Apple updates Mac mini, iMac and Mac Pro

The Mac Pro is now powered by Intel's "Nehalem" Xeon processor.
The Mac Pro is now powered by Intel's "Nehalem" Xeon processor. (Image credit: Image courtesy of Apple)

Quashing speculation that it would announce them on 24 March, Apple has today launched revised Mac mini, iMac and Mac Pro lines.

The new Mac mini is billed as 'faster and greener' than its predecessor. Inside, there's a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, while up to 4GB of DDR3 1066MHz RAM and a 320GB Serial ATA hard drive can be installed.

Five USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port and a SuperDrive are included, too.

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics are also onboard, and the Mac mini can be hooked up to two displays (Apple or third-party) via its Mini DisplayPort and DVI connections.

Apple claims that the machine uses only 13 watts of power when idle, stating that this is around ten times less than a typical desktop PC.

Prices for the Mac mini start at $599/£499.

Mac mini

Mac mini

iMac

On to the iMac, and perhaps the biggest news here is that you can now pick up the revised 24-inch model for the same price as the previous generation's 20-incher.

Again, specs have been improved: the 20-inch model boasts a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of 1066MHz DDR3 RAM, a 320GB Serial ATA hard drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics.

The 24-inch machine, meanwhile, ups the ante by offering up to a 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of 1066MHz DDR3 RAM and a 640GB or 1TB Serial ATA hard drive.

Graphics options include the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated technology and also NVIDIA GeForce GT 130 or ATI Radeon HD 4850 discrete options.

In terms of connectivity, we're looking at a Mini DisplayPort, six USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 800 port. Prices start at $1,119/£949 for the 20-inch model and $1,499/£1,199 for the 24-inch.

iMac

iMac

Mac Pro

Finally, we come to the big daddy: the Mac Pro. This is now built around the Intel "Nehalem" Xeon processor, which can run at speeds of up to 2.93GHz.

The standard Quad-Core model comes with one 2.66GHz Xeon CPU, 3GB of RAM, a 640GB hard drive and NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 graphics. The 8-core model, meanwhile, starts with two 2.26GHz Xeon processors, 6GB RAM, a 640GB hard disk and NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 graphics.

Changes have also been made to the interior of the Mac Pro so that making hardware tweaks is now easier than before.

Prices start at $2,499/£1,899 for the Quad-Core and $3,299/£2,499 for the 8-Core.

Mac pro

Mac pro

All the new Macs can be ordered now from your local Apple Store.

Ben Rogerson
Deputy Editor

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.