Mac Pro (MA356LL/A-R) vs New iMac 27'

egoncalo · egoncalo #1 (**permalink**)

01-21-2011, 08:44 PM

Hey all -

First post, I'm debating between buying a new 27 inch iMac, but a deal just came up on a Mac pro, and I'm debating which is the better machine... or even if they are remotely close. I have a feeling the deal window is closing soon though, so the quicker the answer the better. The help is much appreciated! Thanks:

MAC PRO:

Intel Quad core Xeon 2.66 (2 x 2.66GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon processors)

4GB Memory

250GB SATA Hard disk

512MB ATI Radeon X1900XT DUAL DVI Video (MA631ZA)

IMAC:

27-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display

4GB memory

1TB hard drive

8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)

ATI Radeon HD 5670 graphics with 512MB memory

Built-in iSight camera

Clayson · Clayson #2 (**permalink**)

01-21-2011, 09:01 PM

Easy... iMac is FAR superior, but then again, is portability a priority?

egoncalo · egoncalo #3 (**permalink**)

01-21-2011, 09:04 PM

Portability not so much. The price is the motivator. The lowest price for the iMac I've found is like $1450 refurb. This Mac Pro is $899 refurb. I just figured since it was a Mac Pro it'd be closer. I'm not as up to speed with this Mac tech vs PCs. Thanks for the advice!

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #4 (**permalink**)

01-21-2011, 09:38 PM

G'day and welcome to the forums.

Well check out the processors. To be a Quad Core they need to by X5355. A lot of folk advertise the Dual Core as quads believing 2 x Duals must make it a Quad Core. Quad Core's commenced with the Mac Pro 2.1 model. Your quoted price is dirt cheap for a Quad Core.

Not a fan of iMacs particularly with their laptop optical drives, non changeable graphics, single internal hard drives and difficulty cracking them, to replace parts.

egoncalo · egoncalo #5 (**permalink**)

01-21-2011, 09:53 PM

Harry thanks for the post. Yea I'm pretty sure it's one of the early models and it has two dual processors as opposed to the quad. I'm pretty sure they are the 5100 series. Here's a link to the sale:

Buy.com - Apple Mac Pro Desktop, Intel Quad core Xeon 2.66, 4GB, 250GB,512MB ATI Radeon X1900XT DUAL DVI Video (MA631ZA),MacOS X 10.4

I'm not seeing a version. Any ideas? You bring up good points with the iMac though... I hadn't thought about that.

egoncalo #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 24, 2009 Posts: 3	01-21-2011, 08:44 PM Hey all - First post, I'm debating between buying a new 27 inch iMac, but a deal just came up on a Mac pro, and I'm debating which is the better machine... or even if they are remotely close. I have a feeling the deal window is closing soon though, so the quicker the answer the better. The help is much appreciated! Thanks: MAC PRO: Intel Quad core Xeon 2.66 (2 x 2.66GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon processors) 4GB Memory 250GB SATA Hard disk 512MB ATI Radeon X1900XT DUAL DVI Video (MA631ZA) IMAC: 27-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display 4GB memory 1TB hard drive 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) ATI Radeon HD 5670 graphics with 512MB memory Built-in iSight camera
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,080 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	01-21-2011, 09:38 PM G'day and welcome to the forums. Well check out the processors. To be a Quad Core they need to by X5355. A lot of folk advertise the Dual Core as quads believing 2 x Duals must make it a Quad Core. Quad Core's commenced with the Mac Pro 2.1 model. Your quoted price is dirt cheap for a Quad Core. Not a fan of iMacs particularly with their laptop optical drives, non changeable graphics, single internal hard drives and difficulty cracking them, to replace parts. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

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Clayson #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 19, 2011 Location: Central Florida Posts: 32 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 3.06 GHz 500GB HD; iPhone 3GS 32GB	01-21-2011, 09:01 PM Easy... iMac is FAR superior, but then again, is portability a priority?
	QUOTE Thanks

egoncalo #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 24, 2009 Posts: 3	01-21-2011, 09:53 PM Harry thanks for the post. Yea I'm pretty sure it's one of the early models and it has two dual processors as opposed to the quad. I'm pretty sure they are the 5100 series. Here's a link to the sale: Buy.com - Apple Mac Pro Desktop, Intel Quad core Xeon 2.66, 4GB, 250GB,512MB ATI Radeon X1900XT DUAL DVI Video (MA631ZA),MacOS X 10.4 I'm not seeing a version. Any ideas? You bring up good points with the iMac though... I hadn't thought about that.
	QUOTE Thanks

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