You sound like quite the enthusiast to trash your whole computer for a new computer after only 3 years!
iMac might not be for you if you plan to stay on top of tech.
Click to expand...

Try a $600 Toshiba laptop. No capabilities at all. Although if I do end up getting an iMac I'm still going to keep the laptop for college. This thing just doesn't cut being a primary computer.
 
But what about the HEAT? (sorry to those too young to remember the Seinfeld bit).

Everybody has dream setups, but you'd understand how outlandish your wish list is if you put your hand on the top of my 27" i7. A quad-core processor with a mobile GPU is pushing the envelope in the iMac form factor. Yes, the heat will be lessened as Intel moves to more advanced fabs, but it's going to be a while before you can get a significantly faster CPU, let alone a desktop GPU (or two!) in an iMac without burning it up.
 
-A quad-core option for the 21.5" models 3.33 GHz Quad-Core 27"
Most likely

-The ATI Radeon HD 4850 in the 21.5" models and ATI Radeon HD 4870 for the 27" models. Maybe dual video cards?
No dual video cards, but 4850 in 21.5" will happen.

-2 TB HDD option
That's already an option, I think. If not, it will be.

-512 GB SSD option
Very unlikely, unless you're willing to put down 1.5 grand for a SSD.

-HDMI-in
Nope.

-Better Speakers
They'll say that the speakers are better, but people probably won't hear much of a difference.
 
rnb2 said:
But what about the HEAT? (sorry to those too young to remember the Seinfeld bit).

Everybody has dream setups, but you'd understand how outlandish your wish list is if you put your hand on the top of my 27" i7. A quad-core processor with a mobile GPU is pushing the envelope in the iMac form factor. Yes, the heat will be lessened as Intel moves to more advanced fabs, but it's going to be a while before you can get a significantly faster CPU, let alone a desktop GPU (or two!) in an iMac without burning it up.
Click to expand...

Nah, people gotta stop using the whole case heat thing as a reason for the iMac being pushed to its limits. In reality it's one of the coolest computers apple has put out on the market, and can fully handle a desktop grade gpu like 5750 (75 tdp compared to 45 tdp) with its current cooling implementation, but would require the fans to spin faster.

You can in fact overclock the mobility 4850 to desktop 4850 standards, and have the optical drive fan rev up at max, and the gpu will never go above 60c.

The iMac only seems to be very hot because apple chooses to have quieter computers over cooler computers.


I've watched quite a bit of seinfeld, but don't remember the heat quote. :(
Which episode was that from? :)
 
I'll ask...

Tomorrow I have a meeting with Apple Education Japan. I'll ask them about iMacs since I'm in the market for one myself... I'm not sure if they will know, but I've gotten information from them before which turned out to be accurate.
 
- SSD (mr. apple can you add TRIM function to OS X :p)
- ATI 5XXX :eek:
- Better LCD display :rolleyes:
- USB3 or Lightpeak :D
 
Low-end 21.5"

3.06GHz Core 2 Duo (option for 3.33GHz C2D)
320M graphics
4GB RAM
500GB HD

High-end 21.5"

2.93GHz Core i3 "Clarkdale" (option for 3.2GHz i5)
ATI 5750 graphics
4GB RAM
1TB HD

Low-end 27"

2.93GHz Core i3 "Clarkdale" (option for 3.2GHz i5 and 2.66GHz i5 quad core)
ATI 5750 graphics
4GB RAM
1TB HD

High-end 27"

2.66GHz Core i5 "Lynnfield" (option for 2.8GHz i5)
ATI 5870 graphics
4GB RAM
1TB HD

All models have option for 2TB HD and up to 16GB of RAM. No quad core in 21.5" due heat and price. No USB 3.0 or LightPeak yet. No design changes, only spec bump.

Apple may use different CPU models than I listed (e.g. 3.06GHz i3 instead of 2.93GHz etc) as well as different GPUs (e.g. ATI 5850 instead of 5870)

Released in September

Just my guess
 
TMRaven said:
I've watched quite a bit of seinfeld, but don't remember the heat quote. :(
Which episode was that from? :)
Click to expand...

It's the one where Elaine finds out her BF, David Puddy, is a "closet" Christian, and he tells her she's going to hell. :)
 
I'd like to see the Radeon 5750 in the high-end 27" along with a factory 2.8 Ghz i7, 2 TB HD and 8 GB RAM for $1999. That would make me happy.

I bought the 27" i5 back in November but returned it quickly due to screen flicker, screen yellowing and a loud HD. Now I'm back to using my ol' Mac mini G4 w/ 10.3.9 :eek:
 
I don't think therell be a i5 Quad in 21.5

The CPU gets really hot (really hot) in iMac 27.

In 21.5, the heat will damage the screen, the HDD, and itself, as the 21.5 is really small to handle the heat.

Same with 4850 - too much heat!


But I have always hoped for Core2Duo Quad Cores. but they never came - maybe the reason was the same: crappy iMac cooling
 
I really wouldn't mind making the iMac 1/2" thicker if it makes better cooling which in turn gives it MUCH more stuff.
 
TMRaven said:
Nah, people gotta stop using the whole case heat thing as a reason for the iMac being pushed to its limits. In reality it's one of the coolest computers apple has put out on the market, and can fully handle a desktop grade gpu like 5750 (75 tdp compared to 45 tdp) with its current cooling implementation, but would require the fans to spin faster.

You can in fact overclock the mobility 4850 to desktop 4850 standards, and have the optical drive fan rev up at max, and the gpu will never go above 60c.

The iMac only seems to be very hot because apple chooses to have quieter computers over cooler computers.


I've watched quite a bit of seinfeld, but don't remember the heat quote. :(
Which episode was that from? :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting all that - I really didn't believe it was all down to fan speed, but your post spurred me to go into iStat Menus and mess with the fan speeds. After a couple minutes, all of my temps started dropping, and given all of my fan-cooled external drive enclosures and the water filters in the turtle tank that is right next to my desk, I can't hear any difference.

Based on Apple's predilection to silence, I'd be surprised if there's anything dramatic in the iMac this year - I think Hellhammer's ideas are in the right ballpark, though I think he has too many options in one or two places. I still don't think we'll see a quad-core in the 21.5" :)

And pa2jonah got the Seinfeld episode :)
 
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