Apple Releases New Sandy Bridge Quad-Core iMacs with Thunderbolt

083647 imacs 2011

Apple released the much anticipated iMac updates today, upgrading the processors to Quad-Core CPUs across the entire range and including Thunderbolt.

Apple today updated its signature all-in-one iMac with next generation quad-core processors, powerful new graphics, groundbreaking high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology and a new FaceTime HD camera. Starting at $1,199, the new iMac is up to 70 percent faster and new graphics deliver up to three times the performance of the previous generation.

The new iMacs feature quad-core Intel Core i5 processors with an option for customers to choose Core i7 processors up to 3.4GHz.

The 21.5-inch iMac has a single Thunderbolt port while the 27" features two Thunderbolt ports.

21.5" 2.5GHz Quad Core i5, AMD 6750M, 500GB, $1199
21.5" 2.7GHz Quad Core i5, AMD 6770M, 1TB, $1499
27" 2.7GHz Quad Core i5, AMD 6770M, 1TB, $1699
27" 3.1GHz Quad Core i5, AMD 6970M, 1TB, $1999

Core i7 Processors are available as configure-to-order options.

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

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.4 and iOS 27 Features Revealed in New Leak

Friday December 12, 2025 10:56 am PST by
Macworld's Filipe Espósito today revealed a handful of features that Apple is allegedly planning for iOS 26.4, iOS 27, and even iOS 28. The report said the features are referenced within the code for a leaked internal build of iOS 26 that is not meant to be seen by the public. However, it appears that Espósito and/or his sources managed to gain access to it, providing us with a sneak peek...
apple beta 26 lineup

Apple Leak Confirms Work on Foldable iPhone, AirTag 2, and Dozens More Devices

Monday December 15, 2025 2:05 pm PST by
Last week, details about unreleased Apple devices and future iOS features were shared by Macworld. This week, we learned where the information came from, plus we have more findings from the leak. As it turns out, an Apple prototype device running an early build of iOS 26 was sold, and the person who bought it shared the software. The OS has a version number of 23A5234w, and the first...
Apple Logo Top Half

Early iOS 26 Software Leak Uncovers Dozens of Upcoming Apple Features

Monday December 15, 2025 3:05 pm PST by
Software from an iPhone prototype running an early build of iOS 26 leaked last week, giving us a glimpse at future Apple devices and iOS features. We recapped device codenames in our prior article, and now we have a list of some of the most notable feature flags that were found in the software code. In some cases, it's obvious what the feature flags are referring to, while some are more...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Leak Reveals Foldable iPhone Details

Monday December 15, 2025 9:09 am PST by
The first foldable iPhone will feature a series of design and hardware firsts for Apple, according to details shared by the Weibo leaker known as Digital Chat Station. According to a new post, via machine translation, Apple is developing what the leaker describes as a "wide foldable" device, a term used to refer to a horizontally oriented, book-style foldable with a large internal display....
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 Beta 1 Features: What's New So Far

Monday December 15, 2025 4:23 pm PST by
Apple is testing iOS 26.3, the next version of iOS 26 that will launch around January. Since iOS 26.3's testing is happening over the holidays, it is a smaller update with fewer features than we've seen in prior betas. We've rounded up what's new so far, and we'll add to our list with subsequent betas if we come across any other features. Transfer to Android Apple is making it simpler...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.2 With Alarms for Reminders, Lock Screen Changes, Enhanced Safety Alerts and More

Friday December 12, 2025 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.2, the second major update to the iOS 26 operating system that came out in September, iOS 26.2 comes a little over a month after iOS 26.1 launched. ‌iOS 26‌.2 is compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ 11 series and later, as well as the second-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones over-the-air by going to Settings >...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Coming Soon With These 8 New Features on Your iPhone

Thursday December 11, 2025 8:49 am PST by
Apple seeded the second iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to developers earlier this week, meaning the update will be released to the general public very soon. Apple confirmed iOS 26.2 would be released in December, but it did not provide a specific date. We expect the update to be released by early next week. iOS 26.2 includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, such as a new...
airpods max 2024 colors

AirPods Max 2 Likely to Offer These 10 New Features

Monday December 15, 2025 7:41 am PST by
Apple released the AirPods Max on December 15, 2020, meaning the over-ear headphones launched five years ago today. While the AirPods Max were updated with a USB-C port and new color options last year, followed by support for lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio this year, the headphones lack some of the features that have been introduced for newer generations of the regular AirPods and the ...

Top Rated Comments

basesloaded190 Avatar
191 months ago
This is insane. Apple still charges $200 for another 4GB ram:eek:. Is this ram made out of gold or diamonds? 4 GB ram costs $40 for pc.

I already have a better system since January.

-Sandy Bridge i7 2600k @4.2 GHZ
-12 GB RAM 1600MHZ (faster ram than the new iMacs, cost me only $120 for 12GB)
-Ati 5850 ( faster than those mobile gpus )
-Can install OS X 10.6.7 on it, but I don't need it.

It all cost me $500(when I upgraded);)

My pc still laughs in the face at these overpriced computers. :D


Why do people like you guys even post in these forums? Those of us in here actually care about iMacs and not your stupid PC's you built
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JordanNZ Avatar
191 months ago
I see what Apple did there, substituting TFT for IPS. That's honestly a rubbish move. I won't be buying an iMac with a TFT panel. No thanks.

Read the posts above you...
You're simply confused (wrong) :cool:
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
blackburn Avatar
191 months ago
Why do people like you guys even post in these forums? Those of us in here actually care about iMacs and not your stupid PC's you built
Yeah and I bet he is not including the screen. A decent screen costs a lot.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gnasher729 Avatar
191 months ago
I think you're confusing TFT with TN.
They're not the same thing.

There are several kinds of TFT displays. TN displays are the cheapest and lowest quality kind of TFT displays; IPS displays are a more expensive and better kind of TFT display. The new iMacs have the better IPS kind of TFT displays.

And it is amazing how people get excited and angry for no good reason at all, just because they don't understand something and come to all the wrong conclusions.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
meli Avatar
191 months ago
It doesn't even get above the fold on Apple's homepage.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ehoui Avatar
191 months ago
+1

LOL, those kinda' folks are ignorant^N
As someone who has personally assembled several home-made machines using good cases and parts, you are glossing over some of the pitfalls with the home-built approach:

1) Components (esp. cases) almost always look better online than they are in reality.
2) Even sturdy parts have quality issues like vibrations, poor tolerances (things don't fit exactly right), cable routing issues, sound...
3) The fun of getting everything installed (drivers, etc.) to work properly out of the box can be a matter of minutes, hours, or days depending on which components you happen to pick
4) Cut hands due to very sharp internal edges (minor annoyance)
5) Supporting failed parts... RMA'ing, replacing and following up with manufacturers individually to get a working machine

But hey, once you get through all of that, the dollar cost is usually significantly lower and there is a sense of accomplishment. But, let's not pretend it's for everyone.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)