New Core i7 iMacs Arriving DOA?

MacLife ^ | Tuesday, November 24, 2009 | J.R. Bookwalter

[SunkenCiv]

A number of complaints are swirling around the Internet today about issues with Apple's new Core i7-based iMacs -- among them, reports of units showing up dead on arrival or even with cracked screens.

New iMac users are reporting that their unit chimes as it should when the power button is pressed, but the display is blank and nothing else happens. Adding insult to injury, these customers are discovering that after returning their dead units, they face a lengthy wait of up to two weeks for a replacement.

Apple's discussion support forum is filling up with such complaints according to AppleInsider, and tech blog Engadget also received a quad-core unit that failed to boot straight out of the box.

The Core i7 iMac is the new top-of-the-line desktop Mac, a 2.8GHz Intel Core i7 860 processor available only as a $200 build-to-order option on the new 27" model. As such, it's an online-only item that can't be purchased in retail stores, making any returns or exchanges particularly thorny.

In addition to the DOA boxes, scattered reports claim that there are cracks in the new iMac display, in the bottom left-hand corner. Those customers are reporting that the units arrived in such condition right out of the box, and are pointing the finger at Apple for having a flaw in their package design.

"There's no apparent damage to the styrofoam or box so it looks like that's a weak spot in the screen and how they are being packed in the boxes," user 'scopro' reports via AppleInsider. "Hopefully Apple will improve their packaging for these larger iMacs as it may take until December 7 for my replacement to arrive."

[Swordmaker]

HUH? I got 8 cores running at 3.8. It's called hyperthreading.

I know very well what hyperthreading is. And, no, you don't. The fact that you think you have eight core shows you haven't got a clue. Those are "virtual cores." The iMac can do it as well. To get eight true cores either requires a dual socket MB or time to wait for Intel to develop a 1366 socket 8 core processor. They are working on a six core now.

As for the Crucial memory, the challenge was to meet the specs of an iMac which would include the quality of the type of RAM installed as well as the features such as WIFI and Firewire capability out of the box, not to make a computer with the features Cabojoe thinks are desireable. The Crucial memory was priced yesterday and was the cheapest of the top RAM of the quality that Apple always puts in it's computers thereby meeting the specs of the challenge.

And you haven't an economic clue how to compare prices either. All you have listed is the compilation of the sum of the costs of the parts. You'd go broke.

[antiRepublicrat]

HUH? I got 8 cores running at 3.8. It's called hyperthreading.

I thought you had a Core i7. Those only come in four cores and only one can be on a board. You'd need a four-core, dual-processor Xeon to get 8 cores.

"Hyperthreading" is the Intel brand name for simultaneous multithreading, a trick to make one processor core act like two for the OS. There is hardware on the core to help it juggle two threads and keep the pipeline filled. Depending on your application you can gain a bit of performance using this method, or actually lose performance. But it is nothing like having more real cores, especially in cache-intensive applications.

Don't worry, I have seen this confusion before. But only in amateurs.

. It's a Mac Pro Killer, anyways.

A high-end i7 based machine will never get close to a high-end Mac Pro, which is based on the Xeon processor, so it can have double the total cores, double the total cache, and double the memory channels per chip. One's desktop class, one's workstation class, there's just no competition. However, a high-end i7 will beat a single-processor low-end Mac Pro.

[antiRepublicrat]

Since cabo is building himself, I think we can take one minute to upgrade the iMac’s RAM ourselves and save about $85.

[cabojoe]

I would rather have a computer that cabojoe thinks is desirable than what Steve Jobs will mandate. Nice back peddle on the hyperthreading. I never said the Mac doesn't do it, that's you talkin. I watched you give the 1066 memory is > than 800 memory lecture, I know I don't need to give you the 1600 > than 1066 lecture. With i7, processor speed and memory bandwidth are king. And where is the upgrade path with that monitor. Next year I go ATI Eyefinity with two more monitors. Easy and cost effective for me, hard for the iMac owner. Upgrade path for the processor? Drop in a 6 core whenever I want. Intel comes up with new killer invention? Change out the mobo. As to comparing prices, you're the one that is doing that. I set a target price and stuck to it when I ordered. When I said it cost me 2500 delivered, I meant it. Even the mail in rebates were calculated. Doing it your way with your pretty little lists and stuff, trying to inflate my price, 6 months after the fact, is what is screwing you up. Specs of the challenge? They were simple...go back and read them, don't make them up as you go. Now I have to say this, and I know you aint gonna like it. I was in Bestbuy last week and saw an iMac sitting like a lone bird over on the little Apple table. I had to point and laugh. It looks gay. I laughed so hard that I was shadowed by the store's Mac geek throughout the store.

