Rumor: Faster Processor, Bigger Hard Drive for New iMacs

A woman-oriented tech website claims it was apparently tipped off on the upcoming release of upgraded iMacs. The new computers, sporting speedier processors and more storage space, are said to be released as soon as next week. The site claims the refreshed models will be priced similarly to the currently available iMacs.

"Our Apple tipsters haven't let us down before, so we know that this hot-off-the press news is likely fact and not fiction. Stay tuned, because next week (most likely Tuesday) Apple will be introducing new iMacs to their product line-up! The new and improved iMacs are said to be at the same price point as the current models and will probably receive a speed bump as well as a hard-drive increase," says GeekSugar.

You're hoping upgrades will include Intel's new Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme? It's fairly possible that they are the protagonists of this upgrade. After all, if processor upgrades are indeed in order for Apple's iMacs, what else are they going to use, PA Semi's? No way, Apple wants the chip designer's engineers, not the chips themselves.

Intel's Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme are based on the 45 nanometer Penryn architecture, which spells higher clock speeds and lower heat. Also, the new architecture adds new media instructions and increased Level 2 cache for processor instructions.

As noted above, the woman-oriented website claims that new iMac models, allegedly coming as soon as next week, will keep similar price points to current iMac models.

Since first unveiled at Macworld by Steve Jobs, the iMac has undergone a lot of changes, becoming a very successful machine. The iMac has suffered from very little criticism, with earlier reviews such as the oft-quoted Walt Mossberg review mentioning less RAM than industry standards and no slots for camera memory cards as the only drawbacks.