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iMac (aluminum) Hardware Updates for Spring 08 Speculation

T

takeabyteoutta

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 31, 2008
260
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Here's what I want to know: when, what and why.

When will the iMac's hardware be updated. There's not much speculation on this, but three possiblities seem likely:

1. Alongside or silently with the Macbook Pro update coming (recent spec says either in the next two weeks or March 17th)

2. By itself, probably silently like the recent Mac Pro's updates March 17th or later

3. Later than March 17th

What hardware will be updated?

1. Processor - intel's 45nm...that's seems like a given. Any chance of a quad-core (montevina) option?

2. Graphics Card - Higher end options?

3. Matte Screen Option - They're not hazardous to the environment, right?

4. Standard Memory - 1 GB is enough. Everyone can upgrade to 4 GB either the expensive apple way or the cheap 3rd party manufactor way

5. Standard Hard Drive - HDD's keep getting cheaper. SDD - no way.

6. Price Drop - Dropping the lower end iMac under $1000 could draw many a PC switcher.

7. 30" inch option?

8. Other improvements - how about an aluminum mighty mouse and aluminum apple remote. Throw in an HDMI port and standard HDTV support and this is one heck of an amazing computer/ home entertainment center.

Why - support your speculation.
 
takeabyteoutta said:
Here's what I want to know: when, what and why.

When will the iMac's hardware be updated. There's not much speculation on this, but three possiblities seem likely:

3. Later than March 17th
Click to expand...

April, May or June. March very unlikely.

1. No montevina till fall at the earliest. Only a 45nm Penryn update.
2. Unlikely but still possible to see a graphics update.
3. No matte option.
4, 5 & 6. No memory or HDD changes, except possibly lower prices. $1699 and $2199. Low end may not drop. Could go $1099.
7. Won't happen. 24" is the highend. 27" is possible - one day.
8. No HDMI port yet, or blu-ray.

Simply a Penryn processor, maybe a slight price drop. Really nothing worth waiting for unless you are will to wait as late as this time next year for a montevina iMac.
 
IMHO, iMacs will be updated within the months of February or March at the latest. There's speculation about MBPs being updated on Feb. 12th (vid Hardmac.com) with Penryn. Since iMacs use the same laptop config as MBPs, it's likely they'll be silently updated soon after. It won't be such a big update, just less heat and some CPU speed boost.

1. Montevina processors will come towards Q3 or Q4 2008.
2&3. I don't think that graphics will be updated, a minor one if any. What I think is that the dead pixel and gradient issues will be solved.
4,5&6 No updates in memories, and no price changes.
7 I'd love that one!!
8. Blu-Ray is not going to be introduced in iMacs... yet. Maybe Macworld 2009. The fight with HD_DVD has not ended. Toshiba is fighting back (and I think that HD-DVDs are better than Blu-Rays, just like Beta was better than VHS, though the finally lost). External drives are the option here.

Hey, and what I said is just my opinion. As Groucho Marx said: These are my opinions. If you don't like them, I have others. :cool:
 
I personally think that the iMac will be updated in the next two months, it will get a new Mobile Penryn processor and I think there is a small chance Apple will update the graphics chip to Mobility Radeon HD 3400/3600 chips.

It should be easier for Apple to upgrade the graphics as the new iMacs use MXM slots as far as I know.

I sure hope they will update the graphics, they have used the X1600 too long in the white iMacs if you ask me. I want to buy a new 24" iMac, but not until it's updated.
 
I expect the iMac update to happen within then next 4-6 weeks. There is no reason for Apple to hold it off past mid-March. Montevina still is too far away. So I expect Penryn CPUs. There is one tricky thing though. The current generation of iMacs has 4 MB of L2 cache across the board. While the 2.5 and 2.6 GHz varieties of Penryn will get 6 MB, the lower clocked-versions will only sport 3 MB. This means that if Apple is to use say a 2.2 GHz variety for the low-end 20-inch model, they will lose 1 MB of L2 cache....

As far as the other specs go, I think it is possible that Apple will use the X3400/3600 HD GPUs. I could also see the 24-inch iMac and possibly the high-end 20-inch iMac getting 2 GB of RAM standard. Now that MBPs, MPs and MBA all have 2 GB standard it would makes sense if at least certain iMac configurations were to get the same amount of RAM.

