The extra $250.00 worth the 2.8mhz model?

[Mantronix]

It's getting close to that time when we get our tax returns. I plan on using some of mine to purchase a 24" aluminum iMac. I'm torn between the 2.4mhz and the 2.8mhz models. Apple store shows a $250.00 price difference between the two models. Is it worthwhile spending the extra money to get the faster processor? The boost is not that significant but looking at 2 to 3 years down the line it may matter. I don't plan on doing any heavy video editing (some minor) and my primary usage will be Aperture, Photoshop, Lightroom, Final cut, web-surfing and World of Warcraft. Help me out guys. Will getting a 2.4mhz will have any serious impact on performance on any the above named software?

[JayLenochiniMac]

In general, no. However, if you plan to keep it for 4 years or longer like I am, the faster processor may be worth it.

[Sun Baked]

It is doubtful even in two to three years than .4GHz will matter.

The RAM and GPU will matter more -- and both machines are equal there.

You are more likely to get better use out of spending that $250 on a HD upgrade or Apple Care than a .4Ghz speed bump.

In 2-3 years the standard Hard Drive will seem small, so getting the larger drive now will make a bit more sense than a simple speed bump.

[JayLenochiniMac]

It is doubtful even in two to three years than .4GHz will matter.

OS11 minimum specs:

2.467GHz+ Intel processor
8GB of RAM
Blu-Ray drive
327GB of free disk space


In jest, of course.

[ivan1234]

i would use the money to upgrade the ram.

[Vanilla]

If you can afford it I would go for the 2.8, simply because it will be easier to resell in years to come. However I agree with others that maxing out the ram will give you a great performance boost.
Vanilla

[splashtech]

OS11 minimum specs:

2.467GHz+ Intel processor
8GB of RAM
Blu-Ray drive
327GB of free disk space
...
You forgot the 6GB graphics card :)

[ezekielrage_99]

.4Ghz wont make much difference, you'd be better off investing in a bigger HDD or RAM.

[themoonisdown09]

If you can afford it I would go for the 2.8, simply because it will be easier to resell in years to come.
I strongly agree... it is a lot easier to sell your computer down the road if you have the better processor. Even if you're not planning on selling your computer in the next 4 or 5 years, I think that you will wish you had upgraded to it.

[Umbongo]

If you can afford it I would go for the 2.8, simply because it will be easier to resell in years to come. However I agree with others that maxing out the ram will give you a great performance boost.
Vanilla

Right, but if you are never going to see any real benefit from the speed then youa re still jsut wasting your money as you aren't going to be getting an extra $250 back when you resell.

[JSchwage]

I'm guessing you're meaning 2.4 GHz, not MHz. Otherwise, that'd be the worst deal ever.

[themoonisdown09]

I'm guessing you're meaning 2.4 GHz, not MHz. Otherwise, that'd be the worst deal ever.

Ohhhh, we're talking GHz... well, that's a different story... ha.

[zedsdead]

If you ever think you might get into any video editing or video converting, get the 2.8...I do a lot of Handbrake and Video Editing, so the extra .4 is worth it...either way, even at 2.4 the machine is very fast.

[Mantronix]

I plan on getting a 500gig HD and the standard stock ram. I will buy two 2gig sticks of RAM from OWC for roughly $100.00 maxing out the RAM to 4gigs. I usually multi task, running several applications at at time so the reason behind amount of ram. I'm still on the fence as for which processor to get. Anyone has any links to charts, software tests or data comparing the two processor speeds?

[JayLenochiniMac]

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/08/14/apples_new_imac_core_2_extreme_mac_mini_benchmarked.html

[Slip]

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/08/14/apples_new_imac_core_2_extreme_mac_mini_benchmarked.html

Wow, Im surprised at how much *within reason* 400MHz actually improves things
I guess its the Extreme vs the standard C2D

[JayLenochiniMac]

I guess its the Extreme vs the standard C2D

Really no difference between the two except the higher clock speed and the ability to overclock (which you can't do anyway). With only a 170MHz difference between 2.16 and 2.33 and a 70MHz difference between 2.33 and 2.4 (plus the higher 800MHz bus), you'd expect to see bigger improvement with 2.8 over 2.4.