[markw10]

I know Intel announced their next generation of chips coming out in January. I'm sure this is likely to make it to the iMac. Will these chips (I think it's Penryn) make it to the new iMac or are they going to work in that type of machine? Also, will they be quad core or is that something that will come out later in 2008? Any ideas of any other changes likely to come to the iMac?
I decided to buy a Mac Mini instead of the iMac this year. I want one of the current generation iMac's very much but with it being a new design I figured it's best to wait until the first update. I'm hoping also that maybe there is a matte screen option.

[Simon]

The mobile Penryn CPU will certainly find its way into the iMac next year. Price-wise there's a direct upgrade path from the currently used Meroms:
T7500 -> T9300 (2.5 GHz, 6 MB L2 cache)
T7700 -> T9500 (2.6 GHz, 6 MB L2 cache)
X7900 -> X9000 (2.8 GHz, 6 MB L2 cache, overclockable)

The iMacs were just upgraded though. Expect an announcement no earlier than MWSF. You'll have to wait till Q3 for Intel to start releasing quad-core mobile Penryn CPUs, the so-called "Penryn QC". It will require a special variant of the Montevina platform (the platform will be launched in 2H08) and run on its 1066 MHz FSB. Basically it's two Penryns on one MCM so you'll get twice the L2 cache.


Assuming the iMac will get that CPU, it will be in roughly a year from now. See also: Intel planning quad-core notebook CPUs for 3Q08

[mduell]

I'd expect the iMac to get Penryn in early 2Q08 and quad in late 4Q08; aside from Core Duo and 2.8Ghz, they've been lagging months behind Intel's release schedule for new chips.

[Simon]

aside from Core Duo, Woodcrest, Xeon X5365, and 2.8Ghz, they've been lagging behind Intel's release schedule for new chips.

Fixinated.

[.Neo]

I don't see an update happening anytime soon.

[mduell]

Originally Posted by Simon 

Fixinated.

I'll give you X5365, but it was over a month from Woodcrest release to the Mac Pro announcement, while the competition had them out already.

MacBook Pro C2D? Lagged by months
MacBook Pro C2D refresh? Lagged by a month
Mac Pro Xeon price drop? Nowhere to be seen
iMac C2D? Lagged by months
iMac C2D refresh? Lagged by months
MacBook C2D? Lagged until after the refresh was available (which of course they passed on)
Mac mini C2D? Let's not even go there

edited for accuracy

[Simon]

Originally Posted by mduell 

MacBook Pro C2D refresh? Lagged by months

Refresh was May 9. Mid 2007 MBP came out June 5. That's less than a month.

iMac C2D? Lagged by months

Merom was released July 27 2006. The Mid 2006 iMac came out Sep 6. That's ~5 weeks.