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iMac 21.5 vs iMac 27 vs MBP 15 Hres?

gdourado

gdourado

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 22, 2010
468
66
Hello,

How are you?
I am wanting to buy a new computer.
I have set my budget and have narrowed my choices to 3:

- iMac 21.5 - 16gb ram - 3.1 i7 - 1tb Fusion drive - GT 650M
- iMac 27 - 8gb ram - 2.9 i5 - 1tb Fusion drive - GT 660MX
- Macbook Pro 15.4 High Res Anti Glare - 8gb Ram - i7 2.3 - 500gb HDD - 650M

They are in order of price, being the 21.5 option the most expensive and the Macbook Pro the least expensive.

The 21.5 option is 5o Euros more than the 27. Not much. Since the iMac 27 has user upgradeable RAM, I can upgrade it to 16gb or even 32gb later.

The Macbook Pro is cheaper, but if I factor an Optibay, Samsung 840 SSD and 750gb 7200 Hard drive to do a DIY fusion, the price will be the same has the iMacs.

I have an iPhone and an iPad, and Portability is not an everuday need. I have the iPad to take with me.

So, based on this, what is the best option in regard to price, performance and features?
What would you choose and why?

Thank you.
Best regards.
 
Well 2 of them are desktops and 1 is a laptop, do you need portability if so then i'd choose the macbook, if not then either of the iMacs depending on what you are going to use them for.
 
Since you stated portability is not a priority i would get one of the iMacs. If you cant afford the 27" iMac with at least the 675mx i would go the 21.5" iMac option as the 512gb of VRAM in the 660m is not very good for driving the 2560x1400 screen imo.
 
Thank you for the insights.
I am not a gamer.
I just do ocasional games on the iPad like angry birds and such.
No serious games whatsoever.
I would like a computer to do general computer tasks and maybe a bit of photo editing in aperture. Also, I would like the computer to last before starting to feel slow and laggy.
Also, to manage my music collection with iTunes and serve it to my ipad and iphone.
And to sync and backup the devices.

Portability is not an issue, but I am just thinking if not beeing tied to a desk would be a good think, to be able to move the computer with ease to the kitchen or the dinning table, or the bedroom...

Cheers!
 
Last edited:
gdourado said:
Thank you for the insights.
I am not a gamer.
I just do ocasional games on the iPad like angry birds and such.
No serious games whatsoever.
I would like a computer to do general computer tasks and maybe a bit of photo editing in aperture. Also, I would like the computer to last before starting to feel slow and laggy.

Portability is not an issue, but I am just thinking if not beeing tied to a desk would be a good think, to be able to move the computer with ease to the kitchen or the dinning table, or the bedroom...

Cheers!
Click to expand...

In that case get the base 27" with the 660m, it will be perfect for your needs. You have an ipad for portability yes?
 
Well quite obviously the main question is, do you want to move it around? MBP's should only be bought if you really plan on moving around or travelling with it a lot, why suffer with a 11/13/15 inch screen if you are just going to be sat at a desk the whole time?

As you've said you're not a gamer and don't need portability the base models of each iMac are ideal. I'd say go for the 27" though, the added screen size is just a bonus for watching movies and editing ect.
 
Zav said:
Well quite obviously the main question is, do you want to move it around? MBP's should only be bought if you really plan on moving around or travelling with it a lot, why suffer with a 11/13/15 inch screen if you are just going to be sat at a desk the whole time?

As you've said you're not a gamer and don't need portability the base models of each iMac are ideal. I'd say go for the 27" though, the added screen size is just a bonus for watching movies and editing ect.
Click to expand...

When you say base model, do you mean I shouldn't buy the fusion drive?

Cheers
 
How about the CPUs? Is the upgrade from 2.9 i5 to 3.1 i7 worth it?
On everymac it says that geekbench score goes from roughly 11000 to 14000.
But that is just numbers. How does that translate do every day usage of the computer?

Cheers
 
gdourado said:
How about the CPUs? Is the upgrade from 2.9 i5 to 3.1 i7 worth it?
On everymac it says that geekbench score goes from roughly 11000 to 14000.
But that is just numbers. How does that translate do every day usage of the computer?

Cheers
Click to expand...

it doesn't. Put it this way, this imac is an i5, with fusion and 8gb of ram, I have 11 applications open (2 music authoring and aperture) whilst I'm not doing intense stuff in all of them at the same time right now, the CPU isn't even breaking a sweat. My activity monitor shows low usage. In all honesty I would save the bucks with the i7, unless you know you will need it :)
 
Went to the Apple store today.
They had the 27 and 21.5 side by side.
To be honest, the 27 is a lovely machine. Beautiful screen. But it just seems too big.
And that was in the store. My guess is it would look gigantic on my desk.
Currently I am more simpathetic of the 21.5...

Cheers!
 
Another thing...
I was just offered the chance to buy a mint 2011 i5 21.5 for 850.
The iMac is a mid 2011 i5 2.5 with 4gb Ram, 500gb HDD and a 6750M.

I know it has just a 500 hdd and 4gb of ram and it is an older Sandy Bridge, but the price got me thinking...

The 2012 goes:
- i5 2.9 8gb of Ram 1tb fusion = 1500
- i5 2.9 16gb of Ram 1tb fusion = 1670
- i7 3.1 16gb of Ram 1tb fusion = 1840

For the 2011, I can get:
- Seagate Barracuda 7200 rpm 2tb sata III = 90
- Samsung 840 Pro SSD 128gb = 120
- Samsung 840 Pro SSD 256gb = 200
- Optibay = 30
- CORSAIR Vengeance 2 x 8 GB DDR3-1600 PC3-12800 CL10 = 70

Which means, I can get the 2011 with a 2tb and 128gb Fusion with 16gb of ram for 1160.

Or the 2011 with a 2tb and 256gb Fusion with 32gb of ram for 1310.

And if wanted I can even upgrade the CPU with an i7-2600s for another 280...

This is tempting... What do you think? Hassle free 2012 or 2011 with DIY upgrades? In the end, what would be the better machine?

Cheers and thanks!
 
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