21.5" iMac vs 27" iMac Choices - thoughts?

sparty5389 · sparty5389 #1 (**permalink**)

05-17-2011, 01:21 PM

Hello!

I'm a recent college graduate looking to upgrade from using my 2007 Santa Rosa MBP to a new 2011 iMac. I'm looking to use the new machine for browsing, email, word processing, iPhoto (perhaps Aperture in the future) and Handbrake encodes prior to traveling with the iPad.

I'm debating between a 21.5" with significant changes to the base hardware and a 27" with only the upper-level graphic chip. What would you do if you were me? Or would one of the base specifications be your choice?

Thanks for the input!

21.5" iMac Specifications ($1939 w/Education Pricing)
2.7GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5
4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
1TB Serial ATA Drive + 256GB Solid State Drive
AMD Radeon HD 6770M 512MB GDDR5

27" iMac Specifications ($1989 w/Education Pricing)
3.1GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5
4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
1TB Serial ATA Drive
AMD Radeon HD 6970M 2GB GDDR5

chscag · chscag #2 (**permalink**)

05-17-2011, 03:26 PM

Take a look at the MacWorld testing results regarding the new iMac line of machines and draw your own conclusion from that. They also include speed benchmarks and graphic computing power. LINK

Housekat · Housekat #3 (**permalink**)

05-17-2011, 05:30 PM

Well, technically for what your doing, the 21.5 should be plenty. I have a 27 and personally, I love the screen size. I also have a apple remote so it doubles as a tv in the bedroom. So if you figure in that, the 27 might be a better buy.

sparty5389 · sparty5389 #4 (**permalink**)

05-17-2011, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Housekat

Well, technically for what your doing, the 21.5 should be plenty. I have a 27 and personally, I love the screen size. I also have a apple remote so it doubles as a tv in the bedroom. So if you figure in that, the 27 might be a better buy.

Thanks - I hadn't thought about that. Would be a nice way to watch/listen to a podcast in the morning...

Thanks!

Mini_mi · Mini_mi #5 (**permalink**)

05-17-2011, 10:55 PM

Also since the price your lookin at isn't that much different might as well get the bigger screen.

View Poll Results: Which would you buy if you were me?
21.5" iMac customized below	0	0%
27" iMac with GPU upgrade below	0	0%
21.5" iMac low-end base model	0	0%
21.5" iMac high-end base model	0	0%
27" iMac low-end base model	0	0%
27" iMac high-end base model	0	0%
Voters: 0. You may not vote on this poll

chscag #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 32,015 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	05-17-2011, 03:26 PM Take a look at the MacWorld testing results regarding the new iMac line of machines and draw your own conclusion from that. They also include speed benchmarks and graphic computing power. LINK Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

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21.5" iMac vs 27" iMac Choices - thoughts?

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sparty5389 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 11, 2009 Posts: 5	05-17-2011, 01:21 PM Hello! I'm a recent college graduate looking to upgrade from using my 2007 Santa Rosa MBP to a new 2011 iMac. I'm looking to use the new machine for browsing, email, word processing, iPhoto (perhaps Aperture in the future) and Handbrake encodes prior to traveling with the iPad. I'm debating between a 21.5" with significant changes to the base hardware and a 27" with only the upper-level graphic chip. What would you do if you were me? Or would one of the base specifications be your choice? Thanks for the input! 21.5" iMac Specifications ($1939 w/Education Pricing) 2.7GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB 1TB Serial ATA Drive + 256GB Solid State Drive AMD Radeon HD 6770M 512MB GDDR5 27" iMac Specifications ($1989 w/Education Pricing) 3.1GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB 1TB Serial ATA Drive AMD Radeon HD 6970M 2GB GDDR5
	QUOTE Thanks

Mini_mi #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 13, 2011 Posts: 224 Mac Specs: 2011 MacBook Air, i5 27" IMac, 2010 21.5" IMac, 2010 Mini, 2011 13" MBP, IPhone 4, Airport Extreme	05-17-2011, 10:55 PM Also since the price your lookin at isn't that much different might as well get the bigger screen.
	QUOTE Thanks

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