The Imac dilemma

[Paul Elertson]

Update: After weighing my options, I decided the newest model I-mac was not for me.

So, I just put in an order for a May 2011 model I-Mac for three main reasons:
1) I can upgrade the Ram easier & cheaper than in the newest models **correction** Ram is only harder to upgrade on the 21.5" imac
2) This model still has a firewire input and 2 thunderbolt ports
3) This will save me about $450. I'll put up with a little thicker computer for that much $$$

Specs:
3.4GHz Quad-Core i7
4GB DD3 ram (will upgrade to 32)
1TB hard drive
AMD Radeon HD 6970M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory


I will be ordering CS6 soon, and I'll keep everyone updated.

[Josh Bass]

So what are the cons of the slightly older one vs the newer ones? What are you losing out on by getting the mid-2011 vs newer?

And where'd you end up getting it from?

Thanks.

[Paul Elertson]

Originally Posted by Josh Bass

So what are the cons of the slightly older one vs the newer ones? What are you losing out on by getting the mid-2011 vs newer?

And where'd you end up getting it from?

Thanks.

Everything is newer basically, thinner screen obviously.
I'm no expert, but from what I found.

Ram (minimums)
2012 model - 8gig min - 1600mhz **see quote below on upgrading ram on the 21.5" model**
2011 model - 4gig min - 1333mhz

Processor
2012 model is the newest i7 (with turbo boost?)

USB
2012 model - 3.0
2011 model - 2.0

Hard drive
2012 model - fusion drive available

But if you like to do anything yourself, read this.
Teardown of New 21.5-inch iMac Reveals Glued Down LCD and Dual Microphones - Mac Rumors

Originally Posted by MACrumors

"While the RAM, hard drive, and CPU can be replaced, the entire logic board must be removed to do so, which led the iFixit team to give the 21" iMac a repairability score of 3 out of 10, down from 7 out of 10 for last year’s model."

Got my 2011 imac from the apple refurb store.

[Josh Bass]

If it makes a difference i should mention ill be going 27" this time around. Do those minor processor changes mean much if you never plan on dealing with red, alexa etc. Footage? I see myself dealing with the prosumer forms if hd for the foreseaable future (dslr, ex1, p2, etc.)

[Paul Elertson]

Originally Posted by Josh Bass

If it makes a difference i should mention ill be going 27" this time around. Do those minor processor changes mean much if you never plan on dealing with red, alexa etc. Footage? I see myself dealing with the prosumer forms if hd for the foreseaable future (dslr, ex1, p2, etc.)

I don't think they mean much as long you get an i7 processor. -http://www.macrumors.com/2012/11/30/...us-generation/

If i didn't just buy mine... I would have a bid in on this one since it comes with CS6.
iMac 27 256SSD 3 4GHz i7 CPU 2GHz GPU and 16GHz of RAM Mid 2011 Model | eBay
curious to see what it ends up selling for.

[David W. Jones]

Well I just ordered the 27" with 3.4Ghz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo boost up to 3.9Ghz, 3TB Serial ATA Drive, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX 2GB graphics card, and USB SuperDrive. Then from Other World Computing I ordered 32GB of RAM, and a Mini Display to Mini Display cable. My thought was to use my 2009 27" iMac i7 as a second monitor, and then to attach a Thunderbolt RAID setup like the Pegasus R6 12TB raid off one Thunderbolt port, and drive my Panasonic BT-LH2600W monitor via Matrox MX02LE off the second Thunderbolt port. My older MacPro will then be moved into secondary use position.

You could always use a Thunderbolt to FireWire adapter to capture from your XH-A1. You are going to have to use some form of adapter with the older iMac with FireWire anyways going from 800 to 400. I know you likely don't want to hear this, but have you thought of updating to a more modern camera which does not use tape or FireWire?

All the Best!

Dave

[Paul Elertson]

Originally Posted by David W. Jones

Well I just ordered the 27" with 3.4Ghz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo boost up to 3.9Ghz, 3TB Serial ATA Drive, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX 2GB graphics card, and USB SuperDrive. Then from Other World Computing I ordered 32GB of RAM, and a Mini Display to Mini Display cable. My thought was to use my 2009 27" iMac i7 as a second monitor, and then to attach a Thunderbolt RAID setup like the Pegasus R6 12TB raid off one Thunderbolt port, and drive my Panasonic BT-LH2600W monitor via Matrox MX02LE off the second Thunderbolt port. My older MacPro will then be moved into secondary use position.

Congrats! So will you be upgrading the RAM yourself on the new i-mac?

Originally Posted by David W. Jones

You could always use a Thunderbolt to FireWire adapter to capture from your XH-A1. You are going to have to use some form of adapter with the older iMac with FireWire anyways going from 800 to 400. I know you likely don't want to hear this, but have you thought of updating to a more modern camera which does not use tape or FireWire?
All the Best!
Dave

In a perfect world, yes I would updgrade my camera too, but the computer needed upgrading first and funds are limited.
I already have a 4pin to 6 pin firewire cable and a 4pin to 9 pin firewire cable.

I also may consider getting DN-60 for my camcorder.

[David W. Jones]

Originally Posted by Paul Elertson

Congrats! So will you be upgrading the RAM yourself on the new i-mac?
.

Yes, and the $450 I saved has been applied to external HD storage.

[Paul Elertson]

Originally Posted by David W. Jones

Yes, and the $450 I saved has been applied to external HD storage.

You are braver than I good sir.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

[David W. Jones]

You do realize the new 27" iMac has an easy access door for RAM access?

[David W. Jones]

http://m.cultofmac.com/cultofmac/#!/...fc7b5670889439

[Paul Elertson]

Originally Posted by David W. Jones

You do realize the new 27" iMac has an easy access door for RAM access?

I did not. I assumed it was the same as the 21.5 inch. Good to know.

[Nate Haustein]

Originally Posted by David W. Jones

Well I just ordered the 27" with 3.4Ghz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo boost up to 3.9Ghz, 3TB Serial ATA Drive, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX 2GB graphics card, and USB SuperDrive. Then from Other World Computing I ordered 32GB of RAM, and a Mini Display to Mini Display cable. My thought was to use my 2009 27" iMac i7 as a second monitor, and then to attach a Thunderbolt RAID setup like the Pegasus R6 12TB raid off one Thunderbolt port, and drive my Panasonic BT-LH2600W monitor via Matrox MX02LE off the second Thunderbolt port. My older MacPro will then be moved into secondary use position.

Perfect setup. That thing is going to scream. I'm quite interested in the Belkin Thunderbolt dock when it is released to take care of all the "vintage" ports :)

[Josh Bass]

Still didn't see WHERE you got your mid-2011 mac. Ebay? Some online merchant?

[Paul Elertson]

Originally Posted by Josh Bass

Still didn't see WHERE you got your mid-2011 mac. Ebay? Some online merchant?

End of post 18, i gotta it from apple.com's refurb section. You need to keep checking though cause it changes often.