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Alpha Blog: CNET's gadget & tech news and opinions blogged by our editors
September 06, 2006, 6:35 AM PDT
iMac gains Core 2 Duo chips and 24-inch screen
Posted by: Matthew Elliott

iMac gets Core 2 Duo
Now with Core 2 Duo
[+] Enlarge photo

Sooner than expected, Apple has brought Intel's mobile Core 2 Duo (a.k.a. Merom) chips to its iMac line and introduced a larger size. Joining the 17-inch and 20-inch models is a new 24-inch iMac that features a 1,920x1,200 resolution. Priced at $1,999, the 24-inch iMac features a 2.16GHz Core 2 Duo chip (you can also upgrade to a 2.33GHz chip) and Nvidia GeForce graphics, with either the 128MB 7300 GT or the 256MB 7600 GT card. The 17-inch model now starts at $999 with a 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo processor. In the middle sits the 20-inch model at $1,499, which features the same two processor options as its larger cousin and ATI Radeon graphics.

Apple claims that the 24-inch model, when equipped with the 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo processor, delivers up to 50 percent more performance than the previous 20-inch iMac. Apple also states that the 24-incher's screen is 40 percent brighter than the suddenly puny-looking 20-inch model. We will bring you a full review of the new 24-inch iMac as soon as we are able to lay our hands on one.

The $1,999 24-inch iMac includes:

  • 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (with 4MB shared L2 cache)
  • 1GB of 667MHz DDR2 memory
  • 250GB SATA hard drive (7,200rpm)
  • 128MB Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT graphics card
  • 8X double-layer SuperDrive
  • Built-in iSight video camera
  • Built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0
  • Apple Remote, Mighty Mouse, and Apple Keyboard

The full Core 2 Duo iMac line can be seen on Apple's product page. Pricing and spec info can also be found for all four models on our Apple iMac Core 2 Duo series page.


TalkBack
15 messages

Waste of money

It is foolish to buy an all-in-one with a large premium screen because so much
of the purchase price is for the screen which will be viable as a display long after
the other components in the unit are obsolete.

Buy your displays seperately so you can use them with multiple CPUs as you
uopgrade and replace them.
by Cloaked Knight (See profile) - September 10, 2006 8:50 AM PDT
5 out of 10 users found this comment helpful

Wish they used Conroe

I'm kinda disappointed because Apple opted to use the Merom chips instead of Conroe. The iMac is supposed to be a desktop computer, so I'd like to see a desktop chip in it. I know some will say the Conroe chip is too hot for the iMac's form factor, but the G5 was HOT too and they managed to fit it in a small package.
by dirty_south (See profile) - September 7, 2006 5:50 PM PDT
10 out of 10 users found this comment helpful | 4 comments

Also waiting for Leopard

Yea, these are amazing, but I too will wait for Leopard, and if it doesn't come out
until late Spring, there may even be a first "refresh" of these by then, which I'd
prefer.
by natejohnstone (See profile) - September 7, 2006 11:16 AM PDT

Wait for leopard??

I've got a 15.4" notebook, but no desktop. This seems to fit the bill, but should I wait? I've got the funds to do it now, but by the time leopard comes out, who knows how things will be, I'm just a college student. So should I jump on this thing now?
by bnfrost (See profile) - September 7, 2006 10:50 AM PDT

Nice.but will Wait for Leopard

I want one of these so bad, but I am going to have to wait until Leopard shows up. They will put out new Imacs then i'm sure.
by mothergoose45 (See profile) - September 6, 2006 12:30 PM PDT

Damn that's huge!

24" in an all-in-one!? Not a bad price, considering it's HD-compatible and
all...even the graphics card isn't too shabby.
by AvSRoCkCO1067 (See profile) - September 6, 2006 8:51 AM PDT
5 out of 5 users found this comment helpful

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