Help which iMac do I need?

[boywonder27]

Ok so I am switching from PC to iMAC.

1)I am a photography major, and do PS editing, not heavy duty but often.
2)I Copy movies from my camcorder to computer and edit a little and burn to DVD.
3) Dreamweaver for publishing and creating websites, my own.

Ok my options. Which ones best and works with PhotoShop CS3, and a little movie editing. Only multitasking PS open and Dreamweaver open. I will buy 4GB of RAM max it out, right off the bat. Is 24" that big of a difference?

20" 2.4GHz $1099
20" 2.6Ghz $1299 (dont see much difference in speed there)

or

24" 2.4Ghz $1399
24" 2.8Ghz $1549
24" 3.06Ghz $1899

 

[iPhil]

I'd say 24" iMac for the real estate alone... if you can afford the 3.06 model then go ahead n get it..

 

[MacDawg]

Definitely the 24"
You will regret it if you don't

Get the best 24" you can afford and max the RAM

Woof, Woof - Dawg

 

[Dmac77]

I have to agree with the above posters. Even though I have a 20" (would have gotten the 24" if I had the room), I find the screens on the 24" much better, and more color accurate. Get the best 24" you can afford. Enjoy your new Mac, and welcome to the dark side

Don

 

[boywonder27]

So which 24" I get now!

Ok so I will go with 24".

Now which 24". Is there a big difference when editing in PS. Anyone have 24" 2.4Ghz and do editing in PS or backup movies to DVDs. Does it run flawless. $200 saving is RAM and Backup 500GB drive almost.

2.4 GHZ or 2.8GHz? (save $200 with 2.4Ghz)

 

[Dmac77]

Ok so I will go with 24".

Now which 24". Is there a big difference when editing in PS. Anyone have 24" 2.4Ghz and do editing in PS or backup movies to DVDs. Does it run flawless. $200 saving is RAM and Backup 500GB drive almost.

2.4 GHZ or 2.8GHz? (save $200 with 2.4Ghz)

Go with the 2.8 with the 8800GS BTO upgrade, or get a 3.06, the better graphics card will be helpful. IMO don't even think about the 2.4, it's almost a year old.

Don

 

[boywonder27]

No 8800GS

I bought a MBP just now. So to save money am getting the refurb iMac. I talk to and read from people there still new, and any problems been fixed, and same warrenty. So most likley not to be DOA. No scratches or scuffs, as good as new.

So the 2.4 and 2.8 only come with ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB.

If I got iMac with student discount only $100 off with upgraded 8800GS it would be $1834. Thats $284 more then the ATI. I do not think it is really worth that much more, is it.

 

[Dmac77]

I bought a MBP just now. So to save money am getting the refurb iMac. I talk to and read from people there still new, and any problems been fixed, and same warrenty. So most likley not to be DOA. No scratches or scuffs, as good as new.

So the 2.4 and 2.8 only come with ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB.

If I got iMac with student discount only $100 off with upgraded 8800GS it would be $1834. Thats $284 more then the ATI. I do not think it is really worth that much more, is it.

I really think that the 8800GS will make a much bigger difference, you get twice as much VRAM, and that can be quite helpful with layering in PS, and video editing. Also remember that Open GL in Snow Leopard will be able to use the processing power of your graphic/video card like a normal processor, and that extra 256 megs of VRAM will make a huge difference in Open GL, especially when encoding video. Also, your future proofing yourself in a way. If you plan on keeping this computer for more than a few years, it is worth it to get the highest spec that you can get. Also, that extra processor speed will be noticeable.

Don

 

[boywonder27]

ummmm

Well at $1834 I might as well get the refurb. 3.06Ghz 500GB HDD and 8800GS at $1899. it puts me at $3894.83 with buying MBP and iMac thats including taxs. Thats $378.87 differnce it what I get with the 24" 2.8GHz ATI card.

 

[Dmac77]

Well at $1834 I might as well get the refurb. 3.06Ghz 500GB HDD and 8800GS at $1899. it puts me at $3894.83 with buying MBP and iMac thats including taxs. Thats $378.87 differnce it what I get with the 24" 2.8GHz ATI card.

Those two machines will keep you running for many years to come (still running a 9 year old iBook daily). I honestly think that the 8800GS is a much better investment then the 2600 Pro. Plus if you ever want to do gaming the 8800GS will preform much better.

Don

 

[boywonder27]

Wow, it is doable, but was thinking about $400 to $500 less, when I started. Saving the other money saved for new Canon DSLR, to be announced early August.

 

[I'mAMac]

Get the 2.8Ghz 24" at least but dont buy the RAM from Apple. www.crucial.com
You will save hundreds of dollars on high quality RAM from here. I actually just bought some for my iMac and it was perfect.

 

[iChrisG]

I would suggest getting the 24 inch and the 3.06 GHz if you can afford it. But if you can't the 2.8 should be just fine. The 24 inch will be better so you have more of a desktop to work with.

Happy buying!

-Chris

 

[memo90061]

I was about to make the same thread! i wasnt sure of what iMac to get. It will be my first mac. I was thinking about the 24 inch 2.4 iMac or the 24 inch 2.8 iMac. I want to get the one with 3.06 but thats a lot for me right now.

 

[boywonder27]

I want the 3.06 but the 2.8 is 350 dollars cheaper. Thats RAM, and more to my DLSR. lol

I was at the Apple Store playing with the 2.8 at 2GB running PS and iMovie, was good, no problems. I crunched some photos and worked great.

So do I save $350, I am leaning towards it. The 2.8Ghz with ATI card.