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    iMac and Mac Pro

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by lumberbunny, Sep 29, 2006.

  1. lumberbunny

    lumberbunny Notebook Evangelist

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    How big is the performance difference between these two? Is the Xeon really worth an extra $1000?
     
    lumberbunny, Sep 29, 2006
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  2. zadillo

    zadillo Notebook Virtuoso

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    Very different, really. The iMac currently features the mobile Core 2 Duo chip (that is, the Core 2 Duo chip normally used in laptops, not the desktop Core 2 Duo). Certainly these are powerful chips, but they are not as powerful as the desktop Core 2 Duo chips. And the desktop Core 2 Duo chips are not nearly as powerful as the Xeon processors used in the Mac Pro, and note that the Mac Pro features 2 processors with 2 cores each.

    Is the price difference worth it? It really depends on what you are doing. If you are a professional, they probably are though - aside from that, the other features of the Mac Pro's case design are worth it.

    Again though, it really depends on what your needs are. For many people the iMac actually is more than adequate for their needs, and I do know some professionals who are still able to use the iMac with no problems.
     
    zadillo, Sep 29, 2006
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  3. cashmonee

    cashmonee Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    Pretty much if you are not doin professional level audio/video editing, the Mac Pro is A LOT more power than you need. It is a workstation. If you are looking for a home computer the iMac should be more than powerful enough.
     
    cashmonee, Sep 30, 2006
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  4. zadillo

    zadillo Notebook Virtuoso

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    Btw, just in case you are tempted by the Mac Pro, note that if you don't need massive power, you can save a little bit of money by custom-configuring one with 2 2.0GHz Xeons instead of 2 2.66GHz Xeons.
     
    zadillo, Sep 30, 2006
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