Of course, to work with such a screen, non-weak components are required. The basic configuration of the iMac 27 Retina 5K is as follows:

• Processor Intel Core i5-4690
• 8 (2 modules of 4) GB DDR3 1600 MHz RAM
• 1TB Fusion Drive
• AMD Radeon R9 M290X graphics card with 2GB GDDR5 VRAM

In the Russian online Apple store, it costs 190 thousand rubles. For an additional fee, you can choose a more powerful processor (Core i7-4790K, plus 20 thousand rubles) and / or a video card (AMD Radeon R9 M295X with 4 GB GDDR5, plus 20 thousand rubles), more memory (16 GB for 16 thousand rubles). or 32 GB for 48 thousand) or another drive (256 GB SSD instead of 1 TB Fusion Drive for free, 3 TB Fusion Drive for a surcharge of 12 thousand rubles, 512 GB SSD for 24 thousand or 1 TB for 48 thousand) . You cannot select more than one drive.

Our configuration has a Core i7-4790K, 16GB of RAM, a standard 1TB Fusion Drive, and a Radeon R9 M295X. Its cost is 246 thousand rubles. Let's briefly explain which upgrades are worth the money and which are not:

• CPU: Apple is demanding two and a half times the difference between Intel's announced prices for these Core i5 and Core i7 models. However, the difference in performance between them is significant, if iMac is bought for professional work with photo and video editors, it is better to pay extra. You can replace the processor yourself, but a new i7-4790K costs the same as a factory upgrade to it, so if you have nowhere to "attach" the i5-4690, there is no point in losing the warranty.
• RAM: since its replacement is available to the owner without disassembly and loss of warranty, it makes no sense to pay more. Usual DDR3-modules of the SO-DIMM format (i.e. for laptops) without ECC support are used, which you can easily buy on your own. 4 8 GB sticks from a decent brand like Corsair or G.Skill can be purchased for 20-30 thousand rubles, depending on their characteristics (frequency and timings), and not for 48 thousand, as Apple suggests. At the same time, unlike a factory upgrade, it is not necessary to get rid of the standard strips - you can leave them and buy two more 4 or 8 GB each (you get 16 or 24 GB in total). To work with photos and videos, a large amount of RAM is required, 8 GB is easily filled even when performing a few simple tasks at the same time, like working in the browser and watching YouTube videos. Apparently, the huge screen resolution affects.
• Video card: again, for photo and video work (and games, if they are planned), more performance will not hurt, but it's up to you to decide. The Radeon R9 M295X is better for both work and play. Unfortunately, we can't check the prices of both offered cards and compare their difference with Apple's asking price for an upgrade: mobile graphics cards are not sold at retail.
• Drives: It should be noted that a Fusion Drive is physically composed of two separate drives. This is a regular 3.5-inch SATA hard drive (in our case, 1 TB) and a 128 GB SSD with a proprietary PCIe connector (like in a MacBook - oh, and Apple doesn’t like generally accepted standards, even the same M.2). Mac OS X itself determines which files are sent to the SSD and which are sent to the hard drive, and tries to ensure maximum performance. I must say, she does it very well. If you start Windows through BootCamp, then this scheme, apparently, will not be involved and the system will work more slowly. If you plan to use only Mac OS, then Fusion Drive is enough for you. You can take the 3 TB option if you don’t want to buy an external hard drive. If you plan to install Windows, then it makes sense to invest in a full-fledged SSD. The 256GB SSD is a free choice over the Fusion Drive, but you should pay extra for larger SSDs only if you're working with very large files that require extremely fast access.

Having thus clarified the situation with the proposed components, let's move on to the benchmarks of our configuration.

Apple updated its iMac line late last year. The new addition is a 21.5-inch iMac with a 4K display. As for the 27-inch iMacs, Apple has brought models with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels, leaving only the Retina 5K display. Of course, the updates affected the processor, video card, HDD and SSD combination. A top-of-the-line iMac has arrived in our test lab.

In October 2014 we are already, so we will take many details from the previous review. In particular, there were no changes in the hull. As we noted above, processors and other internal components have changed. Apple switched to Intel Skylake generation processors, in Europe customers can choose Core i5 or Core i7 processors, in Russia only predefined configurations with Core i5 are available. Four graphics cards are available for 27-inch models: AMD Radeon R9 M380, M390, M395, or M395X. There are no configurations with M395X in Russia. Unfortunately, Apple didn't integrate Thunderbolt 3 support into the new iMac with Retina 5K display.

The table shows the existing models:

In Russia, there is no possibility of an upgrade. In Europe, an upgrade to 16 GB of memory will cost 240 euros, for a 1 TB Fusion Drive you will have to pay 120 euros, for 2 TB - 360 euros. The 256 GB SSD will cost 240 euros, while the 512 GB model will cost 600 euros.

In Russia, there is no possibility of an upgrade. In Europe, 27-inch iMacs can be significantly upgraded. Upgrading the processor to Intel Core i7 at 4.0 GHz (Turbo Boost 4.2 GHz) will cost 300 euros. Upgrading the memory to 16 or 32 GB costs 240 or 720 euros. Upgrades HDD, SSD or Fusion Drive are identical in price to the "younger" model, but this adds the ability to upgrade to a 1TB SSD for 840 euros. A faster AMD Radeon R9 M395X graphics card with 4 GB VRAM is also available for 300 euros.

5K display

The standout feature of the iMac with Retina 5K display is, of course, the display. Meanwhile, several manufacturers have already offered external displays with a similar resolution. You can note the same and. Of course, the issue of connecting such a display cannot be avoided here. Typically, two DisplayPort inputs are used.

There are currently no standards for connecting a 5K display at 60Hz. The DisplayPort 1.2 standard can only run at 30Hz. As in the case of the Dell and Philips monitors mentioned above, two DisplayPort streams are used, which through MST (Multi Stream Transport) provide a solid picture. So the panel uses a DisplayPort 1.2 connection. But for this connection, not standard DisplayPort connectors are used inside, but eDP, that is, Embedded DisplayPort. Apple also points to the use of its own TMU controller, but no details. So it's entirely possible that Apple is using some sort of connection between the GPU and the display, or an overclocked DisplayPort 1.2 connection, to make sure there's enough bandwidth for a 5K display. In any case, despite the implementation option, the system works - and this is the main thing.

The advantage of an iMac with a Retina 5K display, which can also be a disadvantage, is the sale of a ready-made Apple system with all the components. Therefore, upgrading components is problematic. Apple only allows you to add RAM. If you work with your hands, you can replace the SSD. in general, iMac can be recommended to those users who need a ready-made system, and who are not going to upgrade it - at least until the next purchase in its entirety.

