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Who's getting the 21.5" iMac over the 27"?

I'd strongly suggest for anyone considering the Fusion drive to
  1. Wait until reviews of the drive are in (it's available now for the mini). That should answer most questions.
  2. Perhaps wait for the 2013 model. I wouldn't be surprised that if the fusion drive is a success that it will be standard equipment.

The 21.5" models should be just fine for people not heavily into video production or games who don't want the 27" model. There has always been design compromises in the smaller screen iMacs versus the larger screen models. At least now they have good display screens which wasn't the case when the sizes were 17"/20" and then 20"/24".

And if the new models are too upsetting, there's always a refurbished 2011.
 
I can't decide between the high end 21'5 and the low end 27...

Both have the same processor, both have 8 gb ram, and in both i would add the fusion drive.
I mainly need it for web development and xcode and some games like WoW, Diablo3, and CSGO.

On the one hand a bigger screen with higher resolution is nice but ists more expensive and i have to wait until perhabs january.

What would you say?
 
MacDouble said:
I can't decide between the high end 21'5 and the low end 27...

Both have the same processor, both have 8 gb ram, and in both i would add the fusion drive.
I mainly need it for web development and xcode and some games like WoW, Diablo3, and CSGO.

On the one hand a bigger screen with higher resolution is nice but ists more expensive and i have to wait until perhabs january.

What would you say?
Click to expand...

I think D3 and Wow will run fine on the high end 21.5". This is the model I am going for. Wow and d3 can probably be set to medium settings and get a very smooth frame rate
 
Johnf1285 said:
I think D3 and Wow will run fine on the high end 21.5". This is the model I am going for. Wow and d3 can probably be set to medium settings and get a very smooth frame rate
Click to expand...

Do you game in Mac OSX? I ask because you should be able to game on high settings with the GT 650 in Bootcamp.
 
MagicThief83 said:
Do you game in Mac OSX? I ask because you should be able to game on high settings with the GT 650 in Bootcamp.
Click to expand...

I have for years. I first decided to use boot camp back in 2008 or so, I had a 24" iMac with the 8800gs. I got like a 20 FPS boost from just using Windows. After that I made the decision to go PC. Now I am excited to be back. I've wasted too much money on incremental upgrades in GPUs and things. I also realize that I game much less than I used to. Right now I play wow on low on this 2006 MacBook Pro with its little x1600 128mb GPU. The game is still as entertaining. Its funny to go from ultra settings to lowest settings but yet still adapt to them after a day or so.
 
Johnf1285 said:
I think D3 and Wow will run fine on the high end 21.5". This is the model I am going for. Wow and d3 can probably be set to medium settings and get a very smooth frame rate
Click to expand...

I get a very smooth setting on D3 on the current 21.5 iMac. With everything on high except shadows on low. I do played windowed mode 1600x900 though.

PS. Changing D3's windowed resolution requires you editing the D3prefs.txt fine. Can't be done in game.
 
the8thark said:
I get a very smooth setting on D3 on the current 21.5 iMac. With everything on high except shadows on low. I do played windowed mode 1600x900 though.

PS. Changing D3's windowed resolution requires you editing the D3prefs.txt fine. Can't be done in game.
Click to expand...

Ah I see. Does yours have the 6750m or the 6770m? Also, how is it with 1920x1080 full screen?
 
Trinite said:
Can anyone comment on how critical it is to have 16 GB of RAM instead of 8 GB, and for what kinds of tasks (generally) it's really important?

I'm coming from a late 2008 Unibody Macbook with 4 GB, and haven't noticed big problems, but everyone on MacRumors talks as if it's absolutely necessary to max out your RAM.

Obviously it would be much better if it were user upgradeable, but if the base RAM for the iMacs is 8 GB, is that really so bad?

Thanks!!
Click to expand...

I have a 24" iMac with 8 GB of ram. I don't think I have ever maxed out my ram. I use iPhoto a lot and edit some home movies but I use it more for the net, e-mail and little or no gaming. The 21 looks great to me at the store, so I will upgrade to the new 21 iMac but with the Fusion upgrade. This seems to suit my needs rather nicely. For me, the 27" is too large for my desktop and I don't need all that real estate. I usually upgrade about every 4 years going back to the Apple II. I've never had anything break down yet but this time I will buy the Apple Care. I have the iPad3 and the new iPod touch 5th generation. They are my travel companions.
 
