First Impressions of Intel iMac Core Duo [Updated]
Macintouch posted their first impressions of the 2.0GHz Core Duo Intel iMac and ran some early Xbench 1.2 benchmarks compared to a 1.8GHz G5 iMac. The results are difficult to interpret, however. While Xbench is a Universal Binary, it is not entirely multiprocessor aware. As a result, it does not generally test both cores of the Dual Core Intel processor. Also, graphics cards are different between the machines, making their graphical performance difficult to compare.
As expected the Intel iMac's OpenGL Graphics test (140.4) bested the G5 iMac's (90.4). The Thread Test which is multiprocessor aware showed a dramatic advantage (198.3 vs 49.75) in the Intel iMac, as expected. The other tests were variable, with the Intel Mac scoring very low on the User Interface test.
Meanwhile, a side-by-side Intel iMac vs G5 iMac video has been making the rounds showing the Intel iMac booting much faster. The video has spawned some debate about accuracy of the G5 iMac's startup in this particular video. Regardless, another user timed the 1.83GHz Intel iMac's startup at approximate 18 seconds -- users can compare this value to their own machines.
Readers will be interested to know that at least a casual attempt at booting Windows XP has been unsuccessful.
Based on Macintouch's impressions as well as this user's post:
- Intel iMacs are quiet.
- Same startup sound as previous Macs
- Same RAM access slots at bottom under removable panel as the iSight G5 iMac
A reminder that we have running Mac Guide page for the Intel iMac, that will reflect any new information.
Update: Arstechnica posts their review of the 17" iMac Core Duo, with Benchmarks. Also no luck booting Windows:
Just for kicks, I tried to boot from a Windows XP installer CD. No dice. I then tried booting from a Vista installer DVD (Build 5270). Again, no dice.
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Handbrake encoding into h.264 at ~30fps.
reportedly more optimization is possible. early intel version.
arn
off topic. how long do you think the G5 will be able to run future updates of pro apps? is it unlikely that a G5 will be able to run the latest version of PhotoShop in the year 2009?
~cel
Perhaps a bit off topic, but do the new Intel macs still have the 'Classic' environment available on them?
No. OS 9/Classic is now totally dead.
Handbrake encoding into h.264 at ~30fps.
reportedly more optimization is possible. early intel version.
HandBrake is essentially a GUI that sits on top of many other apps. I suspect that some of these apps are still PowerPC, and better performance should come soon enough :)
Perhaps a bit off topic, but do the new Intel macs still have the 'Classic' environment available on them?
~cel
no classic on Intel machines
arn
Its supprising that the dual intel is "difficult to compare". i would think it would be a hands down victory for the intel dual core.
Part of it is that I'm not sure how good a test XBench is.
arn
Based on Macintouch's impressions as well as this user's post:
- Intel iMacs are quiet.
- Same startup sound as previous Macs
- Same RAM access slots at bottom under removable panel as the iSight G5 iMac
Wow, that says absolutely nothing.
That is the first time that i have seen the intel iMac vs. the G5 iMac bootup time video. Is it just me or is the G5 iMac sloooooow? Both my G4 700mhz iMac, my 1ghz Ti PB and our schools 2ghz PM all boot faster than the G5 iMac in the test.
Certainly not just you. Many agree that there seem to be issues with the G5, but I have heard that at least one user has experienced such boot delays. Either way, just take from it that the Intel booted pretty quickly. That itself is pretty useless since people should be leaving their macs on most of the time if possible.
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