The new processor and graphics card provide very respectable performance, producing an overall score of 6436 in our PCMark Vantage results – well ahead of the 4594 achieved by the even pricier Vaio L13 that we reviewed recently (although, to be fair, the Vaio’s price does include a 24in touch-screen display).
Benchmark Tests
PCMark Vantage Results
iMac tested running Windows 7 using Apple's Boot Camp
Longer bars are better
iMac tested running Windows 7 using Apple's Boot Camp
Longer bars are better
Gaming and 3D performance is good too – I got 60fps when running Far Cry 2 at the iMac’s full 1920 x 1080 resolution, and at 1280 x 800 resolution (which suits my eyes better) the rate increased to 83fps. Apple has often cut corners on the iMac’s performance in the past, relying on its sheer good looks to win customers over, but the i3 processor and improved graphics mean that the consumer-oriented iMac is now punching at pro-level.
COMMENTS
Repair Costs
My problem with Mac's is the repair cost outside of warranty, may as well just throw it away.
My MBP has a dodgy "superdrive", Apple wanted over £250 to repair it. The drive (which they won't sell separate) can be purchased for around £50.
Won't get fooled again.
27" price
A little while ago -- before this refresh -- a group of us tried to put together a shopping list for a machine equivalent to the 27" iMac.
It almost came out cheaper.
It's hard enough to find big IPS monitors, it's even harder to find one at a less than eye-popping price.
The conclusion we came to, then, was that if you didn't care about picture quality then you could build a machine more economically. However, once you added in a decent IPS monitor then the price difference pretty much went away and you'd be wondering why you invested all that effort when you could just go into John Lewis and carry one away.
Re: Entry Level
I know. And an entry level Aston Martin costs over 60 grand.
It's an outrage.
huh?
Then buy the drive for £50 and fit it yourself for free.You can get spare parts easy - Apple don't actually make the superdrive. Or bring it to an independent Apple service centre and get them to do it. They'll charge less than Apple. I don't see how this is any different to getting an out of warranty repair for a Sony or Dell or anyone else.
Nice bit of kit
I'm not sure that price is an issue here. You can either afford it, or you can't.
There's no doubt that it's a superb machine; the quality of the display is stupendous. But if you're on a budget, look elsewhere.
