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What BTO are you buying?

D

DeafRaiders

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 26, 2012
248
0
Caotbridge (outside Glasgow, UK)
21.5"
21.5-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 1920x1080 resolution with support for millions of colours

  • 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz) with 6MB L3 cache
  • 2.9GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz) with 6MB L3 cache
    Optional: Configurable to 3.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz).
  • 8GB (two 4GB) of 1600MHz DDR3 memory
    Optional: Configurable to 16GB
  • 1TB (5400-rpm) hard drive
    Optional: Configurable to 1TB Fusion Drive.
  • NVIDIA GeForce
    GT 640M graphics processor with 512MB of GDDR5 memory
  • NVIDIA GeForce
    GT 650M graphics processor with 512MB of GDDR5 memory

EXTRA OPTINALS:
21.5-inch iMac 2.7GHz
  • Magic Trackpad
  • 16GB memory upgrade (two 8GB)
21.5-inch iMac 2.9GHz
  • Magic Trackpad
  • 16GB memory upgrade (two 8GB)
  • 1TB Fusion Drive
  • 3.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz) with 8MB L3 cache
​

27"
27-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2560x1440 resolution with support for millions of colours.


  • 2.9GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz) with 6MB L3 cache
  • 3.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz) with 6MB L3 cache
    Optional: Configurable to 3.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz).

  • 8GB (two 4GB) of 1600MHz DDR3 memory; four user-accessible SO-DIMM slots
    Optional: Configurable to 16GB or 32GB.
  • 1TB (7200-rpm) hard drive
    Optional:Configurable to 3TB hard drive, 1TB or 3TB Fusion Drive, or 768GB of flash storage.
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M graphics processor with 512MB of GDDR5 memory
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX graphics processor with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
    Optional: Configurable to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX with 2GB of GDDR5 memory.

EXTRA OPTIONALS:
27-inch iMac 2.9GHz
  • Magic Trackpad
  • 16GB memory upgrade (two 8GB)
  • 32GB memory upgrade (four 8GB)
  • 3TB hard drive
  • 1TB or 3TB Fusion Drive
  • 768GB of flash storage

27-inch iMac 3.2GHz
  • Magic Trackpad
  • 16GB memory upgrade (two 8GB)
  • 32GB memory upgrade (four 8GB)
  • 3TB hard drive
  • 1TB or 3TB Fusion Drive or 768GB of flash storage
  • 3.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz) with 8MB L3 cache
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX graphics processor with 2GB of GDDR5 memory
​

I am just curious on what your ideal Mac will be?

Mines:
  • 27"
  • 3.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz) with 6MB L3 cache
  • Stick with 8GB add 16GB buy else where
  • Still undecided HDD but think I will go with 1TB and Fusion Drive
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX graphics processor with 1GB of GDDR5 memory

Getting posting!:apple:
 
DeafRaiders said:
21.5"
21.5-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 1920x1080 resolution with support for millions of colours

  • 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz) with 6MB L3 cache
  • 2.9GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz) with 6MB L3 cache
    Optional: Configurable to 3.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz).
  • 8GB (two 4GB) of 1600MHz DDR3 memory
    Optional: Configurable to 16GB
  • 1TB (5400-rpm) hard drive
    Optional: Configurable to 1TB Fusion Drive.
  • NVIDIA GeForce
    GT 640M graphics processor with 512MB of GDDR5 memory
  • NVIDIA GeForce
    GT 650M graphics processor with 512MB of GDDR5 memory

EXTRA OPTINALS:
21.5-inch iMac 2.7GHz
  • Magic Trackpad
  • 16GB memory upgrade (two 8GB)
21.5-inch iMac 2.9GHz
  • Magic Trackpad
  • 16GB memory upgrade (two 8GB)
  • 1TB Fusion Drive
  • 3.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz) with 8MB L3 cache
​

27"
27-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2560x1440 resolution with support for millions of colours.


  • 2.9GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz) with 6MB L3 cache
  • 3.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz) with 6MB L3 cache
    Optional: Configurable to 3.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz).

  • 8GB (two 4GB) of 1600MHz DDR3 memory; four user-accessible SO-DIMM slots
    Optional: Configurable to 16GB or 32GB.
  • 1TB (7200-rpm) hard drive
    Optional:Configurable to 3TB hard drive, 1TB or 3TB Fusion Drive, or 768GB of flash storage.
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M graphics processor with 512MB of GDDR5 memory
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX graphics processor with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
    Optional: Configurable to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX with 2GB of GDDR5 memory.

