Apple iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 20-Inch (08) Specs (MB324LL/A)
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The iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 20-Inch Aluminum (Early 2008/Penryn) features a 2.66 GHz Intel "Core 2 Duo" processor (E8200*), with two independent processor "cores" on a single silicon chip, a 6 MB shared level 2 cache, a 1066 MHz system bus, 2 GB of RAM (800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, PC2-6400), a 320 GB (7200 RPM) Serial ATA hard drive, a vertically-mounted slot-loading DVD±R DL "SuperDrive", ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO graphics acceleration with 256 MB of GDDR3 memory, a built-in iSight video camera, and built-in stereo speakers underneath the 20" glossy TFT Active Matrix LCD (1680x1050 native) display.
Connectivity includes three USB 2.0 ports, a Firewire "400" port and a Firewire "800" port, built-in AirPort Extreme, and Gigabit Ethernet, as well as mini-DVI, which supports an external display in "extended desktop" mode.
Externally, the iMac "Core 2 Duo" Aluminum (Early 2008/Penryn) models essentially are the same as the original Aluminum models that these replaced, with the same housing and glass cover that "joins precisely to the aluminum enclosure creating a virtually seamless front surface". The Early 2008/Penryn models, likewise, are paired with the same "ultra-thin alumium" Apple Keyboard (0.33 inches at the front edge).
Internally, however, the "Early 2008/Penryn" revision of the "Aluminum Core 2 Duo" models use faster and more energy-efficient "Penryn" processors -- compared to 65 nm "Merom" processors in the original "Aluminum" models -- larger level 2 caches (6 MB compared to 4 MB), faster frontside buses (1066 MHz compared to 800 MHz), and faster memory (PC2-6400 compared to PC2-5300). Some configurations ship with more default memory as well.
Also see:
- What are the differences between the "Early 2008/Penryn" Aluminum iMac Core 2 Duo models?
- How do the "Early 2008/Penryn" Aluminum iMac Core 2 Duo models compare to the original Aluminum models that preceded them?
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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: |
April 28, 2008 |
Discontinued Date: |
N/A |
| Details: |
The "Introduction Date" refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The "Discontinued Date" refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended. |
| Processor Type: |
Core 2 Duo (E8200*) |
Processor Speed: |
2.66 GHz |
| Details: |
*All Intel "Core 2 Duo" processors include two independent processor "cores" on a single silicon chip. Apple provides no official information regarding the processor in this system, simply that it is a "Core 2 Duo". Intel doesn't report that the company produces a 2.66 GHz "Core 2 Duo" processor with 6 MB of level 2 cache running on a 1066 MHz frontside bus, but the E8200 is the closest match (same speed and cache, but running on a1333 MHz frontside bus). It seems most likely that Intel has produced custom varients of the E8x00 series for Apple. When additional information is available, this field will be updated.
Also see: How much faster are the "Early 2008/Penryn" Aluminum iMac Core 2 Duo models than the original Aluminum models? |
| Processor Upgrade: |
ZIF Socket |
FPU: |
Integrated |
| Details: |
Also see: Is it possible to upgrade the processor in the iMac "Core 2 Duo" models? |
| System Bus Speed: |
1066 MHz |
Cache Bus Speed: |
2.66 GHz (Built-in) |
| Details: |
1066 MHz frontside bus. |
| ROM/Firmware Type: |
EFI |
ROM/Firmware Size: |
N/A |
| Details: |
Also see: Does the iMac "Core 2 Duo" have a ROM or BIOS? |
| L1 Cache: |
32k/32k |
L2/L3 Cache: |
6 MB (on chip) |
| Details: |
Includes a 6 MB shared "on chip" level 2 cache that runs at processor speed. |
| RAM Type: |
PC2-6400 DDR2 |
Min. RAM Speed: |
800 MHz |
| Details: |
Supports 800 MHz PC2-6400 DDR2 SDRAM. Also see: How do you upgrade the RAM in the "Aluminum" iMac Core 2 Duo models? How much RAM of what type do these systems support? |
| Standard RAM: |
2.0 GB |
Maximum RAM: |
4.0 GB |
| Details: |
2 GB of RAM is installed as two 1 GB SO-DIMM modules. No slots free.
Site sponsor Other World Computing sells iMac memory, as well as hard drives, accessories, and other upgrades. |
| Motherboard RAM: |
None |
RAM Slots: |
2 |
| Details: |
This model supports two 2 GB modules -- one in each slot for a maximum of 4 GB of memory. |
| Video Card: |
Radeon HD 2600 PRO |
VRAM Type: |
GDDR3 |
| Details: |
ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO graphics processor -- using PCI Express -- with 256 MB of GDDR3 video memory.
