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coldwater456

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 20, 2009
2
0
I'm really curious of some opinions on the differences between the two 21.5" iMacs: NVIDIA vs. ATI graphics processors. What are the benefits/pitfalls of each? I'm not a gamer, but I do use some scientific graphics programs occasionally (data visualization and molecular rendering), for what it matters. I have had poor experiences with my current MacBook (2007) with the Intel shared memory graphics processor, namely: some seemingly minor graphics jobs like a 2-3 minutes youtube clip heat up the CPU and the fan kicks in heavily and annoyingly. I don't know if I can attribute the heating up to the shared memory setup or not, but I'd really like to avoid a similar problem in a new iMac. So, which 21.5" iMac should I get?!?

Thanks!
 
I'm really curious of some opinions on the differences between the two 21.5" iMacs: NVIDIA vs. ATI graphics processors. What are the benefits/pitfalls of each? I'm not a gamer, but I do use some scientific graphics programs occasionally (data visualization and molecular rendering), for what it matters. I have had poor experiences with my current MacBook (2007) with the Intel shared memory graphics processor, namely: some seemingly minor graphics jobs like a 2-3 minutes youtube clip heat up the CPU and the fan kicks in heavily and annoyingly. I don't know if I can attribute the heating up to the shared memory setup or not, but I'd really like to avoid a similar problem in a new iMac. So, which 21.5" iMac should I get?!?

Thanks!

Depends, what are you planning on doing with it>?
 
Depends, what are you planning on doing with it>?

"...but I do use some scientific graphics programs occasionally (data visualization and molecular rendering)..."

I also would like to know, but my graphics card use isn't for science programs, since I am a business major (i just need my microsoft office, lol). I just like knowing what I can run and how well it can run, haha! :p
 
"...but I do use some scientific graphics programs occasionally (data visualization and molecular rendering)..."

I also would like to know, but my graphics card use isn't for science programs, since I am a business major (i just need my microsoft office, lol). I just like knowing what I can run and how well it can run, haha! :p

lol you will be fine

im an engineer with a 3 yo mb with a mb with a gma95o and i havent had problems doing anything non game related
 
Depends, what are you planning on doing with it>?

all of the basics: email, web-surfing, Microsoft Office, no gaming, and then some occasional ported unix programs and visualization.

Maybe an ancillary question is: is the NVIDIA processor with shared memory junk?


Thanks!
 
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