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Apple use misleading name for their iMac GPU, such as talking about Radeon 2600 Pro for underclocked Radeon 2600 XT, leading to some judgement errors, often trying to hide slower and cheaper GPU than actually integrated

The old generation iMac has a “Geforce 8800 GS” option, a 8800 GS has 96 processors at 550/1375Mhz, and 384MB ram at 800Mhz with a 192bits interface (nvidia spec for the Geforce 8800GS), and in fact it is a “GeForce 8800M GTS”, that sport 64processors at 500/1250Mhz, up to 512MB RAM at 800Mhz with 256bits interface (nVidia’s official specs). Something that is 30% to 40% slower!!!

The new iMac has officially a “GT130″, with 48 processor cores at 500/1250Mhz, and up to 768MB RAM at 500Mhz with 192bits interface. (Official nVidia Specs here). Notice that memory bandwith is in the level of a GeForce 8600 GT!

In fact the new iMac end-up with a “GeForce 9800M GS”, with 64 processor cores, 256bits memory interface and is given twice the memory speed of the GT130, so it’s probably around 800Mhz. (nVidia official page) Good news finally!

So, the new iMac may be not so bad with it’s 9800M GS, that is equivalent to a desktop Geforce 9600, and probably on the same range of performance as the old iMac.

General, Hardware, iMac GeForce 8800GS, GeForce 8800M GTS, Geforce 9800M GS, gpu, GT130, iMac

There’s rumors about a quad-core iMac, and others about just faster dual-core iMac.

Maybe we will see another scenario: a physicial dual-core iMac that execute 4-threads at once?

Intel released the Core i7 Quad-Core/8-Threads processor with fast 3-way DDR-3 memory interface and plan to release a low-end version with Dual-Core/4Threads and 2-way DDR-3 memory interface, that consume far less power (dissipate less heat too ) and maybe the best fit to offer faster iMac (up to 50% faster) while retaining the current design.

So if Apple choose the Core i5, it will offer the performance-level of first generation MacPro (4×2.0Ghz basic confi), while being slower than actual 2.66Ghz real Quad-Core actual MacPro.

Desktop, General, Hardware, iMac Core i5, Core i7, iMac, intel