Buying a new iMac: is the 2.8GHz worth the price, vs. 1.6GHz??

[BusyBee85]

I have decided to buy a new iMac, and being the non-technical person I am, want to know if the $300 price difference is worth it for the 2.8GHz version instead of 1.6GHz.

I do quite a lot of work with photos and photo editing software... always have 3-4 programs going at once, and switching between them. I currently use a 2008 MacBook Pro (2.66 GHz) and find it decently fast. How would an iMac with 1.6GHz run compared to MacBook? Or should I invest in the 2.8GHz. Thanks!

 

[Slydude]

Exactly which iMac is this? I was using a 2008 MacBook Pro with similar specs and moved over to a 3.3 GHz iMac 2015 iMac. The speed difference was very noticeable. Here's how I described it during a previous Mac-Forums Sunday Chat

On the new iMac Handbrake converted a 12.08 GB m2t to 5.13 m4v in 1:39:40 with conversion parameters set to Apple TV 3 preset. That same conversion, the same parameters. The same conversion is currently running on my 2008 MacBook Pro since 9:35 this morning. By the time I finish writing this post the conversion will have been running for 11 hours and Handbrake estimates there is another half hour to go. Final data is in: The MacBook pro took 11 hrs. 22 min. to perform the same conversion

Both the iMac and MacBook Pro have 8 GB of ram. The 2008 MacBook Pro has a Core2Duo processor. My 2016 iMac has a 3.3 GHz i5. Now, a video conversion is not exactly the same as photo work but the processing difference is noticeable. Either iMac will be significantly faster than what you're currently using. If you can swing the extra $300.00 go for it.

 

[harryb2448]

You can see the specs of my iMac and went for the next model 3.3GHz , muchand flash storage only. Much, much faster than my older 2012 2.7Ghz iMac.

Go for what you can afford. There is nothing worse than kicking oneself in the rear for saving a few hundred bucks for five or more years disappointment.

 

[pigoo3]

This is kind of a no-brainer to me. For $200 more you get:

- Quad core CPU (versus dual core)
- Literally double the performance (benchmark score of 5861 vs. 11807). 1.6ghz to 2.8ghz CPU.

With photo editing…you never know when that quad-core CPU will come in handy.

* Nick

 

[harryb2448]

And the 1.6GHz machine, in my book, is a sprat to lure first time Mac users at the low end of the budget.

 

[m.g.mcc]

Although I'm in the UK, I recently bought the 2.8GHz iMac 21.5" on Amazon for about the same price the Apple Store is charging for the 1.6GHz version. Might be worth shopping around

 

[harryb2448]

As you have not been back, also suggest you check out Apple Refurbished iMacs to see what is available. These come with the full 12 month warranty and the latest operating system. Stocks may vary from country to counmtry and you did not include your location so no good showing you USA stock if you are in say South Africe.