27" or 21.5" iMac which one should I get?

Those adapters allow you to use a monitor with the Mac as the content source. Devices and software like eyetv from www.elgato.com are one way to turn your iMac into a TV. Unfortunately, you are starting to approach the cost of a small HD LCD TV.
 
I can't decide on the two either. Basically I have it narrowed down to either the base 21.5 or high end 27. So I either am all in or or just base model. I don't like that the base models don't support hyperthreading and I've read that the 27 is too big and the 21 is too small. I basically change my mind everyday.
 
crimton said:
I can't decide on the two either. Basically I have it narrowed down to either the base 21.5 or high end 27. So I either am all in or or just base model. I don't like that the base models don't support hyperthreading and I've read that the 27 is too big and the 21 is too small. I basically change my mind everyday.
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We are replacing our 24" iMacs with 27" iMacs. The 24" is definitely not too big and we love them. The 27" is not drastically bigger. That being said the 21.5 isn't drastically smaller.

Dimensions
The 24" : 20.5 x 22.4 x 8.1 in
The 27" : 20.4 x 25.6 x 8.15 in
The 21.5" : 17.75 x 20.8 x 7.42

I would definitely go with the 27" if you can afford it. Though we went with the i5 with the 6970. The i7 is not a HUGE jump in performance with the i5. However, the 6970 is considerably faster than the 6770. Though, at the time there were no current model i7s in the Refurb store... may have gone that route if there was one.
 
I purchased the 27 i5 and am taking it back. It is too big. I will be buying the 21.5 i7. In doing some research on this forum one thread I've found is that older people (like me) seemed to have found the 27" as too much.

crimton said:
I can't decide on the two either. Basically I have it narrowed down to either the base 21.5 or high end 27. So I either am all in or or just base model. I don't like that the base models don't support hyperthreading and I've read that the 27 is too big and the 21 is too small. I basically change my mind everyday.
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I would just get the 27 inch base model and be done with it but then I read that it does not support hyperthreading or turbo boost like the high end model.
 
crimton said:
I would just get the 27 inch base model and be done with it but then I read that it does not support hyperthreading or turbo boost like the high end model.
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The i5 does support turbo boost. It just doesn't support hyperthreading.
 
Can somebody describe hyper-threading? I have the base 21.5 mid-2011 model. Does mine do hyper-threading, turbo boost?

For my needs this machine rocks in terms of speed and performance. Wowza is all that I can say as compared to my lame HP laptop.
 
dizmonk said:
I purchased the 27 i5 and am taking it back. It is too big. I will be buying the 21.5 i7. In doing some research on this forum one thread I've found is that older people (like me) seemed to have found the 27" as too much.
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I'm inclined to agree, moved from a 27" iMac to a 17" Anti-Glare MBP and will never go back. Smaller screen with higher pixel density is the way to go!
 
We have two 21.5's in our house (a late 2009 3.06ghz c2d and a 2011 i5 base model). To be honest I really don't notice a huge difference between the two under normal/typical usage. I'm sure if I was doing some heavy video work I'd feel it.

My personal system is an old mini with a cheap 1920x1200 monitor (not sure why I've got the old/crappy setup given I'm the moneymaker... but that's another issue :) .

My main issue with the 21.5's is the 1080 v-resolution. After using my cheap monitor with 1200 v-lines, I feel cramped when browsing the web on the 21.5's. I expect I'll upgrade at some point next year. I'd love for there to be a 32" option with 1600 or 1800 v-lines (3200x1800 would be amazing).
 
jertronic said:
Can somebody describe hyper-threading? I have the base 21.5 mid-2011 model. Does mine do hyper-threading, turbo boost?

For my needs this machine rocks in terms of speed and performance. Wowza is all that I can say as compared to my lame HP laptop.
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Yours does not have Hyper-threading but it does have Turbo Boost.

From http://www.apple.com/imac/performance.html

Turbo Boost 2.0.

Say you’re using a processor-intensive application like Aperture 3 or Final Cut Pro that benefits from extra power. Turbo Boost 2.0 automatically increases the speed of the active cores — up to 3.8GHz. And by shifting core frequency in small increments, Turbo Boost allows the processor to manage performance without sacrificing efficiency. All this takes place behind the scenes, so your work (or play) goes smoother and faster.


