iMac Core 2 Duo - High Rez gaming

Originally posted September 19th, 2006, by rob-ART morgan, mad scientist.
Updated on September 21st, 2006, with more Mac Pro comparisons.

This is an ADDENDUM to our main iMac Core 2 Duo test page. On this page we run various 3D games at the native resolution of the 20" display (1680x1050) and of the 24" display (1920x1200). We added results from the Mac Pro 2.66GHz and 3.0GHz for comparison (aka reality check).

As you can see, this page is incomplete. We will add every iMac Core 2 Duo and Mac Pro permutation possible as we are able to get those results ourselves or from "remote mad scientists."

GPU intensive GRAPH LEGEND
Mac Pro 2.66 X1900 = Mac Pro 2.66GHz with Radeon X1900 XT (512MB)
Mac Pro 2.66 G7300 = Mac Pro 2.66GHz with GeForce 7300 GT (256MB)
iMac C2D/2.33 G7600 = 24" iMac Core 2 Duo 2.33GHz with GeForce 7600 GT (256M)
iMac C2D/2.16 G7600 = 24" iMac Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz with GeForce 7600 GT (256M)
iMac C2D/2.16 X1600 = 20" iMac Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz with Radeon X1600 (128M)
iMac CD/2.0 X1600 = Jan 2006 iMac Core Duo 2.0GHz with Radeon X1600 (256M)
iMac G5/2.1 X600 = Oct 2005 iMac G5/2.1GHz 'iSight' with Radeon X600XT (128MB)
iMac G5/2.0 9600 = May 2005 iMac G5/2.0GHz 'ALS' with Radeon 9600 (128M)

All systems had at least 2GB of main memory during testing.
The RED bar indicates the fastest iMac Core 2 Duo configuration
The YELLOW bar indicates the Mac Pros we used for a "reality check."

ASPYR DOOM 3 (UB)

ASPYR QUAKE 4 (UB AND MP aware)

MACSOFT UNREAL TOURNAMENT 2004 (UB)
Macologist.org has come up with a new SantaDuck Toolkit that enables dynamic shadows. We ran at Maximum quality with Sound enabled.

MACSOFT HALO UNIVERSAL

CONCLUSION
The 24" iMac Core 2 Duo with the GeForce 7600 is impressive. It beats a Mac Pro with the GeForce 7300 and but is slower than the Mac Pro with the Radeon X1900. However, the framerates at high resolutions are so good, the games are playable at the native 1920x1200 resolution!

The 20" iMac Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz with the Radeon X1600 running at 1680x1050 is roughly comparable to the Mac Pro with the GeForce 7300. Too bad the GeForce 7600 isn't available in the 20" iMac, a more popular size, IMHO.

WHERE TO ORDER YOUR MAC
When ordering products from Apple Store USA, please click THIS TEXT LINK or any Apple display ad as your "portal" to the online store. In so doing, you help to support Bare Feats.

WHERE TO BUY REFURBISHED or CLOSEOUT MACS (12 month warranty)
For refurbished, reconditioned, open box (as well as new) iMacs, check with Small Dog and Power Max. Also look for the "SPECIAL DEALS" link on Apple's online store.