Apple 4K 2015 iMac Has Faster Broadwell CPU; $1499 But No Dedicated GPU

By Staff Writer

Oct 15 2015, 05:42 AM EDT

Apple has launched the new 4K 2015 iMac recently and the display has really wowed some users. The 21.5-inch computer from the iPhone maker is also claimed to be 20 percent faster than its predecessors.

The new computer from Apple steps up in terms of display. It doesn't adhere to the consumer version of only 3,840 pixels wide.

In fact, it has a higher 4096 x 2034 pixels resolution for true 4K compared to the more common 3840 x 2160 pixels. This means that the screen is sharper and clearer than ever, with most individual pixels practically invisible to the eye.

Another advantage of the new 4K 2015 iMac is that it has a wider P3 color gamut, according to CNET. Compared to the standard sRGB, the new display is claimed to add up to 25 percent more color.

Photographers, film makers and graphic illustrators will appreciate the more colourful display. More DSLRs and photo editing software support P3 color gamut for much more accurate results.

Of course, the design still looks very similar to its predecessors. Apple has been keen on maintaining a consistent minimal look for their products.

In terms of performance, the 4K 2015 iMac scored 3787 for the single-core test on Geekbench 3. The computer's multi-core score is set at 12803, according to Mac Rumors. It is equipped with an Intel Core i5 quad-core processor clocked at 3.1GHz.

Apple did not skimp on the memory as it is installed with 8GB DDR3 SDRAM clocked at 1866MHz. Sadly, the hard disk is not SSD, although it does have a 1TB mechanical hard drive.

Another disappointment is that it doesn't have a discrete GPU. All it has is the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 for the graphics department with 1536MB of shared memory.

The 4K 2015 iMac is quite a decent catch for $1499, according to Ars Technica. Still, it would have been nice if the processors were upgraded to the new Skylake instead of the Broadwell chips.

Other features include the standard Mini-DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 2 port. It also has 802.11ac for the Wi-Fi and the upgraded Bluetooth 4.0.

Apple's new 4K 2015 iMac may be a perfect fit for those who like what they see. However, the lack of a dedicated GPU can be a deal breaker for some.