Also see: What type of video processor is provided by the iMac "Core Duo" and "Core 2 Duo" systems? Is it upgradable? |
| Standard VRAM: |
256 MB |
Maximum VRAM: |
256 MB |
| Built-in Display: |
20.0" Widescreen |
Native Resolution: |
1680x1050 |
| Details: |
This model has a 20.0" "glossy" TFT widescreen active matrix display with a native resolution of 1680x1050. Apple also reports a "typical" brightness of 290 cd/m2, contrast ratio of 800:1, and viewing angle of 160 degrees horizontal and 160 degrees vertical.
Also see: What are the differences between the displays used in the iMac "Core Duo/Core 2 Duo" models? What is the viewable angle and the brightness of each? |
| 2nd Display Support: |
Dual/Mirroring |
2nd Max. Resolution: |
1900x1200* |
| Details: |
Apple reports that this model supports "digital resolutions up to 1920x1200" and "analog resolutions up to 2048x1536". |
| Standard Hard Drive: |
320 GB (7200 RPM) |
Int. HD Interface: |
Serial ATA |
| Details: |
500 GB and 750 GB Serial ATA hard drives also are available by custom configuration. |
| 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."
Also see: What are the capabilities of the optical drive provided by the iMac "Core Duo/Core 2 Duo" models? Which can read and write dual-layer DVDs? |
| Standard Modem: |
None |
Standard Ethernet: |
10/100/1000Base-T |
| Details: |
An external Apple USB Modem is available for US$49. |
| Standard AirPort: |
802.11a/b/g/n |
Standard Bluetooth: |
2.1+EDR |
| Details: |
AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR standard.
Also see: What is 802.11n? How is it different from 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a? |
| USB Ports: |
3 (2.0) |
Firewire Ports: |
1 (400), 1 (800) |
| Details: |
Three USB 2.0 ports, one Firewire "400" port, and one Firewire "800" port (7 watts each). Apple advertises that this system has "five" USB 2.0 ports, counting three on the system and two on the keyboard.
Also see: Complete Ports. |
| Expansion Slots: |
None |
Expansion Bays: |
None |
| Incl. Keyboard: |
Apple Aluminum Keyboard |
Incl. Input: |
Mighty Mouse |
| Details: |
This model ships with an "ultra-thin aluminum" Apple Keyboard (0.33 inches at the front edge) based on the polarizing keyboard design introduced with the MacBook. It also ships with an Apple Remote.
Also see: How does the "ultra thin" keyboard provided with the "Aluminum" iMac Core 2 Duo models compare to a more traditional desktop keyboard? How does it feel? |
| Case Type: |
All-in-One |
Form Factor: |
iMac Core 2 Duo (Al) |
| Details: |
All-in-one "aluminum and glass" enclosure on an aluminum stand. |
| Apple Model No: |
MB324LL/A |
Apple Subfamily: |
Early 2008/Penryn |
| Details: |
The Apple model number should be unique to this system. |
| Gestalt/Model ID: |
N/A |
Machine Model: |
iMac8,1 |
| Details: |
Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model. |
| Battery Type: |
3.6V Lithium |
Battery Life: |
N/A |
| Pre-Installed MacOS: |
X 10.5.2 |
Maximum MacOS: |
Current |
| Details: |
Please note that this system can run the current version of MacOS X as of the date last updated (see bottom of page). |
| 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: |
18.5 x 19.1 x 7.4 |
Avg. Weight: |
20 lbs. (9.1 kg) |
| Details: |
In inches - height by width by depth, (46.9 cm, 48.5 cm, 18.9 cm). |
| Original Price: |
US$1499 |
Est. Current Retail: |
US$1499 |
| Details: |
To purchase a new Intel iMac, free of sales tax, please visit site-sponsor PowerMax.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. |
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