iMac Late 2012

The iMac "Core i5" 2.9 27-Inch Aluminum (Late 2012) is powered by a 22 nm Quad Core 2.9 GHz Intel "Core i5" I5-3407S (Ivy Bridge) processor, with four independent cores on a single chip and a 6 MB shared level 3 cache. It is equipped with 8 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3L SDRAM (PC3-12800) installed as two 4 GB modules, a 1 TB (7200 RPM) hard drive, and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M graphics processor with 512 MB of dedicated GDDR5 memory. The system also includes a built-in "FaceTime HD" webcam and stereo speakers, but lacks an optical drive.

This model features a 27" 2560x1440 LED-backlit 16:9 widescreen IPS display with "cover glass fully laminated to the LCD and anti-reflective coating." The aluminum rear case is thicker in the middle and tapers to a slim 5 mm at the edges.

Connectivity options include four USB 3.0 ports, dual Thunderbolt ports, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0.

Besides its more slender case design, the "Late 2012" iMac line offered faster processors, architectures, and graphics than the "Mid-2011" series it replaced. It also featured faster RAM and different connectivity options (though RAM was not easily user-upgradable in the 21.5-Inch models).

The "Late 2012" iMac models came with a compact aluminum Apple Wireless Keyboard and a choice of a multi-touch "Magic Mouse" or a multi-touch "Magic Trackpad," which provided gesture-based navigation for actions like smooth scrolling and zooming.

As the entry-level model of the slim 27-inch iMac, this machine was an attractive option for many users. Its quad-core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M graphics provided enough power to comfortably utilize the beautiful, large display. Unlike the 21.5-inch model, the ease of upgrading the RAM was a significant advantage for users considering long-term use. The introduction of the Fusion Drive option, which combined the capacity of an HDD with the speed of an SSD, also enhanced the model's value. It was a model that successfully balanced design and practicality.