EXTRA OPTIONALS:
27-inch iMac 2.9GHz
  • Magic Trackpad
  • 16GB memory upgrade (two 8GB)
  • 32GB memory upgrade (four 8GB)
  • 3TB hard drive
  • 1TB or 3TB Fusion Drive
  • 768GB of flash storage

27-inch iMac 3.2GHz
  • Magic Trackpad
  • 16GB memory upgrade (two 8GB)
  • 32GB memory upgrade (four 8GB)
  • 3TB hard drive
  • 1TB or 3TB Fusion Drive or 768GB of flash storage
  • 3.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz) with 8MB L3 cache
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX graphics processor with 2GB of GDDR5 memory
​

I am just curious on what your ideal Mac will be?

Mines:
  • 27"
  • 3.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz) with 6MB L3 cache
  • Stick with 8GB add 16GB buy else where
  • Still undecided HDD but think I will go with 1TB and Fusion Drive
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX graphics processor with 1GB of GDDR5 memory

Getting posting!:apple:
Click to expand...

Of course my ideal Mac would be a maxed out 27" but money won't allow that at this time.

Going to go for the high-end 27" iMac and upgrade it with the 1TB Fusion Drive (Depending on if it's not too expensive or not), I will upgrade the memory myself to 16GB/24GB for obvious reasons.

If it is cheap enough to bump up the processor or graphics card I will do so, although I very much doubt it will come cheap.

I am leaning towards the Magic Mouse over the Magic Trackpad as I tried the trackpad out in the Apple store but even after a few minutes I already felt it straining my wrist which I didn't like, especially since it will be used for prolonged periods of time.
 
mac.ross said:
Of course my ideal Mac would be a maxed out 27" but money won't allow that at this time.

Going to go for the high-end 27" iMac and upgrade it with the 1TB Fusion Drive (Depending on if it's not too expensive or not), I will upgrade the memory myself to 16GB/24GB for obvious reasons.

If it is cheap enough to bump up the processor or graphics card I will do so, although I very much doubt it will come cheap.

I am leaning towards the Magic Mouse over the Magic Trackpad as I tried the trackpad out in the Apple store but even after a few minutes I already felt it straining my wrist which I didn't like, especially since it will be used for prolonged periods of time.
Click to expand...

I didn't like the trackpad too the magic mouse is standard.
 
I would upgrade the CPU and fusion drive first. Maybe the GPU as well. Depends on pricing.
 
I doubt I'll buy because my existing one (27" i7 model from 2009, 1TB HDD, 8GB RAM) is working fine. If I were to buy:

  • 27"
  • i7 option (quad core with hyperthreading has been valuable in my 2009)
  • Magic Mouse (I've tried the Magic Trackpad in the store and find it too course for the 27" display resolution.)
  • External ODD, and since I have to buy one it would be a BR.
  • I'd add an addition 8GB of Crucial RAM since it's so cheap.
  • Thunderbolt to FW800 adapter

That's it. 1TB HDD is way more than enough since I've got nearly 9TB on my server. I don't trust the Fusion Drive. I don't need the optional graphics. And I'd continue to toss the Apple keyboard for my trusty old Northgate Omnikey/102 from 1989!
 
Of course, it really depends on price and final specs. I would love to get a maxed out 27" with SSD. I am hoping that the price comes in $3,500'ish but I suspect that it will be a little more. Two weeks ago I was really hot to order the new iMac but Apple just replaced the screen and HDD on my current iMac*. It was like a drink from the fountain of youth! I will probably order one 30 days after they start shipping so that any first-run "glitches" are worked out.

* - I am trying to figure out what to do with my current iMac other than sell it or give it away to family or friend. I am thinking of keeping it as a media server, any other suggestions?
 
27-inch iMac 3.2GHz

i5 (don't need hyperthreading)
Magic Trackpad (much better for my wrist than a mouse and better functionality)
8GB memory (upgrade to 32GB myself)
768GB of flash storage (1TB Fusion if the SSD is too expensive)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX (this is a must-have upgrade for me)
Applecare down the road a bit, after my bank account stops hemorrhaging
 
27"
3.2
8gb - max it out from crucial for 1/4 the price apple will want.
SSD, 512 if its an option 768 if its the only option
680MX

Maxed my 24" out, it lasted me 3 years, and then sold it on for a decent price, so deprecation is not too bad.
 
27 inch with 3.2 and 1TB Fusion drive.

MAYBE the 680MX if the price is right... if they keep it around $200 or less it is an option.

Even with only the Fusion and 680MX upgrades, it's already getting up there in price, but my 2006 iMac has lasted a long time and I expect this one to do the same!
 
