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rbc33 · May 17, 2007, 07:32 AM

We are considering buying the new 24" imac for our business. We primarily run Adobe CS3 Illustrator and Photoshop primary applications.

Looking at the configuration options it seems sensible to upgrade to 2GB memory to give double the reccommended. We'll also be configuring with the 256mb graphics card.

Is there any advantage in upgrading to the 2.33ghz chip over the 2.16ghz chip for running CS3 on this spec? Any benchmarks indicators would be appreciated.

mduell · May 17, 2007, 09:05 AM

Wait until Apple refreshes with Intel's new chipset (Santa Rosa), which will support 4GB RAM instead of the current 3GB; even though you're only going to go to 2GB today, in a couple years down the line you'll want to go higher.

256MB graphics doesn't do anything for Adobe apps; it's for games/Aperture/Motion.

An extra 8% on clockrate is going to be less than 8% in performance... probably not worth it unless you're maxing out the CPU all day.

rbc33 · May 17, 2007, 11:07 AM

Thanks for the suggestion. Looking round the net predictions are the santa rosa chipset will be introduced end of May/June. Is this correct.

Also seen alot on these forums about the new imac range coming end of this year but I think I favour buying a model toward the end of its lifecycle for reliability.

Rodster · May 17, 2007, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by rbc33

Thanks for the suggestion. Looking round the net predictions are the santa rosa chipset will be introduced end of May/June. Is this correct.

Also seen alot on these forums about the new imac range coming end of this year but I think I favour buying a model toward the end of its lifecycle for reliability.

Apple only knows the answer to those questions so we can only speculate. Best guess for a MBP update is within a month. Best guess for an iMac update is between the WWDC and the release of Leopard.

mduell · May 17, 2007, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by rbc33

Thanks for the suggestion. Looking round the net predictions are the santa rosa chipset will be introduced end of May/June. Is this correct.

Also seen alot on these forums about the new imac range coming end of this year but I think I favour buying a model toward the end of its lifecycle for reliability.

I think late May or June is a good guess for both the iMac and MBP upgrades.

I don't know about a new iMac design... aside from eliminating the bezel/chin, what's there left to do?

::maroma:: · May 17, 2007, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by mduell

I don't know about a new iMac design... aside from eliminating the bezel/chin, what's there left to do?

Don't underestimate the creative powers of Mr. Ive and his team.

imitchellg5 · May 17, 2007, 09:37 PM

I think that you should keep the original graphics cards and max out the RAM all the way. Like mduell said, you won't really have any better performance with Photoshop with the better card. You will however appreciate the RAM.

rbc33 · May 18, 2007, 03:56 AM

Hey all. Thanks for the productive coversation and your advice.

Do I need to do anything to close this post?

mduell · May 18, 2007, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by rbc33

Do I need to do anything to close this post?

No. Just stop replying and it will slowly drift off into the bowels of the forum.