For more information about the display, we recommend that you refer to. Display tests are shown below.

No interface changes

Compared to its predecessor, Apple did not change the interfaces. There are still no traces of Thunderbolt 3, which is not entirely clear, since Apple is quite actively promoting this interface. On the back you can see a headphone output, an SDHX memory card slot, 4x USB 3.0, 2x Thunderbolt 2 and 1x Gigabit Ethernet.

The connector for connecting the power supply is located in the center behind the monitor stand, all cables are routed through the stand. On the rear panel on the right is the power switch, with which the iMac is put into standby mode.

The photo does not show wireless interfaces. But you get Bluetooth 4.0 support (required for the Continuity feature in OS X 10.10 Yosemite), Wi-Fi 802.11ac support, and depending on the access point and antenna configuration, speeds are between 433 Mbps and 6.77 Gbps. But for the Apple wireless module, the maximum speed is listed at 1.3 Gb / s.

• 3.2GHz
  
• 3.2GHz
  3.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz)
  
• 3.3GHz
  3.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz)
  Configurable to 4.0GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 4.2GHz)

Memory

• 8GB (two 4GB) of 1867MHz DDR3 memory; four SO-DIMM slots, user accessible
  Configurable to 16GB or 32GB

Storage 1

• 3.2GHz
  1TB (7200-rpm) hard drive
  Configurable up to 3TB Fusion Drive or 256GB or 512GB of flash storage (SSD)
• 3.2GHz
  1TB Fusion Drive
  Configurable up to 3TB Fusion Drive or
• 3.3GHz
  2TB Fusion Drive
  

Graphics

• 3.2GHz
  AMD Radeon R9 M380 graphics processor with 2GB of GDDR5 memory
• 3.2GHz
  AMD Radeon R9 M390 graphics processor with 2GB of GDDR5 memory
• 3.3GHz
  AMD Radeon R9 M395 graphics processor with 2GB of GDDR5 memory
  Configurable to AMD Radeon R9 M395X with 4GB of GDDR5 memory

Video Support and Camera

• facetime HD camera
• Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to two 4096-by-2160 external displays or one 5120-by-2880 dual-cable external display
• Support for extended desktop and video mirroring modes

Audio

• stereo speakers
• Dual microphones
• 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Headphone/optical digital audio output (minijack)
  • Support for Apple iPhone headset with microphone

Connections and Expansion

• 3.5mm headphone jack
• SDXC card slot
• Four USB 3 ports (compatible with USB 2)
• Two Thunderbolt 2 ports
  • Mini DisplayPort output
  • Support for HDMI, DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI (adapters sold separately)
• 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)
• Kensington lock slot

Input

• Magic Keyboard
  The redesigned Magic Keyboard comes standard with your iMac. It’s wireless and rechargeable (so you won’t be replacing batteries), with an ultracompact, edge-to-edge design that wastes no surface space. It has an improved scissor mechanism, optimized key travel, and a lower profile that increase control and comfort. And it pairs immediately with your iMac right out of the box.
• Magic Mouse 2
  The new design of Magic Mouse 2 lets it glide more smoothly across your desk. And since it supports Multi-Touch, you can use simple gestures on its surface to do things such as swipe between web pages and scroll through documents. So if you prefer to use a wireless mouse but want some of the benefits of Multi-Touch, Magic Mouse 2 is a great choice.
• Magic Trackpad 2
  If you prefer using a trackpad, Magic Trackpad 2 gives you the full range of Multi-Touch gestures and introduces Force Touch to the desktop. Sensors underneath the trackpad surface detect subtle differences in the amount of pressure you apply, bringing more functionality to your fingertips and enabling a deeper connection to your content. This new design, along with a lower profile, makes it even more comfortable to use.

Wireless

• WiFi
  802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking
  IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
• Bluetooth
  Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology

Size and Weight

• 27-inch iMac
  Height: 20.3 inches (51.6 cm)
  
  Stand depth: 8 inches (20.3 cm)
  Weight: 21 pounds (9.54 kg) 2
• 27-inch iMac with built-in VESA adapter
  Height: 17.6 inches (44.7 cm)
  Width: 25.6 inches (65.0 cm)
  Depth (including built-in VESA adapter): 3.1 inches (7.9 cm)

Electrical and Operating Requirements

• Line voltage: 100-240VAC
• Frequency: 50Hz to 60Hz, single phase
• Operating temperature: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)
• Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
• Operating altitude: tested up to 10,000 feet

Limited Warranty and Service

Your iMac comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. Purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan to extend your service and support to three years from your computer's purchase date. Only the AppleCare Protection Plan provides you with direct telephone support from Apple technical experts and the assurance that repairs will be handled by Apple-authorized technicians using genuine Apple parts. For more information, visit Apple Support or call 1-800-823-2775.

In the box

• iMac with Retina 5K display
• Magic Keyboard
• Magic Mouse 2
• power cord
• Lightning to USB Cable

operating system

macOS Sierra
macOS is the operating system that powers everything you do on a Mac. macOS Sierra introduces Siri to Mac 3 - along with new ways to enjoy your photos, shop more securely online, and work more seamlessly between devices.
learn more

accessibility

Accessibility features help people with disabilities get the most out of their new iMac. With built-in support for vision, hearing, physical and motor skills, and learning and literacy, you can create and do amazing things.
learn more

Features include:

• VoiceOver
• Increase Contrast
• Reduce Motion
• Siri and Dictation
• switch control
• Closed Captions
• Text to Speech

Built-in Apps 4

• Photos
• iMovie
• Garage Band
• Pages
• numbers
• Keynote
• safari
• messages
• face time
• Calendar
• notes
• App Store
• iTunes
• iBooks
• Contacts
• Reminders

Configure to Order

Configure your iMac with these options. Looking for an iMac you can mount on a wall or an adjustable arm? Choose an iMac with a Built-in VESA Mount Adapter .

• 3.2GHz
  • Magic Trackpad 2
  • 16GB or 32GB memory upgrade
  • 1TB, 2TB, or 3TB Fusion Drive
  • 256GB or 512GB of flash storage (SSD)
• 3.2GHz
  • Magic Trackpad 2
  • 16GB or 32GB memory upgrade
  • 2TB or 3TB Fusion Drive
  • 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of flash storage (SSD)
• 3.3GHz
  • Magic Trackpad 2
  • 4.0GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 upgrade
  • 16GB or 32GB memory upgrade
  • AMD Radeon R9 M395X upgrade
  • 3TB Fusion Drive
  • 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of flash storage (SSD)

iMac and the Environment

Apple takes a complete product life cycle approach to determining our environmental impact. learn more

iMac is designed with the following features to reduce its environmental impact:

• Arsenic-free display glass
• BFR free
• PVC free 5
• Beryllium-free
• Mercury-free LED-backlit display
• Recyclable aluminum enclosure
• Speaker enclosures made with 35 percent post-consumer recycled plastic
• Meets ENERGY STAR Version 6.1 requirements
• Rated EPEAT Gold 6

Apple and the Environment
Learn more about Apple's dedication to reducing the environmental impact of our products and process. Or read our Product Environmental Reports for detailed information on the environmental performance of every Apple product.

