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iMac spec advice

K

KeithJenner

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 30, 2010
1,264
364
Hi,

I am probably going to get an iMac in the next few months, to replace my MacBook Pro as my main computer. I'm just trying to get an idea on specs.

I will be going for 21.5", as I'll be using it on my desk, and I think 27" will be a bit too big sitting close up. Also, the main attraction of the 27" is the SSD option, but that's too expensive at the moment anyway.

I use it generally for spreadsheets, databases and iTunes, and the basic model iMac would be fine for that (my Macbook is). However, I also do quite a bit of video converting (mainly Handbrake DVD Rips) and intend to start using iMovie a bit in the future. Not huge projects, but just editing small home vids.

I also have quite a large iPhoto collection (about 5,000 photos I think) and have just upgraded to Aperture although I haven't done much with it yet.

The two questions are, do people think that given these usages, I will get much benefit from either going for 8gb rather than 4, or the i5 processor rather than the i3.

Video conversion times aren't a major issue for me, as I just tend to queue them up and leave them going. If it takes a few extra hours to convert a batch then that isn't a big problem, but I need the computer to be able to perform other tasks well whilst converting videos.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Keith
 
Sounds like the i3 would meet your needs just fine.

Do yourself a favor and skip the 8GB upgrade. Get 2x2GB from Crucial.com or Macsales.com and put it in yourself. It'll cost you 50 bucks. If you can use a screwdriver, you can upgrade the RAM.
 
I also think the i3 would be fine. I use mine about the same, and have no complaints on performance. I did opt to get the slightly faster 3.2Ghz i3, in plans for it to last me a little longer (my PC was 7 years old before I replaced it with this iMac).

I'll agree with skiltrip on the RAM upgrade also. That's what I did. Easy as pie upgrade and it was less than 50 bucks from Crucial.
 
Thanks for the advice.

I would be going for the faster i3 anyway, as the 500gb HDD on the base model is too small, but I think I'll stick with i3.

Good advice about the RAM. I've always done it myself in my PC days, but was concerned about opening up the iMac. If it's pretty easy then I'll certainly wait as I will then only get it if it's necessary anyway.

Thanks again.
 
KeithJenner said:
Thanks for the advice.

I would be going for the faster i3 anyway, as the 500gb HDD on the base model is too small, but I think I'll stick with i3.

Good advice about the RAM. I've always done it myself in my PC days, but was concerned about opening up the iMac. If it's pretty easy then I'll certainly wait as I will then only get it if it's necessary anyway.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

There's a little door/plate on the bottom edge of the screen. Unscrew it, opening up, and you'll see two sticks of ram, and two open slots. You just gotta push the new sticks in. You'll know they are in because you'll hear and feel them click into place.

I haven't done it myself yet but I've watched a couple vids on YouTube where people demonstrate it. Check them out.
 
RAM Question

I just returned an imac i7 Quad 2.93 and Apple said that all they had was a Quad i7 with 1-4gb ram stick vs. 2-2gb sticks. Is there a performance difference? I'm anticipating the replacement to have 1 - 4gb stick.
 
You'll lose dual channel bandwidth configuration, but that's not very noticeable in most real world applications.
 
TMRaven said:
You'll lose dual channel bandwidth configuration, but that's not very noticeable in most real world applications.
Click to expand...

I thought I read that the i7 Quad has three channel memory bandwidth capability but adding another couple of stick would solve that... 2 - 2mb sholuldnt cost much... 8gb is plenty for me. thanks for the reply!
 
There's multiple lines of i7 quadcores though. iMac uses the performance grade Lynnfields, while the i7 quads you're thinking of are the enthusiast grade Bloomfields. One of the major differences between the two is that Lynnfield has dual channel bandwidth while Bloomfield has triple.
 
TMRaven said:
There's multiple lines of i7 quadcores though. iMac uses the performance grade Lynnfields, while the i7 quads you're thinking of are the enthusiast grade Bloomfields. One of the major differences between the two is that Lynnfield has dual channel bandwidth while Bloomfield has triple.
Click to expand...

thanks for the insight. As you stated originally, I probably wont notice the difference. I plan on adding anyway.
thanks!
 
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