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MacBookPr0

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 5, 2011
130
0
So I was thinking about getting the one model old iMac 27 inch 2.93 quad but I saw the geekbench of the new server and I could get it with 256 ssd and 750 7200 rpm drive, apple care, 2.0 quad i7. All for 1549 or I could get the base (2010 model) for 1589 without anything. I do video editing and lots of school work so what would you recommend?
 
The downside there would be the video card. The 2011 iMacs (and even the higher up 2010s) have some pretty nice video cards. As a main work/play machine it's pretty hard to beat an iMac.
 
I was in the same boat as you. Ended up getting the 2.5 i5 Mini. I use it mostly for Photoshop/Lightroom. No gaming.
Big pluses for the mini are the upgradeability. Even this one can hold 2 HDDs. The video card should be fine for my purposes. You can get the i7 as a BTO I believe without having to move up to the server one.
 
Same boat. Just decided on the iMac, but I'm going to get the $1849 refurb i7.

New mini is REALLY tempting, but I don't really have a decent monitor so adding a halfway decent monitor brings the cost up.

If I were you, I'd go for the newer 2011 iMac rather than the 2010 models. I'd even take the Quad i5 base over last years Quad i7 w/hyperthreading.
 
Same boat. Just decided on the iMac, but I'm going to get the $1849 refurb i7.

New mini is REALLY tempting, but I don't really have a decent monitor so adding a halfway decent monitor brings the cost up.

If I were you, I'd go for the newer 2011 iMac rather than the 2010 models. I'd even take the Quad i5 base over last years Quad i7 w/hyperthreading.

Yeah if you are buying an iMac you should get the t-bolt connector.
 
Well the reason I was looking at last years was because it has a much higher geekbench. And I was messing around with my MacBook pro and used only the intel graphics and it was still very smooth so that's not a problem. In thinking that I'll order it and if the graphics card just isn't up to it I'll return it. Does that sound Like a good idea
 
then ill add to this, are the intel integrated graphics good enough for every day video editing and a little bit of gaming?
 
Well the reason I was looking at last years was because it has a much higher geekbench. And I was messing around with my MacBook pro and used only the intel graphics and it was still very smooth so that's not a problem. In thinking that I'll order it and if the graphics card just isn't up to it I'll return it. Does that sound Like a good idea

well you have a 2 week test period so why not try it out!
 
I was in the same boat as you. Ended up getting the 2.5 i5 Mini. I use it mostly for Photoshop/Lightroom. No gaming.
Big pluses for the mini are the upgradeability. Even this one can hold 2 HDDs. The video card should be fine for my purposes. You can get the i7 as a BTO I believe without having to move up to the server one.

The standard Mini has an option for a 2.7 dual core i7 where as the server model comes with a 2.0 quad core i7.
 
So I was thinking about getting the one model old iMac 27 inch 2.93 quad but I saw the geekbench of the new server and I could get it with 256 ssd and 750 7200 rpm drive, apple care, 2.0 quad i7. All for 1549 or I could get the base (2010 model) for 1589 without anything. I do video editing and lots of school work so what would you recommend?

You are omitting the 27" display included with the iMac. Do you already have a monitor you are happy with?
 
Yeah I already have a 26 inch vizio with 1900x1440 that I love and I already have the keyboard and magic trackpad
 
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