Graphics (video) card for the iMac

[dgarmaise]

I expect to be purchasing the 24-inch iMac soon. The 2.8GHz version comes with an ATI Radeon 2600 Pro graphics card with 256MB RAM. I want to be able to do fairly basic video editing, not the professional kind. Is the video card perfectly adequate, or should I try to upgrade to the NVIDIA 512MB GeForce 8800 GS, assuming that were possible?

 

[Robertson1993]

I would go with the nVidia as its a better card, but thats just my opinion. I have found nVidia to be better than Radeon.

 

[8baal]

Is there any documentation anywhere to support the notion for people like me who purchased the new 24" 2.8 ghz to do their own video card upgrade? Even if I had to purchase the card from Apple directly, or even take the thing into the Geniuses... Is that component separately installed inside the iMac, and can it be replaced if the ATI doesn't meet my needs in the future?

 

[craig1410]

I would go with the nVidia as its a better card, but thats just my opinion. I have found nVidia to be better than Radeon.

I would agree that the nVidia is a better card, in this case the OP is talking about video editing in which case I very much doubt that he would benefit from the nVidia over the ATI.

The only reason to pay more for the nVidia is if you regularly play 3D intensive games and even then only if you consider yourself a hard-core gamer. I have a 24" iMac 2.4G/320G/4G from last year and it runs all the 3D games I play (mainly flight and driving sims) at full-res and with high framerates. I also play counterstrike source and it runs great too. Obviously more demanding games like Bioshock or Crysis would be a greater challenge but I don't play them anyway.

For video editing a Radeon 2600 will do just fine.
Cheers,
Craig.

 

[JCCash]

That's good to know. I think I am simply going to save some money and buy the 24" refurb. It's in my budget and looks like a good deal. I really like this forum.