iMac "Core i3" 3.1 21.5-Inch (Late 2011) Specs (Late 2011, MC978LL/A, iMac12,1, A1311, 2496) @ EveryMac.com

Apple iMac "Core i3" 3.1 21.5-Inch (Late 2011) Specs

Identifiers: Late 2011 - MC978LL/A - iMac12,1 - A1311 - 2496

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Apple iMac Intel Aluminum Quietly introduced without a press release, the iMac "Core i3" 3.1 21.5-Inch Aluminum (Late 2011/Education Only) -- which only is available for sale to educational institutions -- is powered by a Dual Core 3.1 GHz Intel "Core i3" I3-2100 (Sandy Bridge) processor with a dedicated 256k level 2 cache for each core and a 3 MB shared level 3 cache. In lieu of a system bus, it has a "Direct Media Interface" (DMI) that "connects between the processor and chipset" at 5 GT/s.

By default, it is configured with 2 GB of RAM (1333 MHz PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM), a 250 GB hard drive, a vertically-mounted slot-loading DVD±R DL "SuperDrive", and AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics with 256 MB of dedicated GDDR5 memory.

It also has a built-in "FaceTime HD" video camera and built-in stereo speakers underneath the 21.5" glossy 16:9 LED-backlit TFT Active Matrix LCD (1920x1080 native) display "with IPS technology".

Connectivity includes four USB 2.0 ports, a Firewire "800" port, built-in 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, and an SDXC card slot as well as a single Mini DisplayPort. It does not support internal Bluetooth.

Externally, the "Late 2011" iMac uses the same "edge-to-edge" glass design and "seamless all aluminum enclosure" as the "Mid-2011" models. Internally, however, the education-only "Late 2011" iMac is equipped with a slower processor with half the number of cores, less memory, less VRAM, a smaller hard drive as well as no support for Thunderbolt or internal Bluetooth. It also ships with a less capable Apple Mouse.

Also see:

What are the differences between the education-only "Late 2011" Aluminum iMac and the regular "Mid-2011" iMac models?

Buy This Mac -- and all other new & used Macs -- at site sponsor PowerMax.

Upgrade This Mac at site sponsor Other World Computing. Memory, drives & more.

Fix This Mac -- free diagnosis and affordable 24-hour repair at site sponsor Mission Repair.

Click on the underlined category text for related details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important.

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Introduction Date:

August 8, 2011

Discontinued Date:

N/A

Details:

The "Introduction Date" typically refers to the date a model was introduced via press release, although no press release was issued for this model. The "Discontinued Date" refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended.

Also see: All Macs introduced in 2011.

Processors:

1 (2 Cores)

Geekbench:

6665/7211

Details:

Geekbench 2 benchmarks reflect results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better. Individual user-submitted benchmarks can vary, but an average can be useful to get an idea of the relative performance of different Macs. You also might be interested in combing through all Geekbench user-submissions for Macs with the iMac12,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

To dynamically compare Geekbench results from different Macs side-by-side, please see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison.

Processor Speed:

3.1 GHz

Processor Type:

Core i3 (I3-2100)

Details:

This model is powered by a 32 nm, 64-bit Intel Core i3 "Sandy Bridge" processor with dual cores (two independent processor cores on a single silicon chip, each with two threads). Each core has a dedicated 256k level 2 cache and both processor cores share a single 3 MB level 3 cache. It does not support Turbo Boost.

Custom Speeds:

N/A

Architecture:

64-Bit

Details:

N/A

Processor Upgrade:

LGA 1155 (Socket H2)*

FPU:

Integrated

Details:

*Officially, Apple provides no information about whether or not the processor in this model can be upgraded and the company does not intend for one to upgrade the processor either. However, this processor supports an LGA 1155 (H2) socket and it is assumed to be possible to upgrade the processor to some extent. Please note that this is speculative and subject to change.

Also see: Is it possible to upgrade the processor in the Aluminum iMac models?

System Bus Speed:

5 GT/s*

Cache Bus Speed:

3.1 GHz (Built-in)

Details:

*This system has a "Direct Media Interface" (DMI) that "connects between the processor and chipset" in lieu of a traditional system bus. Intel reports that it runs at 5 GT/s.

