Apple iMac updates: High-end version to feature 'server-grade' model to be launched in time for Christmas

A boy looks at an Apple iMac desktop computer at the new Apple Store in Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai. The iMac 2017 is expected to be released in the second half of this year.Reuters/Aly Song

Apple is reportedly working on a "server-grade model" as one of the variants in the new iMac lines.

Earlier this month, Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president for worldwide marketing, confirmed that the company is already working on the next iteration of the Apple iMac, as reported by Tech Crunch. Although the article indicates that the new computer is going to be launched in the second half of the year, not much details were revealed regarding the rest of the features of the new iMac during the discussion.

Nonetheless, a new report that surfaced recently gives a hint on what to expect in the new iMac. According to Digitimes, a Taiwan-based company that is familiar with the plans of Apple revealed that the Cupertino-based company will start working on the new iMac in May.

There are two versions expected in the upcoming computers, particularly a 21.5-inch iMac that will serve as the regular variant, and a 27-inch version that will be the high-end model of the device.

The premium iMac is expected to come as a server-grade model. As for its specifications, it is anticipated to have Intel's upcoming Xeon E3-1285 v6 for its central processing unit (CPU). For its graphics processing unit (GPU), the report indicates that the high-end iMac is going to come with the "latest discrete graphics card."

Aside from these, the new high-end iMac is expected to come with 16 GB to 64 GB options for error correcting code (ECC) memory, along with 2 TB of non-volatile memory (NVM) Express peripheral component interconnect (PCI)-e solid-state storage.

Other features that may come in the premium iMac model include a brand-new keyboard, USB Type C generation 2 support, and Thunderbolt 3 port. In addition, it may also come with 8K resolution, as Apple is reportedly working on the said technology.

Both new iMac lines are expected to be manufactured by Quanta Computer. The regular iMac version may come around the third quarter of the year, while the high-end iMac is expected to be released in time for Christmas.