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The "I'm waiting for an iMac refresh" thread
- Thread starter Robert Grant
- Start date
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wait or not wait? that is what i am trying to figure right now...
i was able to get a interest free loan to upgrade my computer(s) for my classroom. I am getting an ipad now for the classroom and would like to add an imac. problem is i have been told quad cores are much better then the core2duo
is this true? the loan expires in 45 days so i have some time to wait...should i wait or just either get the core2duo or throw in about $500 of my own money and get a quad core?
i was able to get a interest free loan to upgrade my computer(s) for my classroom. I am getting an ipad now for the classroom and would like to add an imac. problem is i have been told quad cores are much better then the core2duo
is this true? the loan expires in 45 days so i have some time to wait...should i wait or just either get the core2duo or throw in about $500 of my own money and get a quad core?
I am also on the waiting band wagon.. but I wouldn't expect too much... it'll be nice if they can just upgrade the cpu to i3 at least on the basic 21.5" and 320M on the graphic (it'd be nice to have a discrete video card, something like 5670 as standard. I think many of us here need it) and a HDMI ... then I m happy. hehe. 
It really depends on your need. What kind of job u will do on the computer.. What I see from the benchmark test is quad cores most benefit on encoding video.. on other area is not so much faster.. (correct me if I m wrong).. the C2D is still quite powerful and sufficient for everyday task... may be get the C2D and save $500 for the next imac which quad core comes standard (I hope)
count me in!
i am waiting to buy a 21.5" model... i have had enough of my windows desktop. (initially i thought having a windows desktop + MacBook = having the best of both worlds - wrong) so... hopefully the new iMacs come out before i get so frustrated with my windows desktop and destroy it or something.
I was hoping to utilize the BTS promotion (+ educational discount) too... but i guess its worth the wait. :/ it better be.
i am waiting to buy a 21.5" model... i have had enough of my windows desktop. (initially i thought having a windows desktop + MacBook = having the best of both worlds - wrong) so... hopefully the new iMacs come out before i get so frustrated with my windows desktop and destroy it or something.
I was hoping to utilize the BTS promotion (+ educational discount) too... but i guess its worth the wait. :/ it better be.
Good idea with this thread.
I expect the refresh to happen sometime in september/october.
I'm primarily betting on 2 upgrades:
* the quad i5 becomes the cheapest 27" (down 300 $)
* the ATI 4xxx jumps to ATI 5xxx with option for 512MB
All in all, a new and better i5 for the price of a current refurb, and ... a pretty good jump from C2D and GMA graphics on a MacBook 2008.
As an old Mac fan, I used to plan my upgrades carefully. This time I'm planning to buy a 27" by the end of november (just in time for the rebate session, and maybe get an extra 10%). Hell, if I had the money, I wouldn't wait.
I expect the refresh to happen sometime in september/october.
I'm primarily betting on 2 upgrades:
* the quad i5 becomes the cheapest 27" (down 300 $)
* the ATI 4xxx jumps to ATI 5xxx with option for 512MB
All in all, a new and better i5 for the price of a current refurb, and ... a pretty good jump from C2D and GMA graphics on a MacBook 2008
.As an old Mac fan, I used to plan my upgrades carefully. This time I'm planning to buy a 27" by the end of november (just in time for the rebate session, and maybe get an extra 10%). Hell, if I had the money, I wouldn't wait.
so in the next refresh will the video card size be bumped up a gig or will it ramain 512mb with improvements to open cl etc.
so what other things to be concerned with espically seeing i made my first imac purchase.
It does matter in 27" iMac. 2560x1440 is such a huge resolution so the VRAM can actually be used. 512MB does limit the performance thus 1GB would be very welcome.
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Yea, the more the better, especially with a native resolution that large.
Hellhammer said:
Yea, the more the better, especially with a native resolution that large.
gtx 480 sucks balls. though the 200 series oesent. overheating, high powerconsumption.. apple will never use this and for the cooling limitations, apple will never introduce water cooling looking at the disaster from POWERMAC g5
+1 though the macbook pro graphics memory specs have always stayed in line with imac. macbook pro, imac, mac pro should hit the 1 gb barrier. macbook, 512mb, macbook air, 512mb. as for the mac mini... 512 mb?
GTX 480 runs fine with default coolers, even though it runs pretty hot, it's still okay. It's currently the fastest single chip card available, especially with the new drivers it's noticeably faster than ATI 5870. Apple will offer NVidia GPU in Mac Pro, that's for sure. It's likely based on Fermi as otherwise they would be stuck with 2xx series which is already in use. There are some things GeForces have and Radeons don't, e.g. CUDA and PhysX (not sure do they work in OS X but at least in Windows).
