New iMac Has Unreleased Z68 Chipset That Supports SSD Data Caching

Apple's newly released iMac features an unreleased Intel Z68 chipset that could allow for hybrid SSD/traditional hard drive setup.

Tonymacx86 notes that the Intel Z68 chipset for Sandy Bridge 1155 is not set to debut for another week, on May 11; however, Apple's new iMacs are already shipping with the chip.

AppleInsider reports that the Z68 chipset allows for solid-state drive data caching when a system is equipped with either a hybrid SSD/traditional drive or a combination of a SSD and a traditional drive in the same machine. Apple's new iMacs, in both the 21.5-inch and 27-inch screen sizes, come with a build-to-order option for a 256GB solid state drive.


Basically this means that despite have two drives in the system the user would only see one drive. Operating System files and frequently accessed files would be cached on the SSD for performance enhancements while the traditional drive would provide the mass storage.

It's thought that solid-state drive data caching feature is not yet enabled but could be with future versions of Mac OS X. Perhaps Lion?

Read More [via AppleInsider]