iMac Late 2006

While officially a "build-to-order" upgrade for the iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 17-Inch (Late 2006), the iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.16 17-Inch is also treated as a distinct model for user convenience. The two models are identical except for the processor speed.

This iMac is powered by a 2.16 GHz Intel "Core 2 Duo" processor (T7400), with two independent "cores" on a single silicon chip, a 4 MB shared level 2 cache, and a 667 MHz system bus. It includes 1 GB of RAM (667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, PC2-5300), a 160 GB (7200 RPM) Serial ATA hard drive, a vertically-mounted slot-loading DVD+R DL "SuperDrive", and ATI Radeon X1600 graphics acceleration on a PCI-Express bus with 128 MB of GDDR3 memory. Also featured are a built-in iSight video camera and integrated stereo speakers below the 17" TFT Active Matrix LCD (1440x900 native) display, which is designed to "bounce sound off the desk below".

Connectivity options include three USB 2.0 ports, two Firewire "400" ports, built-in AirPort Extreme, Gigabit Ethernet, and a mini-DVI port that supports an external display in "extended desktop" mode, not just "mirrored mode".

This build-to-order model offered a slight clock speed increase from the standard 2.0 GHz version, a performance difference that was widely considered not dramatically noticeable in real-world use. However, for users seeking maximum performance, it was viewed as a worthwhile option for the additional cost. Its fundamental design and features were identical to the standard model, and the combination of the Core 2 Duo processor and ATI Radeon X1600 graphics provided a well-balanced performance for an all-in-one PC of its time. The compact 17-inch size was also favored by users with limited desk space. Overall, it was reviewed as a solid and reliable machine.