Which 27" iMac to buy?

[Snarf103]

Hello,

I'm looking to buy an iMac because i'm going to be studying graphic design next year.

I've decided to buy the 27" because the graphic power of the 21.5" isn't enough for me, and i really like the big screen.

To get to the point, i want to buy the 27" with the 3.06 Dualcore processor.
Is that fast enough to keep me running mac software for at least 4 years? If anyone knows this, how long will it run everything i need it to run?(photoshop, all the iLife stuff, alot of other graphic programs)

And the most important question, is it worth the money to get the Ati Radeon 4760 256MB replaced with the Ati Radeon 4850 512 MB ?

I'll be glad to hear from some experienced mac users! Thanks

[Hellhammer]

Get the i5 as it's only 300$ more but you get twice as fast CPU and better GPU too. It's the same 1699$ from refurb store (http://store.apple.com/us/product/FB953LL/A?mco=MTU3ODcyNDE)

[Snarf103]

Well, the 300$ thing is actually pretty much seeing as i'm 16 years old and i'm gonna be working alot for this thing :P

Oh, if it helps i'll be connecting my 24" Acer to the iMac as a second screen, is that a reason to get the better videocard?

[CMT]

I vote on the i5 also. It would "last" for more time.

About the video card, I really think it's worth. By the way, GPU development is growing and we'll probably have many GPU accelerated software in a near future.

[Hellhammer]

Well, the 300$ thing is actually pretty much seeing as i'm 16 years old and i'm gonna be working alot for this thing :P

Oh, if it helps i'll be connecting my 24" Acer to the iMac as a second screen, is that a reason to get the better videocard?

Well, check my link above. i5 from refurb store is 1699$, same as 27" C2D is as brand new. It's definitely worth it

[mystikjoe]

Well, the 300$ thing is actually pretty much seeing as i'm 16 years old and i'm gonna be working alot for this thing :P

Oh, if it helps i'll be connecting my 24" Acer to the iMac as a second screen, is that a reason to get the better videocard?

it's not 300 more if you order a refurb like the hammer just posted. also real world unless you're doing encoding and such you probably won't notice much of a difference if any. go with what your budget allows. the i5 should last longer in terms of power. i'd say at that point i5 refurb hands down. you can connect the screen to any of the 27"s.

[Snarf103]

Well, check my link above. i5 from refurb store is 1699$, same as 27" C2D is as brand new. It's definitely worth it

Well you have a point there, but i don't live in the U.S. and the shipping isn't really going to work.

So i guess i'll take a look at the i5 in stores here, and if i can i'll choose that one. If i can't, i'll at least upgrade the video card to 4850 =)

[Hellhammer]

Well you have a point there, but i don't live in the U.S. and the shipping isn't really going to work.

So i guess i'll take a look at the i5 in stores here, and if i can i'll choose that one. If i can't, i'll at least upgrade the video card to 4850 =)

Well, where do you live then? There are refurbs in other countries too and you can also get student discount I think

[Snarf103]

Well, where do you live then? There are refurbs in other countries too and you can also get student discount I think

I live in the netherlands.
I take it that refurbished means it's secondhand or that it's repaired?

[Hellhammer]

I live in the netherlands.
I take it that refurbished means it's secondhand or that it's repaired?

Oh, no refurbs in Netherlands. Refurbs are usually returns which have been fixed if they had an issue, but they look like brand new and you can easily save couple hundreds.

[Snarf103]

Oh, no refurbs in Netherlands. Refurbs are usually returns which have been fixed if they had an issue, but they look like brand new and you can easily save couple hundreds.

Haha okay.
Well, thanks anyway =)
I'm really looking forward to getting mine :D

[Hellhammer]

Haha okay.
Well, thanks anyway =)
I'm really looking forward to getting mine :D

No problem, mate.

By the way, the 27" i5 is 1690€ from education store (http://store.apple.com/nl-edu/browse/home/shop_mac/family/imac?mco=MTAyNTQzNjA) so you think you can squeeze the money for that?

[Snarf103]

No problem, mate.

By the way, the 27" i5 is 1690€ from education store (http://store.apple.com/nl-edu/browse/home/shop_mac/family/imac?mco=MTAyNTQzNjA) so you think you can squeeze the money for that?

I'm planning to buy it from an independent apple retailer in the city here.
It's the same price there so i guess that if i want it i'll have to free some more money.
My parents are contributing quite a bit so i don't know if they'll agree to squeeze in the extra money.
The software is quite expensive as well, 300 euro's for adobe collection.

[Hellhammer]

I'm planning to buy it from an independent apple retailer in the city here.
It's the same price there so i guess that if i want it i'll have to free some more money.
My parents are contributing quite a bit so i don't know if they'll agree to squeeze in the extra money.
The software is quite expensive as well, 300 euro's for adobe collection.

Tell them that for ~300€, you get machine that is twice as fast so IMO, it should be no brainer for them too. There are ways to get Adobe suite for free, but I'm not allowed to help you here as it's illegal :( I have the whole Master Collection and I paid 0€ :p

[Snarf103]

Tell them that for ~300€, you get machine that is twice as fast so IMO, it should be no brainer for them too. There are ways to get Adobe suite for free, but I'm not allowed to help you here as it's illegal :( I have the whole Master Collection and I paid 0€ :p

Are you on MSN at the moment? I could add you.
Not to ask how to get Master Collection for free, but the conversation will be smoother that way

[Hellhammer]

Are you on MSN at the moment? I could add you.
Not to ask how to get Master Collection for free, but the conversation will be smoother that way

Yea add me (kriz_u_93@hotmail.com). I can try to convince your parents but can't help ya with the Adobe thing but add me anyway