Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

What Specs/Options for your new iMac 2011?

S

Sunday Ironfoot

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 14, 2011
215
389
So what specs and options are you going to choose for your new 2011 iMac? Will you go 21.5" or 27" screen? 4/8/16GB RAM? SSD, HDD or SSD + HDD? And since we don't know what processor speeds and GPU's will be included, there's usually a BTO option for a faster clocked CPU and a faster GPU, so just say whether you'll go for the faster CPU/GPU.

I'm going for:

  • 27" screen
  • 16GB RAM (I have a good use case for it)
  • Faster CPU option
  • Faster GPU
  • SSD (might go SSD + HDD, haven't decided)
  • Apple Care
  • Also going to try out that mouse pad thing
 
Sunday Ironfoot said:
So what specs and options are you going to choose for your new 2011 iMac? Will you go 21.5" or 27" screen? 4/8/16GB RAM? SSD, HDD or SSD + HDD? And since we don't know what processor speeds and GPU's will be included, there's usually a BTO option for a faster clocked CPU and a faster GPU, so just say whether you'll go for the faster CPU/GPU.

I'm going for:

  • 27" screen
  • 16GB RAM (I have a good use case for it)
  • Faster CPU option
  • Faster GPU
  • SSD (might go SSD + HDD, haven't decided)
  • Apple Care
  • Also going to try out that mouse pad thing
Click to expand...

Mine will go up to 11, save for the SSD. That I will add on my own.
 
I've decided I will try to just budget it in the $2500 range. So, whatever I can BTO with the lowest ram choice up to about $2200 or so and spend the remaining $300-$400 on Ram upgrades. Unless Apple tries to seriously compete in ram prices this time - doubtful, of course.

So hopefully that will get me in some type of "ultimate" range.
 
Sunday Ironfoot said:
So what specs and options are you going to choose for your new 2011 iMac? Will you go 21.5" or 27" screen? 4/8/16GB RAM? SSD, HDD or SSD + HDD? And since we don't know what processor speeds and GPU's will be included, there's usually a BTO option for a faster clocked CPU and a faster GPU, so just say whether you'll go for the faster CPU/GPU.

I'm going for:

  • 27" screen
  • 16GB RAM (I have a good use case for it)
  • Faster CPU option
  • Faster GPU
  • SSD (might go SSD + HDD, haven't decided)
  • Apple Care
  • Also going to try out that mouse pad thing
Click to expand...


same but i will choose 4gb model and add 8gb aftermarket ram to make it 12gb .... 27 inch i7, gpu with atleast 1gb video ram, if ssd is not standard i won't add it as i have no need for it and its expensive ... apple care .... also gona buy hdmi to mdp converter for playing xbox and watching tv on it ...might try the belfan one its the cheapest one around unless imacs come with hdmi lol ....will get ms office preinstalled as well
 
phlydude said:
Check these guys out before you spend money on the Belkin adapter
http://www.monoprice.com/products/search.asp?keyword=mini+displayport&x=0&y=0
Click to expand...

Only mini-displayport to ... adapters, he means a HDMI to mini-displayport adpater, which is the other way around and is not the same.


I'm going for:

27" iMac, Core i7, 4GB RAM and buy 8GB elsewhere, fastest GPU, 1TB HDD, Apple Care

Question however: Which (DDR3 1333mhz Sodimm) 8GB RAM set is confirmed to work great with the iMac? (Not from OWC... I live in Europe) Have searched for the Corsair CMSO8GX3M2A1333C9 but I have read it would be incompatibel with soms iMacs and causes freezes...

So... which RAM?
 
Chris5488 said:
So... which RAM?
Click to expand...

I ended up buying some gskill ram because newegg had a sale on it the other day (2x4gb for $72 US). it had good reviews (with a couple people at 16gb complaining of freezes).

so basically I'm hoping that 1. the freezes are fixed in the refresh or 2. it only comes with 4gb stock so I end up at 12gb and don't have to worry about it :rolleyes:

-cjh
 
cjhorist said:
I ended up buying some gskill ram because newegg had a sale on it the other day (2x4gb for $72 US). it had good reviews (with a couple people at 16gb complaining of freezes).

so basically I'm hoping that 1. the freezes are fixed in the refresh or 2. it only comes with 4gb stock so I end up at 12gb and don't have to worry about it :rolleyes:

-cjh
Click to expand...

