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the quad core iMacs have sufficiently larger heatsinks, as seen at MacFixit.com,

Never heard of MacFixit.com, did you mean ifixit.com? If so, they have only done a teardown of the C2D. Nowhere that I know of has torn apart a quad core, unless you know of otherwise. Please do share.
 
I don't think that the difference will be like 30% more fps. Most games only use 1 or 2 cores. In that case the i5 will run at 3.2 GHz while the i7 will run at 3.46 GHz (correct me on the numbers if I'm wrong). I do even think that a 3.33 GHz (E8600) combined with an ATi 4850 will do a pretty good job when it comes to gaming. Hell, I can't wait to see some real world benchmarks!

So, I considered the dual-core, but after bumping up the CPU to 3.33 GHz and upgrading the GPU to the 4850, the damn thing actually costs more than the quad-core i5! So I thought it was a no-brainer to just get the i5 which comes with the 4850 and runs at 3.2 GHz with turbo boost. Now here I am considering an i7 because of these benchtests, but I'm not even really sure it will be better than the dual-core for games. I figure games in the coming years will start to use quad-core, but perhaps I'm mistaken. In the end, I'm still thinking that the i5 is simply the best deal or "bang for the buck" so to speak.

:confused::(:confused:
 
You haven't ordered, yet you are the top poster in the waiting to ship thread. LOL

DoFoT9, who also hasn't ordered is the 2nd top poster. LMAO


Hahaha I know, ironic huh? I have been jonesing real bad over these new quad cores. At first I was set on an i5 and planning on getting it at my local Apple store. But with the new benchmarks coming out on the i7, the i7 seems like the clear answer! I'm addicted to the forums; you can ask my gf and ask her if she feels neglected. :rolleyes:
 
So, I considered the dual-core, but after bumping up the CPU to 3.33 GHz and upgrading the GPU to the 4850, the damn thing actually costs more than the quad-core i5! So I thought it was a no-brainer to just get the i5 which comes with the 4850 and runs at 3.2 GHz with turbo boost. Now here I am considering an i7 because of these benchtests, but I'm not even really sure it will be better than the dual-core for games. I figure games in the coming years will start to use quad-core, but perhaps I'm mistaken. In the end, I'm still thinking that the i5 is simply the best deal or "bang for the buck" so to speak.

:confused::(:confused:

The i5 is the biggest bang for your buck, and yes, eventually more applications and games will utilize quad core processors better, just look at how much dual cores are being utilized now. If you have the money to spend, get the i7. If you don't have the money, you won't be disappointed by the i5.
 
Hahaha I know, ironic huh? I have been jonesing real bad over these new quad cores. At first I was set on an i5 and planning on getting it at my local Apple store. But with the new benchmarks coming out on the i7, the i7 seems like the clear answer! I'm addicted to the forums; you can ask my gf and ask her if she feels neglected. :rolleyes:

I'm sure my wife feels the same. I am the third top poster in that thread. I have been totally lost in these forums since I made my purchase. I'm so glad that I finally got my i7 iMac today so that now I can.... um... well... keep reading and posting. LOL
 
whats your point lol? i like to contribute to these forums. i give and take information.

sorry if i talk to much. ill shutup now :(

Nah, the more information and contribution, the better! I just found it ironic that the top two people haven't ordered. It's all good.:cool:
 
I figure games in the coming years will start to use quad-core, but perhaps I'm mistaken. In the end, I'm still thinking that the i5 is simply the best deal or "bang for the buck" so to speak.:

That's exactly what I'm thinking. The E8600 is a decent processor and will perform very well but why pay more for an architecture that will be probably gone with the next revision?
 
Never heard of MacFixit.com, did you mean ifixit.com? If so, they have only done a teardown of the C2D. Nowhere that I know of has torn apart a quad core, unless you know of otherwise. Please do share.

ah yes you know what i meant, iFixit. well the Core 2 Duo iMac insides were redesigned to make the CPU and GPU as far away from each other as possible and with bigger heatsinks to decrease heat and increase heat exhaust. as the Core 2 Duo iMacs are pretty much the same specs as the last generation iMac, we can assume that the new design was done for the quad cores.

but as there hasnt been a teardown yet it may look different inside. i am just basing this on an educated assumption.
 
Nah, the more information and contribution, the better! I just found it ironic that the top two people haven't ordered. It's all good.:cool:

I thought you were just messing about that, so we really are the ones who posted the most? lol How can you search for top posters in a thread?
 
hehe good. i wasnt gonna shut up anyway.

any gaming benchmarks possible at all!?

No, I am at work now. Not long after it was delivered I had to leave for an early lunch meeting. Maybe tomorrow I will have a chance... but I'm not sure. I have a lot of work to do tomorrow and during the weekend. :(

I just cant get over how fast this is to have as a home machine. It's my first Mac and I'm coming from a Dell Pentium 4.
 
just buy it T9! the i7 is a screamer with threaded applications and you get a great LED backlit IPS screen to boot. you will now be behind all the guys that bought it in this thread.
 
No, I am at work now. Not long after it was delivered I had to leave for an early lunch meeting. Maybe tomorrow I will have a chance... but I'm not sure. I have a lot of work to do tomorrow and during the weekend. :(

oh no! hat sucks! ill run the benchmarks for you ;) install some remote software for me to use your computer haha! kidding btw ;)


@ richy: didnt i tell you that lol? there is also another fan in there (the C2D) for extra air flow. will be interesting to see the quad tare down. i guess the heatsync is even bigger in that thing.

just buy it T9! the i7 is a screamer with threaded applications and you get a great LED backlit IPS screen to boot. you will now be behind all the guys that bought it in this thread.

hahaha i dont care. i have exams that i want to pass! just making sure that i get a good one. remember what happened with my CD MBP? (C2D MBPs came out 5 days after i purchased mine haha). im scared!

This might tide you over until someone posts iMac gaming benchmarks:http://http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3641&p=7

thanks! the link isnt working for me though :(
 
For an upper end computer, the i5/i7 are really the steal of the year imho.
 
I think you are wrong. $200 more for the i7 for 30% more marginal performance.

This is one of those rare times you either get the very high end or the very low end for best value. No wonder they are taking reservations for Christmas.

Rocketman

But look at some of the people spending close to the same amount on a dual core 21.5" as an i5 27" model. That i5 is a better deal along with a better screen. As I said though, if you have the money to spend on an i7, get it.
 
For a gamer, will the i7 really be much better?
I doubt it. For any application that uses 1-2 cores you will be competing for speed with Microsoft Word and Safari.

8 virtual cores is best applied to tasks that involve encoding and decoding and large scale processing.

I have simple HD files that are unplayable in a G4 Tiger mac, but play fine on a C2D Leopard mac of marginal heritage and age.

When we start playing HD picture in picture, or use our Macs for a media server for three rooms or for encoding large video projects, this will shine.

All I know is for $200 now you can get 30% more protection against future death.

What are you going to do with that information?

Rocketman
 
All I know is for $200 now you can get 30% more protection against future death.

What are you going to do with that information?

Rocketman

I agree. And one should hopefully be able to get those $200 back when one sells the computer on the other side (if one wants to).
 
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