Johnf1285 said:
Ah I see. Does yours have the 6750m or the 6770m? Also, how is it with 1920x1080 full screen?
Click to expand...

AMD Radeon HD 6770M 512 MB
And plays fine in native resolution (1920x1080). Just tested it now. I get a solid 40-50fps. I'd say the average would be 40-45. With the same settings I always use. High on everything except low on shadows. And only 32/64 channel sound. Any more is not needed and kills the game performance.

Ie the game plays very well.
 
the8thark said:
AMD Radeon HD 6770M 512 MB
And plays fine in native resolution (1920x1080). Just tested it now. I get a solid 40-50fps. I'd say the average would be 40-45. With the same settings I always use. High on everything except low on shadows. And only 32/64 channel sound. Any more is not needed and kills the game performance.

Ie the game plays very well.
Click to expand...

Yeah...so one will definitely get better performance with the GT 650M in the high-end 21.5".
 
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MacDouble said:
I mainly need it for web development and xcode and some games like WoW, Diablo3, and CSGO.
Click to expand...
21,5+additional monitor will be usefull, — you can use one for IDE, another for web-browser or mockups. 27" is cool, but anyway it's too small to use IDE/xcode and browser same time in the one screen.

And for gaming — not shure, but 650m on 1920x1080 will get more performance than 660m on 2560x1440.
 
For me, it's not about the money. The 27" just seems way too big for my work space. Maybe it's just me but the thing is huge!

My daughter has a 27" LCD in her room so I put myself in front of it as if I was in front of my computer and it was overwhelming. I didn't even turn it on...it was just too big. Maybe I don't sit far enough away from my screens but I would be moving my head back and forth to use it.

I am currently using a 22.5" Samsung monitor and it is perfect. I have been debating between losing an inch or gaining 4 inches. My friend is actually going to bring his 2011 imac 21.5 so we could put it on my desk and decide from there. Pretty much 90% sure I will go with 21.5 fusion/processor/ram.
 
They just need to release the damn things already. I was thinking about completing my own benchmarks as well. I'm almost 95% sure the 21.5" will satisfy all of my needs, if not, there's always the 14-day return policy just in case I decide I want the 27" with the better GPU, but I highly doubt it will come to that. My desk is perfectly shaped for the 21.5"-the 27" would force me to sit the iMac closer to my eyes, and I feel that would create an eye sore.
 
the8thark said:
That's what I would believe too. But some people claim this is not the case. So I'm waiting for 650M (in iMac) benchmarks.
Click to expand...

You can youtube videos of the GT 650M in action...games run quite well if you ask me. Some videos are for the 2GB VRAM version of the card, which I know makes a considerable difference, still, they'll give you a good idea of performance.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/gam...s/670304-nvidia-gt-650m-benchmarks-print.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q-c-dFUZqE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqjoUyGGHEo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0mx9sLX5BE
 
I was planning on getting the 21 inch until I read that it isn't possible to upgrade the ram, so a bit of extension work on my desk will be needed to make room for the 27 inch.
 
Or u could go with a refurb and go up to 8 gig, and add a ssd. But u are prob looking for 16?
 
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This thread is so sad. Say what you want, but a PC user is never faced with such difficult choices based on what their favorite brand has told them which options are available or not available. Sometimes Mac users almost seem to resemble galley slaves.
 
i went with high-end 21.5"

just feel like its a good size. wish i could get a 780M in it, but the 750M should be alright. i tell myself im a gamer more than I actually game.
 
I bought both 21.5" and 27" haswells, and they're both maxed out.

I find myself using the 21.5" way more often, probably because
1. It doesn't occupy as much desk space
2. It offers lots of power for most things that I do, except for playing BF4.
 
Today i order a 21.5 base model with 16GRam and 256 SSD.

I read iris pro is a good graphic, i am a domestic user, don´t game..it s just surfing web, I works...Iphoto a a little Photoshop with CS6...just kidding.

I think it was the wisest choice. Have bought powerful machines which did not take advantage of them .... so this time I was more rational.



Had bought a MBPr late 2013 with problems ... Yellow tint returned and decided to buy this imac.

Honestly no need portability ... sensible choice .... my only regret is not retina.

Will see
 
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