iMac Performance (new low cost iMac released in June 2014)

Apple announced a new lower-cost dual-core iMac today, and Geekbench 3 results for it are already appearing on the Geekbench Browser. Let's see how the new iMac performs compared to other iMacs.

When compared to the rest of the iMac lineup, the new iMac has reasonable single-core performance — it's almost identifcal to the entry-level quad-core iMac. Multi-core performance is significantly lower due to the lower number of cores (2 cores vs 4 cores).

One interesting thing about the new iMacs is that they use a low-voltage i5-4260U "Haswell" processor (the same processor is used in the MacBook Air). Why would Apple use a low-voltage dual-core processor in a desktop machine? The answer might be graphics:

According to Intel, the HD 5000 is twice as fast as the HD 4600. Apple may have sacrificed multi-core performance for GPU performance. Given the increasing importance modern user interfaces place on GPU performance, this may turn out to be a smart decision that extends the useful lifespan of the new iMac.

John Poole is the founder of Primate Labs and lives in Toronto, Ontario with his wife Deborah. You can find John on Twitter or Google+.

Thank You. Is there something that would keep another company from producing a tablet that would be similar enough to “fool” the OS?

While this has been done with Mac OS (some users create machines known as "Hackintoshes"), it would be extremely difficult to do that with iOS.

First, the hardware used in tablet or smartphone platforms is HIGHLY customized, with low odds of a component merely being "generic" enough where Apple's drivers are easily fooled.

Second, ever since the first few iPhones, Apple makes a customized version of the ARM microprocessor. So the iOS may very well try to execute instructions, that on a more generic ARM processor, just aren't there.

Finally, regarding Linux: I run and develop software for Mac OS X, iOS, Windows, and Linux. NO, THEY ARE NOT THE SAME.

While I appreciate many things about Linux, the fact is, that after you have an initial operating system install, if you go to update either the OS, or a piece of software that didn't originally come with the platform, problems crop up left, right, up, and down. New/Updated software might require a newer version of some-or-such library in the operating system. Updating that library suddenly breaks other critical software.

Get a new piece of hardware? Good luck finding a linux that supports everything on your hardware, completely, properly, and bug free!

(I've been battling a lot of Linux issues the past few months....)

I am a huge OSX fan. With my legally “purchased” download of Mavericks I am running a CustoMac with i7 3.5 16gb ram (upgradeable to 32) and the speed & comfort of SATA 3 connections and a slot to add a thunderbird card. I have all I need for $750.00

You haven't "legally" purchased OSX Mavericks if you are running it on anything except an Apple Branded Macintosh computer.

1: Apple never SELLS OSX upgrades and, in fact, never has.

2: OSX Mavericks Itself is included only in conjunction with the sale of an Apple Macintosh brand computer and is licensed to be used only on that computer.

3: OSX Mavericks upgrade is not for sale and is ONLY downloadable through the Apple OSX App Store, which is supposed to be accessible only to legitimately licensed Apple OSX computers. Any other access would be a form of identity theft.

4: OSX upgrades are only licensed as an extension of the original OSX license that was included in the original installation on legitimately purchased original Apple Macintosh Computers.

5: That OSX license is attached to that computer and may not be transferred to another computer or cloned for use on another computer.

Ergo, no matter how much you try to justify your illegal actions, you have NOT "legally" downloaded, or "purchased" OSX Mavericks for use on your FrankenMac. You are, TheStickman, stealing copyrighted, intellectual property that is not yours to use.

May I suggest you READ the OSX.9 Mavericks Software License and actually understand how wrong your statement is. . . how Obamaesque it is?

You claim to be a "huge OSX fan" but you refuse to reward the people who have put in the hard work to develop OSX and continue to do so. Instead, you give them the finger and steal their work! Do you realize how many billions of dollars Apple has invested in what you blithely claim to have "purchased" (wink, wink)? I have not an ounce of respect for you or your piece of junk computer. . . especially when you sit there and denigrate there pricing because YOU think it's not worth what they ask for it. . . so you steal it instead of paying for it! BAH!

Will Apple go after you? No. Not unless you start manufacturing your CustoMacs and selling them to your friends. Apple hasn't particularly cared what the Geeks were doing as a hobby. . . but just don't try to grow it into a business as a company called Psystar attempted about five years ago . . . unless you really want to know what it feels like to have a legal A bomb land on your head. Psystar had to pay huge damages and attempt to retrieve every Mac clone they sold (not too successful in that endeavor), as well as handing over all profits to Apple (there were none left). All that plus hundreds of thousands in legal costs forced them into bankruptcy.

Psystar tried that "legally purchased" routine, too. . . shipping an upgrade copy of OSX Leopard with their Mac compatible boxes for their customers to "install themselves." The federal judges, both at trial and appellate levels, found Apple's license wording perfectly legal. . . and ruled Psystar's assumption that its customers, because they bought the OSX, COULD "legally" install OSX themselves was okie dokie was NOT legal! Seems to be the same thing you seem to think.

(Sigh) Such a bogus argument, Swordmaker.

I did legally download from the Apple store a valid copy of Mavericks. I did so on a Mac Mini.

Leopard was a free upgrade? Nope. Snow Leopard? Nope. My 1st Macbook had Tiger on it so I can’t go back further. Was Lion free? Nope. Mountain Lion? Nope.

I’ve done nothing illegal. Sheesh. You’re overreaction reminds me of some of the in-artful discussions of Mac Vs PC. I’ve spent thousands of dollars on Macs. Owned iMac, 2 White Macbooks (still have one), 2 Mini’s, and a Timecapsule which is working just fine.

I needed a new studio computer. I built one. I put OSX on it because IMO Windows 7 & 8.1 is a fail for music creation. I didn’t have the $$$ to purchase a new Mac of similar power and upgradeability.

I’m not Psystar. I’ll never have the $$$ they paid lawyers to lose for them lol.

I’m a guy trying to run a music studio out of his home & make a buck. If/when I can afford a equally upgradeable and powerful Mac, I will buy it as I have in the past. Till then rock on, Swordmaker.

Stickman, it is NOT a bogus argument and I know you aren't Psystar.and Apple doesn't go after hobbyists. I said that, but you are operating your Mac clone in violation of the license. Four federal judges said you, and all such people installing OSX on non-Apple hardware, are in the Psystar case when Psystar said they were not violating the license because they were including a legitimately "purchased" copy of OSX with each computer they sold.

You may have legally downloaded Mavericks on your Mac Mini but you broke your license contract with Apple when you installed it on a non-Apple computer. That is explicitly not a permitted use under the license. . . and you don't own that software. Apple does. The Federal judges agreed that was the case.

With a little patience and searching your $800 could have bought a used MacPro with dual quad core Intel Xeon processors expandable to 128GB, slots for any card you need, four hot swappable internal hard drive bays, and guaranteed OSX Mavericks compatibility that doesn't break the license agreement. I saw a 2010 model on Craig's list just three weeks ago with 16Gb of RAM and 4 TB of drive space for $1000. I bought a similar one in January for $1000 with only a 1 TB drive with Mavericks installed for my office.

I'm glad you will upgrade to a Mac when you can afford it.

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