iMac Early 2009

The iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 24-Inch Aluminum (Early 2009) is powered by a 2.66 GHz Intel "Core 2 Duo" processor with two independent cores on a single chip, a 6 MB shared level 2 cache, and a 1066 MHz system bus. It comes configured with 4 GB of RAM (1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM), a 640 GB (7200 RPM) hard drive, and a vertically-mounted slot-loading DVD±R DL "SuperDrive". The system includes NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics, sharing 256 MB of memory with the system, an integrated iSight video camera, and built-in stereo speakers under the 24" glossy TFT Active Matrix LCD (1920x1200 native) display.

Its connectivity options feature four USB 2.0 ports, a Firewire "800" port, integrated AirPort Extreme, and Gigabit Ethernet. It also has a Mini DisplayPort that supports an external display in "extended desktop" mode.

The iMac "Core 2 Duo" (Early 2009) models are very much like the "Early 2008" models they replaced, with similar external housings—the only variation being a "tapered foot"—and the same glass cover that "joins precisely to the aluminum enclosure creating a virtually seamless front surface."

Even though clock speeds and configurations are comparable, there are key differences: the Firewire "400" port on the Early 2008 models was exchanged for an additional USB 2.0 port on the Early 2009 models, Mini-DVI was swapped for Mini DisplayPort, and the 2009 versions feature DDR3 memory (up from DDR2) with twice the official capacity, better graphics on higher-end models, and by default, came with a more compact keyboard that did not have a numeric keypad.

As the entry-level 24-inch model, this machine featured integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics. While this was a step down in some graphics benchmarks compared to the previous year's models with discrete GPUs, it provided sufficient performance for everyday use. It came standard with a generous 4 GB of DDR3 memory and a 640 GB hard drive, which were excellent specifications for the time. By balancing a large screen with solid baseline performance at a more accessible price point, this model was praised for making the appeal of the 24-inch iMac available to a broader audience.