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Performance between 24" and 27"

R

runee

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Hi,


A month ago, I was offered the 24" iMac at a very favorable price, and accepted that to be delivered this December. Now, I just recieved word, that they cannot deliver that anymore, but instead they offer the 27".

The price range remains about the same, but I am abit wary regarding the specs on the 27" they are offering.

The key differences I see between the new and the old, is the cache, which was 6MB I think on the 24" and as far as I can read, only 3MB on the new 27". Both are the Dual Core version btw.
Another big issue is the difference in graphics memory - the 24 had a Geforce130 with 512MB whereas the new is equipped with the low ATI 4670 with just 256MB ram.

I am not so much into the GPU specs - but in my world, 256MB is less than 512MB 😉
Question is, if the overall performance of the ATI card is better than the "old" Nvidia, even if it has less memory.

Any insights on this ? I am not a heavy gamer, but I will playing Everquest on a Windows 7 installed on this machine, other than that, the computer will mostly be used for Photoshop work.
Even though the design is nicer and it has a larger screen, will I be downgrading in performance if I am to accept this new offer ?


Edit: Is it possible to upgrade from 4670/256MB to a 4850/512MB after purchase - or is this a factory pre-configuration only?
 
Why not cancel the order and reorder with the specs you want?? That sounds like the simplest solution.
 
Runee to answer your question no that 256MB ATi card is not as good as the 512MB GT130 you were going to get. You would notice a considerable performance difference between those two cards especially with a game like EQ.
 
My guess is that Runee is from Denmark, and he has been offered to buy an Imac by his employer - monthly payments are deducted from salary before tax. That means a 50% discount.

BUT it also means that the only Imac to select is the 27" 3,06ghz non-configurable as Apple can't guarantee delivery of the Quad models in december.

I've got the same problem.

Can an upgrade of memory from 4gb to 8gb compensate for the lack of video ram? Seems to be the only thing a non-expert iMac owner can fix by himself.
 
Ghund hit the nail. Fact is I simply don't have the option of ordering another configuration. It's this or nothing (If I want it at a 50% discount that is).

(What really annoys me, is that they presented this as "a better machine" - and I guess, from a consumer point of view 27" sounds better than 24").

TBH I would really like this, as the screen is the main reason I am going for the iMac in the first place. But I am ending up paying for this for three years, so I would like to not end up buying something that is outdated already at the date of delivery 🙁

Anyways - is the graphics adapter userinterchangeable or not ? (Note, I am not asking if it is hard to do - simply asking, if I can go an buy a 4850 in some kind of iMac form factor and change it myself 🙂 )
 
If you can, get your money back lol.
Doesn't sound like a good deal to me.
If I were you, I'd get my money back and then save up or something and get the high end 27" iMac
 
runee said:
Ghund hit the nail. Fact is I simply don't have the option of ordering another configuration. It's this or nothing (If I want it at a 50% discount that is).

(What really annoys me, is that they presented this as "a better machine" - and I guess, from a consumer point of view 27" sounds better than 24").

TBH I would really like this, as the screen is the main reason I am going for the iMac in the first place. But I am ending up paying for this for three years, so I would like to not end up buying something that is outdated already at the date of delivery 🙁

Anyways - is the graphics adapter userinterchangeable or not ? (Note, I am not asking if it is hard to do - simply asking, if I can go an buy a 4850 in some kind of iMac form factor and change it myself 🙂 )
Click to expand...

no, the gpu cannot be upgraded and the 4670 is not worse than the 130. The 512 vs 256 only matters if you try to play the game at very high resolutions. Neither card is going to drive the 27 at it's native res at high settings in most modern games.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-ATI-Mobility-Radeon-HD-4670.13881.0.html

Cheers,
 
There is no upfront payment, it's deducted from salary for 36 months before tax. So cancelling the order is not at problem at this time.

I've accepted the offer, although I'm not very pleased about the specs. I'm not a hardcore gamer and I expect future possibility of connecting a PS3 to the Imac, that will for sure fulfill my gaming needs.

If we're lucky it will crash and burn in a couple of years, the extra insurance is great. We will get a new one, and this model will for sure be gone at that time.
If not, sell it or use it as a display for a MP/MBP or an extra display for a new Imac.

50% discount seems a good offer - lousy specs or not.
 
My thoughts too Bhund - I am thinking of just going for it and accept it. Either way, it's an upgrade on what I have atm... 🙂
 
Yeah, might not be a half bad idea... Any idea on the shipping cost on those things ?
 
From EU store it's EUR 7. Estimated total EUR 87,49 (incl 25% tax).

I'll probably have mine delivered in Germany (shipping for free, tax is 19%).
 
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