Which new iMac???

spector29 · 24th August 2007, 04:52 AM

I'm in a dilema,

I'm wanting a new mac and I'm stuck between:

new Imacs:

20" 2.0GHz with 4GB Ram.

20" 2.4GHz with 2GB Ram.

I can run up to 30-40 tracks in SOME sessions and probably 1-2 plug-ins/ vsti on half of those tracks, ranging from guitar rig and battery to some izotope plug-ins.

Would the 2.0GHz be enough??

I use to use a powerbook G4 (1.6Ghz and 1.5 GB ram) with protools and got up to about 25-30 tracks with plugs and that killed the G4.

Anyway much help appreciated.

Also what happens when leopard comes out and I buy a Mac now? Do I get a free upgrade or something??

Cheers, Matt.

gracejames · 24th August 2007, 06:28 AM

If i was in your 'dilemma', i would go with the 4Gb Ram/2.0Ghz model.

You need to wait till Leopard comes out (Oct), otherwise you will have to pay for an upgrade. It will not be a free update even if you buy an Imac now.

rainy-taxi · 24th August 2007, 09:28 AM

Im not sure for waiting till leopard comes out. Im sure its not as worse as with windows but at least Digidesign doesn't work with leopard the first month (or maybe longer?) and Im sure there are other companies with the same problems. If that new logic is only going to work with leopard then I think they made some dramatic changes to stuff like CoreAudio. In that case, lots of drivers maybe don't work properly.

I have the same dilemma and I t hink I still go for the 2,4 gHz as it has a larger harddisk (not really interesting) and also videocard with double the RAM.

spector29 · 24th August 2007, 10:40 AM

Well HDD size isn't a huge problem for me as I've got a 250 GB firewire 800 external.
I've been told before that RAM and HDD speed are the most important factors for DAWs.
Thats why I'm leaning more to the 2.0GHz/ 4GB model.

And also I'd have a few hundred more $$$ so I can buy some more plug-ins.

I like to play games (use to a lot) but for the year that I had my powerbook I got over it.
I would like a better graphics card but that'd be icing on the cake and probably wouldn't get used enough.

keybdwizrd · 24th August 2007, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spector29

I'm in a dilema,

I'm wanting a new mac and I'm stuck between:

new Imacs:

20" 2.0GHz with 4GB Ram.

20" 2.4GHz with 2GB Ram.

You can always add more RAM, but you can't swap out processors, so you may want to consider the faster machine initially.

gracejames · 24th August 2007, 06:18 PM

Good points.

Can you afford to stick with your current system to do your work?
Is it a 'need' for you to have to buy this computer right now?
Thats what i ask myself. For me, i concluded that 'Tiger' release would be the 'need' but yeah, it will be another wait for PT and everyone else to have new versions.

spector29 · 25th August 2007, 11:32 AM

Well I kinda 'need' one at the moment but I'm prepared to wait.
I'm a self producing artist and I use my computer as an instrument and a recording device so i'd prefer to have one now.
I may be going on some business trips soon so I may think about a macbook or but then again I'd loose out on the level of RAM and HDD speed.

I'm interested in waiting to see these new processors coming out in november, could mean a decent boost in performance for the iMac for the same price.

I mean a lot of people have made records on less quality computers than 2GHz c2d's.
So I've got to take that into account.

Cheers Matt.

Will · 26th August 2007, 01:08 PM

I'd go for the 2.4 for sure, much better video card, bigger drive, faster machine, upgrade the RAM later.

spector29 · 27th August 2007, 11:18 AM

Actually I've been doing some research on the iMacs and found out that the old iMac 17" 2.0Ghz core 2 duo is only marginally slower than the newer 20" 2.0Ghz model.
Basically the only difference is the santa rosa chipset and a DX10 graphics card thats only marginally better.
Also I save $400 and it costs me only $95 Australian to upgrade to 2GB of Ram.

So its around $1450 Aus for the old and around $1850-$1900.

Big saving on a marginally slower system.