Of course ATI 5870 would still be better let alone the 5970 but Apple doesn't always think about that. Some people still prefer NVidia over ATI in any case. I'm sure people would have liked to see e.g. ATI 4890 or 4870X2 rather than GTX 285 but Apple didn't offer them what they wanted.
+1 though the macbook pro graphics memory specs have always stayed in line with imac. macbook pro, imac, mac pro should hit the 1 gb barrier. macbook, 512mb, macbook air, 512mb. as for the mac mini... 512 mb?
MBPs GPUs suck. There is no difference between 256MB and 512MB in performance in current MBPs. MacBook, MBA and Mini have integrated GPUs thus they use your RAM. 512MB wouldn't speed up them at all.
The GPU itself has to be powerful enough to take advantage of the extra VRAM and the game has to be demanding too. 512MB is enough in lappies, it's actually too much as the resolution is pretty low and the GPUs are poor so 256MB is just fine. 27" iMac, on the other hand, has so great resolution that the VRAM can be used. More pixels means more VRAM is needed for smooth operating. In MBPs, there is no difference between 256MB and 512MB before you plug in 30" screen and start to play, then the 512MB is a lot better. ATI 4850 is about twice as fast as GT 330M thus it could really use some VRAM, especially when gaming at 2560x1440.
Two days ago I finally ordered the 27 i7 8gb imac from my local fnac store.Its a fairly good deal I reckon, 2159eur but with 10%(210eur) back in my storecard.
I was eagerly waiting earlier this year on the MBP, but I got my PBG4 working with a new HDD,then my girlfriends HP started having problems.
We are going to share and then maybe get a MB later.
Is it really a huge concern about the graphics chip? I don't want to shell out 2K on a machine that can't handle photo/video editing!
I was eagerly waiting earlier this year on the MBP, but I got my PBG4 working with a new HDD,then my girlfriends HP started having problems.
We are going to share and then maybe get a MB later.
Is it really a huge concern about the graphics chip? I don't want to shell out 2K on a machine that can't handle photo/video editing!
ATI 4850 is a great card. Those who are whining don't know what they are talking about. GPU is irrelevant in photo editing and only helps in pro video editing.
Hi, i'm new here, so first of all I want to say Hi, i really enjoyed your posts so far and it really helped.
I'm really looking forward to the next IMac refresh, though i have this feeling it won't be comming before September. The main reason I don't buy right now is the graphics card and the cpu. I don't actually game all that much and don't do a lot of foto/video editing, but i'm reluctant to spend a load of money on not state of the art hardware. I don't realy get why Apple is selling their products at the same price in the EU as in the States but maybe thats a topic for a different thread.
I think the next 21'5 IMac will essentailly spot the same hardware as the current Macbook pros 13'', i.e. C2D, Nvidia 320m graphics and 4 gb ram. There, unfortunatly is no way to combine a core i cpu with this graphics card, and because Steve Jobs mentioned that its kind of a custom gpu, Nvidia developed for Apple, I think they're gonna want to use it in more than one product. There's the possbillity they are gonna use the Macbook pro 17" inch hardware for the low end IMac, but I don't think thats gonna happen.
For the 27'' models I can see a bump to i5 cpu instead of C2D and the 330M graphics of the Macbook pro 17" or ATI 5xxx series, I personally am hoping, preying, wishing,.....for a 27" core i5, Ati 5850 model.
For the refresh itself, I mentioned I think its gonna be till September, because Mac Pro and Macbook Air would really need an update sooner than later.
I'm really looking forward to the next IMac refresh, though i have this feeling it won't be comming before September. The main reason I don't buy right now is the graphics card and the cpu. I don't actually game all that much and don't do a lot of foto/video editing, but i'm reluctant to spend a load of money on not state of the art hardware. I don't realy get why Apple is selling their products at the same price in the EU as in the States but maybe thats a topic for a different thread.
I think the next 21'5 IMac will essentailly spot the same hardware as the current Macbook pros 13'', i.e. C2D, Nvidia 320m graphics and 4 gb ram. There, unfortunatly is no way to combine a core i cpu with this graphics card, and because Steve Jobs mentioned that its kind of a custom gpu, Nvidia developed for Apple, I think they're gonna want to use it in more than one product. There's the possbillity they are gonna use the Macbook pro 17" inch hardware for the low end IMac, but I don't think thats gonna happen.
For the 27'' models I can see a bump to i5 cpu instead of C2D and the 330M graphics of the Macbook pro 17" or ATI 5xxx series, I personally am hoping, preying, wishing,.....for a 27" core i5, Ati 5850 model.
