Benchmarks: 'Ultimate' iMac gets boost from PCIe flash storage, faster CPU
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The new 2013 iMacs come in four standard configurations, two 21.5-inch models and two with 27-inch screens. As with most Macs, though, these new iMacs can be configured to order (CTO) at the time of purchase with an assortment of storage, processor, graphics and RAM options. Macworld Lab has an “ultimate” configuration iMac that combines most of these upgrades, promising higher performance for those willing to pay the price.
Our CTO 27-inch iMac takes the $1999, high-end configuration and upgrades the processor from a 3.4GHz quad-core Core i5 processor to a 3.5GHz quad-core Core i7 processor, a $200 option. The memory stays at 8GB, though 16GB and 32GB upgrades are available through the Apple Store for $200 and $600, respectively. Our ultimate iMac also upgrades the standard 1TB, 7200-rpm hard drive to a 3TB Fusion Drive, a $350 upgrade. Finally, our iMac has the upgraded graphics card as well, opting for an Nvidia GeForce GTX 780M with 4GB of video memory over the standard GTX 775M with 2GB of RAM. With these $700 in upgrades, the retail price of our CTO iMac came to $2699.
And just what kind of performance improvement can you expect if you spend the extra dollars? Unfortunately, we don’t have the current $1999 model to use as a baseline, but we did have the 2012 Ultimate iMac, as well as last year’s top-of-line, standard configuration iMac.
Speedmark 8
27" iMac/3.5GHz CTO (Late 2013) 332.0
27" iMac/3.4GHz CTO (Late 2012) 312.0
27" iMac/3.2GHz (Late 2012) 224.0
21" iMac/2.7GHz (Late 2013) 212.0
All results are scores. Higher scores/longer bars are better. Best result in bold. Reference models in italics.Macworld Lab testing by James Galbraith and Albert Filice.
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