Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
The latestiMacmodelsintroducedby Apple this month gain greatly from new Intel processors and greater machine connectivity . Both changes offer users unprecedented speed from the iMac lineup .
Apple offer four standard configuration exemplar . The new debut - layer $ 1199 21.5 - column inch iMac has a 2.5GHz Core i5 quad nucleus central processing unit , a 500 GB backbreaking drive , and AMD Radeon HD 6750 M nontextual matter with 512 MB of video computer memory . The $ 1499 21.5 - inch iMac has a 2.7GHz Core i5 quadrangle core processor , a 1 TB hard movement , and AMD Radeon HD 6770 grand graphics with 512 MB of video memory board . The $ 1699 27 - inch iMac has the same processor , store , and graphics as the $ 1499 iMac . At the top of the line sits a $ 1999 27 - in iMac with a 3.1GHz Core i5 quadruplet core processor , a 1 TB hard drive , and AMD Radeon HD 6970 M art with 1 GB of video memory .
All iMacs include an Apple Wireless Keyboard ( ) and Magic Mouse ( ) . If you corrupt an iMac through theApple Online Store , you could switch the Magic Mouse for a Magic Trackpad ( ) at no extra price . If you opine that theMagic Trackpad is a better input equipment , that ’s skillful news .
The 27-inch iMac has two Thunderbolt ports. They are indicated by the lightning-bolt icons and are located between the FireWire 800 and ethernet ports.
Inside the iMac
Each new standard - configuration iMac features a Core i5 quadriceps - sum central processor . Based on Intel’sSandy Bridgemicroarchitecture , the processors integrate the CPU , cache , and memory control on one chip , allowing for fast data access over fewer buses . Each iMac has 6 MB of shared L3 cache and musical accompaniment for Intel’sTurbo Boost 2.0 , which allows the processor to automatically race up cores when needed .
However , the Core i5 processors in the standard - configuration iMacs do not have Intel’sHyper - Threadingtechnology , which make two virtual centre for each physical gist present in the processor , improving execution . To get an iMac with a processor that has both Turbo Boost and Hyper - Threading , you ’ll have to pick out the $ 200 Core i7 upgrade option for the $ 1499 21.5 - inch iMac or $ 1999 27 - inch iMac . ( The standard - configuration Mac Pros andMacBook Proshave both Hyper - Threading and Turbo Boost . )
All iMacs come standard with 4 GB of retentivity , installed as a pair of 2 GB modules . When you set up an iMac through the Apple Online Store , you have the option to promote the memory to 8 GB ( a pair of 4 GB modules ) on all iMac models for $ 200 , or to 16 GB ( four 4 GB modules ) on the 27 - in models for $ 600 . The iMac has four retention slots located at the bottom of the iMac that are user - accessible . Since two slots are empty when you buy an standard - configuration iMac , you could easily add more retention . The 21.5 in iMac has support for up to 16 GB of memory ; third company company are offering 32 GB retention upgrades for the new 27 - inch iMac .
The 27-inch iMac has two Thunderbolt ports. They are indicated by the lightning-bolt icons and are located between the FireWire 800 and ethernet ports.
The $ 1199 21.5 - column inch iMac has a 500 GB , 7200 - rpm strong drive and no climb options . The three other iMac model each have a 1 TB 7200 - rpm laborious campaign and alternative to upgrade to a 2 TB unvoiced drive for $ 150 , a 256 GB solid - state driving force ( SSD ) for $ 500 , or a combination of a 256 GB SSDandeither a 1 TB 7200 - rpm operose drive ( $ 600 ) or a 2 TB 7200 - rpm tough movement ( $ 750 ) . Do - it - yourself storage upgrade are possible with the new iMac , but it require a good amount of skill and intestinal fortitude on the user ’s part — opening up the case necessitate using suction cups to remove the front superman of glass that is adjudge in position by magnets . Such upgrades void your warranty , which may also be a deterrent from performing the surgery .
The new iMacs have a expansion slot - loading , 8X SuperDrive that can burn dual - layer DVDs at 4X speeds , and a SDXD card slot for easy transfer of photograph and video files from SD cards used in camera and camcorder .
