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Spec Envy - Why it might not matter

Tanax said:
I doubt people buy those specced out models to brag about it online. I think they buy it to make sure it will be able to keep up in 3 years as well. Then of course there are the professionals who buy the specced out models because they actually need the extra juice.

I think the average consumer looking to buy a 27" iMac would be completely fine with the base model. With that said, for those who want to do some gaming and have the iMac last a few years (and still be able to game on it) would benefit from choosing the upper model (and for those extreme gamers or those who want the computer to last a little extra long in terms of GPU performance - upgrade to the 780M).

In terms of storage, the 256GB SSD will suffice for most. Keeping your media external (and backed up) is good practice anyway.

In terms of CPU, most people will definitely do just fine with the i5. Even those who do video/photo editing on their spare time will do just fine with it. Getting the i7 might save you a few minutes on a normal consumer grade video editing -render. Definitely not worth your money IMO.

Memory is user-upgradable.
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I think people (the average consumers) buy a specked out machine because they are convinced by posters in these types of forums that base model specs will not be sufficient. So many non-tech savvy friends felt they needed to buy their MacBook pros or airs with no less than 8GB RAM for "future-proofing" when 4GB would serve them just as well, and they typically upgrade within 2-3 years anyway.
 
just ordered this iMac

27-inch iMac

$3,349.00

With the following configuration:

• 3.5GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz
• 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2X4GB
• 1TB Flash Storage
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M 4GB GDDR5
• Magic Trackpad
• Apple Wireless Keyboard (English) & User's Guide
• Accessory Kit

Ill install my own ram....#FEELSGOODMANDEALWITHIT
 
Sam2lucky13 said:
just ordered this iMac

27-inch iMac

$3,349.00

With the following configuration:

• 3.5GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz
• 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2X4GB
• 1TB Flash Storage
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M 4GB GDDR5
• Magic Trackpad
• Apple Wireless Keyboard (English) & User's Guide
• Accessory Kit

Ill install my own ram....#FEELSGOODMANDEALWITHIT
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Sweet. That's the exact same specs I'm planning on buying in a few weeks.
 
MacOG728893 said:
I'm not talking about consumers. I don't know a ton of consumers who edit 1080p footage and the ones who do, can get by easily with iMovie as it handles basic editing fine.

For professionals, working in Premiere or Final Cut using 10+ tracks, I stand by what I said, it is imperative to be able to work in real-time.
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Ehm. I clearly said in my first post that I was taking about the average consumer so your post really makes no sense and has no relevance as a reply to mine. Did you quote the wrong person?
 
Tanax said:
Ehm. I clearly said in my first post that I was taking about the average consumer so your post really makes no sense and has no relevance as a reply to mine. Did you quote the wrong person?
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I stand corrected. I think I was combining the OP's take on things with a little bit of what you said about the i7.

Yes, you are right. The average joe wouldn't notice the slightest difference, they'd probably be fine with just a dual-core i5.

I think my point is that some people seriously do need all the horse power they can get and that should've been directed to the OP.
 
Sam2lucky13 said:
Ive always wanted a maxed out iMac..now if I could just figure out the best ram to put in it.
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I recommend OWC. I've been through Crucial, Kingston, OWC, and a couple others. OWC has always fit and worked right out of the gate. Crucial memory is cheap, but don't be surprised if you need to do an exchange or two. Once you get a good stick the others generally work just fine.
 
jayselle said:
I recommend OWC. I've been through Crucial, Kingston, OWC, and a couple others. OWC has always fit and worked right out of the gate. Crucial memory is cheap, but don't be surprised if you need to do an exchange or two. Once you get a good stick the others generally work just fine.
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exactly what I did...good advice. Ive purchased ssds from owc in the past and received excellent customer service.
 
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MacOG728893 said:
I stand corrected. I think I was combining the OP's take on things with a little bit of what you said about the i7.

Yes, you are right. The average joe wouldn't notice the slightest difference, they'd probably be fine with just a dual-core i5.

I think my point is that some people seriously do need all the horse power they can get and that should've been directed to the OP.
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I agree, some people do need the extra juice. However, I don't think those people buy it because of "spec envy" which was the title of the thread.

If you need the i7, the i7 will definitely deliver.
 
cynics said:
I'm the type of person that keeps a computer until trivial task are unbearably slow though. Hell I had a Dell dimension 8100 for over ten years!
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Got you beat!

I bought an Apple ][ in '79/'80. In the early 90s I bought my next computer, an Amiga. In fact the apple was still around for awhile after that as my secondary machine.

