The iMac "Core 2 Duo" 3.06 24-Inch Aluminum (Early 2008/Penryn) is built around a 3.06 GHz Intel "Core 2 Duo" processor (E8435). This CPU has two independent cores on a single chip, a 6 MB shared level 2 cache, and a 1066 MHz system bus. It comes configured with 2 GB of RAM (800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, PC2-6400), a 500 GB (7200 RPM) Serial ATA hard drive, and a vertical slot-loading DVD±R DL "SuperDrive". Graphics are powered by an NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS accelerator with 512 MB of GDDR3 memory. The system also includes an integrated iSight camera and built-in stereo speakers under the 24" glossy TFT Active Matrix LCD (1920x1200 native) display.
Its connectivity suite features three USB 2.0 ports, a Firewire "400" port, a Firewire "800" port, built-in AirPort Extreme, and Gigabit Ethernet, plus a mini-DVI port for an external monitor in "extended desktop" mode.
From the outside, the iMac "Core 2 Duo" Aluminum (Early 2008/Penryn) models are essentially the same as the original Aluminum versions they succeeded, with the same housing and glass cover that "joins precisely to the aluminum enclosure creating a virtually seamless front surface." They were also paired with the same "ultra-thin alumium" Apple Keyboard.
Internally, however, the "Early 2008/Penryn" revision of the "Aluminum Core 2 Duo" line boasts faster, more power-efficient 45 nm "Penryn" processors over the 65 nm "Merom" chips of the original models. They also feature larger L2 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 included more default memory.
Although initially launched as a "build-to-order" option for the iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.8 24-Inch ('08), this model was also sold as a standard configuration directly from Apple and its authorized resellers.