thinking of buying newer imac, little advise please.

[elf69]

I have a 20" 2007 imac 2.0GHz with 4GB ram.

it does what i want mostly.
I play world of tanks and the last update made it glitchy on my current imac.

I turned settings down and it is better but still has odd moment when playing the game.
it has an ati hd2400xt gpu.

I am looking at a newer imac running sierra 21.5" with 3.0GHz core2duo and 9400m gpu.

is the newer model going to be much better?

I have a very very low budget and the 21.5" imac is in budget as it has a line on screen, so being sold bit cheaper.

is the 9400m better or worse than the hd2400xt.

I do get beachballs on the current imac, will the better cpu help with this?
plus newer ram so easier to get for newer model.

thanks guys

 

[JustMartin]

New model should be better than a 2007. What kind of drive were you thinking of getting for it? And be aware that you won't be able to upgrade the RAM on the 21.5" model.

 

[elf69]

the 21.5" model has 4 ram slots with 2 free.
16gb max.

will put ssd in at some point but for now just want play WOT without stuttering too much.

 

[Fishrrman]

Don't buy ANY new Mac UNLESS it has either a fusion drive or SSD in it.
If you disgregard this, you'll be sorry…

 

[elf69]

I have a spare 120GB ssd at home.

was going to upgrade cpu and hdd in my current imac but if this one significantly better will buy this one.

agree SSD is a must these days.

I can upgrade myself or get engineers at work to help me.

 

[DeltaMac]

Elf69 appears to be looking at a Late 2009 21.5-inch iMac, which is (mostly) upgradeable, and likely has a faulty LCD panel.
Probably worth 250 quid, if in good shape (which it is not). A failing LCD might drop the value below £200. I hope you aren't paying much more than that!
Keep in mind that the hard drive may be original, so could be 7 years old, so THAT may need replacing soon (Appears you have that in mind, which is a Good Thing™ )

 

[elf69]

can get for £180.

as said have an 120GB ssd I can fit (2 years old but only seen 1 year use)

yes has one blue line on screen, which can live with seen the unit.

I will buy another lcd in time but if significantly better unit will buy. if not will leave and upgrade my 2007 model.

DeltaMac i value ur input as always been helpful to me.

will it be better for world of tanks over my 2007?
is a 9400m better or worse than hd2400xt?

 

[DeltaMac]

CPU is higher performance, and the RAM can be upgraded significantly.
I don't think there is a huge (noticeable) difference between the two vid chips, but you might find that the CPU, and other hardware bits will make a nice improvement, particularly if you upgrade to SSD.

 

[elf69]

thats yeah going from 2.0GHz to 3.06GHz
also can up ram to max 16GB has 4GB but I have 2x2GB at home so can go to 8GB right away.

slightly bigger screen and SD slot.
just lost firewire 400 that my 20" cinema screen uses.
also need new adaptor for the cinema screen as not mini dvi, it mini display port.

See if can buy it tonite after work.

 

[longlens]

I am going to upgrade either now or when the 2017 comes out. In the meantime with the current 27" line up is it possible to add memory oneself as I did with my 2010 model. Then all the slots were in the bottom and could be accessed, but are all the memory sticks available for changing now or only some.
I do wonder if the next generation will lose all the parts and be inaccessible for updates.

regards

 

[DeltaMac]

The 27-inch continues to provide user access for upgrading RAM.
The access panel is no longer along the bottom edge now, but underneath the hinge in the back.
No one knows at this point whether Apple will continue to provide upgrade slots for any of the next generation iMacs.

@longlens - welcome to the forums!
I noticed your location immediately. You are the first from your town that I can remember ever seeing _here_. I love the place as I have visited Llanelli on a day trip, some 38 years ago. Still use the town name as an example for my American friends, as a place name that I can guarantee no American will know the sound of it until they hear it said. And, they still won't know how to say it! Thank you for bringing some of my past out on this fine winter day. (I was stationed at RAF Fairford, GL, in '78 to '81, and liked to travel around a bit.)

 

[longlens]

I am stuck between 3 stools. Buy now with a fusion and update the memory myself. Wait for the new 2017 , wait for the 2017 but buy the 2015 as it will drop in shops that have it.

@DeltaMac I moved here in 78 with my job. Previously I had worked at the Guest Keen Iron & Steel works in Cardiff. Moved to Llanelli with the company and worked 30 years in the Tinplate division as a Maintenance manager. The names in parts of Wales are a test even for the likes of myself, born and bread here but not brought up with the language.But if you want a good one for your friends try this one on them Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. You can google it. It is known as Llahfairpg for short

 

[CrystalQuest76]

Just get more Ram for your existing machine and reformat the drive and install a newer version of the OS. Do not install the latest OS since that will slog down the machine.
Game playing, writing the occasional letter, spreadsheet, surfing the internet does not require a new computer. On the other hand if it is a multimedia producing machine that you make a living from, then you might think 'time is money' and rendering time is costing you valuable income. Then its time for a new machine.
Otherwise save your money. Apple executives are living well and don't need your money that badly.

 

[elf69]

Well the guy went and sold it

Fair enough, who ever stumps up money first, but would have liked it myself.

Time to save a bit more and buy better I think.