Thunderbolt
The 27 - in iMac has two Thunderbolt ports . They are indicate by the lightning - dash ikon and are located between the FireWire 800 and ethernet port . A new external connexion called Thunderbolt can be used to attach Mini DisplayPort monitors . precede earlier this class with the in style MacBook Pros , Thunderbolt can also be used with Thunderbolt - equipped storage equipment . thunderclap bid data transport swiftness up of 10Gbit per second , which is 12 meter fast than FireWire 800 and 20 times riotous than USB 2.0 . The 21.5 - in iMacs have one Thunderbolt port , while the 27 - in iMacs have two .
The arrest is that at the fourth dimension of the iMac ’s departure , Thunderbolt cables , drives , or adapters were not uncommitted , and it may be a while before Thunderbolt computer peripheral hit the marketplace . When Thunderbolt was introduced with the MacBook Pro in the first place this twelvemonth , several companies said they had Thunderbolt product in the works , but many did not provide a solid timeline as to when products will be uncommitted to the world . So right now , Thunderbolt is n’t the lone reason you should buy a new iMac , and fortunately , the iMac did n’t lose any porthole to make room for Thunderbolt . The iMac has four USB 2.0 port and a FireWire 800 porthole to connect external hard drives , printers , and other devices .
The 2010 27 - column inch iMac leave for outside HDMI - base TV informant ( such as a Blu - shaft of light player or game console ) if you had an HDMI - to - Mini DisplayPort adapter — those adapters wo n’t go with the new iMacs , which require an HDMI - to - bombshell adapter that is n’t available yet . If you have a Thunderbolt - equipped MacBook Pro , you could apply the new iMac’sTarget Display Modefeature , which admit you to use the iMac as a second display for the MacBook Pro . But again , the Thunderbolt cable that ’s required to apply the Target Display Mode feature was n’t available during this review .
Longer bars are better. Blue bars in italics represent reference systems. Macworld Lab testing by James Galbraith, William Wang, and Mauricio Grijalva.
Glass displays
The new iMacs use the same vivid , colorful , glassful - fronted , 16:9 panorama ratio , head backlit , IPS displays as found in the previous iMac . The 21.5 - inch iMac has a aboriginal solving of 1920 by 1080 picture element , while the 27 - inch iMacs are 2560 by 1440 pixels . IPS offer up wide viewing angles , and the bright glossy screen help give picture depth .
As we ’ve feel from past iMac reviews , many reader kick about the glare and reflectiveness from the iMac ’s glass showing , but it should be apparent by now that Apple prefers these screens and an anti - glare option will probably never be usable . With a desktop figurer like the iMac , you ’ll have to plan your workspace appropriately to cope with the glare and relfections .
Looking at a multifariousness of trial images on the four iMac models , I did n’t find any uniformness publication on the displays , but I did find one stuck pel on the 27 - inch 2.7GHz model that I had n’t noticed until regard a whole bleak screen door .
Results are framerates. Longer bars are better.
FaceTime HD
At the top of the iMac pose a fresh FaceTime HD camera . With theFaceTimeapplication , the Modern camera allows you to make picture yell to other FaceTime clients in 720p resolution . Some applications , such asPhotoBooth , do n’t yet have musical accompaniment for 720p resolution . It ’s up to the software program developers to update their software system .
I found subtle difference between the iSight tv camera on the older iMacs and the FaceTime HD camera when video chatting with a individual , but there was a much high point of detail from the FaceTime HD tv camera when look at a written document throw in front of each tv camera .
iMacs (Mid 2011): Speedmark 6.5 scores
Longer bars are better . grim bar in italics play computer address systems . Macworld research lab testing by James Galbraith , William Wang , and Mauricio Grijalva .
event from Macworld Lab ’s overall arrangement performance test retinue , Speedmark 6.5 , showed that the four novel Sandy Bridge iMacs are well faster than the systems they supplant . The young $ 1199 21.5 - in 2.5GHz Core i5 quad sum iMac was nearly 24 per centum faster overall than last yr ’s entry - level 21.5 - inch iMac , which had a 3.06GHz Core i3 dual core CPU . As you would expect , the newfangled iMac showed the most improvement in applications programme that could take advantage of four processing cores .
The unexampled $ 1199 iMac even flap out last year ’s high - end standard configuration model , a 27 - in 2.8GHz Core i5 quad core group iMac by most 10 per centum . In this subject , the processor - intensive tests were very stuffy , but the file gemination , zipping and unzipping a folder , and open a Word document in Pages were all considerably faster on the new $ 1199 iMac .
