Apple Desktop Computers

The latest iMacs bring strong performance gains

Apple offers two desktops that are marketed to different users: the all-in-one iMac, targeted toward families and general users, and the Mac Pro, a conventional, tower desktop geared to professionals.

Apple released new iMacs in 2011, updating the entire line with Intel's new second-generation Core processors. While performance is better than ever, some reviewers say the higher-end iMacs offer more power -- and a higher price tag -- than most users need or want. As a result, reviews point to the 21.5-inch 2.5 GHz iMac (*Est. $1,200 and up) as the best bet in most instances. As with the Apple laptops discussed elsewhere in this report, Apple's desktop line is expected to be refreshed in the late spring or early summer after Intel's third-generation Core processors, called Ivy Bridge, are released.

That entry-level iMac comes with a quad-core 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU, 500 GB hard drive, 4 GB of RAM and AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics. The 21.5-inch LED display has a resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels. A FaceTime-compatible webcam, four USB 2.0 slots, a FireWire 800 port, slot-loading DVD drive and built-in Bluetooth are standard on this and all iMacs. A high-speed Thunderbolt port is also included, although compatible accessories have been slow to come to market. All of Apple's iMacs come with a wireless keyboard and -- if you buy from the Apple store -- your choice of the multitouch Magic Mouse or the Magic Trackpad, which works much like the glass touchpad on Apple's laptops.

The 21.5-inch 2.5 GHz iMac isn't the most powerful Apple desktop, but experts say it will meet the needs of most people. In fact, multiple tests show that the entry-level iMac is faster and more powerful than 2010's top-of-the-line model, thanks to the inclusion of Sandy Bridge core processors and updated graphics. "Powerful new processors, outstanding graphics solutions and an innovative new Thunderbolt port make the new machines extremely good value for money," says Ian Osborne at T3.com.

For most tasks, the 21.5-inch iMac is at least 50 percent faster than its predecessor, and the desktop easily handles a variety of intensive jobs, including video and photo editing. "Professional users will, of course, want to step up to one of the faster CPUs for the time that they'll save in rendering, but for everyone else, even this low-end model's CPU should be more than sufficient for just about all mainstream tasks," says Jonathan Rougeot at ComputerShopper.com.

Not surprisingly, multitasking is a high point. The iMac speeds through multiple applications at once, even those that may have bogged down previous versions. Gaming is also a possibility, as the iMac can play most games. Even demanding 3D games are playable, although some -- like "Far Cry 2" -- might require a slight decrease in resolution or other settings.

The design hasn't changed much from previous versions, and reviewers say that's largely a good thing -- the sleek aluminum design consistently earns high marks for style. "The design of Apple's iMacs remains the most aesthetically pleasing in the industry," says Rich Brown at CNET. Reviewers say the glass display of the iMac is simply stunning. Viewing angles are excellent, and colors look rich and saturated when viewing photos or watching movies (although some users wish for a matte screen option to reduce glare). The keyboard is on the small side, but experts say the chiclet keys are comfortable and responsive. You'll also find a FaceTime HD camera, which can make video calls to other Apple devices like the MacBook Pros or iPad. Compared to the webcams on previous iMacs, the camera has a higher resolution and performs better in low light.

However, unlike the other iMac configurations, the hard drive on the entry-level model can't be upgraded before purchase, so you are limited to the 500 GB, 7,200-rpm hard drive. It is also not easy to upgrade the hard drive after purchase, as James Galbraith at Macworld describes: "It requires a good amount of skill and intestinal fortitude on the user's part -- opening up the case involves using suction cups to remove the front pane of glass that is held in place by magnets," he says. Some reviewers also wish the iMac offered more home entertainment options, such as a Blu-ray drive or HDMI port, which are widely available on competing Windows all-in-ones.

