iMac Early 2008

The iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 20-Inch Aluminum (Early 2008/Penryn) is powered by a 2.4 GHz Intel "Core 2 Duo" processor (E8135), with two independent cores on a single chip, an impressive 6 MB shared level 2 cache, and a 1066 MHz system bus. It comes with 1 GB of RAM (800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, PC2-6400), a 250 GB (7200 RPM) Serial ATA hard drive, and a vertically-mounted slot-loading DVD±R DL "SuperDrive". The system includes an ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT graphics accelerator with 128 MB of GDDR3 memory, a built-in iSight camera, and integrated stereo speakers beneath the 20" glossy TFT Active Matrix LCD (1680x1050 native) display.

Connectivity options consist of three USB 2.0 ports, a Firewire "400" port, a Firewire "800" port, integrated AirPort Extreme, and Gigabit Ethernet, along with a mini-DVI port for external display support in "extended desktop" mode.

Externally, the iMac "Core 2 Duo" Aluminum (Early 2008/Penryn) models are practically identical to the original Aluminum models they succeeded, featuring the same enclosure and glass cover that "joins precisely to the aluminum enclosure creating a virtually seamless front surface." They were also bundled with the same "ultra-thin alumium" Apple Keyboard.

Internally, the "Early 2008/Penryn" refresh brought significant improvements. It featured faster, more power-efficient 45 nm "Penryn" processors, replacing the 65 nm "Merom" chips of the original "Aluminum" models. This update also included larger level 2 caches (6 MB vs. 4 MB), faster frontside buses (1066 MHz vs. 800 MHz), and speedier memory (PC2-6400 vs. PC2-5300). Certain configurations also came with more standard memory.

The update to the Penryn processor was a key factor in this model's positive reception. The significant improvements in power efficiency and performance were highly praised as a solid evolution from the previous model. In particular, the faster bus speed and larger L2 cache enhanced the overall system responsiveness. While the external design was carried over from its predecessor, its polished look remained popular. This entry-level model offered reliable performance and a sophisticated design at an affordable price, making it an attractive option for a wide range of users.