Is the "i5" worth the extra $200?

[PracticalMac]

Lets keep the answers simple, as I have read other posts on the debate.

Yes/No would be fine.

Thanks


Edit:
OK, what will I use it for?
General run of mill work, web browsing, games, watching video, *occasional* (as in once every month or so) video processing/rendering.


If I planned to do a lot of CPU intensive stuff (lots of video, CAD work, etc), I would have purchased the "i7".

Oh, and PS, it is for my wife, and the 27" will be very nice for her.

 

[miles01110]

If you had read other posts on the issue you would know that your question is meaningless without some idea of what you use your machine for. Care to try again?

 

[Hellhammer]

Can't say anything without knowing what the machine will be used for

 

[S.B.G]

Essentially it depends on the apps you use and if those apps are written to take advantage of the extra CPU cores.

 

[0815]

Lets keep the answers simple, as I have read other posts on the debate.

Yes/No would be fine.

Thanks

I would say for most users the answer is probably NO. Only the extreme power users and geeks needed the latest/best would answer YES.

As others said: depends on what you do - but most likely the answer is NO.

 

[strelok1911]

Yes. Definitely, the i3 might have HT, but four physical cores will make a huge difference in most applications. Especially in iLife.

 

[Hellhammer]

Yes. Definitely, the i3 might have HT, but four physical cores will make a huge difference in most applications. Especially in iLife.

I think OP is talking about the 3.6GHz i5 offered in 21.5" which is dual core.

 

[PracticalMac]

Yes. Definitely, the i3 might have HT, but four physical cores will make a huge difference in most applications. Especially in iLife.

I think OP is talking about the 3.6GHz i5 offered in 21.5" which is dual core.

Correct, the i5 DUAL core.


Enhanced my original post with more details.

The only feature the i5 seems to have is "performance boost when running on 1 core", which sounds like it would be good when dealing with lots of non-multi cpu apps.


OH, and why is an i3 capable of 3.6GHz, when an i7 is 2.8GHz? Heat issue?

Thanks!

 

[Hellhammer]

Sounds like the i3 is sufficient then. i5 would only help with video stuff but if you do it like once a month, then that 200$ is better spent on something else.

OH, and why is an i3 capable of 3.6GHz, when an i7 is 2.8GHz? Heat issue

Because that i5 is dual core while i7s are quad cores.

 

[PracticalMac]

Because that i5 is dual core while i7s are quad cores.

So why not 3.6GHz i7 Quad core?

Extra speed does not help if you have more cores?

Thanks

 

[Hellhammer]

So why not 3.6GHz i7 Quad core?

Extra speed does not help if you have more cores?

Thanks

Mainly due to heat. Now that Sandy Bridge brought 32nm quads, there is 3.4GHz quad (i7-2600). It took some time before we saw 3.6GHz dual too but sooner than later there should be 3.6GHz quad as well.

 

[PracticalMac]

Mainly due to heat. Now that Sandy Bridge brought 32nm quads, there is 3.4GHz quad (i7-2600). It took some time before we saw 3.6GHz dual too but sooner than later there should be 3.6GHz quad as well.

Great, thanks for the explanation!

I was cruising the other retailers and found this:
http://www.macmall.com/p/Apple-iMac/product~dpno~8183585~pdp.gcbafci

i5 2.8GHz, but has the top of line video card and the usual MacMall freebies
$1,939.00

Sounds tempting even though its a slower CPU (older model?).
Would this be a good model to get due to top of line GPU w/ 1GB GRAM?


BTW, Hellhammer, what is avatar icon from?

 

[Hellhammer]

Great, thanks for the explanation!

I was cruising the other retailers and found this:
http://www.macmall.com/p/Apple-iMac/product~dpno~8183585~pdp.gcbafci

i5 2.8GHz, but has the top of line video card and the usual MacMall freebies
$1,939.00

Sounds tempting even though its a slower CPU (older model?).
Would this be a good model to get due to top of line GPU w/ 1GB GRAM?

If you really want some bang for the buck, get this refurb. That's the current gen i5, the same you linked. If you're going to game, then this model is the best for you.

BTW, Hellhammer, what is avatar icon from?

The vocalist/guitarist of Immortal (a Norwegian black metal band), also known as Abbath

 

[MacHamster68]

take the i3 and get for the $200 extra ram from crucial or from the ram manufacturer of your choice ,
because apple just sells with the absolute minimum ram needed to run at all ,you need the extra ram anyway no matter if you buy i3 /i5 or i7