Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
The Intel - base Mac epoch begins with this 20 - in iMac , which runs on a 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo chip . This new Mac features quicker read/write memory than its G5 - found predecessor , although maximum memory has dropped to 2 GB from 2.5 GB in the iMac G5 . A mini - DVI embrasure in the new iMac lets you employ a 2d outside monitor , and the graphics poster has undergone a tenuous upgrade to the ATI Radeon X1600 . ( you’re able to upgrade to 256 MB of graphics retention for the 20 - column inch iMac . ) Other than that , this latest iMac is n’t that much different from the late 2005 models — right down to the built - in iSight camera and pre - put in Front Row multimedia system software package .
What ’s an Intel chip doing in an iMac ? Almost precisely the same things PowerPC chips do in older models — just faster on some tasks and , for now , slow on others .
As Steve Jobs observe when he rolled out the new iMacs , they have a lot in coarse with their G5 - based predecessor : the same strikingly elegant , space - saving intention ; the same basic features ; and the same prices—$1,299 for an iMac with a 17 - column inch screen , and $ 1,699 for a 20 - inch model .
All scores are in minutes:seconds, except for Doom 3 test which is frames per second. All systems were running Mac OS X 10.4.4 and had 512MB of RAM. The G5’s processor performance was set to Highest in the Energy Saver preference pane. Using iMovie, we applied 2 different video effects to a 1-minute movie, one at at a time. We imported 100 JPEG photos into iPhoto and then exported them as a QuickTime movie and as files, resized to a maximum of 2,000 by 1,500 pixels. We created a Zip archive from a 1GB folder in the Finder. We ran the Demo 1 test on a beta Universal version of Doom 3, which was set to use Ultrahigh graphics at a resolution of 1,024 by 768; all advanced options were set to Yes except for vertical sync and antialiasing. We converted 45 minutes of AAC audio files to MP3 using iTunes’ High Quality setting. We saved an iDVD project containing a 6:46 movie as a disk image. The Photoshop Suite test is a set of 14 scripted tasks using a 50MB file. Photoshop’s memory was set to 70 percent and History was set to Minimum. We scrolled through a 500-page document using Microsoft Word.—Macworld lab testing by James Galbraith and Jerry Jung
Most significant , the software on new iMacs looks and feels just like what you ’re used to . Apple has provide new versions of Mac OS X ( presently 10.4.4 ) and its iLife apps that run on the Intel processors , but to the user they ’re identical to the PowerPC versions for other Macs . And most third - party programs pen for OS X on PowerPC also go on the new machines , thanks to a apt technology that Apple call Rosetta .
The big difference , in possibility , is speed . harmonize to Apple ’s benchmark tests , the Intel iMacs are rough twice to three times as tight as the last G5 models . Macworld Lab ’s actual - globe test , however , let out a more complex reality , in which fastness varies widely look on what package you ’re using .
Over time , as platform are update , the Intel - found iMacs should gain a wide functioning lead over their PowerPC - based predecessors . If you ’re thinking of buying now , stop to consider the tradeoffs .
Intel inside
Intel ’s innovative manufacture technology enables the companionship to put two gross processor on a single slice of silicon — that ’s where theDuopart of the name come from . ( Intel has also announced new single - engine cow dung call — you guessed it — Core Solos , which might show up in future iBooks or other Mac models . ) PowerPC maker IBM used the same treble - heart approaching to increase performance in the G5 C.P.U. Apple presently ships in its Dual and Quad Power Mac models , but those chips use too much powerfulness and get too much high temperature for the close quarters of an iMac or a laptop computer — one big reason Apple switch over from PowerPC to Intel processors .
With clock speeds of 1.83GHz in the 17 - column inch iMac and 2GHz in the 20 - column inch model , the Core Duos actually run a shade slow than the 1.9GHz and 2.1GHz G5s in the previous iMacs . The new cow chip perform better , though , not only because they have two processing engines but also because they include 2 MB of Level 2 cache memory board — four time as much as the previous iMac G5s had .
The off - processor storage in the new iMacs is also fast — in fact , at 667MHz , it ’s the loyal main memory ever shipped in a Mac , quicker even than that of the Power Mac Quad . ( Technically speaking , it ’s PC2 - 5300 DDR2 SDRAM , and it comes on a notebook computer - trend module call a SODIMM . ) There are two easily accessible memory slot , one of which is filled with a 512 Mbit mental faculty in the standard configurations , and the arrangement can accommodate a maximum of 2 GB .
The iMacs ’ video subsystem now features the Radeon X1600 , ATI Technology ’s later midrange graphics CPU , replacing the age X600 . In both iMac configuration 128 megabyte of picture RAM remains standard , but for an extra $ 75 you’re able to tell the 20 - column inch model with 256 MB .
In addition , both new models have a mini - DVI embrasure through which , with the appropriate $ 19 adapter , you may confiscate a VGA , S - Video , or composite monitoring gadget , or a DVI exhibit such as an Apple Cinema Display ( up to 23 inches only ) . You ’re no longer limited to mirroring , either — the new poser also indorse extended - screen background modality .
Apple outside
In other regard , the new iMacs match the iMac G5s introduced last October . As before , the two models occur received with , respectively , 160 GB and 250 GB hard drive ( both 7,200 - rpm Serial ATA devices ) , and both have an 8x SuperDrive with double - layer support . For communication , AirPort Extreme ( now with reenforcement for 802.11a , 802.11b , and 802.11 g ) , Bluetooth 2.0 , and Gigabit Ethernet are built in , but a modem is not . The data processor has three USB 2.0 and two FireWire 400 port . Its audio laborer support both analog and digital optical output , but only parallel input . Apple ’s wired Mighty Mouse is let in .