I disagree that 1 GB is enough. It's really the bare minimum these days. I upgraded my CD iMac from 1 GB (which was not even standard back then...) to 2 GB, it really made a difference.

That said, I would not be surprised if Apple decided too keep the RAM at 1 GB at least for the upcoming revision.

HDDs may also be upgraded to 320/500 GB although I would not hold my breath, either.

In a nutshell, I expect a small upgrade in late February or early March (I do hope I am right because I'm planning on buying a new iMac... )
 
Zaty said:
I expect the iMac update to happen within then next 4-6 weeks. There is no reason for Apple to hold it off past mid-March.
Click to expand...

There is one reason to hold off past mid-March: the MBP update. The iMac and MBP use a very similar configuration, so depending on how fast intel is pushing out Penryns (and there were rumors that it was slower than they hoped) then it becomes likely that apple will hold all their penryns for use in the highly anticipated and much needed MBP update in order to meet all their demand. Last time, the iMac update followed an MBP update by 2 months; I'd think another 2 month lag between updates would be reasonable.
 
Ryanb1281 said:
There is one reason to hold off past mid-March: the MBP update. The iMac and MBP use a very similar configuration, so depending on how fast intel is pushing out Penryns (and there were rumors that it was slower than they hoped) then it becomes likely that apple will hold all their penryns for use in the highly anticipated and much needed MBP update in order to meet all their demand. Last time, the iMac update followed an MBP update by 2 months; I'd think another 2 month lag between updates would be reasonable.
Click to expand...

But then the iMac went Core 2 Duo before the MBP did. The 2-month lag between the release of the current revisions of MBP and iMac was probably (at least in part) caused by the fact the iMac received a revised design while the MBP update was just a technical revision.

Unless the supply of Penryns is so limited that Apple has no choice but to hold off to iMac for another two months, they won't.

Another option for Apple (which I don't hope to materialise) is to use faster versions of the Merom chips (which top out at 2.6 GHz not counting the extreme version). In that case, an update could happen anytime.
 
blu - ray

I just want to mention that I doubt Apple will ever offer internal blu-ray support. First of all, it will signifigantly compete with their new movie rental service. Secondly, they're still very expensive. Even as a BTO option, it wouldn't make financial sense on Apple's part to include an internal Blu-ray.

Thirdly, Blu-ray is just a stop gap to fully downloadable content. The world of the future is going to be signifigantly paperless and optical disk-less. Apple can save time and make much more money backing Apple TV. Personally, I think apple's ingenious for having this vision well over a year ago when they first introduced the Apple TV. I think the only fault on Apple's part was not pushing HD a year ago when they introduced it.

If you want blu-ray, buy an external.
 
How about the when?

Lets face it, thats what we all really want to know. Is when will Apple drop the new version? Heck, if they even just cut $100 of the price tag, I'd be happy.
 
Although I really want to upgrade my current iMac G5, I have decided not to until Apple offers a better graphics card in their top of the range 24" model. I wish they would just hurry up... :)
 
The current models had outdated GPUs from the day they shipped, what are you people thinking? Of course they'll update the graphics.
 
I hope so, because I will not buy a 24" iMac if it still has the HD 2600 graphics. It would also be great if the screen issues (if they are still present) will be fixed.
 
G-Force said:
I hope so, because I will not buy a 24" iMac if it still has the HD 2600 graphics. It would also be great if the screen issues (if they are still present) will be fixed.
Click to expand...

With the cooling the iMac has, Apple could fit any mobile GPU it wanted in there. Considering the prices Apple charge for their computers, it's practically criminal the pathetic graphics we are end up given.

Seriously Steve, it's MXM, it's not hard to just let us choose BtO.
 
Well I'm thinking about purchasing an iMac, so do you think the wait is really gonna be worth it?

I don't own any Apple computer system yet, and I'm getting tired of not being able to run iTunes and MSN at the same time. I need some good computing.
 
Bendy

The current iMac lineup will suit your needs if that's all you're really worried about. I know G4's running 10.4 or lower that can handle that easily and I've seen the aluminums do that and more easily. Make the switch if you really need it now and graphics aren't too much of a worry.
 
The current models had outdated GPUs from the day they shipped, what are you people thinking? Of course they'll update the graphics.
Click to expand...

Isn't that an oyxmoron? If they were 'outdated' the day they were released, why should they 'of course' update them at all? ;)
 
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