Recycling
Apple takes a holistic view of materials management and waste minimization. Learn more about how to recycle your Mac.

acoustic performance

Declared noise emission values ​​in accordance with ECMA-109

1. L W A,m is the mean A-weighted sound power level, rounded to the nearest 0.05 B.
2. L p A,m is the mean A-weighted sound pressure level measured at the operator position (rounded to the nearest 0.5 dB).
3. 1 B (bel) = 10 dB (decibel)
4. Kv is the statistical adder for computing upper-limit of A-weighted sound power level.
5. the quantity, L W A,c (formerly called L W Ad) may be computed from the sum of L W A, m and Kv.
6. The Wireless web test browses 25 popular websites.
7. Configuration tested: 3.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB memory, 2TB Fusion Drive, AMD Radeon R9 M395 graphics.

1. 1GB = 1 billion bytes and 1TB = 1 trillion bytes; actual formatted capacity less.
2. Weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.
3. Siri may not be available in all languages ​​or in all areas, and features may vary by area.
4. iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are available on the Mac App Store. Downloading apps requires an Apple ID and a device that is compatible with the OS version required for each app.
5. PVC-free AC power cord available in all regions except India and South Korea.
6. iMac achieved a Gold rating from EPEAT in the U.S. and Canada.

The king of all-in-ones: uncompromising and innovative

The main surprise and, to some extent, even the sensation of Apple's October presentation was not the new iPads, but the iMac monoblock with a Retina 5K display. In principle, rumors that Apple plans to equip its candy bar with a Retina display have been around for a long time. Moreover, even when the previous iMac model came out, it was clear that the next step would be a radical update of the screen. But rumors are one thing, reality is another, which turned out to be better than all assumptions in some ways, although with certain reservations.

So, Apple has not updated the entire line of iMacs (recall that it includes models with screens of 21.5 inches and 27 inches, both options are available in various configurations that differ in performance), but only a 27-inch computer. Moreover, the models of the previous generation (both diagonals) remained in the line and are still available for purchase. But the flagship computer is new now: a 27-inch iMac with a Retina 5K display (we'll refer to it as the iMac 5K for short).

Second important point. Monitors with a resolution of 4K are now one or two and miscalculated. But Apple has gone even further. The resolution of the new iMac is 5120x2880. This means that you can play 4K video on your computer screen, the picture will be displayed in its original size, but there will still be some space left on the top and side. It is clear that for video editing it is very convenient. And other PC scenarios that involve working with visual content will greatly benefit from this.

In fairness, we note that back in September, Dell monitor UltraSharp 27 Ultra HD 5K. It has exactly the same resolution and diagonal as the iMac 5K (which was not yet known in September), but it has not yet gone on sale (at least we did not find it in stock in any Western or Russian store ), and most importantly, its price was announced at $2,500. And for exactly the same price, you can already buy the iMac 5K, which is not just a monitor, but a full-fledged computer, and even incomparably more elegant in appearance. Perhaps, by the way, the delay in the start of sales of the Dell monitor (it was scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year) is connected precisely with the release of the Apple computer: after all, it is obvious that the Dell monitor cannot now be sold at the stated price. So Apple is again ahead of the rest.

But how successful was the iMac 5K? And does it justify its price - still quite a big one (especially considering the recent sharp rise in the price of Apple products in Russia)? We have studied the novelty in detail!

Equipment

The packaging of the iMac 5K is exactly the same size and shape as last year's 27-inch model. It is an asymmetrical box with a narrower top and a wider bottom, resulting in an overall pyramid-shaped box. Not the most convenient solution in terms of storing a computer package (which, for example, may be needed when moving), but this shape adds stability, so you can safely put the box with the computer inside on the floor and not be afraid that it will tip over.

Inside, the computer is securely fixed in foam molds. Separately, we note that all iMac elements are carefully sealed with films that reliably protect the case and screen from scratches and other minor damage. At the same time, the films peel off quite easily, and after them there are no traces left on the device itself. We've seen the same thing with past iMacs, where Apple has fairly consistent standards.

In addition to the iMac, the box contains a network cable, an Apple Wireless Keyboard, an Apple Magic Mouse, a quick start guide, and a sheet of stickers. We wrote about the Wireless Keyboard in the 2010 iMac review, and the Magic Mouse was the subject of a separate article.

Thus, the bundle of iMac 5K is no different from the bundle of other current models of the iMac line, including the most affordable of them.

Design

As you know, Apple rarely updates the design of its computers: it remains unchanged for several years. So the iMac 5K has a design that first appeared in 2012 models. This, of course, was not a surprise for us, but something else was of interest: did the new display somehow affect the dimensions (thickness and other parameters that are difficult to estimate from promo photos)?

The answer to this question was not so difficult to get: we had a previous generation 27-inch iMac available for comparison, so we just put them side by side and ... did not find any differences! When turned off, the displays look exactly the same: it is impossible to determine where is 5K and where is normal. The case has not become thicker by a millimeter.

This is, of course, a huge technological achievement. Recall that when the iPad 2 (at 1024×768) came out with the Retina display (2048×1536), it was noticeably thicker. And this is quite understandable. So the fact that in the iMac 5K Apple engineers were able to keep the same dimensions is very cool. For comparison, here is a photo of a Dell UltraSharp 27 Ultra HD 5K monitor.

And here it is also necessary to take into account that the engineers were able to place all the components of a powerful computer in the iMac, including the cooling system, etc.! So the winner of this comparison is clear. But back to iMac design. Like last year's model, all ports are located on the back, and their set is identical: four USB 3.0, two Thunderbolts, an Ethernet connector, an SD / SDXC memory card slot and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

We won't go into detail on the design and our impressions of it as, once again, it hasn't changed from last year's model. We only note that so far no one has been able to release a more stylish and elegant monoblock, the appearance of which would make such an impression as the iMac.

Having got acquainted with the appearance of the computer and making sure that it did not suffer due to a radical increase in display resolution, we move on to the most interesting thing - getting to know the screen.

