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slidesear

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Jul 28, 2009
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I recently purchased a delicately used 27" iMac and wanted to get some suggestions about what to do since I've made the decision to go with Windows 7 as my main OS.

I got the Core i7 2.8 ghz, 8GB memory iMac for $2000; and it is still under warranty and I was thinking about selling it.

My thoughts are that because I am not going to use Leopard that I should just use that money to go with a faster and less expensive system. Although the display is amazing, I am looking at getting the Dell U2711. If I did end up going with the custom system I would want to certainly keep it silent. That means a buying a silent cooler for both the CPU and the video card.

The U2711 monitor, core i7 930, 6gb ddr3, X25-M 80GB, would end up costing $1900; that is using my own case, video card, and PSU.

I use the computer mostly for web browsing, media, and the fiancee will use it for Photoshop and Illustrator. The speed would primarily be for her, and I get to browse "faster" ;)

Would anyone tell me their opinions on what I should do?

I like listening to suggestions of things that I might not have thought of myself to make a more educated decision.

Thanks!
 
If you want to sell it, go ahead and sell it. Alternatively, you could purchase Parallels and use it to run Windows 7 on your Mac.

If you're pursuing a BYO system and you want to keep it (near-) silent, then you should consider using water cooling -- especially if you're heavily considering a(n) Core i7/X58-based build.

Which specific parts are you reusing? How old are they?
 
I am using bootcamp right now and I am currently using Windows 7. The biggest deciding factor is primarily not being able to upgrade the hardware on the iMac. I really want to go with an SSD, which is possible but I would have to modify the iMac (possibly voiding the warranty,) and if the price is about the same I figured, "why not?"

My case is an Antec Sonata that is dampened with dynamat and foam. The video card is a silenced HD2400 and the PSU is an Antec NeoHE 550.

I want to use DDR3, which is why I am going with the X58, do other chipsets support it?
 
AM3 supports DDR3 but only runs it in dual channel, whereas socket 1366 runs it in triple channel. If you want something and you have the funds you should just go ahead and do it.

There is also a question of what are you doing with this system? You may not even need an i7 system.
 
Shadowssong said:
AM3 supports DDR3 but only runs it in dual channel, whereas socket 1366 runs it in triple channel. If you want something and you have the funds you should just go ahead and do it.

There is also a question of what are you doing with this system? You may not even need an i7 system.
Click to expand...

I myself would probably not make complete use of the i7. Whereas my fiancée, whom teaches and works with Photoshop/Illustrator might get use out of out a faster system.

I just think that I could use my money more effectively if I forgo the iMac. I was initially going to use OS X, but Windows just feels better to me.
 
You don't need a Core i7 processor (or an X58 board or a tri-channel DDR3 kit) to use Photoshop or Illustrator properly. AMD's new six-core processors (and 8GB of RAM, with 4GB utilized as a super fast swap drive via RamDisk software) could get the job done about as well for a bit less. You may also want to get an Nvidia video card, as Photoshop is optimized to take advantage of Nvidia's CUDA technology.

The Antec NeoHE 550 has been around since 2007; how old is your PSU? If it's over two years old, I recommend buying a new power supply as well, just to be on the safe side.
 
slidesear said:
Does anyone have any reasons for keeping the iMac?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

It's not really what we think but what you want. I personally hate all apple products so I would say no but my cousin is a very successful graphic design in new york and he swears by macs for photoshop and whatever else he uses. But...

"I was initially going to use OS X, but Windows just feels better to me."

You pretty much answered your own question here. Just build your own and never look back and let those idiots who want to drop mad money on something pretty do it, you can spend your money on real usable computing power.
 
Shadowssong said:
It's not really what we think but what you want. I personally hate all apple products so I would say no but my cousin is a very successful graphic design in new york and he swears by macs for photoshop and whatever else he uses. But...

"I was initially going to use OS X, but Windows just feels better to me."

You pretty much answered your own question here. Just build your own and never look back and let those idiots who want to drop mad money on something pretty do it, you can spend your money on real usable computing power.
Click to expand...

I like to think that the "pretty" factor is worth something. Also, the hardware is good but a little on the expensive side. I think that if I had the ability to to put an SSD in the iMac I would be happy.

After researching the upgrade I found that it is possible, but that the temperature probe that would be going to the hard drive would need to be shorted in order to prevent the fan from going crazy. The iMac thinks that the hard drive is hot hence turns the fan to high. Shorting the connector leaves the fan running at low speed.

I already have the adapter for the SSD and I feel comfortable going inside the computer and swapping the drive.
 
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