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Dual Core Quad Core Dilemma (27inch)

iWoz

iWoz

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 12, 2009
686
0
East Midlands, U.K
Ok well maybe it's not quite a dilemma but..

I've got £1100 and my girlfriend is a University student so will get the 13% off

I can get the dual core iMac 27inch, But I was thinking about saving up a bit more for the quad core... However will I notice any difference between the two considering its mainly for personal use and wont be doing anything to intense, Watching films/videos, Itunes, documents.

It's just the wow factor of having a "quad core" processor.

Thanks
 
iWoz87 said:
Ok well maybe it's not quite a dilemma but..

I've got £1100 and my girlfriend is a University student so will get the 13% off

I can get the dual core iMac 27inch, But I was thinking about saving up a bit more for the quad core... However will I notice any difference between the two considering its mainly for personal use and wont be doing anything to intense, Watching films/videos, Itunes, documents.

It's just the wow factor of having a "quad core" processor.

Thanks
Click to expand...

The age old saying goes that if you don't need it, don't bother!

However I have a quad Mac Pro and have to say that it is blisteringly fast and if you ever plan on trying anything processor intensive on your computer then you won't regret it.

Factor in the fact that you are future proofing yourself as well as the Quad will go much longer than the Dual.
 
£1100 is a ton of money to spend on a computer. You can buy a decent car for that kind of cash.

I don't understand why people are so desperate to buy these machines at these prices. Dell will sell you their 24-inch XPS One for £679 and it will be just as fast as the iMac at every task you are asking of it.

If you don't want an all-in-one (really, who does? you can't upgrade them and they are basically just laptops on their side) then you can save even more money by shopping around.
 
iWoz87 said:
Ok well maybe it's not quite a dilemma but..

I've got £1100 and my girlfriend is a University student so will get the 13% off

I can get the dual core iMac 27inch, But I was thinking about saving up a bit more for the quad core... However will I notice any difference between the two considering its mainly for personal use and wont be doing anything to intense, Watching films/videos, Itunes, documents.

It's just the wow factor of having a "quad core" processor.
Click to expand...

Unless you have a specific need for tons of processor power, you should spend any extra cash in this order:

1. External drive for backup (you MUST have that)
2. More RAM
3. A second monitor. You can never have enough space :)
4. Faster processor.
 
My bet is that most people buy macs for their 'wow-factor', many of them also seem to rationalize their decision. You're just being fair, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't buy the quad. You don't need permission to buy the quad. If the 'wow-factor' is worth money in your eyes, I see no problem with you deciding to spend yours on that. Be well aware that the 'wow-factor' will wear off, although even that may take a long long time.

Edit:
gnasher729 said:
Unless you have a specific need for tons of processor power, you should spend any extra cash in this order:

1. External drive for backup (you MUST have that)
2. More RAM
3. A second monitor. You can never have enough space :)
4. Faster processor.
Click to expand...

I don't fully agree, here's why:
1. Prudent, but only his documents are important. That leaves open a lot of alternatives (e.g. Cloud (i.e. Google/Apple/Norton and a whole lot of others.), CDs and DVDs (they're more expensive price/MB-wise but cheaper qua price de facto because you don't have to buy 500GB to beging with.).
2. There is sufficient RAM available for light work.
3. True, but that also applies to his (I presume the OP is male) desk space.
4. Faster processor = manlier--everybody knows that;).

Ergo: Buy a bigger car.
 
neiltc13 said:
£1100 is a ton of money to spend on a computer. You can buy a decent car for that kind of cash.

I don't understand why people are so desperate to buy these machines at these prices. Dell will sell you their 24-inch XPS One for £679 and it will be just as fast as the iMac at every task you are asking of it.

If you don't want an all-in-one (really, who does? you can't upgrade them and they are basically just laptops on their side) then you can save even more money by shopping around.
Click to expand...

this defeats the point of getting a mac :(
 
gnasher729 said:
Unless you have a specific need for tons of processor power, you should spend any extra cash in this order:

1. External drive for backup (you MUST have that)
2. More RAM
3. A second monitor. You can never have enough space :)
4. Faster processor.
Click to expand...


Got a 1tb WD Elements External HD

Nooo, I dont want 2 monitors :)

You can upgrade the processor at a later stage?
 
iWoz87 said:
Ok well maybe it's not quite a dilemma but..

I've got £1100 and my girlfriend is a University student so will get the 13% off

I can get the dual core iMac 27inch, But I was thinking about saving up a bit more for the quad core... However will I notice any difference between the two considering its mainly for personal use and wont be doing anything to intense, Watching films/videos, Itunes, documents.

It's just the wow factor of having a "quad core" processor.

Thanks
Click to expand...

If thats all your doing i think the base model is plenty..... that 27in LED is gonna look just as sweet. Quad cores are only good for labor intensive uses and you will see little to no difference in your basic functions... The base model is still a great machine...
 
iWoz87 said:
Got a 1tb WD Elements External HD

Nooo, I dont want 2 monitors :)

You can upgrade the processor at a later stage?
Click to expand...

you cant upgrade a processor unless you have extreme skillz with a soldering iron, computer knowhow and luck. oh yeah a new processor and know if OSX can see that you have a better processor. - could someone explain this better?

but if you want to upgrade a processor... i think you should look at a better machine or buy a new machine (if this is in 2+ years time)

you can also change the hard drive i believe.

and remove the super drive, but i dont know why you would want to do that ;)
 
neiltc13 said:
£1100 is a ton of money to spend on a computer. You can buy a decent car for that kind of cash.

