iMac Mid-2010

Though technically a "configure-to-order" variant of the iMac "Core i3" 3.2 27-Inch (Mid-2010), the iMac "Core i5" 3.6 27-Inch (Mid-2010) is also treated as a separate model for easier reference. The two models are identical, except for the processor.

The iMac "Core i5" 3.6 27-Inch Aluminum (Mid-2010) is powered by a dual-core 3.6 GHz Intel "Core i5" I5-680 (Clarkdale) processor, with a dedicated 256k L2 cache per core and a 4 MB shared L3 cache. It utilizes a "Direct Media Interface" (DMI) connecting the processor and chipset at 2.5 GT/s, rather than a traditional system bus.

By default, it comes with 4 GB of RAM (1333 MHz PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM), a 1 TB (7200 RPM) hard drive, a vertical slot-loading DVD±R DL "SuperDrive", and ATI Radeon HD 5670 graphics with 512 MB of dedicated GDDR3 memory. The system also integrates an iSight camera and stereo speakers under the 27" glossy 16:9 LED-backlit TFT Active Matrix LCD (2560x1440 native) with "IPS technology".

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

Externally, the "Mid-2010" iMac line shares the "edge-to-edge" glass design and "seamless all aluminum enclosure" of the "Late 2009" models it succeeded. Internally, however, the "Mid-2010" line is improved with faster processors, graphics, and memory, and adds support for the SDXC SD card format.

The "Mid-2010" iMacs included a compact aluminum Apple Wireless Keyboard and a multi-touch "Magic Mouse," with a US$69 option to upgrade to a multi-touch "Magic Trackpad" for notebook-style gesture controls. An aluminum remote was also available for an additional US$19.

This dual-core build-to-order model was often compared to the quad-core Core i5 and i7 models, leading to mixed reviews. Its high 3.6 GHz clock speed was advantageous for specific single-core tasks, but in scenarios requiring multi-core performance, the quad-core models were superior. While the beautiful 27-inch display and solid baseline performance were appealing, many users considered the quad-core models a wiser choice for future-proofing. As a result, this model was sometimes seen as being in a slightly awkward position in the lineup.