which iMac do i need?

[zoran]

Im gonna be working on AdobeCS5 and Quark8, which iMac should i choose? i3, i5, i7?
I dont want to get excited and judge by looking at performance numbers im really intereste in known the differences i will encounter in reallity... if someone can tell me!
e.g. "pshop takes full advantage of i7 and less when used in i3"

 

[symbology]

Im gonna be working on AdobeCS5 and Quark8, which iMac should i choose? i3, i5, i7?
I dont want to get excited and judge by looking at performance numbers im really intereste in known the differences i will encounter in reallity... if someone can tell me!
e.g. "pshop takes full advantage of i7 and less when used in i3"

It depends on your overall budget and what exactly you are going to be doing.

You will probably want to upgrade the RAM no matter what CPU you get. I just purchased 16GB of NuRam at OWC for $370. If your budget only allows you $xxxx, then you need to choose what is most important for you. Do you spend a little extra on the CPU, or do you devote the available $ on memory. I strongly recommend at least 8GB of RAM if you are doing anything with CS5 and Quark. That being said, maybe the i5 with 8-12GB of Ram is the better combination for you than the i7 with 4GB (for about the same price).

How many files and applications will you be running at once? I am still running on the stock 4GB of Ram on my i7, and while doing just a little bit of photoshop work on a few photos my available memory dropped to less than 1GB. This was with nothing else running.

 

[Rideherhard]

Is there that much of a difference in performance between the i3, i5 and i7?.

 

[existe]

Is there that much of a difference in performance between the i3, i5 and i7?.

Here are some benchmarks on that subject http://www.barefeats.com/imac10v.html

 

[Angelo95210]

I think you need a large screen and not that much power. So I would say 27 inches and i3.

 

[Santabean2000]

Dear Logic,

The i7 is worth every cent; quad will serve you well now, but also in years to come. It has by default extra goodies too. Consider a SSD + HDD upgrade also.

I know people say buy lower, upgrade more often, but if you're anything like me, the hassle is a pain in the a##.

Getting setup is enjoyable; always setting up suckshouse.

Get a decent machine. Feel the joy of having the best, (even if it's just for a while) - it def trumps getting a regular slice of plain Jane, even if she's the new girl in town.


Yours Sincerely,

Your Lustful Desire

 

[zoran]

It depends on your overall budget and what exactly you are going to be doing.

You will probably want to upgrade the RAM no matter what CPU you get. I just purchased 16GB of NuRam at OWC for $370. If your budget only allows you $xxxx, then you need to choose what is most important for you. Do you spend a little extra on the CPU, or do you devote the available $ on memory. I strongly recommend at least 8GB of RAM if you are doing anything with CS5 and Quark. That being said, maybe the i5 with 8-12GB of Ram is the better combination for you than the i7 with 4GB (for about the same price).

How many files and applications will you be running at once? I am still running on the stock 4GB of Ram on my i7, and while doing just a little bit of photoshop work on a few photos my available memory dropped to less than 1GB. This was with nothing else running.

Well at once ill prolly be running Photshop & Illustrator and either Quark or Indesign.What do you think?

 

[talmy]

The only one of these that might need major processing power is Photoshop but then only if you are dealing with very large images and a large number of layers.

If you were doing video or lots of background processing, perhaps also needing a Windows virtual machine running at the same time, I'd strongly suggest a quad core i5 or 77. Otherwise the i3 will do fine.

Far more important is the 27" display over the 21.5" because of all the palates these programs want to display take screen space. You can defer a RAM upgrade until later if you need it.