[ciparis]

Now that there's a (hopefully not-about-to-be-Admin'd) post just about this, I'll post my comments here rather than continue burying them in that other thread. I was surprised that it really boots so quickly (I actually hadn't even turned mine off or rebooted since yesterday afternoon when I unpacked it ). Mine echo the numbers above. It's also just about dead silent -- if there's any ambient noise I can't hear it at all. Otherwise there's a very low-pitched and very quiet hum from the bottom.

Hardware Overview:

Machine Name: iMac
Machine Model: iMac4,1
CPU Type: Intel Core Duo
Number Of Cores: 2
CPU Speed: 2 GHz
L2 Cache (shared): 2 MB
Memory: 512 MB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: IM41.0039.B00
Serial Number: W8601xxxxxx
SMC Version: 1.1f2

System Software Overview:

System Version: Mac OS X 10.4.4 (8G1165)
Kernel Version: Darwin 8.4.1

[ciparis]

double-post

[ciparis]

Originally Posted by mduell

Can you run the Photoshop benchmark from the PowerMac forum?

1:03 (from clicking "OK") first run, 57s second run.

[macintologist]

Originally Posted by ravenz

* XBench tests were performed and uploaded, but I don't trust the results. The numbers looked worse than a first generation G4 PowerBook. Something in XBench is not optimized for Intel. I used the Universal Binary version.

X-Bench Version History
1.2 [2005-07-30]
-Built as a Universal Binary to run on both PowerPC and x86 Macs
-Re-calibrated 100 point baseline to a 2.0 GHz G5 running Tiger
-Altered graphics code to flush only every 1/60th of a second, in order to cooperate with Tiger beam syncing
-Built Intel code on GCC 4.0, PowerPC remains on GCC 3.3 for 10.3 compatibility

Nothing is wrong with the X-Bench, silly.

[boombashi]

Originally Posted by macintologist

Nothing is wrong with the X-Bench, silly.

Yup, and the Intel Core Duo is the same speed as a Mac mini

http://db.xbench.com/

[baw]

Originally Posted by boombashi

Yup, and the Intel Core Duo is the same speed as a Mac mini

http://db.xbench.com/

Could be. Just the iMac has the faster bus.

[boombashi]

Originally Posted by baw

Could be. Just the iMac has the faster bus.

the iMac Core Duo 2Ghz has like 6x the horse power of a G4 Mac mini. Something ain't right with those results.

[ApplCmptrDood]

The reason why xBench is probably screwing up, is because PPC and Intel are like comparing Apples and Oranges. At least it seems that way.

[dazzla]

Best way to compare is real life tests. Audio encoding in iTunes, Video encoding in iDVD/iMovie/ffmpeg etc. I never read any xbench ****.

[pat++]

ravenz, could you please download EasyWMA demo from http://www.easywma.com and tell me if the app is actually running on Intel? I've just compiled a version in universal binary (ffmpeg is still using rosetta) but I have no idea if it's working or not as I do not have an Intel Mac to test it... Thanks !

[Drakino]

Anyone have a slipstreamed Windows Server 2003 SP1 install disc? Microsoft added some GPT (the disk format) support to it, not sure if they modified the boot, or just enough to read disks added after an install.

Anyone found a way into the EFI interface, ala the Command-Option-O-F on Open Firmware? I have some training docs on EFI somewhere around here that may help depending on what it dumps to.

[ravenz]

Originally Posted by pat++

ravenz, could you please download EasyWMA demo from http://www.easywma.com and tell me if the app is actually running on Intel? I've just compiled a version in universal binary (ffmpeg is still using rosetta) but I have no idea if it's working or not as I do not have an Intel Mac to test it... Thanks !

Worked perfectly. I launched it both normally and forced it into Rosetta mode - converted a test WMA file. No problems. The application loaded substantially faster normally than it did in forced Rosetta mode.

Screenshots:

http://homepage.mac.com/ravenzachary/PhotoAlbum1.html

[pat++]

Originally Posted by ravenz

Worked perfectly. I launched it both normally and forced it into Rosetta mode - converted a test WMA file. No problems. The application loaded substantially faster normally than it did in forced Rosetta mode.

Screenshots:

http://homepage.mac.com/ravenzachary/PhotoAlbum1.html

Thanks a lot for the test !