Hyperthreading is a hardware based "Virtualization" of the processor. It makes the Quad Core actually appear as 8 Cores to the OS so there are some benefits with Multi-Tasking applications.


You can read about it more here :
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us...per-threading/hyper-threading-technology.html
 
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I have never experienced buyers remorse because something was too small, ordinarily the opposite is true. If you can afford it, and don't live in a place where six inches of space are unavailable get the 27 is my advice. I love having 2 full size, readable web pages in front of me at once, and I am especially fond of doing that on an extra desktop. so with a swish of a mouse i have access to 4 web pages. great.
 
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crimton said:
I was under the impression that the i5's in the high end models did support hyper-threading.
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This is from the Apple Store, building an iMAC
"Hyper-Threading (Intel Core i7 only) — a technology that allows two threads to run simultaneously on each core. So a quad-core iMac has eight virtual cores, all of which are recognized by Mac OS X. This enables the processor to deliver faster performance by spreading tasks more evenly across a greater number of cores."

Though I did look at Intels page and it looks like some i5s can support it, just not the ones iMac has I guess? :confused:
 
I have the 21.5" and love it. I would really recommend going to look at them first as it really is a personal choice. I just find the 27" too big so close up.
 
tyche said:
I have the 21.5" and love it. I would really recommend going to look at them first as it really is a personal choice. I just find the 27" too big so close up.
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I have only ever met one person who feels that 27" is too big... and that person has a very narrow (18") desk. They are getting a deeper desk, and I am almost 100% positive his opinion will change. The rest of his family is OK the way it is.

Every other person that I know (about 12) who uses a 2560x1440 or 2560x1600 27" or 30" display loves it.

/Jim
 
I went into a best buy to compare them side by side but they didn't have macs at that location... I guess that's the only way I will know which I think will work for me best. I have a feeling I might fall in love with that beautiful 27 in display though.
 
I usually prefer dual monitors because it allows me to write and research at the same time but I found that I no longer need 2 screens because the 27" is enough screen real estate for me.
 
Next time around, I'd go with the 27". And to resolve its current "too small" text (from higher DPI ratio), I'd change its screen to -1 from default. Thus, getting larger size fonts/graphics (on the higher DPI screen).
 
PhoenixMac said:
I usually prefer dual monitors because it allows me to write and research at the same time but I found that I no longer need 2 screens because the 27" is enough screen real estate for me.
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Yeah I use two 24" at work and my single 24" at home seems lacking. Can't wait for the extra 3"...

The 21.5 is a very good size and doesn't seem much smaller than our 24" but that 27" is a thing of beauty.

I say with the iMacs get the most you can afford to help extend the life as long as possible. Shame they don't offer the better i7 and 6970 in the 21.5.
 
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flynz4 said:
I have only ever met one person who feels that 27" is too big... and that person has a very narrow (18") desk. They are getting a deeper desk, and I am almost 100% positive his opinion will change. The rest of his family is OK the way it is.

Every other person that I know (about 12) who uses a 2560x1440 or 2560x1600 27" or 30" display loves it.

/Jim
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I agree w/ this.. and also, if you spend just little time on 27 inch, you will get used to it and can never go back. NEVER..
 
Sandman1969 said:
This is from the Apple Store, building an iMAC
"Hyper-Threading (Intel Core i7 only) — a technology that allows two threads to run simultaneously on each core. So a quad-core iMac has eight virtual cores, all of which are recognized by Mac OS X. This enables the processor to deliver faster performance by spreading tasks more evenly across a greater number of cores."

Though I did look at Intels page and it looks like some i5s can support it, just not the ones iMac has I guess? :confused:
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dual core i5's all support HyperThreading. It's just for ALL Quad Core CPUs, Hyperthreading is reserved for i7's.
 
I was in exactly the same predicament as you ;)

I have just moved from a macBook Pro 15" and gone for the 21.5" and personally i would stick with it unless you are considering doing professional class photo editing where you need the screen space!

I was in a position to be able to use my friends 27" Cinema Display with my Macbook Pro so i could see what it would be like to have that HUGE screen and with how my desk is set up it was far too big!! It started to hurt my eyes within minutes!

That led me choose the 21.5" high spec and i am so glad i did, I am very impressed with the extra screen space and i have just done a small photo editing project and it was brilliant!

Hope this helps!
 
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