27-inch: 3.06GHz vs 27-inch: 2.66GHz quad core

[iguess25]

What are the pros and cons between the 3.06 and 2.66 quad core??? Mainly

What do the quad core 2.66 have over the 3.06??

[TMRaven]

better video encodes.

[iguess25]

Thats all when it come to the quad core 2.66???

Which one one would you get quad core 2.66 or 3.06 ghz?

better video encodes.

[moneyman118]

Thats all when it come to the quad core 2.66???

Which one one would you get quad core 2.66 or 3.06 ghz?

I purchased the 3.06. I added 4 GB of Ram and its balzing fast. Screen is huge and nice looking. maybe a little yellow tint, but i'm not going to do the test because it does not bother me.

[joudbren]

No comparison on the performance. The i5 and i7 are newer and faster technology than the old Core2 cpu. The memory controllers are also integrated into the cpu with the i5 and i7 instead of on the motherboard further improving performance. I had a 27" C2D and sold it after 3 weeks and bought the i5... couldn't be happier. This thing's a beast! Love it.

Also, the i5 and i7 Quad cores will run in "turbo mode" if only 1 or 2 of the cores are being used. The i5 can automatically bump up to max 3.2ghz so even clock for clock it will run faster than a C2D.

The C2D is certainly no slouch but for the few extra bucks, grab the i5 or i7. You won't be disappointed and you also get the better graphics card as well. Cheers!

James

[unixfool]

I think the OP should search the forums...there are tons of answers for him and tons of threads like this already.

Here's the gist of it...what are you looking for in your next machine? How will you use it? A C2D may be perfectly fine for you, depending on how you plan to use it. Even so, I find it hard to believe that a C2D is considered 'old news', especially since Apple is utilizing them more than any other model of Intel CPU at the moment.

Base your choice on your usage plans.

Just my 2 cents.

[iguess25]

Thanks, If the i5 can bump up to 3.2ghz. What can the i7 max out to or bump up to?

I using it for pro tools recording.



ufool- dont hate cuz you got a c2d,haha



ps; will they be any new '' imac '' quad cores coming out, in a month or so?maybe a i9..

No comparison on the performance. The i5 and i7 are newer and faster technology than the old Core2 cpu. The memory controllers are also integrated into the cpu with the i5 and i7 instead of on the motherboard further improving performance. I had a 27" C2D and sold it after 3 weeks and bought the i5... couldn't be happier. This thing's a beast! Love it.

Also, the i5 and i7 Quad cores will run in "turbo mode" if only 1 or 2 of the cores are being used. The i5 can automatically bump up to max 3.2ghz so even clock for clock it will run faster than a C2D.

The C2D is certainly no slouch but for the few extra bucks, grab the i5 or i7. You won't be disappointed and you also get the better graphics card as well. Cheers!

James

[unixfool]

ufool- dont hate cuz you got a c2d,haha


I'm not hating.

While I had a budget when searching for my next Mac, don't be fooled...I can afford a new Mac Pro every year if I really want (and not sell another machine to finance a new one). Seriously. The gist of it is that a C2D is fine for what I do. I don't need an i5 or i7. I budget with everything I do. If I bought everything I ever wanted, I'd be broke...I try not to be broke, so sometimes that means making compromises. That's how people lost their homes the last few years. Also, realize that not everyone is a graphic artist. You can still be a non-graphical professional and love/want a Mac.

I'll say it again. Not everyone needs an i5/i7. Most will be fine with a C2D.

[i7QuadCoreMania]

I'm not hating.
I'll say it again. Not everyone needs an i5/i7. Most will be fine with a C2D.

While this is true, $200 more on a $2000 machine doesn't seem like a lot more for 2 more cores.;) and again I will agree with you that not everyone will need it, but for the OP if you have to come here to ask, most people will tell you to buy the i5 or i7.:p

[TMRaven]

Your name is i7quadcoremania!

