2017 iMac Refresh Coming In August, Pro Version To Get Intel Xeon CPU, 64GB RAM, More In Q4

Following on from a revelation around two weeks ago that Apple will be launching new iMacs this year, including one that is aimed at professional users, DigiTimes has now shared information on what exactly will go into that machine.

While DigiTimes can boast a rather erratic past when it comes to getting such predictions right, we think it may be onto something this time around, given Apple’s confirmation that a machine is in the works.

With the current 5K iMac having been launched towards the tail end of 2015, a new version is very much required and the so-called “pro” model has the potential to be quite the machine, if not exactly the Mac Pro replacement we had anticipated. With Apple confirming a newly redesigned Mac Pro is in the works though, there is little need for tears just yet.

According to the publishing, the new pro-focused iMac will include server-grade components, including an Intel Xeon E3-1285 processor, as well as ECC RAM capable of growing up to 64GB. ECC RAM protects against data corruption and has historically been used as a cornerstone of the stability required by servers and mission critical machines.

Other notable lines include the inclusion of NVMe SSD storage up to 2 TB in size and a “discrete graphics card”. Current iMacs take advantage of mobile GPUs in that regard, so gamers and users of graphics-intensive apps will be pleased to know that more powerful graphics chips are on the horizon. However, it remains unclear whether we’re looking at improved mobile GPUs or an actual desktop version.

The report also suggests that production of the new machines has been contracted to Quanta. The pro version of the iMac is expected to launch towards the end of this year, with the updated but less-capable iMacs arriving around August time. All this is of course well ahead of the expected 2018 launch of the all new Mac Pro.

(Source: DigiTimes)

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