ROM/Firmware Type:

EFI

EFI Architecture:

64-Bit

Details:

N/A

L1 Cache:

32k/32k

L2/L3 Cache:

256k (x 2), 3 MB

Details:

Each core has its own dedicated 256k level 2 cache and the system has 3 MB of shared level 3 cache.

RAM Type:

PC3-10600 DDR3

Min. RAM Speed:

1333 MHz

Details:

Supports 1333 MHz PC3-10600 DDR3 SO-DIMMs. Also see: How do you upgrade the RAM in the "Aluminum" iMac models? How much RAM of what type do these systems support?

Standard RAM:

2 GB

Maximum RAM:

8 GB*

Details:

By default, 2 GB of RAM is installed as one 2 GB SO-DIMM module.

*This model officially supports 8 GB of RAM and is believed to have its maximum RAM capped at 8 GB in EFI. Other 21.5-Inch Aluminum iMac models are capable of actually supporting a maximum of 16 GB or 32 GB of RAM.

Site sponsor Other World Computing sells iMac memory, as well as hard drives, accessories, and other upgrades.

Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs.

Motherboard RAM:

None

RAM Slots:

Details:

N/A

Video Card:

Radeon HD 6750M

VRAM Type:

GDDR5

Details:

This model has an AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics processor with 256 MB of dedicated GDDR5 memory.

Also see: What type of video processor is provided by the Aluminum iMac systems? Is it upgradable?

Standard VRAM:

256 MB

Maximum VRAM:

256 MB

Details:

This model has 256 MB of dedicated GDDR5 video memory.

Built-in Display:

21.5" 16:9 Widescreen

Native Resolution:

1920x1080

Details:

This model has a 21.5" glossy LED-backlit 16:9 widescreen TFT active matrix display with "IPS technology" and a native resolution of 1920x1080. Apple also reports a viewing angle of 178 degrees horizontal and 178 degrees vertical. The contrast ratio is 1000:1.

Site sponsor Mission Repair offers free diagnosis of iMac hardware problems and a 24-hour repair service for this iMac. Display repacement, keyboard replacement, a hard drive upgrade service, and more are provided.

2nd Display Support:

Dual/Mirroring

2nd Max. Resolution:

2560x1600

Details:

Apple reports that this model simultaneously supports the native resolution of the built-in display and up-to a 30-inch external display (2560x1600).

Standard Hard Drive:

250 GB

Int. HD Interface:

Serial ATA (6 Gb/s*)

Details:

*This model is assumed to have at least one 6 Gb/s SATA connection, but it is possible that it is limited in EFI to 3 Gb/s. It is assumed not to support a second 2.5" SSD in addition to the standard hard drive, but this also is speculative. If additional information becomes available, this will be updated.

Also see: How do you upgrade the hard drive in the "Late 2011" Aluminum iMac models? What type of storage do they support? Is it even possible to upgrade these models?

Standard Optical:

8X DL "SuperDrive"

Standard Disk:

None

Details:

Apple reports that the slot-loading 8X "SuperDrive" with 4X double-layer burning (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) "writes DVD+R DL discs at up to 4x speed, writes DVD-R and DVD+R discs at up to 8x speed, writes DVD-RW at up to 6x and DVD+RW discs at up to 8x speed, reads DVDs at up to 8x speed, writes CD-R discs at up to 24x speed, writes CD-RW discs at up to 16x speed, [and] reads CDs at up to 24x speed."

Standard Modem:

None

Standard Ethernet:

10/100/1000Base-T

Details:

N/A

Standard AirPort:

802.11a/b/g/n

Standard Bluetooth:

None

Details:

802.11a/b/g/n wireless networking supported. It does not support internal Bluetooth.

USB Ports:

4 (2.0)

Firewire Ports:

1 (800)

Details:

Four USB 2.0 ports and one Firewire "800" port (7 watts).

Expansion Slots:

SDXC SD Card

Expansion Bays:

None

Details:

N/A

Incl. Keyboard:

Apple Wireless Keyboard

Incl. Input:

Apple Mouse

Details:

This model ships with a small aluminum "ultrathin, compact wireless keyboard" (no numeric keypad) and an Apple Mouse.

Also see: How does the "ultra thin" keyboard provided with the "Aluminum" iMac models compare to a more traditional desktop keyboard? How does it feel?

