I am in a holding pattern and needs some advise. I have the opportunity to buy the iMac 413(1TB HD, 4gb ram, HD4670 video $1408.00) or the 950 (500 gb HD, 4gb ram, 9400m video, $1104.00) My biggest question is which of the two has the best graphics card? I want to be able to play games like Modern Warfare 2, and others, and also do minor photo works. What is everyone's thoughts here?
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Which iMac to buy?
- Thread starter gadawg31
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The 4670 is a massive step up from the 9400m (which isn't designed to run anything graphically intensive). However, even the 4670 isn't really up to driving games @ 1920x1080. The 4850 is the way to go with the current line-up, which is actually only a couple of months away from being refreshed.
Theoretically, yes, but in real life, no.
It's VERY hard process and definitely voids your warranty. There are only few GPUs you could replace it with and they are hard to find and VERY expensive.
CPU in new models is socketed and can be updated to certain models but still ain't easy or really worth it. HD can also be replaced and isn't that hard.
RAM is the only user-serviceble part in iMac
Hellhammer, thanks for the info. Basically what you buy is what you get, so you may as well pay enough and buy the best. Is there a listing somewhere that will tell me what games the HD4670 will/will not run, also the 4850? I just want to make sure I am not paying more than what I'll ever use. The most games I play are the Call of Duty series, Crysis, Battlefield, etc.... Any suggestions as to whether the 4670 will handle them or should I suck it up and go for the 4850? THanks.
If you go for the 4670, will it be 21.5" or 27"? The performance is about the same with 21.5" with 4670 and 27" with 4850 as 27" has much greater resolution meaning that it will demand more from the GPU, so performance won't be that much better if any.
Hellhammer, I think I right now I have decided to go with the 21.5" with the HD4670, because I have not been able to find any with the 4850. Also the 21.5" is a few hundred dollars cheaper. I just hope it will atleast hold up to the games I mentioned. I am not a huge gamer, but occasionally will get the urge and when that happens I don't want to be restricted by the video card.
I have the 21,5 ATI 4670 iMac, with 6gb ram and 3,33 Ghz (E8600 cpu) and i can tell you that it can definitely play at 1980x1080 (wherever it is supported by the game)
NEED FOR SPEED PROSTREET AND BATTLEFIELD 2142 under 10.6.3
and
NEED FOR SPEED SHIFT, RACE DRIVER GRID, DIRT 2, CRYSIS WARHEAD, PURE, PROTOTYPE, DRAGON AGE ORIGINS, MASS EFFECT 2 under Windows 7 at Bootcamp partition.
I only rise fan rpm's using "fmc", since temperatures get real high!