Need help with what to order.

[Mintin8]

Hello ladies and gentlemen, it's time to order a new mac i think!

I will be using this iMac for pretty much - gaming (i know a gaming rig would be better but i just love mac os), general browsing, word processing, video editing (small 7-10 minute projects for a friends youtube), photo editing (going to be dealing with large RAW files from a 5D Mk II).

What processor should I get, would an i7 be a lot more beneficial than a core i5?

I'll be getting 4GB RAM and then i'll add another 4 myself.

This is what i'm thinking

27-inch iMac (2011)
3.1GHz Quad Core (Core i5)
4GB RAM (later upgraded to 8)
1TB HDD + 256GB SSD (im not in a rush, so delivery times are fine)
ATI 6970M 2GB Graphics Card

Basically, i'm torn between the core i5 and i7, can macrumors help me? To clarify, my main use will be gaming (portal 2, black ops, GTA).

Thanks in advance.

 

[treebark7182]

I'm in the exact same boat. I know it's a better processor buy does it justify the extra dough. I want to get it at best buy for rewards points and 0% financing but I dont know when best buy will get them in or if they'll even carry the i7's. I know its a BTO option but I've heard a lot of apple stores having them.

 

[DeusInvictus7]

Gaming probably won't yield a huge difference between the two. Processing your large image files will be noticeable though, so depending on how serious you are about your photo editing, it might be something to look into. For the $200...I personally think it's worth it any way you cut it.

 

[Jazwire]

I learned to just stop buyers remorse in its tracks and get the best that I can afford.

Will $200 put you in a bind?
Were you already stretching your budget to get the config you are considering now?

If No, get the I7.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

If you are going all out for speed w/ the larger SSD then it seems silly not to go in $200 more for the i7. The i7 is the only way to get hyperthreading and also bursts to 3.8Ghz.

 

[Badger^2]

SSD seems like a waste to me.

8 gigs of ram is only 100 (for a total of 12) -- better bang than just adding 4 more.

 

[roland.g]

Is it true that the 2.7 i5 actually outperforms the 3.1 i5?

The only reason I am thinking of getting the 3.1 is the 6970 and I don't do any gaming. But everything I've read says the 6770 just isn't that great. I think the i7 is overkill for my needs, but I plan to keep it about 4 years.

 

[Mintin8]

SSD seems like a waste to me.

8 gigs of ram is only 100 (for a total of 12) -- better bang than just adding 4 more.

I thought RAM performs better when each stick is the same amount.

Also I'm planning on keeping this a long time (5 years probably) so I guess the SSD would be a wee bit beneficial.

 

[Badger^2]

I thought RAM performs better when each stick is the same amount.

Also I'm planning on keeping this a long time (5 years probably) so I guess the SSD would be a wee bit beneficial.

More ram always trumps matched ram, everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.

Who knows what you will be doing in 5 years

As of right now, it looks like adding the SSD yourself after you buy it is not gonna work -- needs some special crap parts a complete logic board removal

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/imacs-latest-27-inch-iteration-requires-special-parts-for-your/

 

[theSeb]

Is it true that the 2.7 i5 actually outperforms the 3.1 i5?

The only reason I am thinking of getting the 3.1 is the 6970 and I don't do any gaming. But everything I've read says the 6770 just isn't that great. I think the i7 is overkill for my needs, but I plan to keep it about 4 years.

The 3.1 i5 CPU outperforms the 2.7 i5 in most uses.

 

[Mintin8]

More ram always trumps matched ram, everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.

Who knows what you will be doing in 5 years

As of right now, it looks like adding the SSD yourself after you buy it is not gonna work -- needs some special crap parts a complete logic board removal

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/imacs-latest-27-inch-iteration-requires-special-parts-for-your/

But surely the SSD would have a more significant impact compared to some more ram? Plus i wouldn't be adding it myself, i'll just get the apple SSD (obviously not as good as intel).

 

[theSeb]

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More ram always trumps matched ram, everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.

Who knows what you will be doing in 5 years

As of right now, it looks like adding the SSD yourself after you buy it is not gonna work -- needs some special crap parts a complete logic board removal

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/imacs-latest-27-inch-iteration-requires-special-parts-for-your/

But surely the SSD would have a more significant impact compared to some more ram? Plus i wouldn't be adding it myself, i'll just get the apple SSD (obviously not as good as intel).

Yes, it would. Badger has some inexplicable hate and issues when it comes to ssd drives.