Review: the iMac just gets better and better
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
May 22, 2008 at 5:16pm
In my Aug. 28, 2007 review of the new aluminum-and-glass iMac, I said the upgrade makes the company’s best desktop ever incrementally better. I can say the same about the April 27, 2008 rev of the all-in-one line. This near-perfect system just gets sweeter with each update.
The iMac includes faster processors with 6MB L2 cache and a faster 1066 MHz front-side bus across the entire line, and 2GB of memory standard in most models. The 24-inch iMac is now offered with a 3.06GHz Intel processor and a Nvidia GeForce 8800 GS graphics as options. I’ve traded in my previous model for one of the new top-of-the-line models—and it was worth the extra cash I had to fork out.
For the first time, the 24-inch iMac features an optional Nvidia GeForce 8800 GS with 512MB of video memory, which, according to Apple, delivers up to two times standard performance for graphic intensive applications. The card is 2.2x faster than the ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro that previously came with the high-end iMac, as determined by Quake 4 performance at 1920×1200 resolution.
And the graphics certainly “feel” faster, especially when it comes to gaming. As noted by Bare Feats, “the GeForce 8800 GS option for the new Penryn iMac is a welcome addition—especially for 3D OpenGL apps like games. At 1920×1200 High Quality on the 24-inch iMac, it doubles the frame rates for most games. Also, as Macworld notes, the 3.06GHz iMac, with its 512MB GeForce 8800 GS graphics card, “blasted by the 2.8GHz iMac with its 256MB Radeon HD 2600 Pro by 18.8 frames per second (28 percent) in our Quake 4 test and clocked in at 11 percent faster in the Compressor test.”
However, the Nvidia 8800 GS graphics card offers only a bit of a speed boost for Core Image-based applications such as IMaginator 4. Still, unless you’re a creative professional who does some serious video crunching, the iMac line is likely powerful enough for most work.
Some folks are disappointed that there’s no quad-core offering, Blu-ray or built-in TV tuner. A quad-core iMac is certainly coming, but no sooner than late 2008 (and, more likely early 2009). I’m still dubious that Blu-ray will be standard any time soon (if ever) though it could be a build-to-order option when the quad-core iMac arrives.
As for TV tuners, I think eventually Apple will roll in its own. For now, Elgato and equinux make some excellent choices. We’ll be reviewing those over the next few days.
However, though I like my glossy screen just fine, I understand why some folks don’t so I have to deduct a point from my Macsimum rating since there’s no matte screen option. Apple should at least offer this as at least a build-to-order choice.
The prices for the revved iMacs are very good, ranging from $1,199 from the low end (20-inch, 2.4GHz, 1GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive, ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT 128MB) to $2,199 for the high end (24-inch, 3.06GHz, 2GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, Nvidia GeForce 8800 GS 512MB). This compares to $1,199 (20-inch, 2GHz, 1GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT 128MB) for the previous low end model and $2,299 (24-inch, 2.8GHz, 2GB RAM, 500GB hard drive, ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro).
If you’re looking for a powerful, sexy Mac that is now a decent gaming machine, check out the new high-end iMac. It’s a gorgeous workhorse with a high “wow” factor.

Macsimum rating: 9 out of 10.
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Dennis Sellers Says:
J.,
Apple “officially” says that that the iMac will only support up to a 23-inch monitor. However, I’ve attached a 30-inch display to my iMac and it works just fine.
Posted on May 22, 2008
ArtOfWarfare Says:
NOOO!
You’re kidding me! That much faster in Quake 4!? :(
I’ll bet it runs The Orange Box without the tears in the screen at 1920x1200 too…
My computer is only 7 months old now… I probably won’t upgrade it for at least 3 years…
Posted on May 22, 2008
slw Says:
* BUYER WARNING *
DO NOT directly compare graphic card specs from Apple.com to nVidia.com
Apple likes to RENAME the cards they put in their computers. In some cases, this is because the cards are actually somewhat custom models that are NOT found in regular PCs. They are not better, they are just different.
So you can’t go to nVidia.com and look at the “8800 GS” and think this is in ANY WAY RELATED to Apple’s “8800 GS”. Apple ONLY USES LAPTOP COMPONENTS IN THE IMAC. Off the top of my head, I know that nVidia does not make an “8800 GS” mobile card. I have no idea what the card actually is, but I’m sure you can find out if you search macrumors.com or appleinsider.com
Posted on May 22, 2008
John Davis Says:
How did you trade in your older iMac for the new one?
I’d like to do that too.
Yours sincerely,
John Davis
Posted on May 22, 2008
Dennis Sellers Says:
I live in Nashville, TN, and our local reseller the Mac Authority, has a trade-in program. I think there are some on-line companies that do as well, including PowerMax (http://www.powermax.com/).
Posted on May 22, 2008
Cortlan Says:
What about the displays? I heard they are exactly the same poor-performing displays as in the last Al model - especially the cheap yellow 20” display. How can you give a machine 9/10 when so many real-world users say the iMac screens are about as cheap and nasty as any on the market?
For once, I’d like to see a bit of honesty in these reviews - the reviewer obviously got a great deal from Apple and felt compelled to talk up the good points and none of the bad.
Posted on May 23, 2008
Dennis Sellers Says:
Cortian,
Sorry, but, believe me, Apple gives me NADA, SQUAT. Any loaner review units I get are from my local dealer: the Mac Authority in Nashville, Tennessee. The iMac I purchased myself. This is my third Intel iMac (paid for with my own hard-earned cash) and I’ve never had any problems with the displays. I realize that some people have reported issues, but I can only critique what I’ve experienced myself.
Posted on May 23, 2008
Mike Says:
Which adapters and cables did you use to connect the 24” iMac to a 30” Apple Cinema Display (2560 x 1600)?
I read some of the customer reviews on the Apple store website for cables and displays. There is confusion about the MiniDVI-to-DVI Adapter, as well as DVI-I and DVI-D connectors and cables.
Posted on May 23, 2008
Dennis Sellers Says:
I simply used the Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter (see
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=MTUzNTQ&fnode=home/shop_mac/mac_accessories/cables&nplm=M9321G/B) for 20 bucks.
Posted on May 23, 2008
JP Says:
Dennis but does the 30” work in 2560x1600 or just 1920x1200 connected to the imac in extended desktop ?
Posted on July 07, 2008
Dennis Sellers Says:
JP,
As I understand it just just 1920x1200—although I haven’t attached a 30-inch Cinema Display to an imac with one of the new iMacs with a Nvidia 8800 GS graphics card option. Has anyone given this a shot?
Dennis
Posted on July 08, 2008
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Contributor
Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
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j bush Says:
Does the 24” iMac with the Nvidia 8800 GS graphics card option support a 30” Apple Cinema Display as a 2nd monitor? The Nvidia website indicates at least some of the 512 MB 8800m series cards support the higher resolution (2560x1600).
Posted on May 22, 2008