iMac Mid-2007

The iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 20-Inch (Aluminum) model is equipped with a 2.0 GHz Intel "Core 2 Duo" processor (T7300), containing two independent cores on a single chip, a 4 MB shared level 2 cache, and an 800 MHz system bus. The standard configuration includes 1 GB of RAM (667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, PC2-5300), a 250 GB (7200 RPM) Serial ATA hard drive, and a vertically-mounted slot-loading DVD+R DL "SuperDrive". Graphics are powered by an ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT accelerator with 128 MB of GDDR3 memory. The design integrates an iSight camera and stereo speakers located beneath the 20" glossy TFT Active Matrix LCD (1680x1050 native), which is engineered to "bounce sound off the desk below".

Connectivity features three USB 2.0 ports, one Firewire "400" port, one Firewire "800" port, built-in AirPort Extreme, and Gigabit Ethernet. A mini-DVI port supports an external display in "extended desktop" mode.

Visually, the "Aluminum" iMac "Core 2 Duo" models stand out with their sophisticated aluminum enclosures and a glass cover that seamlessly meets the casing, creating a nearly borderless front surface, a departure from the white plastic of their predecessors. These systems also came with a new, slim aluminum Apple Keyboard (0.33 inches at the front), reflecting the design of the MacBook's keyboard.

Internally, while some models featured faster processors, all "Aluminum Core 2 Duo" iMacs benefited from an updated "Santa Rosa" motherboard architecture with a faster 800 MHz frontside bus (increased from 667 MHz), greater RAM capacity, and the inclusion of both Firewire "400" and "800" ports.

The new aluminum and glass design was hailed as a major turning point in iMac's history, shedding the previous white plastic for a more sophisticated and professional look. Internally, the move to the "Santa Rosa" architecture brought solid performance improvements, including a faster system bus and the addition of a Firewire 800 port. This 20-inch model was positioned as an accessible entry point to the new aluminum design, appealing to a wide audience from home users to light professional work. The slim aluminum keyboard was also praised for enhancing the unified design aesthetic.