Aluminum iMac Q&A - Published December 6, 2009
May 22, 2018 Testing my 2013 Imac if it still can run some games. Music: Title: Hang for Days Artist: Silent Partner Title: Not Afraid Artist: Matt Rysen x Roxana Song: Skylike & Brinkless - Arrival Music. Find out what version of macOS or Mac OS X your Mac can run with our macOS compatibility checker. IMac (Late 2009 or newer) Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer) El Capitan compatibility. Jun 16, 2017 I Found a nice 27 Inch MB953lla, can it be up graded to Sierra with no problems?? What about the next OSX upgrade? IMac (27-inch, Late 2009) - Technical Specifications Processor and memory 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache 3.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 6MB.
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How does the gaming performance of the 'Late 2009' Aluminum iMac models compare to earlier Aluminum iMac models? How much faster are the graphics?
Please note that all Macs mentioned in this Q&A have been discontinued. The 'Late 2009' iMac models were replaced by the 'Mid-2010' models on July 27, 2010.
Apple formally reports that the 'Late 2009' Aluminum iMac models with ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics -- the higher-end MC413LL/A configuration of the iMac 'Core 2 Duo' 3.06 21.5-Inch (Late 2009) and the iMac 'Core 2 Duo' 3.06 27-Inch (Late 2009) -- are 4.4 times faster running Doom 3 and 2 times faster running Call of Duty 4 than systems equipped with NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics (which includes the entry-level iMac 'Core 2 Duo' 3.06 21.5-Inch (Late 2009) and some previous models).
In turn, Apple reports that the high-end iMac 'Core i5' 2.66 27-Inch (Late 2009) with its stock ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics processor is 1.8 times and 1.5 times faster in Doom 3 and Call of Duty 4, respectively, than the 'Late 2009' systems configured with ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics.
A variety of third-party reviewers also enjoyed putting the 'Late 2009' iMac models to the test in a variety of gaming challenges.
As part of a longer review, Electronista reported:
We tested gaming both in Mac OS X and in Boot Camp with Windows 7 -- which, as much as some Mac users may dislike to admit, is the most likely gaming environment on the new iMac. Here, the Core i5 along with the Radeon HD 4850 (actually a Mobility Radeon part) results in an iMac that can actually participate in reasonably high-end gaming. Titles like Heroes of Newerth and Left 4 Dead still have a modern level of detail but can run at the system's full 2560x1440 resolution, above 30 frames per second, without having to significantly lower settings outside of antialiasing. Other games like Crysis have to run at lower resolutions like 1600x900 but can still run with all but extreme details left turned on.
BareFeats -- always a must read source for Mac gaming benchmarks -- tested the 'Late 2009' iMac models as well as some 'Early 2009' and Mac Pro systems in a variety of games running at 1920x1200 and 2560x1440, and concluded:
The iMac Core i7 (quad-core) with the same Radeon HD 4850 as the Core i5 is not any faster when doing 3D graphics intensive functions at max quality and max resolution. . . If you are trying to decide which of the two quad-core iMacs to choose for 3D gaming or other 3D graphics intensive tasks, either one will do the job.
Site sponsor Other World Computingtested all of the 'Late 2009' iMac models running Halo -- with the stock 4 GB of RAM as well as more memory -- and you may wish to review these results as well.
Can The Late 2009 27 Inch I Mac Run Games Online
Ultimately, the 'Late 2009' iMac models equipped with ATI Radeon HD 4670 and 4850 graphics provide entirely respectable results in gaming tests and are likely to make plenty of gamers happy. As always, extremely 'hardcore' gamers no doubt will prefer to continue to build their own gaming boxen or fire up a dedicated console player.
In the US, site sponsor Adorama sells new Aluminum iMac models free of sales tax outside of NY and NJ and with free shipping for all. Site sponsor Evertek sells used Aluminum iMac models at bargain prices to individuals and ships bulk orders at wholesale prices worldwide. Finally, if you need to sell an iMac, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac will buy your older iMac with an instant quote and prompt payment.
In the UK, site sponsor Apple-Bay also has some used Aluminum iMac models, all verified and refurbished by an in-house Apple Certified Mac Technician and sold with a one-year warranty and free delivery in the mainland UK.
In Australia, site sponsor Mac City likewise has a variety of used Aluminum iMac models sold at low prices and available with a free warranty and fast shipping across Australia.
Also see:
- How much faster are the high-end Core i5/Core i7-powered 'Late 2009' Aluminum iMac models than the Core 2 Duo powered models? How much faster are these models than the 'Early 2009' models replaced?
- How does the performance of the high-end Core i5/Core i7-powered 'Late 2009' Aluminum iMac compare to the entry-level 'Early 2009/Nehalem' Mac Pro? Is there still a reason to consider a Mac Pro over an iMac?
27-inch Imac With Retina 5k Display
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