Apple updates iMac with faster processor, graphics

Jim Dalrymple Mon Apr 28, 12:00 PM ET

Apple on Monday updated its iMac consumer desktop computer, adding the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processor and more powerful graphics.

"The iMac is doing really well," David Moody, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Mac Product Marketing, told Macworld. "The new iMac appeals to more customers than ever before."

That is certainly good news for Apple as the Mac is growing at three and a half times the rate of the overall PC industry, according to IDC. Quoting numbers from market research firm NPD, Moody said the Mac now has 17 percent of the U.S. consumer market share.

The new iMacs feature faster processors across the product and they also feature a 1066 MHz front-side bus and up to 4GB of 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory. The 24-inch iMac also has an optional NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS with 512MB of video memory.

"When you compare the performance of the NVIDIA graphics cards with the current standard iMac model, you can see an increase of up to 2.2 times," said Moody. "It certainly is great for gamers or any application that uses intensive graphics."

The new iMacs also feature AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi networking, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR; Gigabit Ethernet; built-in iSight video camera; a total of five USB 2.0 ports (including two on the Apple Keyboard); and one FireWire 400 and one FireWire 800 port.

The new iMacs come in three basic models. The $1,199 20-inch with a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with a 1066 MHz front-side bus; 1GB RAM; a 250GB Serial ATA hard drive; and an ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128MB GDDR3 memory.

The mid-range $1,499 20-inch model has a 2.66GHz processor with 2GB RAM, a 320GB hard drive and an ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB GDDR3 memory. The high-end $1,799 24-inch has a 2.8GHz processor, 2GB RAM, a 320GB hard drive and an ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB GDDR3 memory.

Build-to-order options include a 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB DDR2 SDRAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS with 512MB of video memory and up to a 1TB Serial ATA hard drive on the 24-inch iMac; up to 4GB DDR2 SDRAM and up to 750GB Serial ATA hard drive on the 2.66 GHz 20-inch iMac; and up to 4GB of DDR2 SDRAM and up to 500GB Serial ATA hard drive on the 2.4 GHz 20-inch iMac.

All iMac models are available immediately.

Update: Added information from an interview with Apple executive. 9:27 am ET 4/28/08.