3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or 2.66GHz Intel Core i5? Pros and Cons Please!

[najicta]

Hi Everyone,
I am looking to buy a new iMac and have just recently started doing my requisite research. I can't seem to find a lot of "plain english" responses for my question so i'm hoping asking for an answer in plain english will help:

Which is better for someone looking to play games such as "Spore" or "Sims 2 and 3", the 3.06GHz/3.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or 2.66GHz Intel Core i5 (or even the 2.8GHz i7 option)? What are the pros and cons of each? I'm definitely getting the 27" display....

I'm the type of person who usually likes the best of things, but money is a little tight and if I can save a couple hundred, i would like to
thanks everyone!

 

[js81]

Wouldn't it be grand...

... if everyone would search before they post.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/808592/

 

[najicta]

sorry....

but thanks anyway. :-/

 

[striatedglutes]

The processor doesn't matter nearly as much as your graphics card when playing video games. Upgrading the graphics card to the 4850 on the dual core will only cost you $150, versus $300 going straight for the quad core with the 4850 already included.

Whether or not you need the 4850 vs. the 4670 to provide fluid frame rates for those games at the monitor's native resolution should be the real question.

 

[js81]

but thanks anyway. :-/

No worries, dude. As you can see from that thread, almost everybody says i5 (or i7 if you have the monies).

 

[MacKiddyWiddy]

I5 unless u havr the money... Cpu wont make mucch difference with games, the gpu will make the most difference but even so with games on these new macs, not that much