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iMac: can't choose which

F

FiddlersHope

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 26, 2009
6
0
Hey everybody,

I'm a computer-science student in need of a new computer.
I decided to buy an iMac, but I have no idea which.
The options are the 1,200$ model, 1,500$ model and the 1,700$ model.

1) Will the 27" model cause eye-strain after a short while? I work for long periods in time.

2) How helpful is a 27" screen vs. 21.5" screen?
I do tend to work with more than one window at a time.
I currently work with a 19" screen, but I have a PC with Windows. This means programs are usually open in full-screen mode. If they aren't full-screen, I still see only one window at a time properly.

3) I want to play every now and then on my computer. I want to play games like Street Figher 4, Anno 1404 and Burnout Paradise.
Will the basic 27" model (Radeon 4670) work alright with these games?
Will the games look blurry and bad if I have to lower the resolution? I mean, the GPU probably can't handle native resolution gaming, right?
I know it will probably look better on 21.5".

4) Is the 1,500$ 21.5" model considered to be bad value for the money?
Which model is best value for money? Which model will keep the highest value over time?

I appreciate your help,
John.
 
1. I don't know but 24" doesn't

2. 27" has 46% greater resolution than 21.5" so yes, it'll help

3. If you get the 27", go for ATI 4850, it a lot better in games.

4. I'd say yes. You only get more HD space and little bit better GPU
 
Thank you Hellhammer!

I think the 4850 might be a little too expensive for me.
How will the 21.5" base model handle games?
Will it be able to run Street Fighter 4, Anno 1404 and Burnout Paradise?
 
The 4670 is going to be able to play games OK, and you will no doubt have to tweak the settings to get some performance from it.

Newer games might start to struggle as they demand more from your card, so you will have to drop the detail



The 9400 is just not worth it for game play TBH
 
the 4670 will play games fine
signature_SmileyFace.jpg


no1 i know has complained about eye strain with either the 27 or 21.5

the gpu will handle the natural resolution fine, so nothing will be blurry
signature_SmileyFace.jpg
 
Thank you for the replies!

What I still don't understand is: will the 4670 be good for both the 21.5" model and the 27" model?
 
Thank you both for the replies :)

I saw some benchmarks for that card on various websites, and I was wondering: how many frames-per-second are needed to play a game properly?

Also, will I be able to play "Anno 1404" on max (or very high) settings at native resolution on a 21.5" iMac?

I'm sorry for all the questions, it's just that even after your answers, i'm still quite confused as to how well the 4670 really is.
 
BTW, all of my questions/remarks are about the ATI 4670.

Maybe it's also worth asking: is the 4850 to the 27" iMac the same as the 4670 is to the 21.5" iMac?
Will "Anno 1404" run better on the 1,999$ model than it would on the 1,499$ model?

Thank you! :D
 
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