Which Mac?

[neoserver]

I'm having a bit of a decision-making issue here.

I'm trying to decide whether I should go for a Stock Mac Pro or a loaded iMac for my purposes.

I will be dual booting with windows as I use Visual Studio.Net frequently and will be getting into some Obj-C programming for the Mac as well. I use Adobe software frequently but I'm not worried about the performance issues with Rosetta.

What I AM worried about is the performance issues with the Fully buffered RAM in the Mac Pro hindering preformance on my machine. With the games I play I would have no problem in using a crappy video card.

It all comes down to this: Would say a 20-24" loaded iMac be good? or should I spend the extra money and go for the Mac Pro with the buffered Ram but have the ability to expand internally?

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I quite like using Dual displays. I have two monitors right now, a CRT and an LCD so I would like to have 2 displays in my system.
Any Ideas?

 

[SpankyPenzaanz]

i think a loaded 24"imac is any where between 2500-3500 depending on ram...I say spending the same or a similar amount in a mac pro would be better and you won't have extra displays laying around. the imac also supports dual diaplays but mac pro with add video card can support more than that. Plus you said developing in vb and adobe in rosetta - i would like to have the expandibility ption in the macpro

 

[neoserver]

Ram?

I'm more worried about the performance issues with the FB-DIMM Ram in the Mac Pro.

 

[wisredz]

I think a 3 gb RAM loaded 24" iMac would suit your purposes. Mac Pro costs more and you'll need a monitor. Mac Pro is a beast and you can expand it later, that's a good thing. If money is not that much of a concern go for a Mac Pro, it'll be better for future. But make sure you get 3 ghz woodcrest...

My 2 cents

 

[neoserver]

Alright, so i've taken a look at the iMacs and I think i've almost made a decision. But one thing is still outstanding. Is there any real performance lost due to the FB-DIMMS? If its not too bad then i'll get the Mac Pro. Otherwise i'll go for the loaded iMac 24"

 

[dmw007]

Alright, so i've taken a look at the iMacs and I think i've almost made a decision. But one thing is still outstanding. Is there any real performance lost due to the FB-DIMMS? If its not too bad then i'll get the Mac Pro. Otherwise i'll go for the loaded iMac 24"

Not sure that you really lose much performance using dual-channel FB-DIMMS, but you do gain performance when using those same dimms in a quad-channel configuration.

http://www.barefeats.com/quad09.html (Towards the bottom of the page)

 

[neoserver]

Not sure that you really lose much performance using dual-channel FB-DIMMS, but you do gain performance when using those same dimms in a quad-channel configuration.

http://www.barefeats.com/quad09.html (Towards the bottom of the page)

I've decided that I will be getting the iMac 24"... I think the Mac Pro is WAY more then what I need at this point. When I'm out of school perhaps and can get a decent paying job i can afford to put some money to get a Mac Pro that will preform exceptionally.

 

[dmw007]

I've decided that I will be getting the iMac 24"... I think the Mac Pro is WAY more then what I need at this point. When I'm out of school perhaps and can get a decent paying job i can afford to put some money to get a Mac Pro that will preform exceptionally.

I think that you are making a wise decision neoserver, the 24" iMac should work quite nicely for you.