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Oh Boy...Another which iMac to get!!! Core Duo 2 or i5

J12300

J12300

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 16, 2009
33
3
Dublin, CA
I currently at home have a G4/400mhz Tower....I know, I know...but it works good for my CS1 Apps and the Internet.

I work in Prepress and am so use to working on Mac Pro at work 2.66Mhz with 8G of Ram....Using CS4 flawlessly with no crashes ever....not like at home.

Im looking for the iMac 27 for Home Use.....and am on fence for either Core 2 Duo or the Core i5....I will be using Adobe CS4 (Indesign, Illustrator & Photoshop) primarily and dabbing in with either Final Cut Express/Pro or Adobe Premier.

Is there a big difference using CS4 from a Mac Pro vs iMac.....as for Video is Core 2 Duo fine or should I go for Core i5.

Thanks for any advice!!!!
 
No-one knows the answer

As no-one has got their mitts on an i5 or i7 to benchmark, there is no answer based on current software performance.

A betting man would take the gamble that the i5s and i7s will be quicker using current software. Cue debate on MHz v. cores v. hyperthreading v. turbo mode which is all theory. There are no public facts at this very moment.

A betting man would be unable to get odds on whether an i5 or i7 will be quicker in 2 years. A personal opinion, without doubt the i5 and i7 will burn the pants (UK pants, that is) off any C2D once the software developers take advantage of the quad cores and SL's Grand Central.

Buy the i5 if you want a really good machine for 3-5 years.

Or. Buy the i7 if you need cutting edge.

Or. Buy the C2D if you are happy to replace your machine at about 3 years or don't have particularly heavy demands.

Or. The really wise buy would be to get the 21.5" C2D now, save yourself the £1,000 and buy an i9 5GHz 32GB 30" 10TB machine in 2 years.

Or, hold fire for a week and watch out for the benchmarks to start to be published.
 
I was in the same spot, i use the exact same programs,Adobe CS4 (Indesign, Illustrator & Photoshop).

I choose the 27" 3.06ghz 8gb ram, and everything runs smooth as can be, and i couldn't be happier. Its Fast. Period.
 
gr81mgbgt said:
I was in the same spot, i use the exact same programs, and i choose the 27" 3.06 and everything runs smooth as can be, and i couldn't be happier.
Click to expand...

Excellent. You have a machine that fits your needs and you have $$$ in your pocket. Perhaps most important is that first part,"you have a machine"!
 
peteyD said:
Excellent. You have a machine that fits your needs and you have $$$ in your pocket. Perhaps most important is that first part,"you have a machine"!
Click to expand...

Very true! Just get what you need now and enjoy it! it will last you a long time! there will always be something new and better.

MOST IMPORTANT:
Don't go overboard and buy a higher performance you will never need or utilize.
 
peteyD said:
Or. The really wise buy would be to get the 21.5" C2D now, save yourself the £1,000 and buy an i9 5GHz 32GB 30" 10TB machine in 2 years.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Invest the savings you make in peripherals or Apple stock. By all means get the quad core if you plan to do professional 3d rendering or video encoding work. For most other uses the 3.06 or 3.33 GHz dual core machines are blazing fast especially if you upgrade the graphics card. In two-three years you can upgrade to whatever is current then which will certainly be better and faster than the high-end now.
 
I just got home from purchasing my 27" C2D. Yet, I don't think I can set it up till later afternoon. I need to study for an exam. Haha. I am so juiced.

(Btw, this box is heavy)
 
Fozzybadfeet said:
I just got home from purchasing my 27" C2D. Yet, I don't think I can set it up till later afternoon. I need to study for an exam. Haha. I am so juiced.

(Btw, this box is heavy)
Click to expand...

Congrats! Did you get the base 27" C2D? Post Some Pics
 
gr81mgbgt said:
Congrats! Did you get the base 27" C2D? Post Some Pics
Click to expand...


Yeah I bought the base 27". After reading all the comments and about it, I felt that it was right for and a good price for my budget. I'm now in the process of organizing my desk space...Will post pics SOON. I am juiced.
 
So no problems with (5) 125mb photoshop files opened at one time, couple high point vector Illustrator files and Indesign file all opened....just want to make sure the iMac can handle what the Mac Pro usually dishes out!!!

Is it worth it from 4GB Ram to 8 GB Ram???

What about using video on iMac...anyone???

Also, I guess there is now comparison to i5 yet....just want to make sure iMac can dish out what an older Mac Pro 2.66 Mhz can do!!!!
 
I was in the same position and asked the question a few days ago...

Yesterday after much thought I bought a c2d and the thing is ample fast and then some for all my needs. Everyone talks about 'future proofing' but I am quite happy to buy a new computer in 3 years. If this machine is considered slow then I am happy with slow!!

The screen is so sweet and yes the box is quite heavy, I pity those who have to take it home on a bus or train ;)

Enjoy whichever you choose :)
 
moneyshot said:
I was in the same position and asked the question a few days ago...

Yesterday after much thought I bought a c2d and the thing is ample fast and then some for all my needs. Everyone talks about 'future proofing' but I am quite happy to buy a new computer in 3 years. If this machine is considered slow then I am happy with slow!!

The screen is so sweet and yes the box is quite heavy, I pity those who have to take it home on a bus or train ;)

Enjoy whichever you choose :)
Click to expand...

Congrats! Enjoy it! I am!
 
Fozzybadfeet said:
Yeah I bought the base 27". After reading all the comments and about it, I felt that it was right for and a good price for my budget. I'm now in the process of organizing my desk space...Will post pics SOON. I am juiced.
Click to expand...

Sounds good!
 
I bought the base model 27" and purchased by own 8 GB RAM upgrade ($82 shipped from NewEgg) and this machine flies. It is noticeably faster then the aluminum early 2008 20" iMac it replaces (2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo, 4 GB 800 MHz RAM, 320 GB HDD, Radeon 2600 HD 256 MB).
 
CheesePuff said:
I bought the base model 27" and purchased by own 8 GB RAM upgrade ($82 shipped from NewEgg) and this machine flies. It is noticeably faster then the aluminum early 2008 20" iMac it replaces (2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo, 4 GB 800 MHz RAM, 320 GB HDD, Radeon 2600 HD 256 MB).
Click to expand...

Which Ram did you go with...can you provide a link...thanks!!!
 
Fozzybadfeet said:
Yeah I bought the base 27". After reading all the comments and about it, I felt that it was right for and a good price for my budget. I'm now in the process of organizing my desk space...Will post pics SOON. I am juiced.
Click to expand...

See your out of Sacramento too...Did you buy from Apple store at Arden or did you buy online somewhere...just curious where people are buying from too!!!
 
stever500 said:
Base model here. Happy as a lark. It's all I need and will ever need.
Click to expand...

Funny, I thought the same thing when I picked up a Mac IIvx when Apple was fire saling them back in '91. Of course that was 6 Mac desktops ago for me now. Point being, even if I wanted to make the IIvx my last computer, it would be impossible to do with today's minimum operating standards.
 
IMO, since iMacs aren't upgradeable (beyond RAM/HD), I'd spring for at least the i5. If you're even thinking of dabbling in editing, it's a no-brainer. And if you own/plan to own an HD camcorder, you'll need the editing oomph a quad-core brings to the table. If you've ever edited AVCHD on a Core 2 you'll know exactly what I mean.
 
You could always upgrade the RAM later. Spend the money on the i5 first, then hard drive space, then RAM.
 
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