Kaby Lake out,but no new imac

[Trebuin]

I didn't think of the option that apple would skip Kaby Lake intentionally, MacBooks just skipped them though Kaby Lake is available, which means, why wouldn't they do the same with iMac. They also announced up to 130% graphics / 100% gaming boost which means they're after the AMD cards...again, good for release. See in about an hour if my theory pans out.
[doublepost=1477593148][/doublepost]Too bad, no iMac this year. Maybe we'll get Vega instead of Polaris now.

 

[SDAVE]

Kaby Lake desktop CPUs aren't even out yet....

 

[xgman]

Those macbook pros maxed are tempting, but max 16gb ram kills it for me. So the wait is on.

 

[CWallace]

I didn't think of the option that apple would skip Kaby Lake intentionally, MacBooks just skipped them though Kaby Lake is available, which means, why wouldn't they do the same with iMac.

The only Kaby Lake model available now is designed for machines like the MacBook. The MacBook Pro class Kaby Lake CPUs do not ship until around WWDC 2017.

The desktop CPUs that the iMac and Mac Pro would use do not ship till early 2017, which coincides with Ming-Chi Kuo's report that the new iMac would ship then, as well. So looks like Apple is waiting for Kaby Lake and the higher-spec AMD GPUs (470/480) before they refresh the iMac (and, hopefully, the Mac Pro).

 

[Trebuin]

Kaby Lake desktop CPUs aren't even out yet....

I was referring to the MacBooks that were released a month or two ago. I'm aware the desktops are delayed until next year.
[doublepost=1477598504][/doublepost]

The only Kaby Lake model available now is designed for machines like the MacBook. The MacBook Pro class Kaby Lake CPUs do not ship until around WWDC 2017.

The desktop CPUs that the iMac and Mac Pro would use do not ship till early 2017, which coincides with Ming-Chi Kuo's report that the new iMac would ship then, as well. So looks like Apple is waiting for Kaby Lake and the higher-spec AMD GPUs (470/480) before they refresh the iMac (and, hopefully, the Mac Pro).

The 470 & 480 are the lower spec desktop chips. The higher end Vega releases in the spring, another good reason for the wait.

 

[DakotaGuy]

I'm thinking Apple might be slowing phasing out all desktop machines.

 

[SDAVE]

I was referring to the MacBooks that were released a month or two ago. I'm aware the desktops are delayed until next year.
[doublepost=1477598504][/doublepost]
The 470 & 480 are the lower spec desktop chips. The higher end Vega releases in the spring, another good reason for the wait.

High end Kaby Lake for mobile are not here yet either.

It's only low powered ones for ultra thin laptops.

Also the 480 from AMD is their current highest end offering (barring their R9 Nano which is an energy beast).

Vega is coming soon, but there's no way it will beat the nVidia lineup. I think Apple just got a good deal on the chips so they went with AMD once again.

 

[dianeoforegon]

I'm thinking Apple might be slowing phasing out all desktop machines.

If that's the case, we won't be seeing any videos on how accessible the Mac is for the handicapped user as seen in the opening for the recent Apple event. Not everyone needs a laptop. Apple sure doesn't consider the large population of users with arthritic hands. Try using a Trackpad when only your nails can touch the pad.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

I'm thinking Apple might be slowing phasing out all desktop machines.

Then you are probably going to be pleasantly surprised when you are wrong!!

 

[theluggage]

I'm thinking Apple might be slowing phasing out all desktop machines.

The iMacs were updated at the end of last year. The 27" already has a skylake cpu, the appropriate Kabyle lake cpu isn't available yet and it's not clear if the appropriate GPU upgrade is out yet. It's annoying that an update wasn't announced last month but it's hardly time to send out a search party.

 

[Lankyman]

Those macbook pros maxed are tempting, but max 16gb ram kills it for me. So the wait is on.

