Attached Link: http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

Looking at the lineup between iMacs and Mac Pros:

• for $2199, you can get the top of the line iMac, with a core 2 duo at 3GHz (that's 2 cores)
• for $2799, you can have the basic Mac Pro, with 8 cores at 3.2GHz.

Your would have to add a 23" cinema display to have the same monitor with a MacPro. That's $899 (or $599 if you get a w0" display).

So, your choice is between a $2199 iMac with built-in 24" display or get 8 times the processing power with $3398 for a Mac Pro with 20" display or $3698 for a 24" display.

The difference in power is at least 8 times - more if you upgrade later in terms of memory and CPU. You should also know that the MacPro, basic configuration gives you room to grow (you can add hard drives, upgrade your CPU or add memory later if you need to).

In other words, you would have to buy 4 iMacs to get the same rendering power as 1 MacPro.

On the other hand, the configuration of the iMac is pretty much locked.

I went with the Mac Pro because I know I will use the 8 cores (already have). This is easily the best computer I ever had in almost 30 years of personal computers.

Looking at your gallery, I don't see why an iMac would not be able to render these scenes.

Also - check out the buyers guide at MacRumours (link attached). They give you an idea of how frequently each product is updated and wether you should buy one at this time or not.

Both models are reaching the end of their cycle - meaning there is a chance they will be updated with better models within the next 3 months. If I were you, I would save until at least February and see what Apple will update next.

• agiel - www.linfa.net