used mac pro or new imac?

teapea · teapea #1 (**permalink**)

07-03-2011, 06:28 PM

Hey, basically, my dilemma is that I want a apple desktop with a fair amount of power and some level of portability. I have thought about the 27" imac but I haven't got the room on my desk for a 27" monitor!

I'm not keen on the idea of spending £2000 on a brand new mac pro, and have been looking at used ones on eBay.

What I'm curious to know is, how does a 2008 mac pro say like this;
Apple Mac Pro 3.0 Ghz Quad 8Gb 2.0Tb+250GB Snow & More | eBay UK

compare to a brand new 27" sandy bridge i5 imac?

It's something I have often wondered.

lifeisabeach · lifeisabeach #2 (**permalink**)

07-03-2011, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teapea

What I'm curious to know is, how does a 2008 mac pro say like this;
Apple Mac Pro 3.0 Ghz Quad 8Gb 2.0Tb+250GB Snow & More | eBay UK

compare to a brand new 27" sandy bridge i5 imac?

The iMac should smoke it. The RAM is faster. The bus is faster. The GPU is faster. The entire architecture is much superior.

6string · 6string #3 (**permalink**)

07-03-2011, 06:43 PM

You mentioned that you wanted some level of portability.... I don't see why the 21.5" wouldn't have been the option for you, rather than going for the least portable Mac.
If it were me, I'd hook up a monitor to your MBP, which would be the cheapest and most practical solution if it serves it's purpose.
Mac Pro:
Mac Pro Performance (January 2008)
The rest:
Mac Benchmarks

teapea · teapea #4 (**permalink**)

07-03-2011, 06:54 PM

Thanks for the replies, that benchmark site is really useful.

I do currently hook up a monitor to my macbook pro, that's all i do with it as I have a 11" macbook air which i use as a laptop, but I really need two displays and a dedicated GPU

So I either get a fully loaded imac 21.5inch new, with a second display plugged in, a second hand mac pro, or wait for the new mac pro and see what that's like

I really want a mac mini but with an imac spec, but that won't happen.

the problem with the imac is I want an SSD and opening it up to put one in it would be a nightmare!

I can just about justify £2000 for a new mac pro, but for that I want 8gb or RAM not 3GB!

robduckyworth · robduckyworth #5 (**permalink**)

07-03-2011, 07:01 PM

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/lou...-thread-5.html

lifeisabeach · lifeisabeach #6 (**permalink**)

07-03-2011, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teapea

Thanks for the replies, that benchmark site is really useful.

I do currently hook up a monitor to my macbook pro, that's all i do with it as I have a 11" macbook air which i use as a laptop, but I really need two displays and a dedicated GPU

So I either get a fully loaded imac 21.5inch new, with a second display plugged in, a second hand mac pro, or wait for the new mac pro and see what that's like

I really want a mac mini but with an imac spec, but that won't happen.

the problem with the imac is I want an SSD and opening it up to put one in it would be a nightmare!

I can just about justify £2000 for a new mac pro, but for that I want 8gb or RAM not 3GB!

New Mac minis are expected in the next few weeks. As are iMacs with an optional SSD and HDD combo, if they aren't here already.

robduckyworth #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 04, 2011 Location: Reading, UK Posts: 2,972 Mac Specs: 15" MBP, 2.5GHz i7, 750GB, 6770M 1GB, iPad 3, iPhone 4, custom PC	07-03-2011, 07:01 PM http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/lou...-thread-5.html If you find a post helpful, don't forget to use the reputation system (top right of post.) Join us in the IRC! How? Add me on Steam, Origin or PSN (Vita): robduckyworth
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used mac pro or new imac?

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teapea #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 02, 2007 Location: York, England Posts: 49 Mac Specs: 2009 13" macbook pro, 4gb ram	07-03-2011, 06:28 PM Hey, basically, my dilemma is that I want a apple desktop with a fair amount of power and some level of portability. I have thought about the 27" imac but I haven't got the room on my desk for a 27" monitor! I'm not keen on the idea of spending £2000 on a brand new mac pro, and have been looking at used ones on eBay. What I'm curious to know is, how does a 2008 mac pro say like this; Apple Mac Pro 3.0 Ghz Quad 8Gb 2.0Tb+250GB Snow & More \| eBay UK compare to a brand new 27" sandy bridge i5 imac? It's something I have often wondered.
	QUOTE Thanks

teapea #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 02, 2007 Location: York, England Posts: 49 Mac Specs: 2009 13" macbook pro, 4gb ram	07-03-2011, 06:54 PM Thanks for the replies, that benchmark site is really useful. I do currently hook up a monitor to my macbook pro, that's all i do with it as I have a 11" macbook air which i use as a laptop, but I really need two displays and a dedicated GPU So I either get a fully loaded imac 21.5inch new, with a second display plugged in, a second hand mac pro, or wait for the new mac pro and see what that's like I really want a mac mini but with an imac spec, but that won't happen. the problem with the imac is I want an SSD and opening it up to put one in it would be a nightmare! I can just about justify £2000 for a new mac pro, but for that I want 8gb or RAM not 3GB!
	QUOTE Thanks

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