[Badger^2]

No new updates for the iMac until at least Sept.

i9? LOL. really? http://www.intel.com/consumer/products/index.htm?iid=gg_play+products

lots of tests here: http://www.barefeats.com/

[joudbren]

Thanks, If the i5 can bump up to 3.2ghz. What can the i7 max out to or bump up to?

I using it for pro tools recording.



ufool- dont hate cuz you got a c2d,haha



ps; will they be any new '' imac '' quad cores coming out, in a month or so?maybe a i9..

3.46Ghz is the top end in turbo mode for the i7. Cheers!

James

[unixfool]

While this is true, $200 more on a $2000 machine doesn't seem like a lot more for 2 more cores.;) and again I will agree with you that not everyone will need it, but for the OP if you have to come here to ask, most people will tell you to buy the i5 or i7.:p

Just because you think most people will agree doesn't mean that its the most optimal answer, which is why I normally ask how one is planning to use the machine that they intend to purchase. It makes for a more unbiased and objective discussion.

[simie]

I have just purchased a 21" 306GHz iMac, only because it is all that I can afford at the moment.

When purchasing any computer you as the buyer have to decide what you need the computer to do and then ask yourself how much can I afford to spend.

I would have loved a quad core Mac Pro but I just have not got that sort of money.

[Bacong]

306GHz? Man that's fast.

[simie]

I have just purchased a 21" 3.06GHz iMac, only because it is all that I can afford at the moment.

When purchasing any computer you as the buyer have to decide what you need the computer to do and then ask yourself how much can I afford to spend.

I would have loved a quad core Mac Pro but I just have not got that sort of money.

Sorry about that just corrected the 306GHZ to 3.06GHZ

In any case this speed CPU would do for most people, most people that have windows laptops are purchasing Core Duo based machines.

[i7QuadCoreMania]

Just because you think most people will agree doesn't mean that its the most optimal answer, which is why I normally ask how one is planning to use the machine that they intend to purchase. It make for a more unbiased and objective discussion.
:rolleyes: Optimal answer is? buy whatever you want and can afford.:D

[unixfool]

:rolleyes: Optimal answer is? buy whatever you want and can afford.:D

If you can explain that without being funny or dense, you're a talented BS artist.

simie stated above (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=9553245&postcount=14) that he would've loved a Mac Pro (quad cpu), but couldn't afford it and had to get a 21" iMac (with C2D)...that's a great example of someone getting what they could afford (but not what they actually wanted). Roll your eyes all you want...what you stated doesn't add up.

[unixfool]

I have just purchased a 21" 306GHz iMac, only because it is all that I can afford at the moment.

When purchasing any computer you as the buyer have to decide what you need the computer to do and then ask yourself how much can I afford to spend.

I would have loved a quad core Mac Pro but I just have not got that sort of money.

Does your iMac do what you need it to do?

[tucker3434]

My girlfriend has a C2D from the last generation. It's probably a 2.93 GHz with 4GB of ram. I have an i5 with 8GB of ram. They're both pretty spartan as far as additional programs go, so it's a pretty fair comparison. She's mostly just browsing the web and checking email. For those processes, there's no real difference in speed. When I'm doing heavy multitasking I can start to see a difference, but not a huge one. I rarely use more than 4GB of ram. The C2D will meet most people's needs just fine, but I'm not going to tell you not to get an i5. I absolutely love mine.

[Rodus]

More and more software is going to be optimized for multiple CPU's as their popularity increases, therefore even if you don't see a huge difference today you almost certainly will tomorrow, a quad will also have a better resale value if that makes any difference.

[simie]

Does your iMac do what you need it to do?

My Imac is a fabulous computer even though I really wanted something with a bit more power. The screen quality is great and it seems to be very fast.

What do I use it for, well at the moment I am designing a website for a friend using a variety of packages Flash CS4, Illustrator CS4 and Dreamweaver CS4.
All of which work great.