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Starting now you can configure the 27" iMac with a 2.66GHz Quad Core i5 or a 2.8GHz Quad Core i7. Delivery in November.

Is there much of a speed difference between the two?

29 posted on 10/27/2009 6:36:53 PM PDT by avenir

Is there much of a speed difference between the two?

Not until you get Grand Central Dispatch aware apps that can parallel process on multiple cores... then watch out. Things you want to do will be done before you start!

35 posted on 10/27/2009 9:05:12 PM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)

If you get the 27" iMac with a 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 ($2200 base price) it is faster than the $2499 quad core Mac Pro. The i7-860 in the 27" iMac has a turbo boost of 3.46 GHz whereas the quad core Mac Pro has an i7 920, which has a speed of 2.66 GHz.
For most task, the i860 is faster. The Intel Core i7 860 Review

The AMD Radeon 5850 in the 27" iMac is faster than the fastest graphics card for the Mac Pro, the last generation Radeon HD 5870. Frankly, the selection of graphics cards for the MacPro sucks.

The i7 version of the 27" iMac is a very nice system. Frankly it is cheaper than any PC with similar specs. I had to go to a Cyberpower to match the price and even then, the monitor wasn't as a good (its a ViewSonic VA2626WM Flat 26" (25.5" Viewable) TFT Active Matrix XGA LCD Display 1920x1200).

38 posted on 10/28/2009 2:38:16 AM PDT by rmlew (Democracy tends to ignore..., threats to its existence because it loathes doing what is needed)

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