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Apple on Monday refreshed its iMac lineup with the latest and greatest in Core2Duo Processors and more powerful graphic options for the 24″ model. The updated iMac’s now feature Core2Duo processors using the latest penryn chips manufactured using the 45nm technology, more efficient compared to the older 65nm technology.

Prior to Monday’s update, the iMac featured either a 2GHz or 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo chip. The updated machines run at 2.4GHz, 2.66GHz or 2.8GHz, depending on configuration. Apple also offers a 3.06GHz processor as a build-to-order option. The only other Macs to top the 3GHz mark are build-to-order configurations of the Mac Pro, with either 3GHz or 3.2GHz Quad Core Xeon processors. So its nice to see the iMac receive some pro treatment ain’t it?

Apple also increased the amount of RAM that ships with two of the three standard iMac configurations. The 20-inch 2.66GHz iMac and the 24-inch 2.8GHz iMac ship with 2GB of RAM; in comparison to the previous offerings of 1GB of memory.

Other changes to the iMac line include a 1,066MHz FSB on all three iMac configurations in comparison to the previous 800MHz. Also NVidia 8800GS is also an option on the 24″ model which is good news for hardcore gamers because NVidia cards seem to outperform ATI ones in every world.

The new iMacs come in three basic models:

• The $1,199 20-inch with a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, and an ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128MB GDDR3 memory;
• The $1,499 20-inch model with a 2.66GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and an ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB GDDR3 memory; and
• The $1,799 24-inch offering with a 2.8GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and an ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB GDDR3 memory.
• The $2,199 build-to-order 24-inch model that ships with the 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo chip, Nvidia GeForce 8880 GS graphics card and 500GB hard drive.

All iMac models are now available and are shipping immediately. For the performance comparisons on the new iMac with its other Mac cousins and the older iMac head over to Engadget