Virtual or not, it don't matter, it looks like eight cores to the OS. Read my original post, something about "4 cores going 3.8 (or 8 cores if you will)". Don't ever try to Miss Cleo what I know from over the internet. I have an economic clue also. My house and van and trailers and boat are paid off, and I'm a long ways from going broke. Stuff that in your pipe and smoke it.

[cabojoe]

"and double the memory channels per chip"

Do you make this stuff up as you go? As far as I know they are triple channel memory controllers, just like the desktop variant. I've seen amateurs make mistakes like this before.

[Swordmaker]

Nice back peddle on the hyperthreading.

What back peddle? You claimed you had 8 cores... I merely pointed out truthfully that you don't. You have only four and that motherboard does not support eight. You and your machine may be fooled into thinking there are eight but that is because of time splitting one into to two.... or four into eight. The one I see backpeddling is you. I suspect others who are familiar with how the Intel i7 works are in agreement with me, not you.

And where is the upgrade path with that monitor.

I don't anticipate upgrading a monitor that is cutting edge... so much that no one else is selling one of this configuration, brightness, resolution, backlight system, etc, yet. The iMac, as currently configured will display to both the 27" built in and an external 30" 2560 x 1600 display either mirrored or as a separate screen.

Upgrade path for the processor? Drop in a 6 core whenever I want.

The i7 in the iMac is socketed too... and you can drop in a 6 core just as easily as well. People have upgraded other Macs by processor replacements in the past. They are not difficult to open.

Doing it your way with your pretty little lists and stuff, trying to inflate my price, 6 months after the fact, is what is screwing you up.

I'm not screwed up nor did I "try to inflate" your prices... I priced what I found today... and took the lowest I found. Given the state of the economy, I would suspect that six months ago, the prices would have been higher. That's it. You merely tossed out a price. You claimed you paid $250 for an i7 that we would have to pay $1000 for. prove that. I listed exactly what came up on Google. Nor did I make them up as I went along. I matched the specs you provided as best as I could, given the limited information you provided, and merely added what the iMac already included in the base 27" iMac model to meet the challenge criteria.

Your BestBuy anecdote is meaningless... you laugh at what you laugh at which is weird. For my part, I point and laugh at you. You look foolish. So what. I don't believe you did that and I don't believe you were shadowed by the "store's Mac geek throughout the store." I really don't believe you found an Intel i7 processor that would clock to 3.8GHz for $250 six months ago...

[cabojoe]

You do know that I can turn off hyperthreading in the bios, which is what I did months ago during initial OCing. I’ve seen my four cores. I actually studied the chip before buying. Imagine that! This is just another example of you putting words in someone’s mouth so you can knock them down. But that’s what you do. The six core will be a socket 1366 part, won’t fit the iMac as far as I know. My wife saw me laugh in the store...LOL. Now why does this look like mom and dad defending their son after he said something stupid on the internet. Can’t the guy defend what he said without you two guys? I don’t mind the tag teaming, it’s actually funny. And the guys watching this know the act also. I’ve watched the act for years. As for the chip, 3.8 is easy for a C0 stepping on a good mobo, the D0 stepping which came out later is even faster. Ask anyone. I have no reason to lie.

[cabojoe]

You do know the fastest desktop i7 costs around a grand, right? It runs at 3.3, right? So what do you think Intel would charge for an i7 at 3.8? This is why hardware enthusiasts oc. As for being familiar with an i7...I own one. Do you? Didn’t think so.

[cabojoe]

I really don't believe you found an Intel i7 processor that would clock to 3.8GHz for $250 six months ago...

05/14/2009 Stress test. This is with Intel turbo boost on.

[Swordmaker]

You do know that I can turn off hyperthreading in the bios, which is what I did months ago during initial OCing. I’ve seen my four cores. I actually studied the chip before buying.

Yes, I know. The question is why you claimed eight cores when you have only four.

If you knew there were only four, why post that the MB would support eight? Why exaggerate?

As for the chip, 3.8 is easy for a C0 stepping on a good mobo, the D0 stepping which came out later is even faster. Ask anyone. I have no reason to lie.

Wired magazine's review of the 27" iMac i7 says it can be safely overclocked to 4.0 GHz. My doubt has to do with your claim of finding your 1366 socketed i7 clockable to 3.8 six months ago for $250 while we'd have to pay $1000 today. I think that is another exaggeration.

[antiRepublicrat]

Do you make this stuff up as you go? As far as I know they are triple channel memory controllers, just like the desktop variant. I've seen amateurs make mistakes like this before.

*sigh* I'll point you in the right direction by telling you that DP Xeon chips have two QPI connects vs. the i7's one.

