27" iMac question: 2009 i7 vs 2010 i5

[eoren1]

I have decided to upgrade from a 13" 2007 Macbook running a 20" monitor to a 27" iMac. I will predominately use Photoshop CS5/Lightroom/Photomatix on it. I may watch movies via VLC while working as well. Rare use of iMovie to work on files. However, I may end up doing more video work when I purchase a new dSLR in the future.

I was all set to buy the 2010 iMac 27" 2.8GHz Quad Core i5 4GB/1TB/Radeon 5750 model refurbed for 1699 not including Applecare.

Just saw the 2009 27" Quad Core i7 2.8GHz 8GB/1TB/Radeon 4850 (512MB) with AppleCare for 1899.

I'm hoping to keep this iMac at least as long as the last one (3-4 years). So for essentially the same price, which is the better deal? Any issues with the '09 27" screens that may have been fixed on the 2010 (ie the yellow tint)?

Thanks!
E

 

[Hellhammer]

The yellowing issues exists with both models. I would get the '09 model, it's a lot better deal.

 

[TheralSadurns]

Go for the 2009 i7.

The graphics card is weaker... but as you don't seem to want to play games on it... it doesn't matter at all.
What people tend to forget... the i5 CPU supports Turbo Boost i.e. dynamic overclocking but it does NOT support HyperThreading.
The i7, however, DOES. So essentially you don't buy a Quad Core but an 8-Core machine with the i7.
While the difference might not be thaaaat huge in every day tasks... once more and more applications are multi-threaded the difference will be bigger.

 

[wisty]

Go for the 2009 i7.

The graphics card is weaker... but as you don't seem to want to play games on it... it doesn't matter at all.
What people tend to forget... the i5 CPU supports Turbo Boost i.e. dynamic overclocking but it does NOT support HyperThreading.
The i7, however, DOES. So essentially you don't buy a Quad Core but an 8-Core machine with the i7.
While the difference might not be thaaaat huge in every day tasks... once more and more applications are multi-threaded the difference will be bigger.

Hyperthreading on a 4 core machine is pretty much theoretical for most applications. I only really want more beef when I see Firefox hanging on a badly written Flash applet with one core maxed out.

It's a toss-up. The AppleCare and extra RAM look nice though.

Both are nice looking machines, as long as you don't get the yellowing.

 

[eoren1]

My new concern is the 2009 iMac is from Expurmac. Read some reseller ratings that raised a few worries. At the least, if I get a yellow one, I don't think it would be as easy as walking into the Apple store nearby...

Thanks for the advice.
E

 

[eoren1]

Went back to the Apple refurb store and saw both the new i5 and the '09 i7 are selling for 1699. They are both 2.8 gHz chips.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but are the only changes then the upgraded video card? If I'm not a gamer, it seems the older i7 is the better option (even without the benefit of the 8 gigs ram and free applecare offered by expurmac)
Thanks again
E

 

[Hellhammer]

Went back to the Apple refurb store and saw both the new i5 and the '09 i7 are selling for 1699. They are both 2.8 gHz chips.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but are the only changes then the upgraded video card? If I'm not a gamer, it seems the older i7 is the better option (even without the benefit of the 8 gigs ram and free applecare offered by expurmac)
Thanks again
E

'10 model has better GPU, 1333MHz RAM and third SATA port (for the SSD). However, the '09 model has better CPU so I would get it