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Mr. T wrote:

Donkey Butter wrote:

I think I'm going to make an attempt at persuading my wife that we need that big ass i7 iMac.

Save your cash.  The i5 is an i7 minus the on-die memory controller, tripple channel memory support, and some overclocking potential.  Tripple channel memory is insignificant, the on-die memory controller only matters when you have lots of bandwidth-hungry PCIe devices (like three-way SLI, for example), and the overclocking potential only matters if you feel like cutting a hole in the case for a decent-sized HSF (such as the Cogage True Spirit).

So unless you absolutely have to have the extra 133MHz the i7 option offers, or just plain think that "i7" sounds cooler than "i5," then you should probably stick with the i5.

The i7 adds hyperthreading (two threads per core). Sometimes it matters, sometimes it doesn't. Keep in mind that the model number is important.A Core i7 860 is not a Core i7 975.

Although apple has been known to use custom parts, and use laptop cpus in the iMacs, let's assume that they used off the shelf parts.

The Core i5 2667 MHz is probably a core i5 750. The Core i7 2800 Mhz is probably a Core i7 860

From a manufacturers standpoint, it would make sense to use one motherboard (with an LGA 1156 Socket) and just change the CPU. Both the i5-750 and the i7-860 use dual channel memory.

More  Benchmarks

Last edited by jerwin (2009-10-23 3:25 am)

jerwin wrote:

Mr. T wrote:

Donkey Butter wrote:

I think I'm going to make an attempt at persuading my wife that we need that big ass i7 iMac.

Save your cash.  The i5 is an i7 minus the on-die memory controller, tripple channel memory support, and some overclocking potential.  Tripple channel memory is insignificant, the on-die memory controller only matters when you have lots of bandwidth-hungry PCIe devices (like three-way SLI, for example), and the overclocking potential only matters if you feel like cutting a hole in the case for a decent-sized HSF (such as the Cogage True Spirit).

So unless you absolutely have to have the extra 133MHz the i7 option offers, or just plain think that "i7" sounds cooler than "i5," then you should probably stick with the i5.

The i7 adds hyperthreading (two threads per core). Sometimes it matters, sometimes it doesn't. Keep in mind that the model number is important.A Core i7 860 is not a Core i7 975.

Although apple has been known to use custom parts, and use laptop cpus in the iMacs, let's assume that they used off the shelf parts.

The Core i5 2667 MHz is probably a core i5 750. The Core i7 2800 Mhz is probably a Core i7 860

From a manufacturers standpoint, it would make sense to use one motherboard (with an LGA 1156 Socket) and just change the CPU. Both the i5-750 and the i7-860 use dual channel memory.

More  Benchmarks

Good point,  I was assuming the socket 1366 i7, which probably isn't the case.  Also, hyperthreading does make a difference in some applications.  One more thing to consider: The MSRP cost difference between the two iMac CPUs is $90.  Apple charges $200.  But I guess if you're spending $2,000, what's another $200?

$110 will go a long way toward buying the accessories and consumables that actually make a computer useful, so I can't really dismiss the $110 surcharge for a $90 CPU upgrade as insignificant.

But god, yeah, saw one the other day. That screen is pretty wow.

that $200 could be the difference in my wife saying yes and her saying no.

so if I'm not playing games and just using the iMac for photo/video stuff I should be fine with just the i5?

my wife will only be using it for email and web so I know she isn't going to push the machine to hard

we are currently using a MacBook (2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo) and she has said she wants a big screen so when I saw the new iMac I thought this just might be the one.

Donkey Butter wrote:

that $200 could be the difference in my wife saying yes and her saying no.

so if I'm not playing games and just using the iMac for photo/video stuff I should be fine with just the i5?

my wife will only be using it for email and web so I know she isn't going to push the machine to hard

we are currently using a MacBook (2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo) and she has said she wants a big screen so when I saw the new iMac I thought this just might be the one.

photo and video stuff is where the i7 is likely to be most useful. As for "web", there was a time when hulu and youtube, and h.264 and flash really did impose a substantial load on CPUs, but I don't think that's been an issue since apple moved away from Intel video.

(Many of the benchmarks urged gamers to get an i5, and use the money saved for a better video card. Since you can't do that with a iMac, it's a different calculation: save money, or don't. It's not as if getting 8GB instead of 4GB will produce comparable gains to getting a top of the line Radeon.)

Last edited by jerwin (2009-10-23 3:14 pm)

Mr. T wrote:

The i7 definitely has an edge in video apps, and even more so in professional 3D rendering (up to 27% faster in one benchmark).  Even so, I just don't see $200 worth of difference.  Of course, I always build my own systems, so my opinion might be a little biased.

Well, if you buy a computer to render, a 27% faster rendering time is probably worth $200, unless you consider $800 computers to be for suckers.

Way more than you need from what you describe DB. But if I had the cash I would go with the i5. Sweet.

One nice thing about the 27" is that you can still use the monitor after the computer inside is obsolete.
Still, it's an AIO....

we just got back from the apple store and I think my wife is on board with getting the i5. oddly enough it's the magic mouse that she liked the most.

the photo work will be photoshop and lightroom the video work will just be final cut express.

Your educator discount makes up for Apple's RAM markup?

personified8 wrote:

Does anyone know if the apple store will install ram or a hard drive you buy through a 3rd party (like OWC) if you bring it and your laptop in?

I doubt it. Last time I sent a machine in for service at the Apple Store, the 3rd party upgrades came back taped to the outside.

An apple-authorized service center should be able to do it w/o voiding the warranty though.

http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/service/

Donkey Butter wrote:

the macbook's hd and ram are super easy to upgrade on your own. there are only three screws that need to be removed to access them.

oh thank god. I'll prob just do it myself then.

So, I have an iMac G5 that is basically just falling apart and needs to be replaced. It's 4 years old exactly. The low end new iMac looks great, but for $300 more, is it worth it for the 1TB HD and video upgrade?