Slight niggle here: Please, please, PLEASE keep this discussion limited to the iMac. If someone wants to make a thread for the xMac like this, I would be happy to see one, but don't post any xMac ramblings here, please. Thank you in advance.
Updated to reflect posts as of 2/27/2009; 6:15 PM (GMT+1)
This thread exists to compile information about the iMac's next update. This needs to actually happen. As of 2/27/2009, it has been 305 days since an update, which is a lot more than the average of 211.
This first post will be edited as we gain more and more clarified information. The newest additions will be in red. Italics denote specs upon which we have not agreed or can never know before release.
Hardware Specifications:
Processor options (new till the end of the processor section)
Mobile CPUs (dual-core): 2.4 GHz to 3.2/3.33 GHz, 1067 MHz FSB The "base" possibility
The 3.07 GHz CPU was an overclocked version of the then current Penryn, for Apple. Therefore, it's 10 W hotter than the current 3.07 GHz CPU. Reasoning from that, it may be possible for Intel to deliver one or two speed bumps from the 3.07 GHz, for a 3.2/3.33 GHz 55 W CPU in the iMac.
Mobile CPUs (quad-core): 2.0 GHz, 2.27 GHz, 2.53 GHz, 1067 MHz FSB
These CPUs max out at 45 W, so Intel may be able to deliver a 55 W version at 2.67 (or so) GHz for the iMac, or a cheaper one (than the 2.0 GHz) for 55 W.
Desktop CPUs (dual-core): 2.53~2.93 GHz (1067 MHz FSB), 2.67~3.5 GHz (1333 MHz FSB)
Desktop CPUs (quad-core): 2.33 GHz, 2.67 GHz, 2.83 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB
These CPUs are the energy-efficient ones released recently. They are 65 W as opposed to the 95 W of most other quads. Rumors claimed that they would find their way into upcoming iMacs. They are quite cheap compared to high-end desktop CPUs, so price-wise, it is possible that they will go in the entire iMac lineup. However, it may be that the 20" iMac may be too small to effectively handle the 65 W TDP of these CPUs, so they might have to stay mobile dual-core. If that happens, then the gap between the 20" and 24" iMacs would increase. Intel may release a 3.0 GHz version for Apple that costs significantly more than the 2.83 GHz. That would basically remove the loss in GHz from the current dual-cores.
2GB 1066MHz DDR3 RAM standard, up to 4GB officially and 6GB unofficially
320GB in the basemodel up to a 1TB in the high end, with the possibility of a 1,5/2TB drive
nVidia graphics with the most plausible ones being; 9400GT for the base, a 9600 256mb GT, a 9600 512mb GT and a higher end model which is still undecided
SuperDrive on all models at 16x
I/O:
3 USB 2.0
1 FW800
Mini DisplayPort (Mini DisplayPort-single link DVI adapter in the box)
Gigabit Ethernet
AirPort Extreme & Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
Analog audio input and output
Things we won't see:
USB 3.0 (2010, people)
WiMax (You caught it this time, didn't you?)
Blu-ray (more on this below)
Narrative:
Well the rumors actually already started before there was any real evidence. Somewhere in July however there was a claim about a Chinese manufacturer who said that Apple had placed an order of 800.000 All in one pcs. This being the iMac ofcourse.
Nobody however asked any questions about it then because everybody was confident it would be presented at MacWorld. It didn't sadly enough.
Then ofcourse the rumormill started running mainly about the specs, because a redesign would be rediculous, since the rest of the Apple line up has been matched to the design of the iMac. And quickly the question became; will it have quad-core. About this, sadly, no evidence has been presented.
Around the end of December a small piece of info presented itself; a tag for the next gen iMac in a firmware update for the nVidia graphics in several Apple computers. Regulary this would be pretty big. Accept, the current iMacs already have nVidia chipsets. But bigger of a rumor started when an article said that the cooling for the iMac had to be redesigned. See, thats what we wanted to hear. Because; more heat comes from things that suck more power and things that suck more power are most of the time more powerfull. This indicated that the iMac would either be getting a faster dual-core, a quad core or/and faster graphics.
Then final rumor came only a week ago. Apple warned its retailers for a shortage for at least the high end model and the mainstream one's after that. And it'd be coming in the coming weeksSo, buckle up for the coming weeks because that new iMac is coming. This isn't too sure anymore. My guess is now either half March, due to several articles which claim postponement every time, or end 2009/2010, because of some trouble with the third party delays of a new infrastructure but let's pray I/they are wrong...
The Little Things:
FireWire: Removing it entirely seems to be really likely, but removing the 400 for an (extra) 800 isn't that unlikely, since the Mac mini is their base desktop. I don't think this will happen, but it's worth mentioning.
Mini DisplayPort: This is pretty enivitable since Apple announced with their laptops this would be applied on all new Macs.
Redesign Talk:
No way. Already said why.
Explanation Section:
Blu-ray: Not yet. Its still too much "a bag of hurt" for Apple. And like my collegue Tallest Skil mentioned:
" I believe that they don't care about Blu-ray in ANY market and will only add it when they are forced to admit that broadband Internet infrastructure is progressing too slowly for Super Hi-Vision iTunes movies to be a viable option. I stand by the 2015 date. If there is any evidence to the contrary, please post it."