For the refresh itself, I mentioned I think its gonna be till September, because Mac Pro and Macbook Air would really need an update sooner than later.
i find ati 5870 a better deal considering it runs cooler, consumes less power cheaper etc. apple style. fermi if the demand was so high, then nvidia would make drivers and a mac edition... could and should be interesting though i would like to see what happens to the standard gpu
very very true!
apple should step up the game... gts somethingm or whatever would be way better. i think apple should really pay attention to cooling. IMO the macbook pro buyers wouldnt mind if it was maybe a bit thicker or there were more holes or heatsinks in the side ): its sad how apple is making you pay so much. i regret buying a laptop with the lamest gpu in the worls called 9400m. seriously. cheapest deal ever, );;;;; if mobility radeons were smaller, apple should and would have used themMorning Everyone,
I am in the same boat as most of you. My custom build 6 yr old pc just blew up last week. I really don't need the 27'' monitor, but that is the only way to get the Quad Core CPUs
My wife looked at the price of the 27 i7 and almost had a heart attack. A 21'' iMac with the i7 (or at least the i5) would be a nice option. The only way my wife will let me get the 27'' i7 is if I went refurbished which still has the same warranty, and it still qualifies for applecare.
I have my 2 yr old Macbook Pro, but we really need a desktop machine in the house. Should I just order the current i7, or wait for the refresh? My wife can't wait until the fall for a new desktop.
Thanks
Mike
I am in the same boat as most of you. My custom build 6 yr old pc just blew up last week. I really don't need the 27'' monitor, but that is the only way to get the Quad Core CPUs
My wife looked at the price of the 27 i7 and almost had a heart attack. A 21'' iMac with the i7 (or at least the i5) would be a nice option. The only way my wife will let me get the 27'' i7 is if I went refurbished which still has the same warranty, and it still qualifies for applecare.
I have my 2 yr old Macbook Pro, but we really need a desktop machine in the house. Should I just order the current i7, or wait for the refresh? My wife can't wait until the fall for a new desktop.
Thanks
Mike
I'm currently waiting for the iMac refresh also...
I was about to buy my first iMac this April..
but ever since visiting this Mac Rumor site.. i just couldn't
Now i'm waiting and waiting for the new refresh to happen...
My heart dropped when there was no news of any mac pc's in WWDC.
While the current 27' top model spec. model seems okey
but i'm wishing for spec. about equivalent or better such as below..
27' or 30'
i5 or i7 quad core of 3.0ghz or more
8Gb ram as base.
512G SDD disk drive (just a wish)
at least equivalent of desktop card of Radeon 5770 or above. 1Gb vram
esata or 3.0 usb for external hdd connection.
... all under $3000 bucks lol
well... at my condition.. I would go for any small update !
-------------------------------------------------------------
MBP (early '08) 2.4G 4g ram
iphone 3GS 32G
I was about to buy my first iMac this April..
but ever since visiting this Mac Rumor site.. i just couldn't
Now i'm waiting and waiting for the new refresh to happen...
My heart dropped when there was no news of any mac pc's in WWDC.
While the current 27' top model spec. model seems okey
but i'm wishing for spec. about equivalent or better such as below..
27' or 30'
i5 or i7 quad core of 3.0ghz or more
8Gb ram as base.
512G SDD disk drive (just a wish
)at least equivalent of desktop card of Radeon 5770 or above. 1Gb vram
esata or 3.0 usb for external hdd connection.
... all under $3000 bucks
lolwell... at my condition.. I would go for any small update !
-------------------------------------------------------------
MBP (early '08) 2.4G 4g ram
iphone 3GS 32G
very very true!
All Macs run pretty cool actually. They just feel hot because aluminum is a conductor thus it's the main element of heat dissipation. It feels hotter than it is from inside. The cooling is very efficient as the heat dissipates through the whole case, no need for ugly holes.
I would be happy with 13" with i3 and IGP for cheaper price. I don't care about GPU because I don't game. Any GPU is just fine for most people and Apple has never showed interest of gamers. Mobility Radeons would fit perfectly in MBP but for some reason Apple has decided to use NVidia, maybe due the switching thing.
Apple is not stupid to keep high prices. People who pay the price are stupid (not meaning that anyone is stupid but if you're after specs then pay the premium or buy PC). As long as people buy them for current prices, Apple isn't decreasing them. Why would they? It's more profit per machine all the time
Just buy now. If you look at the updates in the past, we won't see new iMac before August at the earliest. The refurb is a great deal. We won't see significantly faster CPUs, POSSIBLY i7 880 but it's only ~10% faster and costs 300$ more. Waiting game is endless. Why should you get one after next update if the update after that is only few months away and it's going to bring whole new CPUs (Sandy Bridge)?
Current iMac is great value and very fast. Update won't change anything else but the GPU and even it will be a minor bump.
As long as she is happy, you should be fine. If she isn't, then you have a problem
.............
As long as she is happy, you should be fine. If she isn't, then you have a problem
She originally suggested I build another PC, which would be cheaper in the long run. But she knows I want another Mac and deep down inside she would rather have the Mac as well.