Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing

Apple Speeds Up iMac CPUs, Graphics

By

Apple has revamped its line of iMac all-in-one desktop computers, offering improved CPU speeds and graphics processing power. At the same time, the company has also expanded the high end of the iMac’s build-to-order options to including a Core 2 Duo processor running at 3.06 GHz on the 24-inch iMac, along with Nvidia GeForce 8800 GS graphics with 512 MB of discrete video memory.

"The iMac’s gorgeous aluminum and glass all-in-one design has been an incredible hit with our customers and is just one of the reasons Mac sales are growing three and a half times faster than PC sales," said Apple senior VP of worldwide product marketing Phil Schiller, in a statement. "With the latest Intel processors, a faster new graphics option, and more memory, customers now have even more reasons to love the iMac."

Recommended Videos

The iMac comes in three flavors: two models with a built-in 20-inch LCD display and a high-end model with an integrated 24-inch display. The low-end 20-incher now comes with a 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo SPU, 1 GB of RAM, a 250 GB hard drive, and ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT graphics with 128 MB of video memory. Moving up, the speedier 20-incher packs a 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB of RAM, a 320 GB hard drive, and AT Radeon HD 2600 Pro graphics with 256 MB of video memory. Finally, at the high-end the stock 24-inch model packs a 2.8 GHz Core 2, 2 GB of RAM, a 320 GB hard drive, and the AT Radeon HD 2600 Pro graphics controller with 256 MB of video memory—however, the 24-incher can also be tricked out with that 3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo chip, Nvidia GeForce 8800 GS graphics with 512 MB video memory, and up to 1 TB of hard drive storage…for an extra fee of course.

All the iMac models feature an 8× dual-layer slot-loading DVD burner, a 1066 MHz frontside bus, an integrated iSight video camera, 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR wireless networking, mini-DVI video output (which can be converted to DVI, VGA, or composite/S-Video with separate adapters). The systems ship with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and Apple’s iLife ’08 applications suite.

Prices start at $1,199 for the entry-level 20-incher, $1,499 for the mid-range 20-inch model, and $1,799 for the 24-inch model. With a 500 GB hard drive, adding the 3 GHz CPU and Nvidia graphics cranks the 24-incher’s price to $2,199.

[Update: The 3.06 GHz, Nvidia 8800 GS-graphics equipped 24-inch models is available in stores and from Apple directly as a discrete product, rather than as a build-to-order item.]

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Geoff Duncan
Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
The new iPad Pro would be perfect, if only it were a Mac
A person gaming on the M4 iPad Pro and playing Diablo Immortal.

It’s no secret that I’ve been cheering on Apple’s gaming advances over the last year or so. Long-suffering Mac gamers have gone from being the forgotten also-rans of Apple’s ecosystem to feeling on top of the world, all in a very short period of time. But there’s one vital piece missing from the puzzle, and Apple’s new M4 iPad Pros have made it incredibly obvious.

I’ll admit, Mac gamers have been treated well in recent times. Not only have we had phenomenal hardware advancements in the form of the M3 Max chip -- which is a genuine gaming chip so cool and quiet that you’d be fooled into thinking it’s not -- but there’s also been a slate of top-tier games arriving on Apple’s platform, including my beloved Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s a good time to be a Mac gamer.

Read more
The 6 key things Apple must fix in the next version of macOS
Craig Federighi introducing macOS Sonoma at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2023.

I use macOS every day, and there’s no doubt that I love it as an operating system. Yet, despite how full of genuinely brilliant features it is, there are still a handful of things I just wish it did better.

Luckily, Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is just a month away, which means there’s not long until we see what kind of software improvements Apple has in store for us. I’ve been thinking hard about what kind of changes I’d like to see happen, from Siri to Stage Manager and everything in-between. Here are the key areas I think Apple needs to fix in macOS 15.
Hey Siri, meet AI
Even when I ask Siri for the WWDC date, it can't give me a straight answer. Digital Trends

Read more
Hurry! This iMac is at its cheapest ever price right now
Apple iMac 24 inch placed on a desk in a sunny context.

One of the best desktop computer deals around today is a seriously great offer. Over at Best Buy, you can buy the iMac 24-inch M1 All-in-One with a Retina 4.5K screen for just $800. That’s a $450 reduction off its regular price of $1,250 which is remarkable value for an all-in-one desktop computer, especially a Mac-based one. If you’re looking for a stylish addition to your living space which is also a highly competent computer, this is your chance to do so for less. Here’s what it has to offer.

Why you should buy the iMac 24-inch M1
Apple makes some of the best all-in-one computers even though you might automatically think of its laptop range instead. The iMac 24-inch M1 is a truly gorgeous all-in-one desktop. It might be three years old now but thanks to how revolutionary the M1 chip was at the time, its performance is still exceptional. Apple wanted to demonstrate why developing its own silicon worked so well compared to using Intel processors, and it did so brilliantly here.

Read more