If I missed anything, let me know and I will add it. Please also correct me if I have messed up and tell me what goes in the blanks that I have left. Thanks!
Layout was ripped from Tallest Skil, all kudo's go to him
Contributors:
iMacmatician - processor options
spcdust - Intel vs nVidia article
Updated to reflect posts as of 2/27/2009; 6:15 PM (GMT+1)
This thread exists to compile information about the iMac's next update. This needs to actually happen. As of 2/27/2009, it has been 305 days since an update, which is a lot more than the average of 211.
This first post will be edited as we gain more and more clarified information. The newest additions will be in red. Italics denote specs upon which we have not agreed or can never know before release.
Hardware Specifications:
Processor options (new till the end of the processor section)
Mobile CPUs (dual-core): 2.4 GHz to 3.2/3.33 GHz, 1067 MHz FSB The "base" possibility
The 3.07 GHz CPU was an overclocked version of the then current Penryn, for Apple. Therefore, it's 10 W hotter than the current 3.07 GHz CPU. Reasoning from that, it may be possible for Intel to deliver one or two speed bumps from the 3.07 GHz, for a 3.2/3.33 GHz 55 W CPU in the iMac.
Mobile CPUs (quad-core): 2.0 GHz, 2.27 GHz, 2.53 GHz, 1067 MHz FSB
These CPUs max out at 45 W, so Intel may be able to deliver a 55 W version at 2.67 (or so) GHz for the iMac, or a cheaper one (than the 2.0 GHz) for 55 W.
Desktop CPUs (dual-core): 2.53~2.93 GHz (1067 MHz FSB), 2.67~3.5 GHz (1333 MHz FSB)
Desktop CPUs (quad-core): 2.33 GHz, 2.67 GHz, 2.83 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB
These CPUs are the energy-efficient ones released recently. They are 65 W as opposed to the 95 W of most other quads. Rumors claimed that they would find their way into upcoming iMacs. They are quite cheap compared to high-end desktop CPUs, so price-wise, it is possible that they will go in the entire iMac lineup. However, it may be that the 20" iMac may be too small to effectively handle the 65 W TDP of these CPUs, so they might have to stay mobile dual-core. If that happens, then the gap between the 20" and 24" iMacs would increase. Intel may release a 3.0 GHz version for Apple that costs significantly more than the 2.83 GHz. That would basically remove the loss in GHz from the current dual-cores.
2GB 1066MHz DDR3 RAM standard, up to 4GB officially and 6GB unofficially
320GB in the basemodel up to a 1TB in the high end, with the possibility of a 1,5/2TB drive
nVidia graphics with the most plausible ones being; 9400GT for the base, a 9600 256mb GT, a 9600 512mb GT and a higher end model which is still undecided
SuperDrive on all models at 16x
I/O:
3 USB 2.0
1 FW800
Mini DisplayPort (Mini DisplayPort-single link DVI adapter in the box)
Gigabit Ethernet
AirPort Extreme & Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
Analog audio input and output
Things we won't see:
USB 3.0 (2010, people)
WiMax (You caught it this time, didn't you?)
Blu-ray (more on this below)
Narrative:
Well the rumors actually already started before there was any real evidence. Somewhere in July however there was a claim about a Chinese manufacturer who said that Apple had placed an order of 800.000 All in one pcs. This being the iMac ofcourse.
Nobody however asked any questions about it then because everybody was confident it would be presented at MacWorld. It didn't sadly enough.
Then ofcourse the rumormill started running mainly about the specs, because a redesign would be rediculous, since the rest of the Apple line up has been matched to the design of the iMac. And quickly the question became; will it have quad-core. About this, sadly, no evidence has been presented.
Around the end of December a small piece of info presented itself; a tag for the next gen iMac in a firmware update for the nVidia graphics in several Apple computers. Regulary this would be pretty big. Accept, the current iMacs already have nVidia chipsets. But bigger of a rumor started when an article said that the cooling for the iMac had to be redesigned. See, thats what we wanted to hear. Because; more heat comes from things that suck more power and things that suck more power are most of the time more powerfull. This indicated that the iMac would either be getting a faster dual-core, a quad core or/and faster graphics.
Then final rumor came only a week ago. Apple warned its retailers for a shortage for at least the high end model and the mainstream one's after that. And it'd be coming in the coming weeks
The Little Things:
FireWire: Removing it entirely seems to be really likely, but removing the 400 for an (extra) 800 isn't that unlikely, since the Mac mini is their base desktop. I don't think this will happen, but it's worth mentioning.
Mini DisplayPort: This is pretty enivitable since Apple announced with their laptops this would be applied on all new Macs.
Redesign Talk:
No way. Already said why.
Explanation Section:
Blu-ray: Not yet. Its still too much "a bag of hurt" for Apple. And like my collegue Tallest Skil mentioned:
" I believe that they don't care about Blu-ray in ANY market and will only add it when they are forced to admit that broadband Internet infrastructure is progressing too slowly for Super Hi-Vision iTunes movies to be a viable option. I stand by the 2015 date. If there is any evidence to the contrary, please post it."
If I missed anything, let me know and I will add it. Please also correct me if I have messed up and tell me what goes in the blanks that I have left. Thanks!
Layout was ripped from Tallest Skil, all kudo's go to him
Contributors:
iMacmatician - processor options
spcdust - Intel vs nVidia article