Dornblaser said:
* - I am trying to figure out what to do with my current iMac other than sell it or give it away to family or friend. I am thinking of keeping it as a media server, any other suggestions?
Click to expand...

A very expensive digital picture frame?

We repurposed my wife's 17" iMac as a Kitchen Computer until it died and an iPad took its place.

The problem with a 27" model is it's too big for most auxiliary computer uses. A mini is a much better media server. "sell it or give it away to a family or friend" has been what I've ended up doing.
 
With the new HDD and screen on the iMac I can't justify adding a Mac Mini for media server. However, it is true what you say about it's size, I can't figure where to put it.

Another thought - adding an Elgato and using it as an office TV.
 
Pretty straight forward:

27" iMac
3.2ghz i5 or 3.4ghz i7 depending on cost difference ($200 or less, go i7)
8gb RAM
1tb or 3tb fusion drive depending on value.
GTX 680MX (the only must-have option)
Trackpad
Applecare.
 
I'm going to pretty much max out the 27" (including the amazing-sounding GTX 680MX) but with no RAM upgrade (I'll do it later) and with two other possible exceptions:

-I suspect the i7 may put the price over the top for me
-I'd like to get a Fusion Drive, but Apple has said themselves that there may be frame drop issues on large video imports. If by large they mean over 2 hours of HD footage in one go, I may be OK, but much less than that and I'll have to go with the HDD.

One of the main reasons I'm waiting until January (apart from saving more $) is to wait on reviews and first-hand experiences with the Fusion Drive, as it's still an unknown quantity at this point, and very new tech.
 
Last edited:
I'll be more or less maxing out the 27" model too, with the exception of RAM, which I'll do myself. I'll either go with the 3TB Fusion drive or 756 SSD if the price isn't ridiculous...
 
StephenAndrew said:
I'll be more or less maxing out the 27" model too, with the exception of RAM, which I'll do myself. I'll either go with the 3TB Fusion drive or 756 SSD if the price isn't ridiculous...
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that there are issues with Windows when using a hard drive larger than 2TB. Not sure on the specifics but if you intend to use Bootcamp, do your research.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1475442/

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3805324?start=0&tstart=0
 
I'm surprised so many people are going for i7. There are only handful of applications that take advantages of it, for majority of people the price increase isnt worth it IMHO.
 
I'm debating. The BTO options are tempting but I think I'll just get the base 21.5 and buy a refurb 11 inch air for the road. I might spring for the extra RAM since it's not user accessible.
 
Only need one thing BTO: 680MX

Everything else I can handle later (extra RAM, external bootable SSD etc).
 
27-inch iMac 3.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz)
16GB memory upgrade (two 8GB) (Going to upgrade myself when I get it)
1TB Fusion Drive
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX
External optical drive (Yes, I still burn cds for work)
Magic Mouse

Happiness.
 
27-inch iMac 3.2GHz

i5
Magic Trackpad (I'm keeping my Magic Mouse so this will complete my set)
8GB memory (I will upgrade myself when needed)
1TB Fusion drive ( by then there should be some feedback from Mac mini buyers) or standard 1 TB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX ( definitely will get this)

External SuperDrive ( or alternative?)
 
27" 2.9GHz i5
32GB RAM (not through :apple:, obviously.)
768GB flash storage, unless 512GB is offered.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M
Magic Mouse
 
AppleInMyBlood said:
I'm going to pretty much max out the 27" (including the amazing-sounding GTX 680MX) but with no RAM upgrade (I'll do it later) and with two other possible exceptions:

-I suspect the i7 may put the price over the top for me
-I'd like to get a Fusion Drive, but Apple has said themselves that there may be frame drop issues on large video imports. If by large they mean over 2 hours of HD footage in one go, I may be OK, but much less than that and I'll have to go with the HDD.

One of the main reasons I'm waiting until January (apart from saving more $) is to wait on reviews and first-hand experiences with the Fusion Drive, as it's still an unknown quantity at this point, and very new tech.
Click to expand...
What do you mean frame drop issues?

----------

My choices seem to be a bit more modest compared to a lot of you guys.
I'm going for the second tier iMac:

21.5 inch
2.9ghz
Nvidia GT 650M graphics

I'll probably upgrade the ram to 16gb, can't seem me needing more then that, and by the time it comes to computing needing tons I will probably sell the machiine
Think the fusion drive would make a good addition as well ;)
 
comatory said:
I'm surprised so many people are going for i7. There are only handful of applications that take advantages of it...
Click to expand...

...at the moment.

My ideal:

27" - i7 - 8GB RAM - 680MX - 256GB SSD (hopefully that will be an option)
 
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