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27" iMac GPU: 256MB vs 512MB???

GadgetAddicted said:
Thanks for the detailed response. You guys are making me lean more towards the i5 but I do not know when in November they will ship it out. Any ideas?

I currently have a 24" iMac that I have to return within the next 9 days (got it the day before new ones were released lol) so that is why I am stalling and wanting the 3.06 so at least I can return this 24" iMac.

From the links, the i5 defenitely seems like the best bang for the buck. I WILL be running 2 screens so the 512 mb might be a plus. I could cheap out now or spend the extra $447 and get the core i5 which would hopefully have a decent resale value down the road.

As you stated...going core i7 is NOT worth it right?
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The i7 is probably a bad idea for you if the i5 is out of your budget. Unless you are a power user who needs hyperthreading save until you can get an i5. And how the hell did you by an iMac the day before it was released without checking this website. We've been expecting a new iMac every Tuesday since the end of September.
 
lasuther said:
The i7 is probably a bad idea for you if the i5 is out of your budget. Unless you are a power user who needs hyperthreading save until you can get an i5. And how the hell did you by an iMac the day before it was released without checking this website. We've been expecting a new iMac every Tuesday since the end of September.
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lol cuz im smart like that :p. Actually it was a refurb that i ordered days ago n it ARRIVED on the day the new macs were released. Yeah I was contemplating between the 3.06 and the i5. I dont know if the $300 is worth the upgrade.
 
Will there be more lag with the 256mb gpu when using a dual display set up than the 512mb gpu?? Like would it be noticable?
 
GadgetAddicted, I would go for the i5, as you get the better GPU (4850) and a faster CPU (i5) compared to the C2D.
27-inch: 3.06GHz / 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo / ATI Radeon HD 4670 - 256MB = $1,699.00
27-inch: 3.06GHz / 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo / ATI Radeon HD 4850 - 512MB = $1,849.00
27-inch: 2.66GHz / 2.66GHz Intel Core i5 / ATI Radeon HD 4850 - 512MB = $1,999.00
 
I wish Apple would have provided an option for the ATI 5700 series. 1GB, 40nm vs. 55nm, 50 watts less power draw and about 40% faster than the 4850.

I just can't bring myself to spend $2,500 for the top 27" iMac and have it come with a one year old mid range card trying to drive a 2500x1400 monitor. Maybe the 5700 will be available in a few months with a matte screen option.
 
Bubba Satori said:
I wish Apple would have provided an option for the ATI 5700 series. 1GB, 40nm vs. 55nm, 50 watts less power draw and about 40% faster than the 4850.

I just can't bring myself to spend $2,500 for the top 27" iMac and have it come with a one year old mid range card trying to drive a 2500x1400 monitor. Maybe the 5700 will be available in a few months with a matte screen option.
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Same reason that i will wait. Why cant apple give you 8 gb ram for 2000+ dollars.
 
Bubba Satori said:
I wish Apple would have provided an option for the ATI 5700 series. 1GB, 40nm vs. 55nm, 50 watts less power draw and about 40% faster than the 4850.

I just can't bring myself to spend $2,500 for the top 27" iMac and have it come with a one year old mid range card trying to drive a 2500x1400 monitor. Maybe the 5700 will be available in a few months with a matte screen option.
Click to expand...

the 4850 is a year old mid range gpu? lol matte screen option iMac..i doubt that would happen
 
300D said:
Because very few people even need 4GB of ram.
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There are many features that just come standard once you start coughing up lots of money for a computer. Apple seems to neglect them for ridiculous periods of time.

Quad cores start at ~$550 from Dell and at least 4 GB of RAM has been standard for ages in notebooks and desktops. Over $1,000 and you start seeing 8 - 12 GB in the desktops. It doesn't help that Apple uses SO-DIMMs for their "desktop" computers either.
 
I'm so sick and tired of all those individuals who find it necessary to compare Apples and Oranges - by "Dell" or any other name. It has been done over and over and over again. NOTHING will compare to an Apple; neither in performance for $ value, operation, or just plain Looks (not to mention the fact that it runs OSX... duh). Get over it PC lovers. You Cannot and never will build a machine anywhere near as powerful and definitely nowhere near as beautiful for the same coin. Not even close. All it takes is about 4 minutes on Newegg or TigerDirect or Dell to learn this. And no matter WHAT you do - it will never be an Apple.

As for the 27" iMac: Listen, I bought the white 24", 2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo when it first came out for $2499 and I have and never will complain about it's value. Performance wise it is lacking in the pro apps compared to my Mac Pro for sure but if I were to ever buy another (and no doubt I will), I would definitely go for the i7 quad. There really is no other iMac that will compare to this for probably 2-3 years and when multi-threading is properly implemented (most likely within the next 8-12 months), it will be the best bang for the buck for a LONG TIME coming, particularly if you are doing anything in pro apps - I believe you mentioned Final Cut. Compressor in particular is a dog on iMacs but the i7 will change that for sure. In the end, the extra 5 or 7 hundred will come back to you in the way of resale value, should you choose to sell it and upgrade. The original Mac Pro 2.66 dual Dual Core (Quad) is 3 years old and is selling on average for around $550 less than original pricing in it's original configuration, so consider that the i7 iMac will run circles around that machine and you know you have a worthy long term investment. In the end, the i7 after 2-3 years or so will likely have only cost you around $650. Choose wisely. Go for the gold and leave the questions behind.
 
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