iMac Mid-2010

The iMac "Core i3" 3.06 21.5-Inch Aluminum (Mid-2010) is driven by a dual-core 3.06 GHz Intel "Core i3" I3-540 (Clarkdale) processor, which includes a dedicated 256k level 2 cache per core and a 4 MB shared level 3 cache. It utilizes a "Direct Media Interface" (DMI) connecting the processor and chipset at 2.5 GT/s instead of a traditional system bus.

Standard configuration includes 4 GB of RAM (1333 MHz PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM), a 500 GB (7200 RPM) hard drive, a vertical slot-loading DVD±R DL "SuperDrive", and an ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics processor with 256 MB of dedicated GDDR3 memory.

It also incorporates a built-in iSight video camera and stereo speakers under the 21.5" glossy 16:9 LED-backlit TFT Active Matrix LCD (1920x1080 native) display, which features "IPS technology".

Connectivity consists of four USB 2.0 ports, a Firewire "800" port, built-in AirPort Extreme, and Gigabit Ethernet. An audio-capable Mini DisplayPort supports an external display up to 30 inches (2560x1600).

Externally, the "Mid-2010" iMac series retains the "edge-to-edge" glass and "seamless all aluminum enclosure" of the "Late 2009" models it replaced. Internally, however, this line features faster processors, graphics, and memory, along with support for the SDXC card format.

The "Mid-2010" iMac models came with a compact aluminum Apple Wireless Keyboard and a multi-touch "Magic Mouse." For an extra US$69, customers could upgrade to a multi-touch "Magic Trackpad," which allows for smooth inertial scrolling, pinch-to-zoom, image rotation, and three-finger swiping, similar to Apple's notebooks of the time. An aluminum remote was also available for an additional US$19.

As the first iMac to feature a Core i-series processor, this model heralded a new era. The Core i3 processor, with its Hyper-Threading technology, was praised for significantly improving multitasking performance by handling four threads on a dual-core chip. Combined with the ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics, it offered sufficient performance for most users, even as an entry-level model. Support for SDXC cards was also a welcome addition for those working with high-capacity media. It was a very well-balanced machine that blended the beautiful design of its predecessor with the performance gains of a new processor generation.