Apple iMac 27-inch (3.1GHz, spring 2011)

With a fast new second-generation Core i5 CPU, a high-end 3D card, and support for promising Thunderbolt high-bandwidth peripheral connection ports, the new, highest-end iMac has plenty to offer media professionals and enthusiasts in terms of performance and peripheral device flexibility. For consumers, while the iMac still claims industry bests in terms of its display and its design, this system will feel like overkill in some respects, and underfeatured in others. We don't recommend the most expensive new iMac for those looking for an OS X-based alternative to the recent crop of Windows-based all-in-ones that act as home entertainment kiosks. For serious media editors, or those looking for a vanity desktop, the $1,999 Apple iMac remains one of the fastest, most attractive systems available.

Windows all-in-one makers like Dell, HP, and Sony have improved their all-in-one designs over the last year or two, but none of them approaches the iMac for sheer visual appeal. The metal-and-glass unibody chassis, along with the expansive 27-inch display, still have no design peers roughly 18 months after their debut. We actually find it strange that you still won't find a 27-inch all-in-one from anyone other than Apple. We wonder how long that will last.

While the new iMac's design hasn't changed on the outside, its internal components have been completely revamped from those of the previous model. As it upgraded its MacBook Pro laptops earlier this year, Apple has introduced to the iMac Intel's second-generation Core CPU family (formerly code-named Sandy Bridge). It has also added AMD's latest generation of graphics processor, the Radeon HD 6000-series. iPhone users, and those who love them, will appreciate that Apple has brought FaceTime support to the new iMac, which allows for cross-device video chatting over the Internet.

The iMac's new Thunderbolt ports offer exciting potential for digital media professionals.

Lastly, Apple has incorporated the new Thunderbolt data throughput standard into the iMac, and two Thunderbolt ports on the back of the 27-inch models replace the single Mini DisplayPort input found on older iMacs. Developed in conjunction with Intel, Thunderbolt is designed to replace USB and FireWire inputs by offering simultaneous 10Gbps throughput both in and out of the system via the same port. The standard supports both data and video connections, and is on track to both simplify the experience of connecting peripheral devices, and also allow for a greater, more powerful variety of external components.

Thunderbolt devices aren't expected to hit the market until this summer, which means we have to speak mostly about the potential it offers the iMac. Announced Thunderbolt products include external RAID arrays, video conversion hubs, and other devices that will take advantage of the iMac's fat new data pipe. Thunderbolt will eventually roll out to Windows PCs as well, and we may see more consumer-oriented devices before too long, but for now the early supporting hardware is clearly geared toward digital media editors and others who will appreciate Thunderbolt's ability to move large amounts of data between workstations at great speed.

Because it can work as a video port, Thunderbolt, in conjunction with the Radeon HD 6970M graphics chip, also allows you to connect two additional monitors to the iMac. That capability is certainly welcome, and it makes extending the iMac's display easy, but multimonitor support in general isn't unique to the iMac. Among other multidisplay technologies, AMD showed us its Eyefinity graphics card series last year for Windows desktops that can support six LCDs.

We've compared the iMac here with one of the fastest Windows-based all-in-ones we've tested, HP's TouchSmart 610q 1065qd, as well as a less expensive Dell XPS 8300 desktop.

We bring the traditional Dell box into the discussion particularly to compare its price-performance ratio with that of the new iMac. The XPS 8300 isn't as visually attractive as the iMac, but for those who might already have a large display, it's reasonable to ask how the two compare in terms of raw speed.

From a features standpoint, the iMac and the HP TouchSmart compare well. The large screen remains the iMac's most obvious advantage, but it also boasts a faster graphics card and a more up-to-date CPU than the HP system. HP, in turn, offers a Blu-ray drive, a lower price tag, as well as a touch screen and HP's accompanying suite of touch software. HP can't match the iMac's Thunderbolt ports, but it also offers two HDMI inputs, which means, unlike the iMac, you can connect current-generation home entertainment devices to the TouchSmart without having to buy an adapter.

In truth, comparing the speed-oriented iMac with the Dell feels more relevant than matching it up against the family-oriented HP all-in-one. The iMac does include its user-friendly iLife digital media software, but the TouchSmart all-in-one and its almost kitchy touch software clearly have home users in mind.

Which is not to say that the iMac and its large screen wouldn't make an excellent, attractive media PC for a den, an office, or a dorm room. With the right, though expensive, adapters, you can even integrate a cable box and a game console with the iMac to make a powerful, versatile media hub. We're unclear how a more casual home user would take advantage of the iMac's Thunderbolt ports, though. As well, the fast CPU and graphics card would be going to waste without some robust digital media files to put them to work. The OS X gaming library certainly won't keep them busy for long.

Cinebench 11.5
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Rendering multiple CPUs

Rendering single CPU

Dell XPS 8300

6.79 

1.5 

HP TouchSmart 610q 1065qd

5.3 

1.18 

Apple iMac 27-inch (3.1GHz, Spring 2011)

4.88 

1.3 

Sony Vaio L21SFX

4.77 

1.12 

Apple iMac 27-inch (2.8GHz, Summer 2010)

3.81 

1.09 

The new 27-inch iMac offers the best all-around performance among all-in-ones. It loses to the HP only on the Cinebench 11.5 multithreaded CPU test, and that's likely because of the HP's 2.93GHz Core i7 820 chip, which, although from Intel's previous CPU generation, has effectively eight processing threads from Intel's HyperThreading technology. The iMac's 3.1GHz Core i5 2400 CPU lacks HyperThreading, and thus remains a pure quad-core processor.

