Mac Pro: Apple’s top-of-the-line desktop system moves to Intel’s Nehalem architecture with support of triple-channel DDR3 ECC memory and a faster controller built into the Xeon processor. Apple says this will increase memory bandwidth by about 2.4 times and reduce memory lag by 40% The new model carries a GeForce GT120 video card, said to be three times faster than the previous Radeon HD 2600 XT. A Mini DisplayPort joins the dual-link DVI port, letting users attach the system to both older displays and Apple’s newest Cinema Displays.  Finally, the price for the base model has dropped $300, down to $2,499. The new Mac Pros will be
available next week.

iMac: Both 20 and 24-inch iMacs have been refreshed, again adding the Mini DisplayPort and lowering the base price on the larger screened system. The 20-inch base has a 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo, 2 GB of memory, a 320 GB hard drive and graphics from NVIDIA’s GeForce 9400M chipset. The 20-inch base model is $1,199 and the 24-inch base is $1,499. All configurations are available starting today.

Mac mini: The smallest, least expensive member of the desktop family has been updated to use 2GHz Core 2 Duo processors and the same chipset as the base iMac, which gives faster graphics (Apple says five times faster than previously). The mini also offers Mini DisplayPort or DVI, and an 8x SuperDrive. For those unfamiliar with the mini, it ships as a single box with no keyboard, mouse or display. The Mac mini starts at $599, shipping immediately.

At the same time, Apple has increased the speed in available processors in the 15-inch MacBook Pros to 2.66 GHz, and the Airport Extreme and Time Capsule are each upgraded with dual-band Wi-Fi radios, allowing them to run two wireless networks simultaneously, one at 2.4 GHz and one at 5 GHz.