I was thinking of upgrading from my 2013 iMac to a 2017. Problem is that the i7 3.6ghz version is way more expensive than the i5 3ghz/3.4ghz models. So I was thinking of upgrading the processor from the 3.0/3.4 to the i7 3.6 while I was in there upgrading the ram. Looks like on eBay I can get the i7 3.6ghz processor for $70ish. thoughts?
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2017 iMac upgrades
- Thread starter Rubberman
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What is ultimately your goal for the new machine? Do you think you will need additional cores for your daily usage? Are you looking to get 21.5" or 27" model? What are the price points for newer, let's say 2019/2020 compared to what you looking to pay for 2017? Perhaps saving a bit more and getting newer model might be better overall, as the machine will be supported for longer, so at the end you will get a better value for your money, plus the CPU will be already faster. Even a base i5 Coffee Lake will be as good if not better than Kaby Lake i7 that are in 2017 models.
In this case I think both the i5 and i7 are quad core, i.e., both have four real cores. If so, may not be worth it (hyper-threading is not nearly as good as extra real cores). If you need more performance, get a later machine with more real cores.
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