I tend to load up my machines. My plan is there is a good chance they will still be respectable in 5 years. They probably will continue that way for awhile but in a couple of years I will want the latest toy anyway.
 
I am currently debating between the base 27 3.2 i5 with 1gb gpu vs the 3.4 i5 with 2 gb gpu. 90% of the time i am just web browsing, email and itunes. Once in a blue moon I will do a little photoshop or final cut. What do you think? Could i get away with the 3.2 1gb gpu to save a few hundred? Regardless of which one i go with, i plan on getting it with the 256gb ssd.
 
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Sam Spade said:
Can this RAM be successfully mixed, without any performance issues, with the 2 8GB sticks that come in the machine from Apple?
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I wouldn't recommend mixing different types of RAM, no. Best bet would be to buy 32GB of this, then you're sorted for the lifetime of your iMac. If you wanted to retain the 2 sticks and bump to 24GB you should buy the same type the iMac ships with. :cool:
 
jobinho said:
I wouldn't recommend mixing different types of RAM, no. Best bet would be to buy 32GB of this, then you're sorted for the lifetime of your iMac. If you wanted to retain the 2 sticks and bump to 24GB you should buy the same type the iMac ships with. :cool:
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Some RAM makers recommend voltage 1.35 for the iMac, this product is voltage 1.5. Is that a problem/concern?
 
For me, there's a difference of $212 after tax between the 3.2 i5 1GB GPU vs. 3.4 i5 2GB GPU. Do you think for resale purposes and future proofing it would be worth the extra $200? I plan to keep the iMac for a good 4 years at least. After 4 years do you think people looking for a used iMac will pay more for one with a 2Gb GPU? How much more powerful is the 3.4 i5 over the 3.2? What about the 755 vs the 775 GPU? I am replacing my 2010 Quad Mac Pro w/ 5770 1GB GPU with a new iMac. I am wondering if the 3.2 i5 755 is pretty comparable.
 
Sam Spade said:
Some RAM makers recommend voltage 1.35 for the iMac, this product is voltage 1.5. Is that a problem/concern?
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The Haswell iMacs support both "normal" 1.5 V DDR3 and "low voltage" 1.35 V DDR3L SODIMMs. In order to operate at the lower voltage level (which consumes less power and generates less heat), you must use all DDR3L modules, otherwise they will operate at 1.5 V since the memory bus can only be driven at a single voltage.
 
I don't fully agree with the op. I believe it all comes down to what you can afford and/or what your willing to spend. I do plan to order maxed out 27" but not because i'm "spec envy". It's not as if the base model isn't capable of cpu/gpu intensive takes like Photoshop or Final Cut, it's that Apple provides options to purchase technology that will perform better/faster and i'm willing to pay extra for it.

To put it another way, I chose to buy a V6 Honda Accord as opposed to the V4 not because of 'spec envy' but because I really desired the extra power & was able to afford it.
 
jobinho said:
The Haswell iMacs support both "normal" 1.5 V DDR3 and "low voltage" 1.35 V DDR3L SODIMMs. In order to operate at the lower voltage level (which consumes less power and generates less heat), you must use all DDR3L modules, otherwise they will operate at 1.5 V since the memory bus can only be driven at a single voltage.
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Fantastic info. Thanks.

Kingston makes the 1.35 V version of the RAM you suggested. If I am going to replace all 4 DIMM's in the machine with the same RAM, should I use the lower voltage version or should I stick the 1.5 V that you recommended earlier?
 
Sam Spade said:
Fantastic info. Thanks.

Kingston makes the 1.35 V version of the RAM you suggested. If I am going to replace all 4 DIMM's in the machine with the same RAM, should I use the lower voltage version or should I stick the 1.5 V that you recommended earlier?
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I noticed that. The 1.35 V will be easier on the CPU, less temp issues, newer tech IC's. Although the Haswell chip can support higher voltage RAM id be tempted to go as low as possible with the iMac's small, one fan chassis in mind.
 
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lowdownshame said:
I don't fully agree with the op. I believe it all comes down to what you can afford and/or what your willing to spend. I do plan to order maxed out 27" but not because i'm "spec envy". It's not as if the base model isn't capable of cpu/gpu intensive takes like Photoshop or Final Cut, it's that Apple provides options to purchase technology that will perform better/faster and i'm willing to pay extra for it.

To put it another way, I chose to buy a V6 Honda Accord as opposed to the V4 not because of 'spec envy' but because I really desired the extra power & was able to afford it.
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Agreed 100%. I buy what I can afford.
 
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