New vs Old iMACs
Posted by: BigH47 on 07 March 2009
If I need to change my iMAC, should a fix not be forthcoming very shortly, a couple of questions:-
Would you notice much difference between a 2.8GHz 2 Gig and the newer 2.66 GHz 4 Gig machine, normal day to day, WP,mail using, forum watching and web surfing sort of stuff. Newer machines have Radeon 9600 over the older HD2600.
I realise these are very new new machines, few will have actual experience of them so just general computer knowledge should be enough, I would think to evaluate the specs, I may be wrong of course.
Can anyone recommend a dealer/repairer in south London/Surrey/Sussex area. Preferably one that has repair facilities open at the W/E or at least on Saturday AM?
Would you notice much difference between a 2.8GHz 2 Gig and the newer 2.66 GHz 4 Gig machine, normal day to day, WP,mail using, forum watching and web surfing sort of stuff. Newer machines have Radeon 9600 over the older HD2600.
I realise these are very new new machines, few will have actual experience of them so just general computer knowledge should be enough, I would think to evaluate the specs, I may be wrong of course.
Can anyone recommend a dealer/repairer in south London/Surrey/Sussex area. Preferably one that has repair facilities open at the W/E or at least on Saturday AM?
Posted on: 07 March 2009 by Derek Wright
Cancom in Guildford, Solutions Inc have several shops in Sussex - but do not know about about repair facilities apart from Cancom in Guildford
Remember all computers wait at the same speed.
If you mentioned Photoshop or Aperture or video then more mips is better but for the stuff you mentioned you would have been satisfied with a G5 PowerMac
Remember all computers wait at the same speed.
If you mentioned Photoshop or Aperture or video then more mips is better but for the stuff you mentioned you would have been satisfied with a G5 PowerMac
Posted on: 07 March 2009 by kev 1966
Hi Howard,
I would second Cancom based in Guildford or Brighton so should suit you..
Kevin
I would second Cancom based in Guildford or Brighton so should suit you..
Kevin
Posted on: 07 March 2009 by Julian H
H
Between the 2 machines you mention there is very little difference.
Twice as much RAM. It is low spec DDR3 so probably not a lot better (if at all) than the old DDR2 in your current machine. Its nice to have the 4Gb though. On the performance front I doubt you would notice a lot of difference though, unless you work with big files where the extra 2Gb may be worthwhile.
Also the hard drive is twice the capacity which might be useful.
I am still unsure which way to go between the two machines. The difference in price will pay for Aperture and the extra 2Gb RAM!
I doubt there is much different between the processors or graphics cards, just an enforced update for component availability?
TBH, I'm a bit disappointed myself.
J
Between the 2 machines you mention there is very little difference.
Twice as much RAM. It is low spec DDR3 so probably not a lot better (if at all) than the old DDR2 in your current machine. Its nice to have the 4Gb though. On the performance front I doubt you would notice a lot of difference though, unless you work with big files where the extra 2Gb may be worthwhile.
Also the hard drive is twice the capacity which might be useful.
I am still unsure which way to go between the two machines. The difference in price will pay for Aperture and the extra 2Gb RAM!
I doubt there is much different between the processors or graphics cards, just an enforced update for component availability?
TBH, I'm a bit disappointed myself.
J
Posted on: 07 March 2009 by Huwge
Howard,
I played with the new 24" 2,66 and 3,06 iMacs yesterday, both are appreciably quicker than my 2 year old MacBook Pro. Both launched Numbers and Pages very quickly and were relatively quick to launch Photoshop CS4. The only difference was in processing a picture with multiple layers, but this was not a big difference to my mind. I also had a quick play with the new Mini and the iMacs are significantly quicker.
All in all, I was quite impressed but still think I will buy a portable when I upgrade as I already have a Cinema Display.
I am not sure there would be a big difference in the use you describe, but I am a strong believer in the more RAM the better, especially if you have multiple apps running. However, if you are only using the basic apps, i.e. no Photoshop or video editing then you probably won't notice too much difference. I'd get the one with the best warranty!
Huw
I played with the new 24" 2,66 and 3,06 iMacs yesterday, both are appreciably quicker than my 2 year old MacBook Pro. Both launched Numbers and Pages very quickly and were relatively quick to launch Photoshop CS4. The only difference was in processing a picture with multiple layers, but this was not a big difference to my mind. I also had a quick play with the new Mini and the iMacs are significantly quicker.
All in all, I was quite impressed but still think I will buy a portable when I upgrade as I already have a Cinema Display.
I am not sure there would be a big difference in the use you describe, but I am a strong believer in the more RAM the better, especially if you have multiple apps running. However, if you are only using the basic apps, i.e. no Photoshop or video editing then you probably won't notice too much difference. I'd get the one with the best warranty!
Huw
Posted on: 07 March 2009 by garyi
The new ones have better graphics and bigger harddrives. Although the processor on paper is slower I believe it is also cooler so can be wrung a bit harder.
Long and short is, if it comes to it I would plumb for a new one.
What has been the outcome of the old one. They are going to have to do something lol.
Long and short is, if it comes to it I would plumb for a new one.
What has been the outcome of the old one. They are going to have to do something lol.
Posted on: 07 March 2009 by BigH47
quote:Originally posted by garyi:
What has been the outcome of the old one. They are going to have to do something lol.
I'll have to wait until Monday, as I didn't get a call PM Friday, I don't know what the latest info is.
More as I get it.
Posted on: 08 March 2009 by Julian H
Some more info.
I just discovered today that the new 2.66Ghz 24" model has on-board graphics not a seperate card. The 256Mb is shared with the main RAM. That together with the low spec. DDR3 RAM and I can't see why anyone would want the new £1199 iMac over the old £1125 one upgraded to 4GB.
Thats the way I have gone.
J
I just discovered today that the new 2.66Ghz 24" model has on-board graphics not a seperate card. The 256Mb is shared with the main RAM. That together with the low spec. DDR3 RAM and I can't see why anyone would want the new £1199 iMac over the old £1125 one upgraded to 4GB.
Thats the way I have gone.
J
Posted on: 09 March 2009 by J.N.
Thanks Julian - that's interesting.
I bought a standard 24" 2.8GHz 2GB model about two months ago and am absolutely delighted with it.
John.
I bought a standard 24" 2.8GHz 2GB model about two months ago and am absolutely delighted with it.
John.
Posted on: 09 March 2009 by BigH47
quote:Originally posted by J.N.
I bought a standard 24" 2.8GHz 2GB model about two months ago and am absolutely delighted with it.
John.
Harumph!
Posted on: 10 March 2009 by JRHardee
My Mac is one generation too old to run System 10.5. Damn. If you plan on keeping the machine for a long time, and if money is not the deciding factor, go for the newest model available to maximize the amount of time that you will have support and upgrades available.
Posted on: 10 March 2009 by Derek Wright
This is a good time to search out for ex dem and new versions of the models that have been superceded. The discounts available are quite good and some of the new model prices have gone up so the effective discount is even greater.
Posted on: 10 March 2009 by garyi
The new imac a bit like the last one uses a proper graphics chip however its soldered to the main board. It does not share ram memory at all. It has its own 256 or 512 meg chip of VRAM.
The first G5 imac had a 'proper' graphics card'
My imac which is the last gen one happily runs Mirrors edge, dead space, far cry 3, etc etc. The new macs are supposed to be around 15% faster for graphics. The new imac is a better specced machine.
The first G5 imac had a 'proper' graphics card'
My imac which is the last gen one happily runs Mirrors edge, dead space, far cry 3, etc etc. The new macs are supposed to be around 15% faster for graphics. The new imac is a better specced machine.