[ravenz]

Originally Posted by ravenz

It's somewhat a whoosh sound, but after it starts up, the fan goes silent. The unit is super quiet.

Ok - the house is actually quiet enough now for me to hear the iMac fan. It's a low vibration sound, which would easily be covered up by listening to music at a low volume. I never heard the sound before because there were sounds throughout the house. With kids taking naps, the overall level of background noise has dropped considerably.

UPDATE: With iTunes volume maxxed, and system volume at 50%, the background fan sound cannot be heared at all. Even when the room is quiet, the fan doesn't bother me. Everyone has their own tolerance with this type of sound, so you'll have to experience it for yourself. Having come from an eMac with an insanely loud fan, this is heavenly.

[wee_ag]

Thanks for all the updates with the iMac...

my question is do we have any comparisons between the iMac intel and the PowerMac G5? - I'm debating between the two - or being VERY patient and waiting for the Intel PowerMac

It would be good to see some dul-core PPC vs Intel tests.

Edit: Oh, and over on MacRumors - http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=173183 , someone says XP Windows Media Center Edition has EFI - don't have that layin' around do ya?

[tigas]

Originally Posted by Drakino

Anyone have a slipstreamed Windows Server 2003 SP1 install disc? Microsoft added some GPT (the disk format) support to it, not sure if they modified the boot, or just enough to read disks added after an install.

Anyone found a way into the EFI interface, ala the Command-Option-O-F on Open Firmware? I have some training docs on EFI somewhere around here that may help depending on what it dumps to.

Windows Server 2003 SP supports GPT drives as data, not system volumes, meaning it can't boot from them.

Anybody tried Command-Option-E-F-I yet?

[Ouroboros]

I was wondering if you could really push the iMac and force the fan to get louder. The reason I'm asking is that I have a revision A iMac and that thing in my music is so loud at times that it makes it useless in a recording environment. Even if I use garageband with say, four software instrument tracks and a couple of live audio tracks, the processor is at 140F and the fan is running at 4400rpm. It gets so bad that in order to just sit in front of it and work, I have to wear headphones, otherwise my ears hurt! I have it at "reduced performance" all the time and it still goes crazy. So if you could, maybe run garageband and add some software instrument tracks, live tracks, just bog it down and take note of how many tracks, etc you have before the fan kicks in.

This is really important to me so if you do this you I'll really really appreciate it!

Oh, one other thing: what ARE the energy saver options you have? Is it set out automatic? What happens to the fan when you set it at "highest"?? Thanks again!

[ravenz]

Originally Posted by wee_ag

Oh, and over on MacRumors - http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=173183 , someone says XP Windows Media Center Edition has EFI - don't have that layin' around do ya?

No - I do not have this. I don't want to go buy it ($150) on the chance it will actually boot. Let's hope that someone with both XP Windows Media Center Edition and an iMac Intel posts some info, or...someone who lives in Dallas with a copy of XP Windows Media Center Edition is willing to drive it over to my house!

[ravenz]

Originally Posted by Ouroboros

I was wondering if you could really push the iMac and force the fan to get louder. The reason I'm asking is that I have a revision A iMac and that thing in my music is so loud at times that it makes it useless in a recording environment. Even if I use garageband with say, four software instrument tracks and a couple of live audio tracks, the processor is at 140F and the fan is running at 4400rpm. It gets so bad that in order to just sit in front of it and work, I have to wear headphones, otherwise my ears hurt! I have it at "reduced performance" all the time and it still goes crazy. So if you could, maybe run garageband and add some software instrument tracks, live tracks, just bog it down and take note of how many tracks, etc you have before the fan kicks in.

This is really important to me so if you do this you I'll really really appreciate it!

Oh, one other thing: what ARE the energy saver options you have? Is it set out automatic? What happens to the fan when you set it at "highest"?? Thanks again!

I don't have Energy Saver settings on this iMac Intel (like I would on a PowerBook). My only level of control is computer/display/hard drive sleep timing.

I was max'ing CPU out with testing Handbrake earlier and it did not increase the fan noise.

[HattoriHanzo]

The new Intel imac doesnt seem to have the reduced/higest/automatic settings

[HattoriHanzo]

Originally Posted by ravenz

I was max'ing CPU out with testing Handbrake earlier and it did not increase the fan noise.

what fps did you get?