2009 i7 vs. 2010 i5

[ShukuenShinobi]

I have an opportunity to get a Late 2009 27" i7 (2.8 Ghz) for $1699.

I've been looking at the $1999 i5 (also 2.8 Ghz). I know it has a 1Gb Video Card, compared to the 512 MB one on the 2009 i7.

My basic question is, is the i7 worth the lesser video card and cheaper price, compared to the i5 with a stronger video card?

I do a lot of work in Photoshop and iMovie, as well as Illustrator and inDesign. I also will be playing TF2 heavily, and heard that the i7 was great for video and gaming.

Thanks for the help, I'm in the market for an iMac since my Late 2006 Macbook Pro is on the verge of death.

 

[Hellhammer]

2010 iMac is better for gaming. i7 shows nearly no improvements in gaming since games cannot take advantage of its extra threads. However, I would go for the i7 because it's 300$ less and the difference in gaming ain't that huge either

 

[richpjr]

Man, I agonized over those very models for a long time, wanting the i7 and the newer video card and in the end I decided it would bug me to not have both, so I bit the bullet and spent an additional $500 on a 2010 i7 - not that this helps you in any way. For the money, I'd get the 2009 i7.

 

[Jolt]

Hard decision really.

At a level price I'd say the newer i5, because if you game then the better graphics will make more of a difference than the better processor.

The $300 difference makes it hard to decide.

 

[Jolt]

Just an afterthought, but the 2010 i5 is $1699 on the Apple refurb store. Have you considered that?

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC511LL/A?mco=MTkwMzU2Njc

 

[TMRaven]

With your workflow, you'll notice more of a difference with the 2010 i5. Photoshop really doesn't take advantage of the 8 threads the i7 has. However, any gaming will benefit slightly from the 10-20% boost in performance the mobility 5850 gives over mobility 4850.

 

[ShukuenShinobi]

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I realized the 2010 i7 is only $1899 refurbed. I might as well cover all bases if the cost is only $200 difference.

Thanks for the refurb suggestion!

 

[Bobbytoad]

Sorry to jump the thread but I am in the same dilemma.
I will not be doing any gaming just mainly ripping DVDs to iPad and using iMovie and in time photo editing - would it be worth me getting the 2010 i5 or the 2009 i7?

 

[Hellhammer]

Sorry to jump the thread but I am in the same dilemma.
I will not be doing any gaming just mainly ripping DVDs to iPad and using iMovie and in time photo editing - would it be worth me getting the 2010 i5 or the 2009 i7?

Go for the i7. It's faster when it comes to video encoding and that's what you're going to do when ripping DVDs for iPad