I'd get a mac pro if only I had a screen and $3300 to spare.

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24th August 2007, 04:52 AM	#1
spector29 Gear Head Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 46	Which new iMac??? I'm in a dilema, I'm wanting a new mac and I'm stuck between: new Imacs: 20" 2.0GHz with 4GB Ram. 20" 2.4GHz with 2GB Ram. I can run up to 30-40 tracks in SOME sessions and probably 1-2 plug-ins/ vsti on half of those tracks, ranging from guitar rig and battery to some izotope plug-ins. Would the 2.0GHz be enough?? I use to use a powerbook G4 (1.6Ghz and 1.5 GB ram) with protools and got up to about 25-30 tracks with plugs and that killed the G4. Anyway much help appreciated. Also what happens when leopard comes out and I buy a Mac now? Do I get a free upgrade or something?? Cheers, Matt.

26th August 2007, 01:08 PM	#8
Will Gear maniac Join Date: May 2003 Location: London Posts: 269	I'd go for the 2.4 for sure, much better video card, bigger drive, faster machine, upgrade the RAM later. __________________ William Spong Apple Mac Support for London

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24th August 2007, 06:28 AM	#2
gracejames Gear maniac Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 263	If i was in your 'dilemma', i would go with the 4Gb Ram/2.0Ghz model. You need to wait till Leopard comes out (Oct), otherwise you will have to pay for an upgrade. It will not be a free update even if you buy an Imac now.

24th August 2007, 09:28 AM	#3
rainy-taxi Gear addict Join Date: May 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 441	Im not sure for waiting till leopard comes out. Im sure its not as worse as with windows but at least Digidesign doesn't work with leopard the first month (or maybe longer?) and Im sure there are other companies with the same problems. If that new logic is only going to work with leopard then I think they made some dramatic changes to stuff like CoreAudio. In that case, lots of drivers maybe don't work properly. I have the same dilemma and I t hink I still go for the 2,4 gHz as it has a larger harddisk (not really interesting) and also videocard with double the RAM.

24th August 2007, 10:40 AM	#4
spector29 Gear Head Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 46	Well HDD size isn't a huge problem for me as I've got a 250 GB firewire 800 external. I've been told before that RAM and HDD speed are the most important factors for DAWs. Thats why I'm leaning more to the 2.0GHz/ 4GB model. And also I'd have a few hundred more $$$ so I can buy some more plug-ins. I like to play games (use to a lot) but for the year that I had my powerbook I got over it. I would like a better graphics card but that'd be icing on the cake and probably wouldn't get used enough.

24th August 2007, 06:18 PM	#6
gracejames Gear maniac Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 263	Good points. Can you afford to stick with your current system to do your work? Is it a 'need' for you to have to buy this computer right now? Thats what i ask myself. For me, i concluded that 'Tiger' release would be the 'need' but yeah, it will be another wait for PT and everyone else to have new versions.

25th August 2007, 11:32 AM	#7
spector29 Gear Head Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 46	Well I kinda 'need' one at the moment but I'm prepared to wait. I'm a self producing artist and I use my computer as an instrument and a recording device so i'd prefer to have one now. I may be going on some business trips soon so I may think about a macbook or but then again I'd loose out on the level of RAM and HDD speed. I'm interested in waiting to see these new processors coming out in november, could mean a decent boost in performance for the iMac for the same price. I mean a lot of people have made records on less quality computers than 2GHz c2d's. So I've got to take that into account. Cheers Matt.

27th August 2007, 11:18 AM	#9
spector29 Gear Head Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 46	Actually I've been doing some research on the iMacs and found out that the old iMac 17" 2.0Ghz core 2 duo is only marginally slower than the newer 20" 2.0Ghz model. Basically the only difference is the santa rosa chipset and a DX10 graphics card thats only marginally better. Also I save $400 and it costs me only $95 Australian to upgrade to 2GB of Ram. So its around $1450 Aus for the old and around $1850-$1900. Big saving on a marginally slower system. I'd get a mac pro if only I had a screen and $3300 to spare.