New 20" iMac or Refurb 24" iMac with Nvidia 8800 512MB RAM?

[Jfriel]

Sorry if I'm repeating an old thread...

Like many here I have been waiting since November to buy an iMac but have been putting it off and off as I was waiting to the update.

My main concern with the new iMac is that the Nvidia 9600M is an integrated GPU that shares 256MB ram. I want to use my iMac so that I can run X-Plane on as high spec as possible and I don't think the integrated GPU will be able to cut it.

On the other hand I note that the old iMac has DDR2 ram and the new has DDR3 ram. Is there a big difference between the two? Would the fact that I'd be using DDR3 in the new iMac allow me to run X-Plane better than it would with the iMac with DDR2 ram but with a better GPU?

Finally, will the old Nvidia 8800 work well with OpenCL and Snow Leopard?

My dilemma is therefore should I buy a new 20" iMac or should I try and find a refurbished 3.06Ghz iMac that has the Nvidia 8800 with 512mb ram?

I'd be grateful for you comments....

 

[mcmonkiez]

Sorry if I'm repeating an old thread...

Like many here I have been waiting since November to buy an iMac but have been putting it off and off as I was waiting to the update.

My main concern with the new iMac is that the Nvidia 9600M is an integrated GPU that shares 256MB ram. I want to use my iMac so that I can run X-Plane on as high spec as possible and I don't think the integrated GPU will be able to cut it.

On the other hand I note that the old iMac has DDR2 ram and the new has DDR3 ram. Is there a big difference between the two? Would the fact that I'd be using DDR3 in the new iMac allow me to run X-Plane better than it would with the iMac with DDR2 ram but with a better GPU?

Finally, will the old Nvidia 8800 work well with OpenCL and Snow Leopard?

My dilemma is therefore should I buy a new 20" iMac or should I try and find a refurbished 3.06Ghz iMac that has the Nvidia 8800 with 512mb ram?

I'd be grateful for you comments....

Well I was on same situation as yours and I bought my new iMac 24" 3.06 with 8800 Video Card on new year after the apple event and so on people saying wait wait and wait..

It saying good things comes to those who wait.. but I said F**** Waiting lol


anyway I am very pleased with my imac 3.06 and i can run x plane with full high settings as well other games.

the new imac is very pricey just for few minor update

no new body

but 100% there will be not very much difference between these 2 model. 4GB ram is enough on 3.06 with 8800 card

and snow leapord will run like a charm too...

I said go for it.

 

[Jfriel]

Well I was on same situation as yours and I bought my new iMac 24" 3.06 with 8800 Video Card on new year after the apple event and so on people saying wait wait and wait..

It saying good things comes to those who wait.. but I said F**** Waiting lol


anyway I am very pleased with my imac 3.06 and i can run x plane with full high settings as well other games.

the new imac is very pricey just for few minor update

no new body

but 100% there will be not very much difference between these 2 model. 4GB ram is enough on 3.06 with 8800 card

and snow leapord will run like a charm too...

I said go for it.

How much did you pay for your iMac?

 

[PeterQC]

Get the refurb 24''. No need to spend any money on the new ones if you can get a refurb that can be as good as new. The Performances will also be a lot better.

 

[kasakka]

On the other hand I note that the old iMac has DDR2 ram and the new has DDR3 ram. Is there a big difference between the two? Would the fact that I'd be using DDR3 in the new iMac allow me to run X-Plane better than it would with the iMac with DDR2 ram but with a better GPU?

You will notice absolutely no difference in speed between the two memory types in real use.

Get the refurb 24". For one it has a vastly superior screen to the 20"'s TN-panel crap and the faster processor will also be nice to have.

 

[mcmonkiez]

How much did you pay for your iMac?

I paid in UK 1,200 Brand new 3.06 with 2GB Ram but i then purchased 4 GB from third party source.


The orignal price was 1.399 but i got student discount as well as i had 10% gift voucher..

£ 1,200 with apple care

I would say y0u can pick these from http://www.cancomuk.com/ too
wihtout student discount £1300

you can customize ur one too

http://www.cancomuk.com/Customise-Your-Mac/iMac?group=iMac&addConfigurationToCart

if you dont find on apple site.

call apple you should be able to over the phone too.

 

[mcmonkiez]

You will notice absolutely no difference in speed between the two memory types in real use.

Get the refurb 24". For one it has a vastly superior screen to the 20"'s TN-panel crap and the faster processor will also be nice to have.

Correct..

the new one are okay but for the price .. its not worth it at all.........

todays update its like no update .. like a minor update

and I am sure the old imac are run faster and better then the new one.. specially the 3.06 with 8800 video card with 4GB ram.

thats is enough and excellent power ful machine.

 

[jacobsen1]

we couldn't wait past January, so we went with the best 24" they had (refurbed) for $1899 and have been LOVING it. That screen is just amazing and the machine rips.

Get the 24, in 2 years that's what everyone will have anyway and you'll be regretting the 20 then.

 

[Jfriel]

I'm surprised there hasn't been even a small amount of support for the new model. It's quite sad that Apple almost seem to have taken a step backwards with this "update"...

Anyway, that you for your help - I'll be buying a refurbished 24" iMac as soon as I can get my hands on one! I bet they'll get snapped up quickly now though so I'll have to be quick!

 

[patricem]

I'm surprised there hasn't been even a small amount of support for the new model. It's quite sad that Apple almost seem to have taken a step backwards with this "update"...

Anyway, that you for your help - I'll be buying a refurbished 24" iMac as soon as I can get my hands on one! I bet they'll get snapped up quickly now though so I'll have to be quick!

The refurbished price for the 3.06 is still $1899, exactly what it was before the update. Whats up with that?

 

[mcmonkiez]

The refurbished price for the 3.06 is still $1899, exactly what it was before the update. Whats up with that?

Because the 3.06 is still power machine then the new one 3.06 only difference is the DDR3 in the new one and they add new video card why they bring GT 120 130 etc card coz os small dvi port other wise the power is nearly the same not a huge difference at all

the video card is better in 3.06 with 8800 and upgrade 4GB ram is enough for that beast.