Two nifty feature add to the previous iMacs , the compact Apple Remote Control and the iSight photographic camera build into the bezel above the screen , are also unchanged .
Compatibility and performance
All the Apple software program that embark with the young iMacs is amply aboriginal on the Intel processors — that is , the code was recompiled for the fresh chips , so there ’s no indigence for translation or emulation . ( Some of the third - political party software bundled with the iMac — Quicken 2006 , for instance — are not fully aboriginal ; others , such as Omni Outliner , are . ) Only a handful of third - company developer , however , had native versions of their programs available in time for the iMac launch . Major companies such as Adobe and Microsoft were n’t even ready to announce target appointment for updates of their program . Apple tell it would n’t have general translation of its own pro diligence ( Aperture [ ] , Final Cut Studio , and Logic Pro [ ] ) until March 31 .
By later January , the issue of available Universal political program — that is , programme with aboriginal code for both PowerPC and Intel processor — was approaching 500 , according to Apple ’s count . But many of them were comparatively pocket-size programs or shareware utility ( click here to searchApple ’s inclination of Universal apps ) .
Even without oecumenical updates , most up - to - appointment Mac software program runs on the new iMacs anyway , because Rosetta , a feature build into OS ecstasy for Intel Macs , mechanically translates PowerPC instructions into their Intel combining weight . On the whole , it act upon amazingly well , but there are some significant caveats .
First , Classic software — programs compose for Mac atomic number 8 9 and earlier — won’t ladder on the new iMacs . Neither will third - party preference window glass and kernel annex for OS X — categories that include many machine driver , such as those for Microsoft ’s keyboard and mice . Many PowerPC Mac games , Microsoft ’s practical PC ( ) , current version of Apple ’s pro apps , and other programme that require very high performance or depend on exact timing , do n’t start up at all or run hopelessly slowly on Rosetta .
Second , programs that do run on the translator generally lick at roughly half the amphetamine they fork out on PowerPC mainframe . With today ’s hardware , that ’s not nearly as bad as it may vocalize — after all , one-half of 2GHz is 1GHz , and most computer program campaign acceptably to most drug user on 1GHz machines . In fact , I scarce noticed the slowdown when using Microsoft Office on the Intel iMacs ; Photoshop CS2 was less responsive than on late PowerPC Macs , but not painfully so .
On the other side of the daybook , the new iMacs by all odds feel agile when you ’re running aboriginal program , whether from Apple or other developers . Though you ’ll rarely if ever experience Apple ’s touted “ 2 to 3x riotous ” performance , boot up is much faster , Web pageboy visited with Safari snap to the screen , and our tests with a beta Universal version of i d Software ’s Doom 3 showed a huge increase in physical body per second ( see the benchmark chart ) . With the native iLife ’ 06 applications , performance on the Intel iMacs was skilful , but in most cases not dramatically so ; in a few of our mental test , the new machines actually lag behind the 2.1GHz G5 iMac .
Benchmarks
well results inred .
All score are in minute : moment , except for Doom 3 test which is soma per minute . All system of rules were running Mac OS X 10.4.4 and had 512 MB of Aries . The G5 ’s processor public presentation was set to Highest in the Energy Saver preference pane . Using iMovie , we applied 2 different video recording effects to a 1 - bit movie , one at at a time . We import 100 JPEG photo into iPhoto and then export them as a QuickTime movie and as file , resized to a maximum of 2,000 by 1,500 pixels . We created a Zip archive from a 1 GB pamphlet in the Finder . We ran the Demo 1 mental test on a genus Beta Universal version of Doom 3 , which was set to use Ultrahigh art at a resolution of 1,024 by 768 ; all advanced choice were set to Yes except for vertical sync and antialiasing . We win over 45 minutes of AAC audio files to MP3 using iTunes ’ High Quality setting . We saved an iDVD projection containing a 6:46 movie as a magnetic disc double . The Photoshop Suite test is a set of 14 scripted task using a 50 megabyte file . Photoshop ’s memory was set to 70 pct and chronicle was set to Minimum . We scrolled through a 500 - pageboy text file using Microsoft Word.—Macworld science laboratory testing by James Galbraith and Jerry Jung
Room for improvement
Like their straightaway predecessors , but unlike the first - propagation iMac G5s back in 2004 , the new machines are not user - serviceable — entail you’re able to not do simple hardware repairs yourself . And there are some other item on my hardware wish inclination : a stall design that allows altitude adjustment ; more memory capacity ( at least 4 GB ) ; a in high spirits - resolution , more whippy iSight tv camera ; and perhaps a FireWire 800 port . On the software side , users who do n’t own Microsoft Office may be disappoint to learn that AppleWorks is no longer admit ; though iWork ’ 06 is , it ’s only a 30 - Clarence Day test reading .
Macworld’s buying advice
If you already have a recent Mac , there ’s no particular rationality to rush out and buy an Intel - based iMac today — you wo n’t retrieve the computing experience all that dissimilar . Even if you ’re due for new ironware , do n’t buy a new iMac now if you melt software that does n’t yet run on the Intel - base iMacs . And if you ’re still not ready to give up Classic software , either perplex with what you have or go out and bribe a G5 iMac — while they last .. But for other users , there ’s no ground to hesitate : the Intel - based iMacs are already great machines , and they ’ll only get better . Spring for the $ 1,699 model if you could open it — the surplus disk electrical capacity and screen real estate well justify the surplus cost .
[ Henry Norr is a former editor ofMacWeekHe has been reviewing Mac systems since 1986 . ]
