iMac 21" or 27" for easy users

[Filibri73]

Sorry to bother you guys one more time about the never ending dilemma "shall I buy a 21" or a 27" iMac, but I'm about to buy a new machine and it seems I'm a little different user than the average posting in the forum (vdeo editors, big gamers, heavy graphics movers).

My tipical usage: 80% internet browsing and streaming from YouTube and similar, also HD. 20% photo viewing, Office-like applications and basic video editing.

My choices:

1. 21.5", Broadwell 3.3GHzI7, Intel iGraphics
2. 27", Skylake 3.2GHz, dGraphics

Both with 16GB RAM and 1TB Fusion Drive.

For room availability reasons, I would go for the 21.5" since my desk is pretty small...but for my tipical usage, from the performance point of view would you advise anyway to go 27" model or you don't see any relevant difference? dGraphics would help me more than I7 3.3GHz processor?

 

[Steve121178]

21.5 will be more than adequate for your needs.

 

[kupkakez]

I do the same as you and just got the 4K 21.5" iMac as it comes. It handles those tasks fine.

 

[joema2]

...never ending dilemma "shall I buy a 21" or a 27" iMac, but I'm about to buy a new machine...tipical usage: 80% internet browsing and streaming from YouTube and similar, also HD. 20% photo viewing, Office-like applications and basic video editing....For room availability reasons, I would go for the 21.5" since my desk is pretty small...

My wife got a 27" iMac, and I was worried it was too large for her small desk, which is 39" wide and 24" deep. I did all the measurements and knew it would technically fit, but feared it would visually be an oversized monstrosity. It looks great and the desk space is no problem, even though she also has Harman Kardon Soundsticks speakers. The iMac is so thin and aesthetically well designed it visually blends in much better than the 27" would indicate.

Just carefully measure the vertical space in case there's an overhanging bookshelf. The iMac 27 is about 20" high from the desktop surface to top of the screen.

 

[dogslobber]

Sorry to bother you guys one more time about the never ending dilemma "shall I buy a 21" or a 27" iMac, but I'm about to buy a new machine and it seems I'm a little different user than the average posting in the forum (vdeo editors, big gamers, heavy graphics movers).

My tipical usage: 80% internet browsing and streaming from YouTube and similar, also HD. 20% photo viewing, Office-like applications and basic video editing.

My choices:

1. 21.5", Broadwell 3.3GHzI7, Intel iGraphics
2. 27", Skylake 3.2GHz, dGraphics

Both with 16GB RAM and 1TB Fusion Drive.

For room availability reasons, I would go for the 21.5" since my desk is pretty small...but for my tipical usage, from the performance point of view would you advise anyway to go 27" model or you don't see any relevant difference? dGraphics would help me more than I7 3.3GHz processor?

27" is too massive for 80% of time spent web surfing. Stick with 21.5" then go to the pub with the price difference.

 

[Cody1992]

If you do go with the 21.5", I don't think the i7 would add much value for you, extending the price difference, but if the prices are anything like here in Canada. Spending the extra 300$ for the 27" is generally considered a good investment as it comes with better well, everything pretty much.

I wouldn't upgrade the RAM if I were you, 8GB should be plenty. Notably, the 27" iMac will be cost effective to add more RAM should you need it in a few years (which I doubt with your usage).

I just got a 27" and I like the extra screen estate for watching movies, it has almost eliminated the need for a TV (in my book). Although I have to agree that for browsing it is definitely overkill, it's nice for when you're doing research and want a word document and browser side by side. I don't know if you do that kind of thing.

 

[Filibri73]

Just carefully measure the vertical space in case there's an overhanging bookshelf. The iMac 27 is about 20" high from the desktop surface to top of the screen.

Over my desck there's actually an overhanging bookshelf and the 27" would just fit between 2 vertical sides of it...probably it would look too stuffed in. Yesterday my wife has officially rejected the 27" solution, so now the question is whether disobey or not... ;-)

 

[Filibri73]

If you do go with the 21.5", I don't think the i7 would add much value for you...

I wouldn't upgrade the RAM if I were you, 8GB should be plenty. Notably, the 27" iMac will be cost effective to add more RAM should you need it in a few years (which I doubt with your usage).

Thanx for your comment on the i7 processor, from this and other threads I'm now thinking to stick on the standard 3.1GHz i5 and invest the spare money in improving the mass memory...256GB SSD is too small, 512GB would perfectly fit but too expensive, 2TB Fusion Drive is a bit of a waste since I really don't need all that room on HDD...life is made of choices!
About RAM: for me it's not easy to upgrade later on, as I'm living in a small village and the nearest Apple Center is pretty far away from here, so the idea was to start with a RAM that I would keep till the end...

 

[azure247]

I think the 27 is great for basic media use because you can split screen into two windows and browse the web while watching youtube or movies, etc.

 

[maflynn]

The 21" iMac will be fine, but a larger display is hard to pass up. In seeing both the 21" and 27" at the apple store I think overall enjoyment of the 27" will be better.