Case Type:

All-in-One

Form Factor:

iMac (Late 2009)

Details:

The external case used by the "Late 2011" iMac essentially is identical to the one first introduced by the "Late 2009" line with "edge-to-edge glass" for the display and a "seamless all aluminum enclosure."

Apple Order No:

MC978LL/A

Apple Subfamily:

Late 2011

Details:

The Apple order number should be unique to this system.

Apple Model No:

A1311 (EMC 2496)

Model ID:

iMac12,1

Details:

Please note that these identifiers often refer to more than one model.

Also see: All Macs with the A1311 Model Number, the 2496 EMC Number, and the iMac12,1 Model Identifier.

For more about these identifiers and how to locate them on each Mac, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section.

Battery Type:

N/A

Battery Life:

N/A

Details:

N/A

Pre-Installed MacOS:

X 10.7.2 (11C40)

Maximum MacOS:

Current

Details:

This system fully supports the current version of OS X 10.7 "Lion." Please note that OS X Lion is not capable of running Mac OS X apps originally written for the PowerPC processor as it does not support the "Rosetta" environment.

Minimum Windows:

7 (32-Bit)*

Maximum Windows:

7 (64-Bit)**

Details:

*Apple's Boot Camp only formally supports the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7 on this model.

Also see: Which Intel Macs are capable of booting the 32-Bit and 64-Bit versions of Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7? Which are supported by Apple's Boot Camp?

MacOS 9 Support:

None

Windows Support:

Boot/Virtualization

Details:

Also see: Are there any third-party programs to run MacOS 9/Classic applications on Intel Macs?

Site sponsor OHS specializes in heavily upgraded Macs capable of running both MacOS X and MacOS 9 applications.

For more on running Windows on Intel Macs, please refer to the exhaustive Windows on Mac Q&A.

Dimensions:

17.75 x 20.8 x 7.42

Avg. Weight:

20.5 lbs. (9.3 kg)

Details:

In inches - height by width by depth, (45.1 cm, 52.8 cm, 18.85 cm).

Original Price (US):

US$999

Est. Current Retail:

US$999

Details:

To purchase a new iMac, free of sales tax, please visit site sponsor PowerMax.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc.

Click on the underlined category text for additional details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important. The icons correspond with the icons for each port on the computer.

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Video (Monitor):

1 (Mini DisplayPort w/ Audio*)

Floppy (Ext.):

None

Details:

Supports external display in dual display and mirroring modes. Mini DisplayPort also supports DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI with optional adapters.

*Note that the Mini DisplayPort on this system passes audio signals as well as video.

ADB:

None

SCSI:

None

Details:

N/A

Serial (Standard):

None

Serial (Geoport):

None

Details:

N/A

USB:

4 (2.0)

Firewire:

1 (800)

Details:

Four USB 2.0 ports and one Firewire "800" port (7 watts).

Modem:

None

Ethernet:

1 (RJ-45)

Details:

No internal modem. Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi standard. This model does not support internal Bluetooth.

S-Video Input:

None

S-Video Output:

None

Details:

N/A

Microphone:

1 (Built-in)

Sound In:

Details:

Single "audio line in" port.

Sound Out:

Headphone:

Details:

Single "audio line out" port also can be used for headphones.

Security (Lock):

Joystick (PC):

None

Details:

N/A

Power:

Power Adapter:

None

Details:

100V-240V, 205W maximum.

Global original prices for the iMac "Core i3" 3.1 21.5-Inch (Late 2011) in 24 different countries and territories follow; organized alphabetically by region.

For global original prices for Intel Macs in one particular country on a single page, please refer to EveryMac.com's Global Original Prices section.

Original Prices - North America

Canada:

N/A

United States:

US$999

Original Prices - Europe

Austria:

N/A

Belgium:

N/A

Denmark:

N/A

Finland:

N/A

France:

N/A

Germany:

N/A

Ireland:

N/A

Italy:

N/A

Netherlands:

N/A

Norway:

N/A

Portugal:

N/A

Spain:

N/A

Sweden:

N/A

Switzerland:

N/A

United Kingdom:

N/A

Original Prices - Asia

China:

N/A

Hong Kong:

N/A

Japan:

N/A

Singapore:

N/A

Taiwan:

N/A

Original Prices - Australia & New Zealand

Australia:

N/A

New Zealand:

N/A

Ten of the most popular Q&As about the iMac models follow.

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