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Is THIS Mac fast?

C

crumb963

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 2, 2011
44
0
3.2GHz Intel Core i3
1920-by-1080 resolution resolution 2560-by-1440 resolution
4GB (two 2GB) Memory
1TB hard drive
8x double-layer SuperDrive
ATI Radeon HD 5670 with 512MB

It's the model I'm interested in buying, it's within budget but I've heard the processors can go up to 7, which is a hell of a lot faster (thats what i7 means,right?)

I'd probably be multitasking alot and hopefully be running windows via boot camp, can it handle the strain while working at a good speed?

Thanks.
 
i3 i5 and i7 are just names given to the model of processor from Intel and has no bearing on the number you see as its clocked speed.

I have a feeling this computer will be more than you'll ever need...
 
Is it kinda blazing fast, or barely surpassing vista-related speeds (AKA sluggish?)

Will it run games well (both on OSX and vista)?
 
Last edited:
@michael.lauden

Has a score of 6001, is that good for their scoring system? Never used their site before.
 
Apple OC said:
it is blazing fast ... however Macs are not gaming machines
Click to expand...

Not to say you can't play games on it...because you can. Mac now has Steam and there are also games available through the Mac App store (like Call of Duty 4). Running games on Windows through bootcamp should work fine.

Just don't expect to play Crysis at 1080p and 60fps.
 
But games like that would still look nice and play without lag on a slightly lower setting?
 
Define "fast"?

how do you compare the speed of a processor vs the speed of vista? Thats like comparing how much a watermelon weighs vs the price of a car. It makes no sense, they dont relate.

It would be the same speed as a Dell Insperion 580 when running windows (well, if you buy a video card for it).

are you in a hurry to buy? now is not really the time to.

https://buyersguide.macrumors.com//#iMac
 
Badger^2 said:
Define "fast"?

how do you compare the speed of a processor vs the speed of vista? Thats like comparing how much a watermelon weighs vs the price of a car. It makes no sense, they dont relate.

It would be the same speed as a Dell Insperion 580 when running windows (well, if you buy a video card for it).

are you in a hurry to buy? now is not really the time to.

https://buyersguide.macrumors.com//#iMac
Click to expand...

I know, I phrased it wrong, I meant to say abut comparing vista and osx and how well an i3 processor would run them both.

Not in a hurry to buy, I'll just want something like this when the new ones come out I guess.
 
crumb963 said:
I know, I phrased it wrong, I meant to say abut comparing vista and osx and how well an i3 processor would run them both.

Not in a hurry to buy, I'll just want something like this when the new ones come out I guess.
Click to expand...



yes it will handle both Vista and OSX , but don't , no computer can be that bad that it deserves to run vista , so do yourself and the performance a favor and install XP or Win 7 , if you really need to run windows :(
 
I use that same computer occasionally, and it runs very fast. Haven't really gamed much on it, but it's a reasonably powerful machine. However, if you're planning on buying a Mac for gaming, don't. That's just my advice.
 
Hi michael.lauden,
I'm not impressed by that iMac score.
Here is my Mini:
 

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If you want to play games, you better choose the i5. It also has a better graphics card (Radeon 5750).
i7 is ofcourse better, but only slightly in gaming (and more expensive).
i3 is a mainstream processor, i5 a mainstream/performance processor and the i7 a performance processor.

Hear a lot of people yelling here "it's fast!", but what do they call fast??
If their last processor was a Core 2 duo or lower, yes then it's "fast!".
In OS X every today's processors are fast, but if you are going to run games, in Windows, well then you should go a bit more higher to compensate the iMac graphics card. The graphics card isn't a high-flyer so a better CPU to help it would be a wise decision. the best decision is to wait! New iMacs are coming with CPU's which will be a lot better then today's iMac CPU's. For the same amount of money, you could buy a faster Mac on which games are not a problem.
 
its okey but the i3 is a low end processor from intel if you had the i5 o the i7 then i would call it fast and if your really worried about speed i would get a SSD for the mac
 
crumb, dude...let me put it this way...

I'm getting an iMac i3 3.06Ghz soon and I'm a web designer, graphic designer, photographer, and programmer. If that computer is fast enough for me, your computer will certainly be fast enough for you.
 
Terrador said:
crumb, dude...let me put it this way...

I'm getting an iMac i3 3.06Ghz soon and I'm a web designer, graphic designer, photographer, and programmer. If that computer is fast enough for me, your computer will certainly be fast enough for you.
Click to expand...

And you should wait for the new ones too. =)
 
If somehow apple manage to design imac have upgradeable GPU (maybe with special port or sumthin) then every iMac model can be really fast
 
MacHamster68 said:
yes it will handle both Vista and OSX , but don't , no computer can be that bad that it deserves to run vista , so do yourself and the performance a favor and install XP or Win 7 , if you really need to run windows :(
Click to expand...

Vista was a good operating system. Blame the hardware manufacturers for installing it on underpowered machines and providing crappy drivers. If anything it was ahead of it's time.
 
I have that computer and it is fast... I dual boot with Win 7 and play games. Runs all the recent games, and they all run well, Black Ops run on high at about 30fps 1080p. GTA IV run on medium at 1080p and runs at about 25fps.

Very very fast to do everyday work, more than enough, and a nice screen. :eek:
 
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