I've just read an interesting article concerning RAM. Basically the website tested the difference between 8gb and 16gb really loading up lots of programmes and loads of tabs open in a browser. I myself was amazed at how little difference there was between the two, even for gaming. The upshot being if you have lots of RAM not being used then that's all it is, i.e. redundant RAM and doesn't improve your computing experience one jot. For the majority of users 8gb is plenty was the verdict.

 

[CWallace]

Vega is coming soon, but there's no way it will beat the nVidia lineup. I think Apple just got a good deal on the chips so they went with AMD once again.

AMD is also developing integrated CPU+GPU packages that I imagine would be of strong interest to Apple.

 

[Firebrand]

The iMacs were updated at the end of last year. The 27" already has a skylake cpu, the appropriate Kabyle lake cpu isn't available yet and it's not clear if the appropriate GPU upgrade is out yet. It's annoying that an update wasn't announced last month but it's hardly time to send out a search party.

Indeed.

For anyone being uncertain about the iMac’s near future:
http://images.anandtech.com/doci/10787/1477589165364732248995.jpg
I see big screen on the horizon! March 30th, 2017?

 

[Ender17]

iMac was the least likely desktop to get an update, no desktop kaby lake chips out

 

[richinaus]

I imagine it will be March. Makes lots of sense.
Time to get enough chips together for launch [well I say that but will most likely be like the MBP so get your order in immediately], and also isn't the new GPU coming out early 2017 from AMD.

 

[Lankyman]

iMac was the least likely desktop to get an update, no desktop kaby lake chips out

An update isn't the issue. What the iMac needs is a total ground up redesign using a fresh new design team that's not obsessed with 'thin'.

 

[maflynn]

An update isn't the issue. What the iMac needs is a total ground up redesign using a fresh new design team that's not obsessed with 'thin'.

But the latter is not going to happen, because
1. See the new thinner MBPs
2. The Microsoft Surface Studio is thinner as well

So we see that apple has not veered off the thin road, and its competitors are also doing it.

 

[Lankyman]

But the latter is not going to happen, because
1. See the new thinner MBPs
2. The Microsoft Surface Studio is thinner as well

So we see that apple has not veered off the thin road, and its competitors are also doing it.

When you say the SS is thinner - it's a brand new concept so can't really be classed as thinner until we see SS2. I wouldn't even call it particularly thin as the 'gubbins' are housed in a box on the base.

 

[fokmik]

the kaby lake chips for the imacs will be out on 5 of January

 

[Lesser Evets]

the kaby lake chips for the imacs will be out on 5 of January

So we'll see the new iMac in September 2017.

J/k.

As for a new design, I really doubt they would redo anything until perhaps fanless CPUs come along with another die shrink or two. The design isn't aged or clumsy or ugly; it might get a bezel reduction if anything.

 

[Firebrand]

Redesign sounds dramatic ;-) But it needs not be...

Notwithstanding rumor that puts the ‘PC replacement placemats’ in March, I remain optimistic a new iMac announcement will come sooner rather than later.

 

[maflynn]

. I wouldn't even call it particularly thin as the 'gubbins' are housed in a box on the base.

It looked pretty darn thin to me

I wished Apple would move the guts out of the display and into a base container, I think that would give them a lot of freedom and allow for some different designs

 

[fat jez]

It looked pretty darn thin to me

I wished Apple would move the guts out of the display and into a base container, I think that would give them a lot of freedom and allow for some different designs

They'd never do that

 

[marc11]

It looked pretty darn thin to me

I wished Apple would move the guts out of the display and into a base container, I think that would give them a lot of freedom and allow for some different designs

That's called a Mac Mini.

 

[Lankyman]

It looked pretty darn thin to me

I wished Apple would move the guts out of the display and into a base container, I think that would give them a lot of freedom and allow for some different designs

So do I as this would give them far more scope to do something really good and perhaps give us some decent specs at last. When I look at Surface Studio I could weep thinking why didn't Apple do that or why can't MS make it into a consumer product - I'd certainly buy one.