Apple also offers the 21.5-inch iMac with a second-generation 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5 processor (*Est. $1,500 and up). This configuration comes with a 1 TB hard drive, 4 GB of RAM and AMD Radeon HD 6770M graphics. Because there is such a slight performance difference between the two desktops, experts say the 2.5 GHz iMac is a better deal overall. In Macworld's Speedmark test (a measure of overall system performance), the two 21.5-inch iMacs are separated by less than 10 points. The average user probably won't notice any difference in performance -- the 2.5 GHz iMac duplicates a 1 GB file in 18 seconds, only two seconds slower than the 2.7 GHz iMac, and it achieves 86 frames per second in a "Call of Duty 4" test, compared to 87 frames per second for the more expensive model. However, the 2.7 GHz iMac may be a better bet for those who want a larger hard drive or solid-state drive.

The 27-inch iMac also earns its fair share of recommendations, although experts say this high-powered desktop is better suited for professionals than for the average consumer. "The vastly more affordable and still hugely capable 21.5-inch model makes a lot more sense for a lot more people," says Tim Stevens at Engadget.com. Compared to the entry-level 21.5-inch iMac, the 27-inch configuration posts faster performance for intensive tasks like video and photo editing; it's also suitable for more serious gamers.

If you prefer the larger 27-inch display, most reviewers recommend the 3.1 GHz configuration (*Est. $2,000 and up). It comes with a 3.1 GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4 GB of RAM, a 1 TB hard drive and AMD Radeon HD 6970M graphics. A 2,560-by-1,440-pixel display comes standard, and users have the option of upgrading to a 2 TB hard drive or a 256 GB solid-state drive. Other features are largely the same as the smaller 21.5-inch iMac, although the 27-inch model has two Thunderbolt ports.

Performance is fantastic, and experts say the top-of-the-line iMac has as much power as conventional tower-based desktops. In PCMag.com's test, the 27-inch iMac completes some tasks faster than the 8-core Mac Pro, which has a starting price well above $3,000. Overall, reviews indicate that the iMac is well suited for intensive graphics work, video or photo editing, CAD applications or heavy number-crunching. Reviewers are also able to maintain playable frame rates for the most demanding gaming titles. "Essentially, to be faster on the game grid than the new top-of-the-line iMac, you'll have to get a specialized gaming rig," says Joel Santo Domingo at PCMag.com.

As always, the high-resolution display earns rave reviews. Experts particularly like the light sensor, which automatically dims the screen based on external lighting conditions to reduce eyestrain. As with the 21.5-inch iMac, reviewers are unanimous in their wish for an anti-glare display option. The Thunderbolt ports have potential -- Apple says they are up to 20 times faster than USB 2.0 -- but compatible accessories are still on the short side. As with the other iMacs, reviewers would like more entertainment options, including a Blu-ray drive. In addition, there are many Windows alternatives that are available for much less, including some that have a touchscreen display. 

You can also find the 27-inch iMac with a 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU (*Est. $1,700 and up), complete with 4 GB of RAM, 1 TB hard drive and AMD Radeon HD 6770M graphics. Few experts test this configuration, but -- as with the other iMacs -- performance is significantly faster than previous versions. In Macworld's tests, the 27-inch 2.7 GHz iMac is 16 percent faster than 2010's top-of-the-line model, and only five points lower than the 3.1 GHz iMac in a Speedmark test.

As a result, users can save a few hundred dollars by opting for this configuration -- unless you need serious graphics performance or want the option of upgrading to a 3.4 GHz Core i7 processor, which is only available on the 27-inch 3.1 GHz iMac. "For those looking for a larger display, the $1699 27-inch 2.7GHz Core i5 iMac is the better value, since its overall performance isn't that much slower than the high-end $1999 27-inch 3.1GHz Core i5 iMac," says James Galbraith at Macworld. "However, the $1999 iMac offers much better graphics performance if you're into gaming or do a lot of video or 3D work," he adds.

Mac Pro Desktops: Pricey, but easy to upgrade

In general, the Apple Mac Pros are recommended for professionals who do extensive 3D work, graphics or video editing. Average consumers would probably be better served with an iMac, which costs significantly less. Because they come equipped with second-generation Intel processors, some configurations of the iMac can now match the performance of the Mac Pro. Apple's professional-level Mac Pro desktop computers were last updated in 2010, and no official word has emerged regarding when -- or if -- the next upgrade is expected.

