Details on Intel CPUs used in Apple’s 2019 iMacs [Chart]

On March 19, Apple released it new 21.5- and 27-inch iMacs.

“Apple today updated its iMac line with up to 8-core Intel 9th-generation processors for the first time and powerful Vega graphics options, delivering dramatic increases in both compute and graphics performance.”

2019 iMac

I got to wondering exactly which Intel part numbers and generation CPUs were used. After some investigation, the chart below emerged.

2019 27″ iMac CPU Models
Apple “Name”	Intel Model	Family	Gen	Cores/Threads
3.6GHz 8-core 9th-gen i9	i9-9900KF	i9	9th	8/16
3.7GHz 6-core 9th-gen i5	i5-9600KF	i5	9th	6/6
3.1GHz 6-core 8th-gen i5	i5-8600	i5	8th	6/6
3.0GHz 6-core 8th-gen i5	i5-85001	i5	8th	6/6

2019 21.5″ iMac CPU Models
Apple “Name”	Intel Model	Family	Gen	Cores/Threads
3.2GHz 6-core 8th-gen i7	i7-87002	i7	8th	6/12
3.0GHz 6-core 8th-gen i5	i5-85001	i5	8th	6/6
3.6GHz quad-core 8th-gen i3	i3-81003	i3	8th	4/4
2.3GHz dual-core 7th-gen i5 (rel. 2017)	i5-7360U	i5	7th	2/4

¹Same CPU as $1,099 2018 Mac mini
²Same CPU as $1,299 2018 Mac mini
³Same CPU as $799 2018 Mac mini

There are several things to note here. Only two of the entries, the high end CPUs in the 27-inch iMacs are 9th generation, that is, Coffee Lake Refresh. For an explanation, see: “Why Apple May Have Delayed the New iMac.“

The 8th generation CPUs are the standard Coffee Lake CPUs which Intel has been shipping since late 2017.

Next, note that the new 8th gen CPUs used in the 21.5 inch iMac are the same as used in the 2018 Mac mini. But the iMacs use discrete (Vega) graphics. The Mac mini uses on-board Intel UHD Graphics 630.

We’ve provided links in the chart above so you can read more about each CPU Apple has selected.

Finally, I’d like to thank my colleague, Dave Hamilton, for extraordinary assistance in the compilation of the chart above.

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