Screen

The first emotion when you turn on the iMac 5K is “Wow!”. It is immediately followed by the thought: “Finally!”. Retina resolution came to smartphones, then to tablets, laptops followed the tablets, and now it's the turn of all-in-ones. A year ago, we complained that iMac is good for everyone, but it just lacks Retina resolution. After the MacBook Retina, switching to an iMac was a little uncomfortable. Of course, if the screen is at arm's length, then the lack of pixel density is not very striking. But that buzz from the picture that you experience when working on the MacBook Pro Retina is still not there. And here it is.

We carried out a detailed examination of the screen using measuring instruments. Since our hardware and software complex is designed to work with Windows operating systems, the iMac was equipped with a 64-bit version of Windows 8, and most of the tests were carried out only under it.

The screen is covered with a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface, and, judging by the reflection of objects in it, it has a very effective anti-glare filter. As a result, a very high image clarity is maintained, of course, there is no “crystal” effect (local brightness variation) and reflections in the screen do not interfere with work. True, the visibility of dirt on the screen surface increases somewhat, as they change the reflective properties of the outer surface. There is no air gap between the layers of the screen. It also seemed to us that the screen surface has weak oleophobic (grease-repellent) properties, since fingerprints seem to be removed a little easier, and appear at a slower rate than in the case of ordinary glass.

This screen uses an IPS type matrix. Micrographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:

Note that, at least at the time of the tests, the maximum resolution that we managed to set under Windows was 3840 by 2160 pixels, while the image was scaled to full screen. That is, under this OS it was impossible to get an image one to one by pixels. In contrast, under the "native" OS X Yosemite, the output was carried out at a true resolution of 5120 by 2880 pixels. To confirm, here is a photograph of a fragment of the world, where vertical and horizontal black-and-white stripes one pixel thick are displayed in the lower part:

It can be seen that one pixel of the image exactly corresponds to one pixel (from the triad of subpixels) of the screen.

The color gamut is slightly different from sRGB:

However, the deviations of the primary color coordinates from the sRGB peaks are not very large, so visually the colors on this monitor have a natural saturation.

Under OS X Yosemite, coverage is compressed to sRGB borders:

Below is the spectrum for a white field (white line) superimposed on the spectra of red, green and blue fields (lines of the corresponding colors):

Such a spectrum with a relatively narrow peak of blue and with wide humps of green and red colors is typical for monitors that use a white LED backlight with a blue emitter and a yellow phosphor.

Under OS X Yosemite, the spectra show the result of coverage correction in the form of a slight cross-mixing of components:

The graphs below show the color temperature in different parts of the gray scale and the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (parameter ΔE) under two OS:

The range closest to black can be ignored, since the color rendering is not so important in it, and the measurement error of color characteristics is high. For home use, color reproduction is good even out of the box, since ΔE is significantly less than 10, the color temperature is very close to the standard 6500 K, while both parameters do not change much from shade to shade. A slightly increased spread under OS X Yosemite can be explained by the presence of software color correction.

To determine the uniformity of black and white fields, as well as contrast, we measured the brightness at 25 points on the screen, spaced in increments of 1/6 of the width and height of the screen (screen borders not included). The contrast was calculated as the ratio of the brightness of the fields at the measured points.

The uniformity of whites is excellent, while blacks, and as a result, contrast, are slightly lower. Contrast is slightly higher than typical for an IPS-matrix, although not the highest found among monitors on this type of matrix. The photo below gives an idea of ​​the distribution of the brightness of the black field over the screen area:

Only in the upper left corner along the edge of the screen there are a couple of areas with a noticeable increase in black levels.

The brightness of the white field in the center of the screen and the power consumed from the network:

*Windows OS, no applications running, under OS X Yosemite under similar conditions consumption was a couple of watts lower.

In standby mode and in the off state, the computer consumes 0.07 watts with periodic bursts up to two and a half watts.

When the brightness is reduced, only the brightness of the backlight changes, i.e. without compromising image quality (contrast and the number of distinguishable gradations are preserved), the screen brightness can be changed over a very wide range, which allows you to comfortably work and watch movies both in brightly lit and in dark room. At any brightness level, there is no backlight modulation up to 100 kHz, which means no flicker.

Automatic brightness control by light sensor works. It is located to the left of the camera eye on the front panel. In automatic mode, when the ambient light conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. Under Windows, everything is simple - you can only enable this function. At the same time, in complete darkness, the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 48 cd / m² (normal), in an office lit by artificial light (approximately 400 lux) it sets it to 280 cd / m² (maybe a little bright, but it will do), in a very bright environment (corresponds to on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) increases to a maximum, that is, up to 430 cd / m² (as it should be). In general, this function works adequately. Under OS X Yosemite, the computer can and should be taught to set the brightness level by moving the brightness slider by hand to the desired level with automatic brightness control turned on. For example, in complete darkness we set the brightness to a comfortable level for us of about 50 cd / m², and in the future, under the above three conditions, we received 44, 280-340 and 360-380 cd / m². Perhaps, "training" at two or three levels of ambient light, you can get other results.

Judging by the dependences of brightness on time, when switching shades, there is no explicit “acceleration” of the matrix. The turn-on and turn-off times for the black-white-black transition were 9.9 ms and 7.3 ms, respectively, and the average total time for transitions between some halftones was 24.5 ms. From our point of view, such a matrix speed is quite enough even for playing dynamic games.

We determined the total output delay from switching pages of the video buffer to the start of displaying the image on the screen. At the same time, the final value did not include an unknown fixed delay from the request to switch pages of the video buffer to the start of the ADC with an external photo sensor installed in the center of the monitor screen, as well as some variable delay due to the fact that Windows is not a real-time system with normalized delays . That is, a very, very real full delay is a little more. As a result, the delay in displaying the image was about 34 ms. The value is not the smallest, but still not noticeable during operation.

To find out how the screen brightness changes when deviated from the perpendicular to the screen, we took a series of measurements of the brightness of black, white and shades of gray in the center of the screen in a wide range of angles, deviating the axis of the sensor in vertical, horizontal and diagonal (from corner to corner) directions.

In the vertical plane	In the horizontal plane
Diagonally	Black field brightness as a percentage of maximum white field brightness
Contrast

Decreasing brightness by 50% of the maximum value:

We note a gradual decrease in brightness when deviating from the perpendicular to the screen in the horizontal direction, while the graphs do not intersect in the entire range of measured angles. The brightness drops a little faster when tilted in the vertical direction. With a deviation in the diagonal direction, the behavior of the brightness of the shades is intermediate between the vertical and horizontal directions. The brightness of the black field with a diagonal deviation increases to a minimum extent. In fact, the screen is devoid of such a disadvantage as a diagonal highlighting of the black field, which is inherent to one degree or another in all screens on IPS matrices. This is achieved through the use of a special leveling layer. Contrast in the ±82° angle range for all directions is greater than 10:1.

To quantify the change in color reproduction, we performed colorimetric measurements for white, gray (127, 127, 127), red, green, and blue, and light red, light green, and light blue fields in full screen using a setting similar to that , which was used in the previous test. The measurements were carried out in the range of angles from 0° (the sensor is directed perpendicular to the screen) to 80° with a step of 5°. The obtained intensity values ​​were recalculated in ΔE relative to the measurement of each field at a perpendicular position of the sensor relative to the screen. The results are presented below:

As a reference point, you can choose a deviation of 45°, which may be relevant in the case, for example, if the image on the screen is viewed by two people at the same time. The criterion for maintaining the correctness of colors can be considered the value of ΔE less than 3.

It follows from the graphs that at a deviation of 45 degrees, ΔE is less than or at least not much higher than 3 for all tested shades. Good color stability is one of the main advantages of IPS type matrices.

In total, we have a screen that is unique in its properties. Visually very clear, with a mirror-smooth surface, but not glare. On an IPS matrix with stable colors, but without diagonal black highlighting. Also, the advantages include a very wide range of brightness, adequately working automatic brightness adjustment (it may have to be “trained” under the “native” OS), the absence of backlight flicker and, of course, a very high resolution, unfortunately not available (yet?) one-to-one pixel-by-pixel mode under Windows OS. There are some oddities with the blockage of the gamma curve in the light area, but they are solved by calibration and profiling, which, however, is indispensable in the case of professional work with color. In general, the screen quality is very, very high.

To finish talking about the screen, we note an interesting fact: you can not use the iMac 5K with other Mac computers as an external display. There is a separate unambiguous phrase about this:

Please note that iMac (Retina 5K 27-inch Late 2014) does not support Target Display Mode.

Why is that? Mystery. Perhaps Apple thinks it makes no sense to connect weaker computers to the iMac 5K. But what about the Mac Pro, for example? And why not make it possible to connect to iMac 5K those models of laptops and Mac mini that will be released in a few years and, therefore, will be even more powerful?

Operating system and software

iMac 5K comes preloaded with OS X 10.10 Yosemite.

Yosemite is the latest version of OS X, its main features are the new "flat" icon design, inheriting the style of iOS 7, the introduction of iCloud Drive, improved Spotlight search, an expanded Notifications panel, and the deepest mutual integration with iOS.

The full list of innovations, of course, is much longer - you can familiarize yourself with it. But we will tell you the impressions of using the features that we liked the most and became part of the daily work with the Mac.

So, Spotlight search is now displayed not in the upper right corner, but right in the middle of the screen. Moreover, you can immediately see the contents of the found documents, folders, letters, etc. For example, you need to copy the address that will be recorded in the TXT file. Previously, the file had to be opened and information copied from there. Now you can copy the desired line directly from Spotlight.

The expanded notification panel that opens on the right now features a Today panel. It displays various widgets (they can be added or removed, although the choice is small by default). So, it turned out to be incredibly convenient to bring the calculator there (now you don’t have to go to the calculator in Spotlight every time or keep the calculator icon in the Dock).

The display of the weather is also useful, the ability to write an iMessage message or post a status to Facebook directly from the Today panel. On the other hand, it is not clear how, for example, to display a calendar for a month (at least only numbers), display events not only for the next working day, but for the nearest scheduled events, etc. That is, the functionality is not enough or is it implemented not in the most intuitive way (we do not take basic features).

A very important point is the emergence of iCloud Drive. Now iCloud is used not only to synchronize the content of certain applications, but gets the functionality of a full-fledged cloud storage, similar to Dropbox. As with Dropbox, you get a separate folder that appears in the Finder, and you can copy any files and folders into it. After that, they will be synchronized with the server and automatically appear on another Mac connected to the same iCloud account.

At the same time, unlike Dropbox, we are given not 2 GB for free, but 5 GB. But this figure is tricky, because it includes not only the files you have written to the corresponding folder, but all iCloud stuff, i.e. mail, backups of iOS devices, etc. Another problem is that for iOS devices there is no app like the Dropbox app that allows you to see the contents of your iCloud Drive folder in one place. And finally, one of the reasons for the super popularity of Dropbox is its availability as a native application on absolutely all platforms, including the most exotic ones (BlackBerry 10, Jolla, etc.). For this reason, Dropbox is ideal and, alas, indispensable for users who often move from device to device and are not ready to bind themselves to one ecosystem. But, nevertheless, iCloud Drive is a step in the right direction. And if Apple develops it, focusing on the same Dropbox, then for Mac users it can become a very useful working tool.

However, now Apple has taken a course not so much to strengthen the relationship with third-party devices (namely, iCloud Drive would like to improve in this direction), but to expand and deepen the interaction between iOS devices and Mac. OS X 10.10 introduced two new terms for this: Continuity and Handoff.

So, now you can receive phone calls coming to your iPhone directly from your Mac or iPad, watch and send SMS using your Mac (not just iMessages like before), finally continue the work on Mac that you started on iPhone, and vice versa.

Receiving calls with a computer is, of course, wow. At first, it's hard to believe. But it's even more difficult to get used to using it. The main disadvantage is obvious: everyone around hears your conversation, and your interlocutor hears what is happening around. Well, if you are talking at home, you can’t go to another room ... I caught myself thinking that although I use a Mac both at work and at home, I never answered calls through the computer (except for test calls). However, I do not exclude that this feature can be very useful for someone - for example, as a replacement for a speakerphone on a smartphone. In addition, it is convenient that you can immediately see who is calling you or writing SMS - no need to reach for your smartphone.

As for SMS, this is just more useful in real life, because sometimes it happens that either you want to write a relatively long text in SMS (congratulations on some holiday, for example), and then it is more convenient to type it on a computer, or, conversely, the incoming SMS contains some information that is more convenient to transfer using a computer (for example, some person's phone - then you create a new contact directly on the Mac in the corresponding application and copy the phone from the message).

As for the continuation of work (this includes the concept of Handoff - “transfer”), here is what is meant here. Let's say you open a web link on your iPhone or iPad, but then decide to continue browsing the site on your Mac. In the Dock, you will see the Safari icon on the left, as if separated from the rest and marked with a special icon.