While you don't need a 5k display because you're not doing video/photo editing, that doesn't mean you'll not enjoy its usage.

 

[James_C]

About RAM: for me it's not easy to upgrade later on, as I'm living in a small village and the nearest Apple Center is pretty far away from here, so the idea was to start with a RAM that I would keep till the end...

While 8GB should be fine for your intended uses, it is not possible to upgrade the RAM in the 21" iMac ( you can in the 27") so if you intend to keep for a while I would think about increasing the RAM to 16GB.

Sorry ignore that I just re-read your original post, you are going to buy with 16GB.

 

[deany]

Thanx for your comment on the i7 processor, from this and other threads I'm now thinking to stick on the standard 3.1GHz i5 and invest the spare money in improving the mass memory...256GB SSD is too small, 512GB would perfectly fit but too expensive, 2TB Fusion Drive is a bit of a waste since I really don't need all that room on HDD...life is made of choices!
About RAM: for me it's not easy to upgrade later on, as I'm living in a small village and the nearest Apple Center is pretty far away from here, so the idea was to start with a RAM that I would keep till the end...

NO NO NO don't get 8MB it is soldered in and not 'future proof' get 16 GB. also 1 TB fusion has only 24 GB SSD get the 512 GB SSD and an external SSD USB 3 drive with external housing in the future. i5 fine. Your uses for the iMac may change in years to come, this 'allows' for that more. cheers

 

[tom vilsack]

"My tipical usage: 80% internet browsing and streaming from YouTube and similar, also HD. 20% photo viewing, Office-like applications and basic video editing."

you sure you even need a $$$ imac for those basic needs? heck a $200 chromebook will suffice for those need's...

if you must have a Imac,just because you can upgrade the ram in the 27" is a major plus (think long term future proofing),...I would get the base 27" (M280 graphics is fine) and the 8 gig ram you can always ug latter,I would however go with the 256 (+200) ssd over the fusion drive (ask yourself if anyone in 3-5 years when you resell will want anything other then a pure ssd!)...total with 256 ssd is $1,999

 

[deany]

"My tipical usage: 80% internet browsing and streaming from YouTube and similar, also HD. 20% photo viewing, Office-like applications and basic video editing."

you sure you even need a $$$ imac for those basic needs? heck a $200 chromebook will suffice for those need's...

if you must have a Imac,just because you can upgrade the ram in the 27" is a major plus (think long term future proofing),...I would get the base 27" (M280 graphics is fine) and the 8 gig ram you can always ug latter,I would however go with the 256 (+200) ssd over the fusion drive (ask yourself if anyone in 3-5 years when you resell will want anything other then a pure ssd!)...total with 256 ssd is $1,999

I _much_ prefer the 21.5'' myself. I think the 27'' just takes over a room (unless you need two programs open on the screen etc i.e. for work)

 

[maflynn]

NO NO NO don't get 8MB it is soldered in and not 'future proof' get 16 GB.

I used to think that, but I think 8GB will be more then enough memory for 90% of what people use computers for. While I understand the mentality behind the idea, in fact I used to subscribed too it as well. I think it does not hold up against actual analysis of how apps/OS X have been using resources these past 5 years.

I think 8GB for most people will be more then enough for now and up to 5 years. There's exceptions like people running multiple Vms or running pro apps, or autocad but most people need the computer for some light to medium photo editing, surfing the web, and office apps. 16GB will be a waste of money in that case.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Thanx for your comment on the i7 processor, from this and other threads I'm now thinking to stick on the standard 3.1GHz i5 and invest the spare money in improving the mass memory...256GB SSD is too small, 512GB would perfectly fit but too expensive, 2TB Fusion Drive is a bit of a waste since I really don't need all that room on HDD...life is made of choices!
About RAM: for me it's not easy to upgrade later on, as I'm living in a small village and the nearest Apple Center is pretty far away from here, so the idea was to start with a RAM that I would keep till the end...

Buy whatever you like you could do that use case on an ipad an iMac will breeze through it.

8GB will be great for your use case for the forseeable future, but if you want to spend the money on 16GB you'll possibly never make use of for peace of mind go for it on the 21 inch. On the 27 inch upgrade yourself if you need to in the future the RAM is user upgradeable with some RAM slots under a panel you can just order online and slot them in.

But the 1TB fusion only has a 24GB flash storage cache whereas the 2TB fusion comes with a full 128GB SSD, this will make a massive diffrence to the general speed of the machine and is worth the extra cash.

 

[deany]

I used to think that, but I think 8GB will be more then enough memory for 90% of what people use computers for. While I understand the mentality behind the idea, in fact I used to subscribed too it as well. I think it does not hold up against actual analysis of how apps/OS X have been using resources these past 5 years.

I think 8GB for most people will be more then enough for now and up to 5 years. There's exceptions like people running multiple Vms or running pro apps, or autocad but most people need the computer for some light to medium photo editing, surfing the web, and office apps. 16GB will be a waste of money in that case.

If the OP is used to Windows (with his mention of Office like application) Parallels maybe something he may have in the future, as you say, 16GB would be nice for that.etc etc