Skip to main content

Report: New iMacs to launch in Q3 and ‘server-grade’ iMac with Xeon CPU, ECC RAM, new GPU at end of 2017

Apple has already announced that it will launch new iMacs later this year, including models aimed at pro users. Today, Digitimes reportedly reveals some details about what the iMac update will bring.

The report says that the consumer iMac models are going into production next month, with a launch in the second half of the year. An update is certainly due; the latest 5K iMac launched in late 2015. The pro iMac will seemingly launch later, with ‘server-grade’ components …

In a rare case, Apple tipped the hat on its future product plans for the iMac as part of a wider roundtable regarding the state of the Mac Pro and professional Mac users. As such, we know that new iMacs are on the way, including models aimed at the pro market, but Apple did not share any further information about specification or availability.

The Digitimes report says that the server-grade iMac will use an Intel Xeon E3-1285 processor, as well as ECC RAM up to 64 GB. ECC RAM automatically protects against data corruption in the memory, increasing reliability of the overall system.

It also claims that Apple will support configurations with NVMe SSD storage up to 2 TB in size as well as a ‘latest discrete graphics card’. Current iMac uses mobile versions of GPU parts, a particular frustration of many high-end professional Mac users. Unfortunately, the wording of the Digitimes report does not make it clear if Apple would use a true desktop card, or merely a modern mobile GPU.

Previously, Bloomberg has claimed that Apple is readying an iMac revision with new AMD GPUs and USB-C ports.

Digitimes says Apple’s new iMacs — in the same 21.5 inch and 27-inch sizes — will be manufactured by Quanta Computer. It seems that the consumer iMac update could launch in the July-August timeframe whilst the pro iMac is destined for very-late 2017.


FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel