Nvidia GeForce 9400M or ATI HD 2600 PRO?

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Hi,
I'm trying to decide between the new 24" imac (2009) or the older 2008 24" imac (with an ATI HD 2600 PRO).

2008:
- 2GB 800mhz (and supports up to 4GB)
- 2.8 core2duo
- 320 GB
- ATI HD 2600 PRO (256MB dedicated)
- remote control
- long keyboard

2009:
- 4GB 1066mhz (and supports up to 8GB)
- 2.66 core2duo
- 640 GB
- Nvidia GeForce 9400M (256MB shared)
- no remote control
- short keyboard

Is the Nvidia better than the older Ati?
If I bought the 2008, will I be needing more than 4Gb in the future?
I don't mind the hard disk size, 320 is fine for me.

At the time being the 2008 costs USD 270 less than the 2009 (in amazon). I think it's quite a difference.

Is the remote useful? Can you lower volume, change songs, pause video (dvd's)?

I work in design (photoshop, illustrator, dreamw, flash, and some after effects).
I think my main concern is the memory. Perhaps the new snow leopard will be using more memory.

Any advice will be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance, Jimmy
 
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The Nvidia is better then the Ati but they are both good for the design programs you have there. The remote opens up this program that lets you watch videos and slideshows plus play songs on your mac. Plus you can change the volume,change the song and pause it as well. Not sure about snow leopard.
 

CrimsonRequiem


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...
I work in design (photoshop, illustrator, dreamw, flash, and some after effects).
I think my main concern is the memory. Perhaps the new snow leopard will be using more memory.

Any advice will be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance, Jimmy

Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, and flash is not exactly GPU intensive. I can run all those programs perfectly fine on a white MB with the crappy integrated GPU (GMA X3100).

I highly doubt that you will ever need more than 4GB to begin with unless you are doing like some serious 3D renderings, in which case you should be using a Mac PRO anyways.
 
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Has anyone actually benchmarked the 9400M vs. the ATi card? The NVidia is the same used in the MacBook... I can't help wonder if the dedicated old ATi card might be a bit quicker than the integrated NVidia chipset.
 

bobtomay

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Thanks for all the answers.
The amazon prize is for a new 2008 imac.
I'll see what what I'll do, don't know yet.
 
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Can the remote handle dvd's? That is: play, pause, change scene, go to the menu? Can you change songs with itunes open?
Thanks
 
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on my mbp, it depends on which program is viewable on the screen. the only problem i have with the remote is with the iphone dock. I have the remote dock, and if I am trying to control something on the computer, it will control the dock and iphone too. I just unplug it...easy fix.
 
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^ Well, if its between 2 Macs, you can lock the remote to work in only one..


@OP

The ATi Card is better than the 9400M for graphics. But if it was me, I would get the newer model. Cant miss all that DDR3 goodness and other stuff. And you get the original size keyboard without any extra cost with a new iMac.

Check out how upgradeable is the older iMac, as in RAM. DDR2/3 shouldnt be a big problem, unless the older one cant hold more than 4GB RAM, coz I can already see 8GB being standard soon.
 
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Can the remote handle dvd's? That is: play, pause, change scene, go to the menu? Can you change songs with itunes open?
Thanks


Not sure about DVD's man but you can control itunes with it.
 
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The Front Row interface can play DVDs and you can control it via the remote.
 
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Unless you play games, you won't notice any difference between the two.

If you're into games, I'd go for the Radeon 2600.
 
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Thanks for the replies.
Do you think I will be using more than 4GB in 3 years time?
If I buy the 2008 I won't be able to add more than 4GB, that's my main concern right now.
Thanks
 

CrimsonRequiem


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4GB is more than enough if you are just doing the stuff that you are doing now.
 
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For anyone else considering this, Snow Leopard supports the 9400M, but not the HD 2600 Pro in OpenCL:
OpenCL
NVIDIA Geforce 8600M GT, GeForce 8800 GT, GeForce 8800 GTS, Geforce 9400M, GeForce 9600M GT, GeForce GT 120, GeForce GT 130.
ATI Radeon 4850, Radeon 4870
 

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