As expected, the Dell XPS 8300 and its current-generation Core i7 2600 CPU give the iMac a tougher fight. The iMac excels in converting audio files in iTunes, as well as multitasking between iTunes and QuickTime, but that's no surprise given those are Apple-made programs. The Dell's speed advantages on both iterations of Photoshop aren't too troubling for the iMac's performance outlook since the two aren't that far apart on those tests, but the Dell has a noticeable edge on Cinebench multithreaded testing, with both a faster core clock speed for its CPU, as well as the Core i7 2600's HyperThreading benefits.

The solution for the iMac lies in the Core i7 option available from Apple for an additional $200. With that CPU, the iMac will likely approach, if not bypass, the XPS 8300's performance, and it will still offer a better deal for its complete hardware package thanks to the iMac's large, high-resolution display. We'd only recommend the upgraded CPU option to digital media professionals who know they will see real benefits from an increase in processing threads, however. For others, the Core i5-based iMac's competitive performance, combined with its large display, make it a well-priced high-end desktop package.

Game testing on the iMac always feels like a bit of an academic exercise. Apple's gaming prospects brightened when Valve Software's game library and its Steam digital distribution service arrived on OS X last year. The number of games available to the iMac still remains a fraction of what you can find on the PC, though. Yes, Windows gaming on a Mac through Boot Camp or other virtualization remains an option, but if gaming is your goal, we recommend a less convoluted approach.

In any case, this iMac is a capable gaming system. Apple demonstrated Valve's Portal 2 for us to show off the iMac's new Radeon HD 6970 graphics card. Though that title is more up-to-date than Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the latter still offers a greater 3D-processing challenge, particularly at the iMac's native 2,560x1,440 pixel resolution, and with high-detail settings enabled. At close to 60 frames per second on that test, the iMac is up to the task of Call of Duty 4, and offers the most robust Mac gaming experience of any high-end iMac to date.

Should you demand more performance or features from the iMac, Apple has a few options for you, including up to 16GB of RAM, a larger platter hard drive, a solid-state drive, and even the same Radeon HD 6970 3D card but with 2GB of RAM instead of the default 1GB. As it typical from Apple, all of those upgrades will cost you more than you would pay for the same hardware from Apple's Windows-based competition. The most significant option might be the ability to trade out the Apple Magic Mouse for the Magic Trackpad, with no extra charge. Before, you couldn't opt out of the mouse.

Aside from a pair of Thunderbolt ports replacing the previous 27-inch iMac's single Mini DisplayPort, the rest of the new iMac's external connectivity remains the same. You get four USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 800 port, an Ethernet adapter, and audio in and out. Apple has bypassed eSATA for Thunderbolt and its legacy FireWire 800 support, a reasonable trade. And while we still miss native HDMI input or output support, adapters like the Belkin AV360 remain a viable, if more expensive, alternative.

Juice box
Apple iMac 27-inch (3.1GHz, Spring 2011)	Average watts per hour
Off (watts)	0.44
Sleep (watts)	1.18
Idle (watts)	38.37
Load (watts)	137.65
Raw (annual kWh)	180.56988
Energy Star compliant	Yes
Annual operating cost (@$0.1135/kWh)	$20.49

Power efficiency is one of the hallmarks of Intel's second-generation Core CPUs, and given the new iMac's performance edge over the previous model, the fact that it consumes only marginally more power speaks highly of both Intel and Apple. Also note that while the Dell XPS 8300 has a small but noticeable speed advantage over the iMac on certain tests, it uses more than twice as much power, and doesn't include a screen. Vendors often say to us that consumers like environmentally friendly hardware but that they're not willing to pay for it. If that's true, kudos to Apple for pressing forward on power efficiency anyway.

Apple's phone support receives high customer satisfaction ratings, but as always we wish it were available to customers beyond the first 90 days of purchase without having to pay $169 for an AppleCare coverage plan. Apple's network of in-person help via its Genius Bar and its authorized services providers remains unique as well, but for desktop customers in particular, extended phone-based help would be far more convenient.

Conclusion
A fast new Intel CPU and an AMD graphics chip provide Apple's new 27-inch iMac with competitive performance for its price, and the advent of Thunderbolt offers the iMac the potential for exciting peripheral devices later this year. Apple seems less concerned with engaging family users than some of its Windows-based all-in-one competition, but for digital media professionals, or others in need of a fast, serious-minded all-in-one with a large display, we can make no other recommendation.

Find out more about how we test desktop systems.

System configurations:

Apple iMac 27-inch (3.1GHz, Spring 2011)
Apple OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.7; 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 (second generation); 4GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 1GB ATI Radeon HD 6970M graphics card; 1TB 7,200rpm hard drive

Apple iMac 27-inch (2.8GHz, Summer 2010)
Apple OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.7; 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 (second generation); 4GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 1GB ATI Radeon HD 6970M graphics card; 1TB 7,200rpm hard drive

Dell XPS 8300
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit; 3.4GHz Intel Core i7 2600; 8GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 1GB AMD Radeon HD 5870

HP TouchSmart 610q 1065qd
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.93GHz Intel Core i7 870; 8GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 2GB AMD Radeon HD 5570; 1TB 7,200rpm Seagate hard drive Sony Vaio L21SFX
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.0GHz Intel Core i7 2360qM; 8GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 540M; 2TB 7,200rpm Western Digital hard drive

Update May 4, 2011:

Update May 4, 2011: This review initially listed the memory incorrectly for the Apple iMac 27-inch (3.1GHz, Spring 2011).

See pricing