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Buying a new iMac, but.....

F

Fletchzky

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 25, 2007
59
0
I really have never been comfortable with the GPU Apple decided to go with (Ati Radeon 2600 Pro HD). Initially I didn't like it because it's a weak card for gaming and because I have always been a bit more partial to NVIDIA but now I am really not liking the card due to all the problems that have been associated with it.

I know Apple released the freeze fix firmware update but I would still prefer a different card in the 24" iMac I am going to buy.

My dilemma is this - I should (finally) have enough to get my Mac right after Christmas but do you think it would be worth waiting a few weeks afterward until Macworld on the 15th of January? I am wondering if Apple is going to offer a new GPU upgrade in the iMac due to all of the negative press about the freezes. The last generation iMac had 2 different GPU's to choose from and I wouldn't mind paying $150 or so for the upgrade to a faster, better, more stable card.

Thoughts?
 
gusapple said:
That is true.... Macwold would be a great place to release a new Mac, but, it just doesn't seem like it will happen so soon. I would wait, however, for Macworld anyways. It's always smartest to wait.
Click to expand...

Not really hoping for a new Mac altogether....I like the look and specs of the current iMac for the most part. Except for the sub-par GPU.
 
Fletchzky said:
Not really hoping for a new Mac altogether....I like the look and specs of the current iMac for the most part. Except for the sub-par GPU.
Click to expand...

doubtful that the gpu will be changed, but with the right settings in bootcamp the current gpu can play any game that is currently out including crysis and cod4, it plays cod4 very well with no noticeable slowdown on med-high settings.....so a good 35fps or so....i think macworld might bring a little bit faster cpu but i doubt they will change the gpu in them....just my thoughts
 
I'm not an expert at video cards, but over in this thread, there is some discussions on the 2600 pro that might interest you:

You do know that the 2600 pro is really a 2600 XT, which is actually pretty good, don't you?
Click to expand...
 
What is the return window for a new iMac? Isn't it 14 days? Maybe I should just get the iMac on the 2nd, then if they announce a change at Macworld I can bring it back and exchange it for the model with the different GPU (if one is announced) ;)
 
Fletchzky said:
What is the return window for a new iMac? Isn't it 14 days? Maybe I should just get the iMac on the 2nd, then if they announce a change at Macworld I can bring it back and exchange it for the model with the different GPU (if one is announced) ;)
Click to expand...

Why not just wait? Working in retail, I can tell you stuff like that is pretty annoying to whomever is running the store. Just something to consider.
 
spencecb said:
Why not just wait? Working in retail, I can tell you stuff like that is pretty annoying to whomever is running the store. Just something to consider.
Click to expand...

I have been waiting for 2 years.....it's getting tough.
 
spencecb said:
Why not just wait? Working in retail, I can tell you stuff like that is pretty annoying to whomever is running the store. Just something to consider.
Click to expand...

Why should he care if he annoys the Apple store staff? Its their job and Apple's policy on returns. If a new GPU option is announced you face a delivery delay most likely. Not sure what they could replace it with however. Maybe an 8700m GT but that isn't like a 7300->7600 leap that the old white one had.
 
Fletchzky said:
I have been waiting for 2 years.....it's getting tough.
Click to expand...

I really do not see the imac being upgraded until next summer when the rumored quad-core mobile penryn's come out. The ATI radeon hd 2600 pro card is good, but the gaming issues seem to be a problem with the drivers in mac OS x. People have gotten much better results until Vista and bootcamp with the same setup. Macworld is way too early for an iMac update.
 
I'm not sure what they could replace it with... The Mobility 2600XT isn't exactly amazing, but it isn't terrible either. People on here seem to slag it off a lot.

I'm just waiting for new drivers. That's the main thing that's bugging me.
 
Why don't you just get the white 24" with the GT7600 at a discount if you're partial to Nvidia? We don't know if the iMac will be updated at Macworld (unlikely short of a speed bump in the lower end models), much less if Apple will switch back to Nvidia. That's purely wishful thinking.
 
