Which machine should I get?? 2009 MacProTower or Brand New iMac 27" i7?

[Lceniza]

Hey Guys,
I'm trying to decide between these two machines. One is a Used 2009 MacPro Tower, the other is a Brand New iMac 27" i7.

Mostly using it for architectural software, so I need the processing speed for rendering, etc.



iMac 27" i7 (I just bought but can still return in within 2 more days)

1. better graphics card
2. brand new
3. more ram

Quad-Core 3.4GHz Intel Core i7
32Gb RAM (I just installed)
AMD Radeon HD 6970M 2GB GDDR5

***versus****

2009 Mac Pro Tower

1. COOL
2. FAST
3. COOL
4. I can get a nice monitor display. Maybe Sony 32" LCD
.
8-Core (Two 2.26 Quad Core, Intel Xeon 5500 series processors), 16Gb RAM
ATI Radeon 5770 1GB GDDR5


Any and all insights are welcomed.
Thanks in advance!

-Lord

I love the i7 because it's super-new and has the AMD Radeon 6970 2GB graphics card...but I would also love to have the Tower's 8-Core speed and maybe get a Sony 32" LCD monitor for it. I don't know I still can't

 

[rei101]

I have friends doing architectural works with less than that.

You need a machine with good video card. The new iMac will be out next week or so if you haven't noticed. The Mac Pro will be nice for final rendering but renders will always be slow. You could get the Mac Pro and add an awesome video card. My friend who did this rendering has a crappy PC and lives in Venezuela, he is using Cinema 4D. I believe you would feel better with the Mac Pro even they ar dated. I have 2 17" iMac and one old Mac Pro quad core. I like the monitor of the iMacs.

If you could hold on for the next iMac that would be good. They seems to get upgraded with 2 weeks.

 

[jeremy h]

I'd return the iMac now. Wait a couple of weeks and then make the decision. (New ones on the way.) Personally I would stick with the Pro but it's no longer the no brainer it once was. See what happens in 2 weeks time.

That's a nice C4D render.