I don't understand why people are so desperate to buy these machines at these prices. Dell will sell you their 24-inch XPS One for £679 and it will be just as fast as the iMac at every task you are asking of it.

If you don't want an all-in-one (really, who does? you can't upgrade them and they are basically just laptops on their side) then you can save even more money by shopping around.
Click to expand...

+1, the prices for this new technology will drop very fast over the next year, and you might regret what you paid for it a year from now
 
I would get the dual, it will be futureproof enough and the quad won't really help you much unless you do uber intensive stuff
signature_SmileyFace.jpg
 
sleyeu said:
you cant upgrade a processor unless you have extreme skillz with a soldering iron, computer knowhow and luck. oh yeah a new processor and know if OSX can see that you have a better processor. - could someone explain this better?

but if you want to upgrade a processor... i think you should look at a better machine or buy a new machine (if this is in 2+ years time)

you can also change the hard drive i believe.

and remove the super drive, but i dont know why you would want to do that ;)
Click to expand...


Thanks, it's not my intentions to upgrade the processor, just someone suggested it in one of the above replies.

Does anyone know when the Quad Core iMacs will be available in November?

Im still indecisive, As I think I'll only need to save an extra £250 to get the Quad Core, But that £270 could go on something else. I guess I'll just go with the flow, and see what happens
 
iWoz87 said:
Thanks, it's not my intentions to upgrade the processor, just someone suggested it in one of the above replies.

Does anyone know when the Quad Core iMacs will be available in November?

Im still indecisive, As I think I'll only need to save an extra £250 to get the Quad Core, But that £270 could go on something else. I guess I'll just go with the flow, and see what happens
Click to expand...

go into an apple shop play with imovie on a dual and a quad core. you might get some info >:/
 
neiltc13 said:
£1100 is a ton of money to spend on a computer. You can buy a decent car for that kind of cash.

I don't understand why people are so desperate to buy these machines at these prices. Dell will sell you their 24-inch XPS One for £679 and it will be just as fast as the iMac at every task you are asking of it.

If you don't want an all-in-one (really, who does? you can't upgrade them and they are basically just laptops on their side) then you can save even more money by shopping around.
Click to expand...

This is a Mac forum, get use to it. If you're asking why would someone want a Mac, go to PC forums. Dell's XPS One is no where near quad-core iMac.

Woz: Get the quad because with C2D, you won't see noticeable speed bump from your old MBP
 
Hellhammer said:
This is a Mac forum, get use to it. If you're asking why would someone want a Mac, go to PC forums. Dell's XPS One is no where near quad-core iMac.

Woz: Get the quad because with C2D, you won't see noticeable speed bump from your old MBP
Click to expand...

thats the attitude!

also dont forget the "futeru proofing" and the higher resale value later on.
theres always refurb buyers who want a mac but cant afford...
 
Thanks for all the feedback!

I think Im going to hold out till the release of the quad core, will have the money for it then, if it is the end of November.

:D
 
neiltc13 said:
No. The only component which you can upgrade later is the RAM. Everything else is soldered to the motherboard and CANNOT be replaced or updated.
Click to expand...
The processors are still socketed in the iMac. Not that it's something easy to reach.

Either your choices in the iMac are Late 2007 CPU performance or Late 2009 and how big is your wallet.
 
Hellhammer said:
Woz: Get the quad because with C2D, you won't see noticeable speed bump from your old MBP
Click to expand...

He won't see any noticeable speed bump with the Quad either. None of the tasks he mentions require or will benefit at all from a quad core processor.
 
neiltc13 said:
He won't see any noticeable speed bump with the Quad either. None of the tasks he mentions require or will benefit at all from a quad core processor.
Click to expand...

Maybe, maybe not. For 250£ (even less through edu store) he will get twice as much CPU power and a lot better GPU. IMO that's almost nothing for what you get. At least it'll be more "future proof" and have better resale value.
 
Unprocessed1 said:
+1, the prices for this new technology will drop very fast over the next year, and you might regret what you paid for it a year from now
Click to expand...

The prices for ANY new computer technology WILL drop over the next year. If you're argument is that technology will get better, therefor the OP should wait, then they'll be waiting forever. :rolleyes:
 
neiltc13 said:
£1100 is a ton of money to spend on a computer. You can buy a decent car for that kind of cash.
Click to expand...
No you can't ;)
I've had cheap runabouts before but never again.

neiltc13 said:
If you don't want an all-in-one (really, who does? you can't upgrade them and they are basically just laptops on their side) then you can save even more money by shopping around.
Click to expand...
I want an all in one. Of all the PCs I've ever bought I've never upgraded anything. By the time the CPU is too slow, the motherboard is so old it doesn't support the latest (even if the same socket is in use). The PSU then lacks the correct variation on the ATX connector for a new motherboard. Etc.

In two years of iMac ownership, it has just run and run with no intervention. After two years, I can sell it for 50% of purchase price and buy new. A little like a car analogy.

To the original poster: buy what you have the money for. The C2D machines are not bad at all, remember that even the cheapest Mac is not a low-end machine.
 
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