Results are framerates. Longer bars are better.
The fresh $ 1699 27 - inch 2.7GHz Core i5 iMac was 25 percent faster overall than the 27 - inch 3.2GHz Core i3 dual core iMac from last yr . The older 3.2GHz Core i3 iMac outdo the new 2.7GHz Core i5 iMac in its single file duplicate and unzip tasks , but the newfangled 2.7GHz system was dissolute ( up to 70 percent faster in MathematicaMark trial run ) in all of our other tests .
The unexampled 27 - inch 3.1GHz Core i5 iMac was 16 percent faster than the late high - goal standard conformation iMac , a 27 - column inch 2.8GHz inwardness i5 quadriceps femoris core model with a 1 TB 7200 - rpm hard driving force , and ATI Radeon HD 5750 nontextual matter with 1 GB of memory .
Surprisingly , when compared to each other , the new iMacs log standardized carrying out numbers . In fact , only 12 Speedmark dot part the introduction - tier $ 1199 21.5 - column inch 2.5GHz Core i5 iMac and the top - of - the - line $ 1999 27 - inch 3.1GHz Core i5 iMac .
Results are framerates. Longer bars are better.
Last week , we post a complete rundown of our iMac Speedmark 6.5 examination , include outcome with individual applications that make up the Speedmark 6.5 trial suite . you could also see how thenew iMacs liken to other Macs in Apple ’s current lineup , as well as how thenew iMacs compare to older Macs .
Graphics boost
outcome are framerates . Longer bar are better . All of the new iMacs apply AMD Radeon HD art , but in three variations . The 21.5 - in 2.5GHz theoretical account uses AMD Radeon HD 6750 M computer graphic with 512 MiB of dedicated memory . The two 2.7GHz models use AMD Radeon HD 6770 M graphics with 512 MB of retention . The high - end 3.1GHz 27 - inch model uses AMD Radeon HD 6970 M with 1 GB of memory . Results are framerates . Longer bars are better .
solution are framerates . Longer bars are better . When running Call of Duty 4 at a relatively low answer , the frame rates were most selfsame across the line . Cranking the resolution to 1920 - by-1080 ( the 21.5 - in iMac ’s native resolution ) the welfare and weaknesses of the different art cards became apparent . The 3.1GHz iMac with its 6970 M graphics had shape rate that were 40 pct quicker than the 6770 MB graphics in the 2.7GHz iMacs , and 66 percent faster than the Radeon HD 6750 M in the scummy - closing iMac .
We also try using the plot Portal . The 3.1GHz iMac ’s framerate was 49 pct higher than the 27 - inch 2.7GHz model and 35 percent high than the 21.5 - inch 2.7GHz iMac . At 1280 - by-720 resolution , the 21.5 - column inch 2.7GHz model was 11 percent quicker at Portal than the 27 - inch 2.7GHz iMac when running in a window , or filling the screen .
Macworld’s buying advice
The 2011 iMacs bring the product parentage up to date with the latest Intel ’s C.P.U. and with FaceTime HD cameras , and the comprehension of Thunderbolt and SATA-3 compatible cause connection makes them ready for the next generation of computer memory devices .
The $ 1199 entry - level 21.5 - inch 2.5GHz Core i5 iMac put up the most bang for the buck , keeping up with its more expensive siblings in most tasks . Its drawback include the humiliated content hard driveway , slower 3D game performance at high resolutions , and a deficiency of customization options . The $ 1499 21.5 - inch 2.7GHz Core i5 iMac offer a larger hard driving and pocket-sized processing and 3D game functioning gain compared to the $ 1199 simulation . It ’s the simulation you must select if you require to tailor-make your machine with a faster processor or different sotrage options .
For those look for a heavy display , the $ 1699 27 - inch 2.7GHz Core i5 iMac is the better economic value , since its overall execution is n’t that much slower than the high-pitched - last $ 1999 27 - inch 3.1GHz Core i5 iMac . However , the $ 1999 iMac offer much good art performance if you ’re into gaming or do a batch of video or 3D work . It also can be upgrade to a 3.4GHz Core i7 quadrangle core processor ( $ 200 ) .
[ James Gabraith is Macworld ’s research laboratory director . ]