Four Mac Pros are available. The entry-level Mac Pro (*Est. $2,500 and up) comes with a 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon Nehalem processor, 3 GB of memory and a 1 TB hard drive. The 8-core Mac Pro (*Est. $3,500 and up) matches two 2.4 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon Westmere CPUs with 6 GB of RAM and a 1 TB hard drive. A 12-Core Mac Pro (*Est. $5,000 and up) is also available as a customized model; it has two 2.66 GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon Westmere processors, 1 TB hard drive and 6 GB of memory. Finally, Apple has a server version (*Est. $3,000 and up) with a 2.8 GHz quad-core Intel Xeon Nehalem processor, 8 GB of RAM and two 1 TB hard drives.

All of the Mac Pros come with ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics. Ports include four FireWire 800, seven USB slots (five on the desktop and two on the keyboard) and Mini DisplayPort. All of the Apple Mac Pros can be upgraded with faster processors, more memory, extra hard drives, solid-state drives and an additional graphics chip. Other features include a double-layer CD/DVD drive, the Apple Magic Mouse and a wired keyboard. The wireless keyboard (*Est. $20) is available as an upgrade. Keep in mind that (unlike the iMacs) the base price of each Mac Pro does not include the monitor. Apple offers only one display, the 27-inch Apple LED Cinema Display (*Est. $1,000), which will significantly add to the overall price.

The Mac Pros don't receive as much attention as the consumer-oriented Apple desktops, but several reviewers test the Quad-Core Mac Pro. Testing shows that the latest Quad-Core Mac Pro is faster than its predecessors, especially when it comes to graphics tasks -- the new models have ATI Radeon HD graphics, an upgrade over the Nvidia GeForce GT GPU found in previous Mac Pros. This is evident in Macworld's 3D gaming test, where the Quad-Core Mac Pro gets nearly 88 frames per second playing "Call of Duty," compared to 50 frames per second for the previous desktop.

One benefit of the Mac Pros is that they can be customized and upgraded more easily than the Apple iMac desktops. "Whether your type of work requires a certain kind of display, add in card, or tons of internal storage, the Mac Pro offers power users the flexibility to create a system custom fit to fill their needs," says James Galbraith at Macworld.

However, some reviewers would like to see a Blu-ray option. The Mac Pros lack the high-speed Thunderbolt ports available on the all-in-one iMac desktops. Even though compatible accessories won't be available until this summer, reviewers are excited about these ports, which are significantly faster than the traditional USB 2.0. Macworld's Jason Snell, who views a demo of Thunderbolt in action, sums up his impressions: "That's a gigantic amount of data passing across the Thunderbolt port. So much data that it makes me wonder about the future of the Mac Pro, now that fancy expansion cards won't be needed to enable massively fast data rates," he says.

There's also the issue of price, as the Mac Pros are very expensive compared to similar tower PCs. "If you can live without Mac OS X, a custom PC builder like Maingear or Cyberpower can build you a Windows 7-based system with similar performance to the Mac Pro for about $1,000 less, and also work in a Blu-ray drive and a flash-card reader," says ComputerShopper.com, which still gives the Mac Pro an Editors' Choice award. Even with these caveats, reviewers say the Quad-Core Mac Pro is a great choice for creative professionals or anyone who needs serious performance for work.

The 8-Core Mac Pro is not significantly faster than the Quad-Core desktop, but experts say the upgrade may be worth it for those who use applications that benefit from multiple cores. PCMag.com looks at the 8-core Mac Pro and says that although it's a good choice for demanding number crunching, such as for high-end graphics or scientific work, it is expensive and perhaps overkill compared to alternatives.

This is more apparent now that iMacs with Sandy Bridge processors post similar performance scores for some tasks. In PCMag.com's test, the 27-inch 3.1 GHz iMac (*Est. $2,000 and up) completes some tests faster than the 8-Core Mac Pro, including video encoding and Photoshop tasks. The iMac also posts higher frame rates in a "Crysis" gaming test, both at medium- and high-quality settings. "The Mac Pro has more pure CPU-based number crunching power than the iMac 27-inch (Thunderbolt), but the iMac 27-inch (Thunderbolt) was faster at day-to-day tasks that use other components like the hard drive and graphics," says Joel Santo Domingo.