Not available where I live :(
 
Sunday Ironfoot said:
So what specs and options are you going to choose for your new 2011 iMac? Will you go 21.5" or 27" screen? 4/8/16GB RAM? SSD, HDD or SSD + HDD? And since we don't know what processor speeds and GPU's will be included, there's usually a BTO option for a faster clocked CPU and a faster GPU, so just say whether you'll go for the faster CPU/GPU.

I'm going for:

  • 27" screen
  • 16GB RAM (I have a good use case for it)
  • Faster CPU option
  • Faster GPU
  • SSD (might go SSD + HDD, haven't decided)
  • Apple Care
  • Also going to try out that mouse pad thing
Click to expand...

In my case:

27" or 30" screen
8Gb RAM
Fastest CPU option
Fastest GPU option
small SSD+big HD if available
Wired keyboard
No Applecare
 
xkmxkmxlmx said:
I've decided I will try to just budget it in the $2500 range. So, whatever I can BTO with the lowest ram choice up to about $2200 or so and spend the remaining $300-$400 on Ram upgrades. Unless Apple tries to seriously compete in ram prices this time - doubtful, of course.
Click to expand...

I'll keep a close eye on Apple's RAM prices of course, and if they're only slightly more than buying aftermarket, I'll probably just get it from Apple = less hassle + covered under Apple Care etc. Hopefully they'll put 8GB in the high-end model as standard.

Question: iMacs use laptop memory, correct?
 
Current planning for later this summer:

- Largest screen available (aka 27")
- Best GPU option available
- Cheapest quad-core CPU with HT and Turbo (but not paying extra for just a few extra Mhz)
- 12gb RAM
- 256gb SSD
- 2tb HDD

Hopefully, the stock quad-core 27" model will fulfill the first three points so I don't have to buy Apple's expensive BTO options and just upgrade the rest myself.

The RAM is a no-brainer, no need to pay the Apple tax on that. Not sure if I will (have to) order the drives directly from Apple, though. I'll ask my local Apple AASP what it would cost to install a 3rd party SSD and HDD, and if it's not too bad, I will order my machine there and provide the HDD and SSD myself. Might even go to 300gb/3tb then, if I find a 3tb drive that is virtually silent and an SSD drive that supports TRIM on Lion. That will probably still be cheaper than buying 256gb/2tb directly from Apple.

That iMac will be my main work machine for the next few years, so I really hope the the upcoming iMac refresh will be a good one.
 
Last edited:
they should do a tv show like mtv's pimp my ride ... you take yo "sorry ass" imac to these ppl .. and they pimp it up ... fit some nitrous oxide gas boosters ... shiz like that lol ... they'd make ur superdrive able to microwave food .... loool this is too funny
 
I will probably take the 27'' maxed out, but only with 4 GB RAM, because I can easily upgrade it myself for far less money...
 
I'm going for the best and fastest possible combo:

27" screen
16GB RAM (So I can allocate 4GB for Win 7)
Fastest processor option
256GB SSD + 2TB HDD
No Apple Care
 
zombierunner said:
they should do a tv show like mtv's pimp my ride ... you take yo "sorry ass" imac to these ppl .. and they pimp it up ... fit some nitrous oxide gas boosters ... shiz like that lol ... they'd make ur superdrive able to microwave food .... loool this is too funny
Click to expand...

yo_dawg_mac.png
 
My choice is pretty simple. The base 27" for $1699 (hopefully it will be cheaper) and AppleCare. I get about a $100 corporate discount through my company so that should cover a decent portion of AppleCare.
 
Sunday Ironfoot said:
I'll keep a close eye on Apple's RAM prices of course, and if they're only slightly more than buying aftermarket, I'll probably just get it from Apple = less hassle + covered under Apple Care etc.
Click to expand...

It might be covered under AppleCare but if you buy from Crucial or another reputable manufacturer, it will be covered for LIFE
3 years AppleCare < Life - I'm going aftermarket even if Apple's RAM is cheaper than Crucial - I have used Crucial RAM for years and swear by it. That warranty is great for re-sale value too!
 
Top of the line 27", best CPU and best GPU available. If the top GPU isn't a Radeon 69x0 then i'll have to rethink the purchase. Maybe settle for a mini or build my own.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back