JayLenochiniMac said:
Why don't you just get the white 24" with the GT7600 at a discount if you're partial to Nvidia? We don't know if the iMac will be updated at Macworld (unlikely short of a speed bump in the lower end models), much less if Apple will switch back to Nvidia. That's purely wishful thinking.
Click to expand...

I considered going for the older iMac model but ultimately decided on pursuing the Alu iMac for long-term reasons. I don't upgrade very often - the machine I am on now I have had for almost 5 years. I want whatever I get to be as new as possible....
 
Wait...I am. Just too close to Macworld now. Many new choices and
possible discounts on current config's possible.
 
iMac jitters

Can you give me some insight on the new iMac 24" 2.8 extreme? Are you happy with it? I'm nervous about getting an all-in-one machine. How about repairs on them? Are they reliable? Is there a big difference between the 2.8 extreme and the 2.4 core 2 duo? Thanks.
 
Im actually buying a 20" iMac with the 2600 in it and if they do upgrade for macworld would i be able to trade in my mac for the one with the better video card? Assuming that they do update it?
 
The iMac WILL NOT be updated at Macworld. Maybe some of you guys including the OP might be new to Macworld but I have been attending Macworld for over 5 years now and Apple never uses Macworld to introduce updated models. Macworld is always used to introduce an entirely new product such as last years iPhone intro and year before that the MacBook Pro and iMac with Intel and year before that the Mac mini and iPod shuffle.

Speed bumps and updated GPU's are a waste of time to show off at Macworld.
Also there's no guarantee that the next iMac revision will have a different GPU. Apple kept X1600 through 2 iMac G5 revisions and 2 iMac Intels and the same for 2 versions of the MBP.

When the GPU gets updated in the iMac it won't be a ton better than the current ATI Radeon HD 2600XT.
BTW, to the OP, the mobility HD 2600XT is great card for DX 10 gaming in Vista. It's not the HD 2600 Pro that you might think, it's the mobility XT. Apple in fact markets it incorrectly.
 
HLdan said:
When the GPU gets updated in the iMac it won't be a ton better than the current ATI Radeon HD 2600XT.
BTW, to the OP, the mobility HD 2600XT is great card for DX 10 gaming in Vista. It's not the HD 2600 Pro that you might think, it's the mobility XT. Apple in fact markets it incorrectly.
Click to expand...

Yes indeed and once I ran Mobility Modder in Boot Camp Vista ATI's own reference drivers properly identify the card as the Radeon Mobility HD 2600 XT that it is and it runs all the games I need it to very well with decent framerates. I'm a bit sick of the bad rep the card gets and all the misinformation.
 
That's strange....I wonder why Apple wouldn't market it correctly since it's a better card than what's advertised. :confused:
 
HLdan said:
The iMac WILL NOT be updated at Macworld. Maybe some of you guys including the OP might be new to Macworld but I have been attending Macworld for over 5 years now and Apple never uses Macworld to introduce updated models. Macworld is always used to introduce an entirely new product such as last years iPhone intro and year before that the MacBook Pro and iMac with Intel and year before that the Mac mini and iPod shuffle.

Speed bumps and updated GPU's are a waste of time to show off at Macworld.
Also there's no guarantee that the next iMac revision will have a different GPU. Apple kept X1600 through 2 iMac G5 revisions and 2 iMac Intels and the same for 2 versions of the MBP.

When the GPU gets updated in the iMac it won't be a ton better than the current ATI Radeon HD 2600XT.
BTW, to the OP, the mobility HD 2600XT is great card for DX 10 gaming in Vista. It's not the HD 2600 Pro that you might think, it's the mobility XT. Apple in fact markets it incorrectly.
Click to expand...

Would Apple update the iMac's CPU when (or if) they update the Mac Pro's CPU to Penryn in the next couple of months? I'm just wondering because I am going to buy an iMac, but I've been waiting to see if they will get updated first.
 
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