By clicking on it, you will see the same page that was opened on the iPhone or iPad. Mail works the same way. If you started typing in Mail and then switched to a Mac, you can pick up where you left off. Of course, all this only works in Apple apps (namely Mail, Safari, Maps, Messages, Reminders, Calendar, Contacts, Notes, Keynote, Numbers and Pages), so if you prefer an alternative email client or browser, then Handoff can be used fail.

All in all, Yosemite 10.10 can be called the most significant and massive OS X update in recent years, seriously affecting the user experience and experience. But many of the new features feel untapped potential. So let's hope that in the next major update, Apple will unlock this potential and develop the ideas embodied in Yosemite.

Returning to iMac, we note that both the OS itself and all pre-installed applications (including Pages, Numbers and Keynote office programs, as well as the iLife package) are optimized to work in 5K resolution, that is, we don’t have any “ladders” or other problems note. Here is a screenshot of Launchpad (the original resolution image is available by clicking).

Here you can evaluate both the updated icons and the drawing of details. In terms of resolution, it is the highest, but the objects themselves are less detailed and more conditional precisely because of the rejection of the notorious skeuomorphism.

We also provide a screenshot of Final Cut Pro X. This application is not included in the set of preinstalled applications and is purchased separately, but, nevertheless, it is also optimized for iMac 5K resolution.

Considering that the main application of the iMac 5K, in our opinion, is video editing, the correct display of Final Cut Pro X is especially important here.

Configuration

Now let's take a closer look at the hardware configuration and performance of the iMac 5K.

There is only one version of the basic configuration of this model. However, when ordering from the Apple online store, four parameters can be improved: processor, RAM, graphics card, and storage.

Note that, unlike a regular 27-inch iMac, all iMac 5K configuration options involve the use of a flash drive (in a hybrid version, that is, Fusion Drive, or "pure").

We tested the basic iMac 5K configuration. Here are the detailed specifications.

The basis of this monoblock is a fourth-generation 22-nanometer processor (codenamed Haswell) with a nominal clock frequency of 3.5 GHz, which can be increased up to 3.9 GHz in Turbo Boost mode. The processor has 4 cores and does not support Hyper-Threading technology. Its L3 cache size is 6MB and TDP is 84W.

The computer also includes a graphics card with an AMD Radeon R9 M290X graphics processor with 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 video memory, 8 GB of DDR3-1600 RAM, which operates in dual-channel mode (two 4 GB memory modules), and a Fusion Drive hybrid drive, which is combination of 1TB HDD ST1000DM003 and 128GB Apple SSD SD0128F.

The communication capabilities of the iMac monoblock are determined by the presence of a dual-band (2.4 and 5 GHz) wireless communication module based on the Broadcom BCM4360 chip that supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards. In addition to Wi-Fi support, iMac has a Bluetooth 4.0 module, as well as a gigabit wired interface based on the Broadcom NetXtreme BCM57766 controller.

Here are screenshots of the System Report windows.

As you can see, in terms of hardware configuration, we have a classic desktop computer. Actually, we pay attention to this because so many monoblocks are based on a laptop platform with all the ensuing disadvantages in terms of performance. Well, from a monoblock iMac with a Retina 5K display with this configuration, you can expect a very decent level of performance.

Performance Testing in an OS X Environment

Let's see how this configuration performs in tests. We'll first test the iMac 5K in its native OS X environment, and then run a series of tests using our standard Windows laptop methodology. We emphasize that the actual use of the iMac 5K under Windows at the moment is not very advisable, because, as we found out when testing the display, Windows cannot even fully utilize the display resolution. Perhaps in the future there will be appropriate drivers for the video card, but for now, buying an iMac 5K with an eye to work in Windows is at least risky and strange. Therefore, tests on Windows are more of a theoretical value, allowing us to get data that we cannot get in the OS X environment and compare it with other configurations that we had in the tests. But performance is paramount in OS X, and here we have a new mini testing technique in Final Cut Pro X.

A detailed description of the methodology and test files are available at the link. Here is a table with the results. For clarity, we've compared them to some other Macs, namely last year's low-end base 27-inch iMac, the latest Mac mini's mid-range, and the top-of-the-line 15-inch MacBook Pro Retina.

As we can see, in the Final Cut Pro X tests (stabilization and applying the Black&White effect), the new iMac became the undisputed leader. When exporting via Compressor, its results are not as impressive: both older Macs with discrete graphics performed at about the same level.

However, based on the sum of the tests, we can say that the iMac 5K is the most optimal solution for working with video material (not counting the Mac Pro, which is almost certainly even more productive, but, alas, we did not test it using this method).

From synthetic tests, we, of course, could not help but use Geekbench 3. The results are below.

If in single-core mode the new iMac is ahead of everyone, then in multi-core mode, as we can see, it is bypassed by the 15-inch MacBook Pro Retina. But this is quite logical, because there is a Core-i7 (albeit with a lower frequency), and not a Core-i5. However, as testing in Final Cut Pro X showed, the high performance of the MacBook Pro Retina is not always good, because the laptop quickly goes into throttling, dropping the frequency and losing all the advantage. And just at the iMac 5K, we never noticed such a problem: even after half an hour of work in Final Cut Pro X, it remained only a little warm.

However, we will talk about the computer's work under load and the efficiency of the cooling system, but for now let's see how things are with the performance of 3D graphics in games. The multiplatform benchmark GFXBench 3.0 will help us with this.

The most interesting result for us is in the top line in the On Screen column. Manhattan is the latest 3D scene using OpenGL 4.1, and the result obtained with it shows whether the iMac 5K can handle such a scene if it is displayed in its native resolution. Answer: yes, it will. This is indicated by the number of frames per second (34 FPS) that are shown in the scene. The result is on the edge (less than 30 would be uncomfortable), but still. Well, if the same scene is displayed in Full HD resolution, the performance of the iMac 5K is more than enough.

Alas, it is impossible to accurately measure how many frames per second real games from the Mac App Store show on the screen of the iMac 5K - there is simply no such tool. But we will evaluate this on the most modern Windows games, from which it will be possible to draw a conclusion about the performance of any other games.

Work under load and idle

To analyze the efficiency of the cooling system, memory and storage performance, we had to install the Windows 8 operating system on the monoblock (such an analysis is simply impossible under OS X).

In idle mode, as it should be, the frequency of the processor in a monoblock is 800 MHz (naturally, we are talking about a balanced power consumption scheme), that is, there are no complaints about Intel SpeedStep technology. The processor temperature in this mode is approximately 50 °C.

When loading the processor with the Stress CPU test (AIDA64 Extreme Edition Utility - System Stability Test), which uses integer calculations, the processor frequency is 3.7 GHz. The processor temperature in this boot mode increases to 75 °C.