[cabojoe]

I never said “the mobo would support 8”. Don’t know where you are getting that. I did say something about “all four cores(or 8 if you will)”, meaning 4 physical or 8 total. Never said that a 920 would cost 1000 either. I said to buy a chip at that speed from say Newegg, if it was possible, it would cost over 1000. Just for full disclosure, here’s a copy and paste of my receipt, next time save the time and just ask:
. 2

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5” Internal Hard Drives -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822136284

30 Day Return Policy
This item is serviced by the Western Digital. Please call 800 832 4778 for service.

$209.98
($104.99 ea)

. 1

OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600LV6GK - Retail
Item #: N82E16820227381

Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
For Tech support call: 408 986 8400 or email support@ocztechnology.com

$94.99

. 1

Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115202

—Processors (CPUs) Return Policy
Intel (800)-628-8686 Please Verify Processor matches order Prior to installation. IMPORTANT: Always pack you CPU well for return. We will refuse your RMA if we received it as DAMAGED!

$288.99

. 1

COOLER MASTER COSMOS 1000 RC-1000-KSN1-GP Black/ Silver Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811119138

—Standard Return Policy

$189.99

. 3

SILVERSTONE FM123 120mm Case Fan - Retail
Item #: N82E16835220022

—Standard Return Policy

$50.97
($16.99 ea)

1

LG Black Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM & 16X DVD±R DVD Burner SATA Model GGC-H20L - Retail
Item #: N82E16827136133

30 Day Return Policy

$109.99

. 1

OCZ ATV 8GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive Model OCZUSBATV8G - Retail
Item #: N82E16820227262

Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
For Tech support call: 408 986 8400 or email support@ocztechnology.com

$22.99

. 1

ASUS EAH4890/HTDI/1GD5 Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814121308

Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
For Asus Tech Support, Please Call 502-995-0883 or http://helpdesk.asus.com/

$259.99

1

GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813128374

Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
Gigabyte (626)-854-9338 option 4 www.giga-byte.com

$259.99

. 1

COOLER MASTER RA-1000-SWN1-GP Transparent Acrylic Side Window Panel - Retail
Item #: N82E16811999187

—Standard Return Policy

$29.99

. 1

ASUS VW266H Black 25.5” 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
Item #: N82E16824236047

LCD Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
For Asus Tech Support, Please Call 502-995-0883 or http://helpdesk.asus.com/

$349.99

1

Mushkin Enhanced 550300 800W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817812006

—Standard Return Policy

$139.99

1

AVerMedia AVerTV Combo PCIe MCE ATSC/NTSC/QAM Tuner Card w/MCE Remote & L-P Bracket 7 95522 96066 5 PCI-Express x1 Interface - Retail
Item #: N82E16815100014

—Standard Return Policy

$95.99

Click here to obtain a detailed listing of your packages and their contents.
Subtotal $2,080.85
Electronic Waste Recycling Fee $16.00
Tax $170.02
UPS Ground $50.04
Promo code -$20.00
Order Total $2,296.91

This is straight from the receipt. Now add another ATI 4890, and subtract $130 for mail in rebates I got. $2425. Add an IFX_14 heatsink and voila! $2500. Looks like all your iMac prices are before taxes and what not...LOL. I did damn good back then.

[cabojoe]

QPI is not memory. There are 2 QPI channels so that the two sockets with processors in them can form a triangle with the IOH.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/fullimage.php?image=12241

sigh

[antiRepublicrat]

I just looked back and it was an i7 920, and it could have sold for around $250. But it was a 2.66 GHz part running 130W. I really hope there is seriously good cooling involved because 3.8 GHz is absolutely pushing the limit on a 920.

BTW, the QPI on the 920 only has a 4.8 GT/s rate vs. 6.4 on the two high-end i7s and the several higher Xeons. So much for that amazing bandwidth.

[cabojoe]

I believe my QPI is around 7.2 GT/sec. I’d have to reboot and look. It’s clockable. Man, I really don’t want to call you an amateur again, so I won’t.

[antiRepublicrat]

I said I’d set you down the right path, I did not say QPI is memory. With dual-QPI comes an extra set of memory registers...

[cabojoe]

Right now the way I’m running my QPI would be 3509 x 2 = about 7 GT/sec

[antiRepublicrat]

I went to Best Buy and they had all but the Mac Pro on the table, and people were all around it. I saw a lot more amazed looks there than from the people browsing the PCs. Actually, I didn’t see any amazed looks from people browsing the PCs.

The most amazed looks came from the people looking at the MacBook Air and the iMac.

[cabojoe]

The memory registers are for communication between the two processors. QPI has nothing to do with memory. Quit weaseling around. I’m to busy munching out to school you anymore.

[cabojoe]

They should have a sign up around the new iMac that says “epilepsy warning...Beware of flickering screens”