Apple's desktop lineup has typically pushed users requiring plenty of fast I/O towards the Mac Pro - but the latest iMac refresh has broken the tradition. While quad-core Sandy Bridge CPUs and faster ATI Radeon HD GPUs are welcomed, it's the addition of Thunderbolt ports (one in the 21.5-inch and two in the 27-inch) that really ups the ante for a number of professional users.
The new entry-level iMac will set you back $1199, and includes:
- 21.5-inch, 1920x1080 pixel display
- 2.5GHz quad-core Core i5 CPU with 6MB on-chip shared L3 cache
- AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 512MB of GDDR5 memory
- 500GB hard drive (7200 rpm)
- FaceTime HD webcam
- Four USB 2.0 ports
- One FireWire 800 port
- One Thunderbolt port
- Gigabit Ethernet
- Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad
- Apple Wireless Keyboard
An additional $800 bumps things up to the following high-end configuration:
- 27-inch, 2560x1440 pixel display
- 3.1GHz quad-core Core i5 CPU with 6MB on-chip shared L3 cache
- AMD Radeon HD 6970M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
- 1TB hard drive (7200 rpm)
- Two Thunderbolt ports
If your budget permits, this model can be configured to include a 3.4GHz quad-core Core i7 CPU, an AMD Radeon HD 6970M with 2GB of GDDR5 memory, and a solid-state drive in addition to the primary drive.
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