New 27-Inch iMac Has Up to 80% Faster Graphics at Compute Tasks Compared to Previous Model

Earlier this month, Apple launched new iMac models with Intel's seventh-generation Kaby Lake processors and improved AMD Radeon Pro discrete graphics options at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference.

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Early benchmark results for the new 27-inch iMac have already surfaced on Geekbench that suggest the 2017 models are up to 15% faster in multi-core CPU performance compared to last-generation models.

Apple's new high-end 27-inch iMac stock configuration with a 3.8GHz quad-core Core i5 processor has an average multi-core score of 14,886, for example, compared to 12,953 for the equivalent 2015 model.

27 inch imac multi core geekbench
John Poole of Primate Labs, the creators of Geekbench, said the new 27-inch iMac also has up to 80% improved graphics performance compared to the equivalent 2015 models at compute tasks such as image processing.

Geekbench's new GPU Compute Benchmark measures the performance of GPUs at performing compute tasks such as image processing, computer vision, and physics simulations, rather than rendering tasks.

imac 27 inch gpu geekbench
Poole said compute performance is becoming more important as more applications, such as Photoshop, take advantage of GPU compute.

The built-to-order 27-inch iMac with a 4.2GHz quad-core Core i7 processor is Apple's fastest Mac ever in single-core CPU performance, according to the Geekbench results, continuing a trend set with the late 2014 model. The 2013 Mac Pro remains Apple's fastest Mac in multi-core CPU performance on Geekbench.

That will undoubtedly change in December when Apple launches the iMac Pro with workstation-class tech specs, including up to an 18-core Intel Xeon processor, top-of-the-line Radeon Pro Vega graphics, up to 4TB of SSD storage, and up to 128GB of ECC RAM. iMac Pro will start at $4,999 in the United States.

The new 27-inch iMac starts at $1,799. New 21.5-inch models are also available from $1,099. Prices vary by country.

Related Roundup: iMac
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Neutral)
Related Forum: iMac

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Top Rated Comments

Joe Rossignol Avatar
103 months ago
Yes. The GPU chart is missing.
Feel like I'm playing spot the difference. Are those two charts identical?


Fixed.

Attachment Image
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacsRuleOthersDrool Avatar
103 months ago
What's utterly fascinating is that the "old, tired" 2013 Mac Pro still beats the pants off everything but one 2017 iMac configuration.

Care to explain that, Haters?

In any event, just think how much faster the iMac Pro and the new Mac Pro will be!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ignatius345 Avatar
103 months ago
Putting this horsepower in that silly iMac form factor will make this a toaster.
Hey, Apple product designers, engineers and product managers -- stop the manufacturing line! This random guy on this forum found something you somehow all missed.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vvs14 Avatar
103 months ago
What's utterly fascinating is that the "old, tired" 2013 Mac Pro still beats the pants off everything but one 2017 iMac configuration.

Care to explain that, Haters?

In any event, just think how much faster the iMac Pro and the new Mac Pro will be!
So if someone does not have a similar opinion about something as you, he immediately becomes a hater?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LordVic Avatar
103 months ago
What's utterly fascinating is that the "old, tired" 2013 Mac Pro still beats the pants off everything but one 2017 iMac configuration.

Care to explain that, Haters?

In any event, just think how much faster the iMac Pro and the new Mac Pro will be!
the fact you're bringing it up as "care to play haters' means you don't actually undersetand how computers work.

the test being shown is a multi-core/threaded benchmark. the Mac Pro's that still appear higher are 8+ core variants. Where the new i5 and i7's in the 2017 iMac's are 4 cores only. (8 thread for the i7). And since these are benchmark numbers only, only reflect a perfect situation where specific sorts of calculations are accounted for.

real world performance and other factors are also important here, beyond just the benchmark numbers. If there was a 2017 Mac Pro that also had 8 or 10 core CPU's, it would likely trounce the 2012 Mac Pro's completely.

"hate" has nothing to do with it
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FactVsOpinion Avatar
103 months ago
What's utterly fascinating is that the "old, tired" 2013 Mac Pro still beats the pants off everything but one 2017 iMac configuration.

Care to explain that, Haters?

In any event, just think how much faster the iMac Pro and the new Mac Pro will be!
I'd like to take your side but the 4-core base model pro is near the bottom, and since they are still priced at the top, and are the "pro" choice, they ought to benchmark at the top, not near it, and certainly not near the bottom.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)