Apple iMac 2017 to reportedly launch in October with 64 GB RAM, Intel Xeon E3 and new keyboard
Just a couple of days ago, Apple surprisingly announced that not only is the company going to release an iMac 2017 refresh, it’s also going to launch a pro model of the all-in-one desktop. The Mac maker did not go into details about the potential specs of the upcoming iMacs, but a new report suggests that the new desktops are going to pack powerful components.
According to the Pike’s Universum, the new iMacs could house a number of upgrades that should make the desktop line-up potent enough for both regular consumers and pro users. Citing a “little bird [that] is usually pretty accurate,” the blog alleges that Apple’s new computers could include up to 64 GB of ECC RAM, AMD graphics, Intel Xeon E3 processors, faster NVMe SSDs and Thunderbolt 3 ports.
Intel has yet to launch a Xeon E3-1285 v6 processor, but the chip could ultimately be the E3-1280 v6 bundled with Intel HD Graphics P630. The 16 GB of ECC RAM is upgradable to 32 GB or 64 GB, according to the blog, which is in line with the most recent Mac Pro. In comparison, the current iMac line-up has 8 GB of non-ECC RAM, upgradable to 16 GB or 32 GB. ECC RAM is capable of detecting and patching up errors that can damage files and systems, so it’ll be swell if the iMac 2017 models have it.
The blog claims that the “faster” NVMe SSDs can hold up to 2 TB while the AMD graphics are supposedly for VR (virtual reality) and pro app support. The likely addition of the Thunderbolt 3 ports comes as no surprise as they are currently included in the newest MacBook Pro. Apple is also apparently going to upgrade the new Mac Pro’s display and consider a name change for its operating system.
“Apple is also working on [an] 8K display for the next generation of Mac Pros, which, by the way, will be much more like a PC with the next generation EFI BIOS,” alleges Pike’s Universum. “The next version of macOS won’t use a mountain [or] park name anymore. [There are] two names in the running. One starts with [an M].”
According to MacRumors, one of the Cupertino, California-based tech giant’s trademarked names that could fit the description is Monterey. The blog likewise claims that the new iMacs are going to be released in late October together with a brand new keyboard. It also declared that the next Mac mini “won’t be so mini anymore.”
Pike’s Universum and its report should be taken with a grain of salt. The blog is really not known to be a reputable source of Apple’s development plans. But one thing is for sure, the iMac 2017 units are coming. Apple itself confirmed that.
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