New Apple hardware

[game_over]

It'll run, but at that resolution, it might stutter with anything fancy turned on (or if you're in a crowded city like Dalaran).

I have to switch to my 9600M GT on my MBP whenever I want to play WoW on my 24" Apple Cinema Display. However, at the resolution that my 15" screen is at, the 9400M does a fine job.

I always play in windowed mode anyway and have no need to play on that big resolution, at the moment i window it on a 19" which suits me fine. I just dont want to get it and not have the ability to play it at all.

I'm guessing the card wont be upgradable?

Also, is the processor upgradeable? i'm thinking of buying the cheapest iMac and sticking a Quad Core in it?

Edited October 21, 2009 by forcer

[Rudy]

I'm guessing the card wont be upgradable?

Also, is the processor upgradeable? i'm thinking of buying the cheapest iMac and sticking a Quad Core in it?

No and most likely no (it's probably soldered to the board...)

[gian]

unfortunately the graphics card is probably soldered on the motherboard..

Was there an iMac which supported MXM technology? I think you could upgrade to an Nvidia 8800 on the previous model even if oyu had another graphics card, not sure though.

Regarding the CPU I have higher hopes, for the quad core as I they are desktop versions so maybe they can be upgraded? It would rock but I guess in the long term it would hit apple sales in a way - so I doubt you can change it :p

[Rudy]

unfortunately the graphics card is probably soldered on the motherboard..

Was there an iMac which supported MXM technology? I think you could upgrade to an Nvidia 8800 on the previous model even if oyu had another graphics card, not sure though.

Regarding the CPU I have higher hopes, for the quad core as I they are desktop versions so maybe they can be upgraded? It would rock but I guess in the long term it would hit apple sales in a way - so I doubt you can change it :p

There's never been an iMac with an upgradeable video card and the previous iMacs had the cpu soldered so i doubt this one will be different

[gian]

Previous macs didn't use desktop CPU though, so maybe they just installed it there like any normal PC.

But I agree with you, chances are slim.

[Rudy]

Previous macs didn't use desktop CPU though, so maybe they just installed it there like any normal PC.

But I agree with you, chances are slim.

Mobile cpus can be socketed too.... plsu I think they gain a bit of space when the solder the cpu (not as thick

[gian]

Mobile cpus can be socketed too.... plsu I think they gain a bit of space when the solder the cpu (not as thick

It turns out the CPU is socketed ;)

And the GPU is not soldered as well!

Even though I would never dare to tear-it-apart to replace the CPU, it is possible and it will be cool if in 2-3 years I will be able to upgrade CPU.

Unfortunately the GPU will have to be designed for Mac probably, maybe they will offer an upgrade service for their crazy prices lol.

[Rudy]

It turns out the CPU is socketed ;)

And the GPU is not soldered as well!

Cool, where did you read that?

[gian]

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iMac-Intel-27-Inch/1236/1

Forgot to put the source before!

[Elliott]

It turns out the CPU is socketed ;)

And the GPU is not soldered as well!

Even though I would never dare to tear-it-apart to replace the CPU, it is possible and it will be cool if in 2-3 years I will be able to upgrade CPU.

Unfortunately the GPU will have to be designed for Mac probably, maybe they will offer an upgrade service for their crazy prices lol.

:yes: I just read the iFixit teardown too. The 27" iMac is beautifully engineered.

[Rudy]

:yes: I just read the iFixit teardown too. The 27" iMac is beautifully engineered.

+1

thanks for the link gianpan

[Scorbing]

The iMac I got is the previous top-of-the-line modem with the 24" screen, the Intel Core 2 Duo CPU at 3.06 GHz and the Nvidia GT 130.

Even though this model: http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB952L...mco=MTMzNzU5ODc

Has a bigger screen, the CPU and the DDR3 memory is still the same and the video card is ATI and has half the memory mine has. From what I have been reading, the card I got is much better than that one?

Please correct me if I am wrong. I still have 10 days to exchange it if I want. What should I do?

[sn00pie]

I'd exchange it for the new one. For the price you paid for your 24" you can get the 27" now. I wouldn't think twice if I was in your position...you'll just regret it later.

[Scorbing]

I'd exchange it for the new one. For the price you paid for your 24" you can get the 27" now. I wouldn't think twice if I was in your position...you'll just regret it later.

Yes but the monitor size difference is not important to me. I have a hard enough time looking at the 24" I got right now. I find it extremely large. What I care about is the video card. The CPU is the same as mine, but the card is not.

My current card is an Nvidia GT 130 with 512MB

The card that comes with that new model is an ATI 4670 with 256MB

How can the ATI be a better card when it has half the memory mine has?

[saxondale.]

I've used the new mouse a few times and i'm not impressed; i find it quite uncomfortable and it doesn't fit nicely into the natural relaxed palm position.

[Stetson]

Yes but the monitor size difference is not important to me. I have a hard enough time looking at the 24" I got right now. I find it extremely large. What I care about is the video card. The CPU is the same as mine, but the card is not.

My current card is an Nvidia GT 130 with 512MB

The card that comes with that new model is an ATI 4670 with 256MB

How can the ATI be a better card when it has half the memory mine has?

The $1999 27" iMac comes with an ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB card.

[sn00pie]

The $1999 27" iMac comes with an ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB card.

Yeah but the 3.05ghz model comes with the 4670.

[Rudy]

How can the ATI be a better card when it has half the memory mine has?

Video cards are not all about memory, some 1GB card are a lot slower than some cards with "only" 512mb or even 256

[gian]

Yeah Video memory has become more of a marketing tool now.

Although I use the 27'' iMac had a 1gb video card, because in high resolutions you will appreciate the higher video memory.. That would probably mean they have to go desktop GPU though = 40'' iMac :p