Apple iMac "Core 2 Duo" 3.06 24-Inch (Early 2008) Specs (N/A)
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The iMac "Core 2 Duo" 3.06 24-Inch Aluminum (Early 2008/Penryn) features a 3.06 GHz Intel "Core 2 Duo" processor (E8435), 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 500 GB (7200 RPM) Serial ATA hard drive, a vertically-mounted slot-loading DVD±R DL "SuperDrive", NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS graphics acceleration with 512 MB of GDDR3 memory, a built-in iSight video camera, and built-in stereo speakers underneath the 24" glossy TFT Active Matrix LCD (1920x1200 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 have faster and more energy-efficient 45 nm "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 shipped with more default memory as well.
Although it has been announced as a "build-to-order" option for the iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.8 24-Inch (08), this model also is available as a standard configuration direct from Apple and from Apple Authorized Resellers.
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?
Buy This Mac -- and all other new & used Macs -- at site sponsor PowerMax!
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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.
| Introduction Date: |
April 28, 2008 |
Discontinued Date: |
March 3, 2009 |
| 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 (E8435) |
Processor Speed: |
3.06 GHz |
| Details: |
All Intel "Core 2 Duo" processors include two independent processor "cores" on a single silicon chip.
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 Aluminum iMac models? |
| System Bus Speed: |
1066 MHz |
Cache Bus Speed: |
3.06 GHz (Built-in) |
| Details: |
1066 MHz frontside bus. |
| ROM/Firmware Type: |
EFI |
ROM/Firmware Size: |
N/A |
| 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: |
6 GB* |
| Details: |
By default, 2 GB of RAM was installed as two 1 GB SO-DIMM modules. No slots free.
*Apple officially supports 4 GB of RAM, but third-parties have been able to upgrade the system to 6 GB of RAM using one 2 GB and one 4 GB memory module.
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: |
GeForce 8800 GS |
VRAM Type: |
GDDR3 |
| Details: |
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS graphics processor -- using PCI Express -- with 512 MB of GDDR3 video memory.
Also see: What type of video processor is provided by the Aluminum iMac systems? Is it upgradable? |
| Standard VRAM: |
512 MB |
Maximum VRAM: |
512 MB |
| Built-in Display: |
24.0" Widescreen |
Native Resolution: |
1920x1200 |
| Details: |
This model has a 24.0" "glossy" TFT widescreen active matrix display with a native resolution of 1920x1200. Apple also reports a "typical" brightness of 385 cd/m2, contrast ratio of 750:1, and viewing angle of 178 degrees horizontal and 178 degrees vertical.
Also see: What are the differences between the displays used in the Intel-based "Aluminum" and "White" iMac models? What is the viewable angle and the brightness of each? |
| 2nd Display Support: |
Dual/Mirroring |
2nd Max. Resolution: |
1920x1200* |
| Details: |
Apple reports that this model supports "digital resolutions up to 1920x1200" and "analog resolutions up to 2048x1536". |
| Standard Hard Drive: |
500 GB (7200 RPM) |
Int. HD Interface: |
Serial ATA |
| Details: |
750 GB and 1 TB Serial ATA hard drives also were available by custom configuration.
Also see: How do you upgrade the hard drive in the Aluminum iMac models? What type of hard drive do they support? |
| 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 was 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 shipped 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 shipped 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 Order No: |
N/A |
Apple Subfamily: |
Early 2008 |
| Details: |
The Apple order number should be unique to this system. |
| Apple Model No: |
A1225 |
Model ID: |
iMac8,1 |
| Details: |
Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model.
Also see: All Macs with the A1225 Model Number and all Macs with the iMac8,1 Model Identifier. |
| Battery Type: |
N/A |
Battery Life: |
N/A |
| Pre-Installed MacOS: |
X 10.5.2 (9C2028) |
Maximum MacOS: |
Current |
| Details: |
Please note that this system can run the current version of MacOS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" including booting in 64-bit mode as well as OpenCL and Grand Central Dispatch support.
Also see: Which Intel Macs have 64-bit processors? Which have a 64-bit EFI? Which are capable of booting MacOS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" in 64-bit mode? |
| 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: |
20.5 x 22.4 x 8.1 |
Avg. Weight: |
25.4 lbs. (11.5 kg) |
| Details: |
In inches - height by width by depth, (52.0 cm, 56.9 cm, 11.5 cm). |
| Original Price: |
US$2199 |
Est. Current Retail: |
US$1400-US$1600 |
| Details: |
Please note that on average the estimated current retail pricing of used systems is updated twice a year (please refer to the date on the bottom of the page for the date last updated).
Photo Credit: Apple Computer. |
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