MacPro vs. iMac

I'm thinking of getting a desktop Mac that can be used for gaming as well. The new MacPro's seem way over priced but there is a refurbished model for $1859 with the following specs:
One 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon "Nehalem" processor
3GB (3 x 1GB) of 1066MHz DDR3 ECC memory
1TB Serial ATA 7200 rpm
18x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1GB GDDR5 memory

There is also a refurbished iMac for $1659 with these specs:

iMac 27-inch 3.1GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5
27-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
4GB memory
1TB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
AMD Radeon HD 6970M graphics with 1GB memory


The iMac is less money and seems to have a better graphics card but does the MacPro have a better processor. The iMac also isn't as expandable.

Looking for some advice... Thanks.

MacTracker will tell you the Mac Pro comes in at 5300 Geekbench tests and the iMac at 8100, quite a difference. In your position would go for the iMac and self install an additional 4/8GB memory from OWC. Personally went from an 8 core 2.66 Mac Pro to a June 2012 iMac and the iMac is as fast except for boot times as the Mac Pro ran an SSD boot drive.

To offset this run the iMac through an uninterrupted power supply and do not shut down, just put to sleep.

harryb2448 said:

MacTracker will tell you the Mac Pro comes in at 5300 Geekbench tests and the iMac at 8100, quite a difference. In your position would go for the iMac and self install an additional 4/8GB memory from OWC. Personally went from an 8 core 2.66 Mac Pro to a June 2012 iMac and the iMac is as fast except for boot times as the Mac Pro ran an SSD boot drive.

To offset this run the iMac through an uninterrupted power supply and do not shut down, just put to sleep.

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Totally agree.
My iMac runs FPS games with no problem.

Thank you for the feedback. Sounds like the iMac is the way to go. I wonder if Apple will update it soon as it is well overdue!

Derek P said:

I wonder if Apple will update it soon as it is well overdue!

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Many of us have been wondering this…for a longggg time!

- Nick