Which iMac should i get?

Music Production Music Tech Discussion
1

After being told my PC just doesn’t cut it anymore i’ve decided to splash out on an iMac…the question is which one?



I will mainly be using it for Ableton (Plenty of Plug In’s & VST’s) and want it to run as quickly and smoothly as possible with no drop outs.



I am looking at getting one of these 2…



2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 processor with 8MB level 3 cache; supports Turbo Boost

2.93GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 processor with 8MB level 3 cache; supports Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost



Does anyone have either of these or know which would do the job better?



Also what else would i need to get? External soundcard? If so what recommendations could you make and what kind of price are we talking? USB or Firewire?



Thanks alot in advance.

2

[quote]mozzatron (22/02/2011)[hr]After being told my PC just doesn’t cut it anymore i’ve decided to splash out on an iMac…the question is which one?[/quote]



Who told u that? :smiley:


[quote]2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 processor with 8MB level 3 cache; supports Turbo Boost

2.93GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 processor with 8MB level 3 cache; supports Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost[/quote]



Check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyper-threading



Basically Hyper Threading means that 2 threads can run at the same time in a single CPU core. It’ll cost u about 180 EUR more though.

3

Ableton 8 does not take advantage of hyper threading on the i7, and we don’t know if the next version will (although I have my fingures crossed).

take a look here : http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=111880

4

[quote]mozzatron (22/02/2011)[hr]2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 processor with 8MB level 3 cache; supports Turbo Boost
2.93GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 processor with 8MB level 3 cache; supports Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost

[/quote]

I have this but with 4mb - certainly rocks my world!

5

none, get a PC! (makes a change from someone saying get a mac!!)

6

I have the i7… more power than you could ever possibly need.


7

Either of those imacs will be plenty i’ve had 4… the original imac… a g4 ibook… a g5 dual core (2.5 ghz) tower which i still use today and this week i acquired a 13 inch mac book pro duo… which ran a project i’d just finished on my G5, with logic and ableton live rewired many tracks, many effects and never dropped out once…



only every 30 seconds on my g5 though… :wink:


8

[quote]phil johnston (22/02/2011)[hr]I have the i7… more power than you could ever possibly need.



[/quote]



I predict this statement will look a bit silly in a couple of years :slight_smile:

9

Cheers



Was also thinking of getting an Apogee one… ONE - USB Audio Interface/Microphone - Apogee Electronics



But would i really need a music interface/soundcard with the imac? All i really have are my monitors and remote SL mkii (USB)