need advice

[tawny2203]

hi all.

i know nothing really about computers:( am looking into buying my 16 year old a desk top, at present he has an every day computer with vista on it, i think......:confused:

he would love a mac and i have been looking at the 27inch but have come across two models and don't know what the differance is, so can any one give me some advice?

the models are mc952b/a and mb952b/a

want a computer for general use, does like to play some games on it .

[spinnerlys]

You named the same model twice: mc952b/a and mb952b/a.

If you go the Apple's Online Store (http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/imac?mco=MTAyNTQzNjA), you see two models (actually three), one using a Core 2 Duo CPU (3.06GHz) and one (two) Quad Core model(s).
If gaming is the main interest of your son, better get a PC, as gaming is not the strong suit of Macs. But if it is for general use, the Core 2 DUo model might suffice, unless you have the money and can get the Quad Core model(s), then get either the i5 or i7.
The difference between a Core 2 Duo and a Quad Core is the amount of threads it can calculate at the same time. The C2D can only have two threads, the i5 can have four, the i7 can have eight, thus the more threads it can handle the faster it is, if the software is written for it.


"How to maximise your MacRumors troubleshooting experience" (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=205018) created by mad jew in 2006

Even though some might get annoyed of reading this, the thread title guy strikes again:

A more descriptive and precise thread title will help cater to the right audience and get you more responses. (see rule #3 under Minor Problems (http://guides.macrumors.com/Help:Forum_Rules#Minor_Problems))


To edit your thread title, just click on the http://images.macrumors.com/vb/images/buttons/edit.gif button on the bottom right of your original post and then click the "Go Advanced" button below your message.

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[tawny2203]

are you saying that that even tho one starts with mc and the other mb they are the same model? sorry to be so thick.

he only plays a couple of games on line, i din't really understand any think about computers. the one i've looked at has


hard drive 1tb

memory 4gb

processor 3.06ghz core 2 duo ( what ever that means:))

graphics 256 mb


he's hopefully starting college in sept and they use mac and he has always gome on about them being the best. i want to surprise him but just don't know where to start

[tawny2203]

by the way thanxs for answering and trying to explain it to me:)

[spinnerlys]

are you saying that that even tho one starts with mc and the other mb they are the same model? sorry to be so thick.


Yes. I was the one being thick, as both model names led me to the same result, thus I mis-concluded and misread the mc and mb.


he only plays a couple of games on line, i din't really understand any think about computers. the one i've looked at has

hard drive 1tb
memory 4gb
processor 3.06ghz core 2 duo ( what ever that means:))
graphics 256 mb


he's hopefully starting college in sept and they use mac and he has always gome on about them being the best. i want to surprise him but just don't know where to start

Then the entry 27" iMac (http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB952LL/A?mco=MTM3NDc2NDg) should more than suffice, even the 1.499 USD 21.5" iMac (http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC413LL/A?mco=MTM3NDc2NDE) is more than enough for this, as those games most probably use Flash. Or do you maybe know the titles of those games, so we could gather, if they need better graphic card options?

If you want more answers, change the thread title to something more specific.
To edit your thread title, just click on the http://images.macrumors.com/vb/images/buttons/edit.gif button on the bottom right of your original post and then click the "Go Advanced" button below your message.

[tawny2203]

the main game is rune scape, don't know if i have spelt that right. is he right then in saying that mac is the best?

so just to confirm mc and mb model is the same thing?

thank you for your help ever so much

[spinnerlys]

The game is called RuneScape and it is an in-browser game, that uses Java, thus even the entry level 21.5" iMac can run it.

I don't know, if a Mac is the best, as I quite don't like superlatives, but a Mac is quite a good machine with quite an excellent operating system. But I'm biased, as I use Mac OS X daily and can't stand Windows anymore.

The MB952B/A iMac is the 27" i5 iMac for 1.999 USD (http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB953LL/A?mco=MTM3NDc2NjA), the MC952B/A is the 27" C2D iMac for 1.699 USD (http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB952LL/A?mco=MTM3NDc2NDg).

The C2D is more than sufficient for your son's needs, even the 21.5" entry level iMac will suffice. No need to spend more money than necessary.

[tawny2203]

brill..................:)i now have an understanding of what i'm doing and what i need to get for him. you explained it all so well. thank you so much:):)