iMac

[T1ckT0ck]

Im looking for some opinions on a couple machines. I am in the process of selling a vehicle (fingers crossed that the deal goes through tomorrow) and will have some computer money. I am currently working off of an old (I think around 6 years old) Gateway running a Intel Pentium D 2.8ghz with a whopping 1 GB Ram and wonderful Vista. Obviously any machine I go with will be a huge improvement but Im looking for some opinions on the two I am looking at.

Refurbished iMac 27-inch 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB memory
1TB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics with 256MB memory
Built-in iSight camera
$1269.00

Refurbished iMac 27-inch 2.66GHz Quad-Core Intel Core
4GB memory
1TB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics with 512MB memory
Built-in iSight camera
$1529.00

I understand that the new i5 are pretty sweet and all and the video card is an upgrade, but is it really worth the $260 increase? $1269 is already at the top of my budget and Im just wondering if the $260 could be applied to RAM in a month or so and bump it up to 12GB or maybe even 16GB. I plan on just using LR and CS5.

Thanks in advance

[picman]

A little not scientific RAM info. I'm using a 21.5in dual core 2 duo with 4 gb of ram. I currently have open: Lightroom 3 with a 6,000 image catalog, Photoshop CS5 with a couple of 45mb images open that have a couple of layers with a bunch of moves to take up the undos and Firefox. PS is showing 100% efficiency on both images and the activity monitor shows over 1gb of free ram. Would I go to 8gb ram - sure. But not 16 for the $400-$500 it would cost for not a lot if any improvement. If I was doing video, sure.

[zennoodle]

The first 27-inch iMac you're looking at will run CS5/Lightroom/Aperture/etc just fine. CS5 doesn't chew up as much system RAM as I thought it would nor processor either. However, that just depends on what I'm doing at the time. I usually have Photoshop, Aperture, Firefox, Mail, Illustrator, iChat opened at once. I have 6GB of RAM on my Mac Pro 2.8 (Single) Quad Core and my machine runs great! Now, Would I want 8,16, or even 32 GB of RAM? Of course. It would free up the workload quite a bit. For what I do though, it is great.

As for my MacBook Pro, the Core i5 is a great little monster to tote around when I need to be mobile. Even with 4GB of RAM and 256MB on the video card, it works well with all said apps. Best of luck in your search!

[RKEnnis]

For the price difference, I'd personally go for the Core i5 version, even if it means sticking with the 4GB memory for a while. You can always add memory later, but can't add the faster CPU and video.

It seems like you tend to keep a computer for a while. If so, I'd especially recommend get a faster machine - it'll "last" you longer.

[zennoodle]

Originally Posted by RKEnnis

For the price difference, I'd personally go for the Core i5 version, even if it means sticking with the 4GB memory for a while. You can always add memory later, but can't add the faster CPU and video.

It seems like you tend to keep a computer for a while. If so, I'd especially recommend get a faster machine - it'll "last" you longer.

Hrm... This is actually very true. My experience with the core i5 is a very smooth one even at 4GB of RAM... good call! Only $260 difference. RAM always drops in price too!

[Brains]

Definitely pick up the i5 over a Core 2 Duo, that one is an easy recommendation. You could swap out an i3 for an i5 if you really wanted to, but the Core 2's are a completely different socket.

... and yes, the iMac CPUs are socketed.

[Tom]

Go to B&H photo. You can get that i5 same i5 for $1550 with free shipping and no tax.

That's what I did. And it is new. You come out cheaper doing that because if you buy from apple.com, you have to pay tax.

[KenJulio]

Amazon is an option as well.