When the processor is loaded with the Stress FPU test, which uses floating point calculations and heats the processor to a greater extent, the maximum frequency of the processor is 3.5 GHz, and the temperature of its cores increases to 85 ° C.

An analysis of the operation of the monoblock using the AIDA64 utility allows us to conclude that the cooling system copes well with its tasks. Under no load, the processor does not overheat and there is no throttling. At the same time, it should be added that no matter how loaded the processor and video card are, it is almost impossible to hear the operation of the cooling system. This unit is very quiet.

Memory Subsystem and Storage Subsystem Performance

According to the AIDA64 Cache & Memory Benchmark utility, the write speed to memory is 23637 MB/s, and the read speed is 23100 MB/s. For DDR3-1600 memory (peak bandwidth 12800 MB / s) in dual-channel mode, these are quite typical indicators.

As already noted, one of the features of the iMac all-in-one is its Fusion Drive storage subsystem, consisting of a 1 TB HDD and a 128 GB SSD.

The ATTO Disk Benchmark utility estimates a maximum sequential read speed of approximately 165 MB/s, and a sequential write speed of approximately 160 MB/s.

The CrystalDiskMark utility gives roughly the same results.

Well, we also give the results of testing with the HD Tune Pro utility:

Performance testing in real applications under Windows 8

To conclude our review, we also present the results of testing the iMac All-in-One with Retina 5K display using the Windows 8 operating system. To evaluate performance, we used our traditional methodology using iXBT Notebook Benchmark v.1.0 and iXBT Game Benchmark v.1.0 benchmarks.

The results of testing in the iXBT Notebook Benchmark v.1.0 are shown in the table. In addition, for clarity, we also added the results of testing the entry-level 21.5-inch all-in-one iMac (Mid 2014) to the table.

As you can see, in Windows applications, the iMac with a Retina 5K display is almost 70% faster than a typical ultrabook (our reference system) in terms of performance. Actually, this is understandable, since the iMac 5K has a desktop system configuration. In general, in terms of performance in non-gaming applications, an iMac with a Retina 5K display based on the Intel Core i5-4690 processor corresponds to about the top configuration of a laptop with a quad-core Intel Core i7-4700HQ processor.

Now let's look at the results of testing the iMac with a Retina 5K display in games. All gaming tests were run at a resolution of 1920x1080.

Actually, the results are quite indicative and do not require comments. In this case, there is only one conclusion that can be drawn: even with the settings for maximum quality, you can play almost all games. In a word, this candy bar can be used as a gaming PC.

conclusions

We really wanted to find some serious hidden flaws when testing iMac with Retina 5K display - you can see the spots in the sun! But upon completion of testing, we cannot but admit that we have before us an almost ideal computer that will suit both professionals of all stripes, and gamers, and simply those users who want to have the best - no matter how much it costs. iMac 5K is a desktop performance without any discounts for a stunning case design, an excellent cooling system, and, most importantly, a display that is unique in its qualities and characteristics. A real miracle of computer engineering!

Of course, we found some minor nuances (not even shortcomings, but features that limit the possibilities of non-standard use). For example, the inability to use the iMac under Windows at full resolution (although Windows still looks great on the iMac 5K), or the inability to use the iMac in external display mode (it's not entirely clear why, because someone might want to use it in conjunction with a Mac Pro) . Traditionally, they mention the impossibility of upgrading Mac computers. The 15-inch MacBook Pro Retina is also slightly underperforming in several performance tests, due to the iMac's use of an Intel Core i5 processor rather than a Core i7. But all this is unlikely to become an obstacle when buying.

So perhaps the only (but really serious) deterrent is the price. In Russia, before the price increase, the iMac 5K could be bought for about 115,000 rubles, but now the price tag has grown to 145,000 rubles (in the US, the cost has remained the same: $ 2,499). Is this model worth the money? Answering this question is as difficult and at the same time simple as answering the question of whether the Tesla Model S is worth the money. If the goal is to get from point A to point B, then definitely not. If maximum comfort, perfection in every detail and a sense of belonging to innovation are important, then yes. Such things are bought by wealthy enthusiasts, perfectionists and those people for whom self-positioning is important (for example, in the personal accounts of top managers of large companies, in which meetings with partners, interviews and the like are sometimes held, of course, there should be iMac 5K). At the same time, to say that these are pure “show-offs” would be completely unfair. And to say that the price is too high and there is an overpayment for the image is also impossible. In the case of the iMac 5K, it is enough to recall the declared price tag for the Dell monitor, which clearly does not pretend to be a fashion product.

And against this background, even an increase in the ruble price of an iMac by 30 thousand does not look so dramatic, since the target audience of this product understands that nothing similar (in terms of the combination of qualities) can be bought in principle, and price fluctuations within a few tens of thousands for these people and companies are not fundamental (such a computer is obviously not bought on credit and without postponing several months from the salary).

To conclude this review, we can only state the obvious: to award the iMac with Retina 5K display our Editorial Original Design Award, recognizing the product's unique combination of visual beauty, engineering innovation, and user experience.

Today, in the era of advanced high technology, it is very difficult for a single product to stand out from others, but the iMac Retina 5K easily copes with this task. Seeing such an incredible number of pixels in front of you that simply does not fit in your head - this fact alone lures many users from the official Apple website to the order page. It is possible to create a good and even successful product by selecting components from suppliers, but if you want to get ahead of others, and not just compete with them, you need to create your own components for your “special recipe”. So Apple, tired of waiting for 5K displays to appear, builds them on its own and uses the familiar iMac design to turn them into something incredible.

Design and stuffing

The iMac is a great all-in-one and Apple hasn't changed a thing about the design formula that was used on the latest model. Barely noticeable 5mm edges turn into a case thickened towards the middle, which we can see only by looking at the rear panel. It continues to be unsurpassed in the quality of materials, elegance of design and meticulous workmanship, unmatched by any PC.

The sleekness of the design hasn't relegated all of the iMac's ports and connectors to the back. As before, we have convenient access to headphones, an SD slot, a gigabit Ethernet port, four USB 3.0, but instead of two Thunderbolts, we now have two Thunderbolts 2.

In fact, plugging in any peripherals takes you a couple of swipes, even for a 27' iMac, since it's almost weightless on its minimalist stand and moving it around on your desktop is easy enough. The power button is also hidden on the back for aesthetic reasons, but its characteristic concave surface is very easy to find by touch.

Dual microphones and a FaceTime HD camera sit above the screen, while 20-watt stereo speakers sit below it. Despite their directivity, they surprise with enough low frequencies and may well sound your workspace.

