iMac - which should I buy

[majkom]

Hi there, hoe someone will help me. Actually, i have entry iMac 2010 (21,5, i3, 256 VRAM) and I am thinking about upgrade - I have these options:
1. Entry iMac 2011 (21,5 inch. i5, HD 6750M with 512 VRAM)
2. Entry 27 iMac 2011 (27 inch. i5, HD 6770M with 512 VRAM)
3. Entry 27 iMac 2010 (27 inch. HD 5670 with 512 VRAM)
4. 27 iMac 2010 (27 inch. i5, HD 5750 with 1024 VRAM)

Now, why upgrade, I would like to get better performance in games (starcract 2, L4D 1,2, maybe WoW) and I really like that 27 inches iMac. I am not usre whether 512 VRAM is enough to get great performance with such a great display (and resolution). And of course, my budget is limited, so if I should buy 27 inch iMac, I want it to stronlgy everperform that 21,5 one...

Any tips? thanx

 

[Sjhonny]

What else are you planning to do with your iMac?

To me, it currently doesn't sound like your in the market for a Mac. Gaming wise you'll be way better off with a 800-1000 buck rig + 200 buck screen, on windows.

 

[Ca$hflow]

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I believe you will only getting a 25% performance boost. I think your wasting your money. Top spec sounds more what you May be what your after. I have a feeling your gut may be feeling the same thing.

 

[majkom]

To me, it currently doesn't sound like your in the market for a Mac. Gaming wise you'll be way better off with a 800-1000 buck rig + 200 buck screen, on windows.

Well, I am not looking for pure gaming machine, as I wrote, on my iMac I play just Starcraft 2, L4D and maybe in future I will play WoW, for all the other games, I got xbox...

 

[majkom]

OK, maybe I will little bit change the question

which GPU performs better:
1. Radeon HD 4670 (256 VRAM) vs Radeon HD 6750M (512 VRAM) - both 21 inch
2. Radeon HD 5670 (512 VRAM) vs Radeon HD 6750M (512 VRAM) - both 21 inch
3. Radeon HD 6750M (512 VRAM)-21inch vs Radeon HD 5750 (1024 VRAM)-27 inch
??

 

[iMarcusx]

If you really wanna game save up for the 27" iMac with the 6970 with 2 gigs (so you can enable AA and filtering at native res). Best mobile card on the market.

 

[majkom]

If you really wanna game save up for the 27" iMac with the 6970 with 2 gigs (so you can enable AA and filtering at native res). Best mobile card on the market.

That one is too expensive... at least here in central Europe...

 

[Sjhonny]

Get base model mac mini (about € 720).

Buy/build a pc with: geforce 570 (starting at € 250) , amd phenom X4 955 (about € 100), any AM3 mobo with one or two pci-e ports (starting at € 60), a 60 GiB SSD (like the OCZ Vertex 2 - for about € 100) a decent case (€60 max) = € 570 - and I'll add 150 for extra peripherals like mouse, keyboard, cd/dvd drive, windows license, cables -> subtotal: €720. Although the processor isn't the newest anymore, it'll suit your purposes just fine. It's more likely the GPU that'll be the bottleneck during gaming (I mean in the iMac then).

Hook a € 200 buck 1080p screen up to both computers and you're at around € 1640, just under the base model iMac 27".

I know it all doesn't look as nice as the iMac, you'll probably be stuck with a TN-panel display, to me this looks like the only solution for your determent: I want a Mac and I want to be able to enjoy some serious gaming, with a rather limited budget.

For the price of the iMac you can build yourself a pretty decent gaming machine, even with a 27" Ips 1440p display, but then you don't have a (legal) mac.
But why don't you just keep your current iMac and buy an extra rig? Or sell the current one, buy the mini and a way better screen + a somewhat nicer gaming rig?

 

[MythicFrost]

which GPU performs better:
1. Radeon HD 4670 (256 VRAM) vs Radeon HD 6750M (512 VRAM) - both 21 inch
2. Radeon HD 5670 (512 VRAM) vs Radeon HD 6750M (512 VRAM) - both 21 inch
3. Radeon HD 6750M (512 VRAM)-21inch vs Radeon HD 5750 (1024 VRAM)-27 inch
??

The 6750M will be much better than the 4670 and a fair bit better than the 5670. The 6750M isn't as good as the 5750 (5850M).

The entry level iMac should increase your performance in games greatly, and also for anything that uses the CPU. The 27" model with the 6750 might require you to play most games at 1920x1080, rather than 2560x1440 (doesn't look as good). Perhaps wait for benchmarks on that particular iMac model to make sure it plays the games you want well enough.

 

[majkom]

Yellow tint

The 6750M will be much better than the 4670 and a fair bit better than the 5670. The 6750M isn't as good as the 5750 (5850M).

The entry level iMac should increase your performance in games greatly, and also for anything that uses the CPU. The 27" model with the 6750 might require you to play most games at 1920x1080, rather than 2560x1440 (doesn't look as good). Perhaps wait for benchmarks on that particular iMac model to make sure it plays the games you want well enough.

MythicFrost, thx, thats answer I have needed - so I will go for entry levem iMac wit RAM upgrade... I am not hardcore gamer, if 6750M is a bit stronger than 5670, its just enough for me... now, the only worry Ive got is yellow tintig.. my iMac doesnt suffer it, hope the new one wont as well...

 

[adnoh]

If all you are after is better gaming performance go for the high end 27"

 

[MythicFrost]

MythicFrost, thx, thats answer I have needed - so I will go for entry levem iMac wit RAM upgrade... I am not hardcore gamer, if 6750M is a bit stronger than 5670, its just enough for me... now, the only worry Ive got is yellow tintig.. my iMac doesnt suffer it, hope the new one wont as well...

No worries, according to Apple the 6750M is up to 3x better than the 4670. And, it's a bit better than the 5670.