As with the non-Retina iMac, there is a standless version with a VESA-compatible wall mount. This way you can do without a stand and get an iMac attached to your wall. Both iMacs continue the tradition of not being upgradeable by the user and only allow you to replace the RAM, the slots of which are hidden under a small panel hidden behind the stand leg.

Display

If you've used an iMac before, many of the iMac Retina 5K's details will feel familiar, but those feelings will end once you turn it on and come face-to-face with the stunning desktop you've ever seen in computers.

I can't remember how incredible it felt to go from a normal resolution screen to Retina, but the iMac 5K will definitely take your breath away. It shows the smallest details, and the colors are amazingly natural. The white is very pure without any tint, while the black is inky and very uniform.

Nothing comes easy. When you need to process 14.7 million pixels - 5K doesn't feel like much of a difference from 4K, but in fact, the latter has only 8.8 million pixels, and Full HD has a measly 2 million - you can't just take the finished components off the shelf and use them.

Instead, Apple had to create several key parts from scratch. A good example is the timing controller (TCON), which is responsible for synchronizing signals from two DisplayPort 1.2 buses to provide bandwidth up to 40 Gbps. Higher pixel densities call for efficient backlighting, and Apple is moving to high-efficiency LEDs, which not only provide enough light, but also reduce power consumption by 30%.

Thanks to Oxide TFT, one of the layers of the display, its energy efficiency is also increased compared to previous generations of panels. Paired with a new compensation film, this increases viewing angles and significantly reduces color inversion and contrast.

To improve the performance of the iMac Retina 5K display, Apple borrowed a few tricks from the iPad. First of all, this is organic passivation, which helps to avoid signal interference and interference from densely packed pixels. However, 217 ppi is less than 264 ppi on the iPad Air 2 and 220 ppi on the 15-inch MacBook Pro Retina.

This is due to the distances at which we look at the screens of devices. The new iMac Retina 5K has the lowest pixel density of any Retina display, but because you typically work at it from a much greater distance than on an iPad and MacBook Pro, the end result is the same - the picture is so crisp you can't make out the individual pixels on the display .

Like the MacBook Pro Retina, we have several options to adjust the resolution. You can work in the native resolution of 5120x2880 or select one of the scaling modes, in which windows and applications will be the same size as on regular iMacs, but will be displayed more clearly.

Most UI elements might be too tiny at native resolution, but all those pixels are a huge advantage in certain use cases. For example, photo editing becomes much easier when you can display the original file at full resolution, without having to adjust the zoom every time you need to see a detail.

But in all its glory iMac Retina 5K manifests itself in working with video. When you launch Final Cut Pro, you'll be able to see full-res previews of 4K video and still have room to place controls around the edges of the screen. Nothing overlaps and you don't have to move various elements around to see them - everything is in plain sight.

In short, the iMac Retina 5K display is ahead of its time in many ways, and in fact there are both advantages and some trade-offs.

The biggest one is the lack of Target Display, which was available on previous models and allowed you to use your iMac as an external display by connecting a MacBook or Mac mini to it. Unfortunately, even though Thunderbolt 2 has significantly more bandwidth than its predecessor, it's still not enough to transmit a 5K signal from another computer. Apparently we'll have to wait for Thunderbolt 3, and at the same time, there are currently no means to scale the signal from sources with lower resolutions.

For the same reason, even if you could connect a source with a 5K signal, you could not turn on another 5K display and use them in conjunction. Connecting external displays is available in resolutions up to 3840x2160, but you will only have one 5K panel.

Specifications and performance

One of the things we expected to see in new iMacs was processors, but Apple is stuck with the fourth-generation Intel Haswell found in existing models. The lower-end iMac Retina 5K has a 3.5GHz quad-core Core i5 processor, which can be upgraded to a 4.0GHz Core i7 for $250 if desired.

Now 8 gigabytes of memory is the standard. It can be upgraded to 16GB and 32GB for $200 and $600 respectively. As for the hard drive, all iMac Retina 5Ks come with a 1TB Fusion Drive, which is a regular hard drive combined with an SSD for frequently accessed files and applications that balances speed and capacity.

For an additional $150, you can upgrade your iMac with a 3TB Fusion Drive or opt for a 256GB SSD instead at no additional cost.

Ever since the first rumors about the iMac Retina, there have been debates about which graphics card will be tasked with managing so many pixels. iMac Retina 5K comes with Radeon R9 M290X graphics with 2GB of GDDR5 memory, which can be upgraded to R9 M295X with twice as much memory for $250.

Like other components, these are mobile graphics cards, which has caused some controversy about whether they can handle 5120x2880 resolution. Fortunately, for the most part, these fears and speculations have proven unfounded.

Working with multiple applications and playing videos is given by iMac Retina 5K with ease. Adding various effects to a Final Cut Pro project in real time was no problem either. However, compared to the Mac Pro, rendering the resulting video file took longer, as expected (and this was the only time iMac coolers could be heard spinning, which normally sound like a hoarse whisper).

Outside of OS X Yosemite and the stock Apple apps, there are some hiccups. It can be seen that some third-party applications are still not ready for 5K resolution. In third-party browsers, you can sometimes observe slight twitches that are absent on the same sites in Safari.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that there is currently a dearth of public content that satisfies the resolution of the iMac Retina 5K. A regular 27-inch iMac can easily handle 1080p content, which is not enough for Retina. iTunes still doesn't have 4K videos, and the only streaming service that offers movies and series on it is Netflix.

And yet, this computer is not designed to consume content (at least this is only a side function) - it is ideal for creating it. It's a tool for people who create Ultra HD videos or render images at incredible resolution - content that will ultimately tip the scales in favor of Retina displays.

With a starting price of $2,500, the iMac Retina 5K is only $500 cheaper than the smaller Mac Pro. Of the two, the Mac Pro is undoubtedly the more powerful, but on the other hand, you also need to consider the price of buying a separate monitor. By choosing iMac you will get a professional display with a computer, which is what Apple emphasized at the presentation of the new flagship.

The new iMac Retina 5K occupies a niche between the top-end iMac of the previous generation and the entry-level Mac Pro. Its screen is unparalleled not only in the Apple product line, but among displays in general, and this state of affairs will continue for some time. At the same time, it does not require additional financial investments to organize the workplace, unlike the Mac Pro.

All in all, it's a combination of wants and needs that we've seen in Apple products before. Some users will have a real need for Retina resolution, others will just want to get it just because it's possible. Together with the exclusivity of 5K, and despite the fact that competitors will no doubt show their counterparts soon, the iMac Retina 5K is an excellent solution that combines elegance, performance and innovation.