I'm in the market for a new desktop.  Is the 27" iMac too big?  Would the smaller screen with another monitor do better for Carrara?  Does anyone have the 4 core?  Is it worth the extra $300, or is it more about the video card?
I've been using the old 8 year old eMac and really want a smart upgrade.
Thanks

Any suggestions appreciated.
R

Screen size is a person preference, but for any 3D or graphic  work a larger monitor is always preferred.

The latest iMac should be more than adequit for Carrara.  While I don't have the new iMac, I do use Carrara 7 Pro with a Mac Pro 4 core and it runs great for me.

Should run circles around your old eMac.  If I wasn't in the market for a new MacBook Pro, I'd probably consider the 27" iMac myself.

The only downside to the iMac is further expandability (memory and HD), but the stock memory (4gb) should be more than sufficient for Carrara work.

Good luck with your purchase!

I have the 27" iMac with the i5 Quad.  It runs Carrara like a dream.  It basically blows my old (now dead) C2D PC out of the water.  As far as screen size, it is a personal preference, but I love the size.

It comes standard with 4GB of RAM, and can be upgraded to 16GB.  I would recommend doing that yourself as it will be cheaper than buying it from Apple.  The RAM slots are underneath the display where the speaker grill is located so it's an easy upgrade.

I don't think you will be disappointed if you go with the 27" iMac with the quad core.

Quote - I have the 27" iMac with the i5 Quad.  It runs Carrara like a dream.  It basically blows my old (now dead) C2D PC out of the water.  As far as screen size, it is a personal preference, but I love the size.

It comes standard with 4GB of RAM, and can be upgraded to 16GB.  I would recommend doing that yourself as it will be cheaper than buying it from Apple.  The RAM slots are underneath the display where the speaker grill is located so it's an easy upgrade.

I don't think you will be disappointed if you go with the 27" iMac with the quad core.

I think so :)

I am happy to see wireless built in.  Who wants to run another cable across the living room floor.
Thanks for the input. 

Wireless is good, but I already have enough invested in ethernet switches (I run  7 macs, plus 2 networked printers, apple TV and PS3 off that switch). Luckily, no ables accross the floor! :)

Let us know how you like the new iMac?

Hi Ominousplay

 Would you consider a last generation (or current) used MacPro from Craigslist? It will save you money- and be vastly faster than your eMac. I would go for the LED screen like the current iMacs have- GORGEOUS!!

I recently upgraded fromfour year old  pre-intel Mac G5 dual 2 Ghz to a current generation (used) Mac Pro 2.66 Ghz quad Xeon  "Nehalem". It was a really, really GOOD deal from Craigslist. I bought a 23 inch LED Samsung Monitor and the total was still less than the iMac 24 with the 3 Ghz Duo.(and much faster)

  LOVE the new iMac's btw, and I think the i7 version may outperform the Nehalem quad Xeon MacPro in some tasks- but I saved $1000 + with my set up. The Samsung LED monitor has that same amazing quality as the new iMac LED monitors. The "Nehalem" Xeon Quad is proving to perform much faster than I would expect just based on processor speed and number (4 vs 2) compared to my G5 dual 2 Ghz. The G5 twin Tower was already much faster than the eMac (my mother has one)- and my used (current Gen) Xeon MacPro is MUCH faster than the G5. Some of my test renders are TEN times faster-some 4 times faster.
 
 Personally- I do have a hesitancy to go ALL-IN-One since upgrades are limited. I have multiple internal hard drives, and I can swap out the graphics card if I desire- putting in more RAM is EASY and I can use 2nd party RAM (much cheaper).

    The MacPro line is expected to be updated with a new faster version of the Xeon processor in the next few months- and I am already seeing the current Nehalems on Craigslist.

   All that said- the i7 27 inch (LED) iMac is amazing- and would NOT be a wrong choice- I would go with at least 8 G RAM though, And YES paying the extra $300 for the i7 over the dual core would give you a much faster system. I would add att least one external HD for backup.If you don't want to go with used computers it is a fabulous choice since new MacPro desktops are more expensive.
After seeing the 27 inch screen iMac and playing with one at the APPLE store-I had a HARD time NOT pulling out my credit card!!! :-)

  If money was no object- I would have waited until the new Xeon (i9 like) MacPro's come out. They will outperform the i7 iMac.

 I spent months researching and considering alternatives, btw. And as a final word- if you do go used- make sure it has an Intel processor- I use several 3D apps- and one of them Vue 8 Infinite- is Intel only. I would not be surprised if Poser drops pre-Intel support at some time. The last non-intel macs came out 4 years ago.This spurred me to upgrade-or I would have plodded along with the 4 year old final gen G5.

Wow, thank you Eric - for your advice and time.
I used to build my own computers, but not on the Mac side.  The all-in-one is easy and portable.
This will be a hard decision - I WANT IT NOW!
Again, thanks for all the advice.
R

Glad to help! It is something I spent a CONSIDERABLE time thinking about and researching,

One thing to consider. A new current Mac Pro Xeon Nehalem (I keep mentioning that because the achitecture is more i7 like than the previous 2008 model- and much faster) is $ 2495 new and I think the 27 inch i7 iMac is $2295?

  I am seeing the Nehalem Xeon Quad MacPro's on Craigslist for $1200-1600 btw. My 23 inch LED Samsung was $329 (seen it for less online)

 If you want more than 4 G of RAM (and you will-if you want to run more than Poser at any one time) such as PoserPro2010 and Carrara7Pro with V4 and all morphs and hi res textures- you will want 8 G of Ram. Look at the cost of having that pre-installed on a new i7 iMac from Apple- vs buying 4 more G of RAM for the MacPro Nehalem (cheaper RAM for SOME odd reason) from a 2nd party (way cheaper than from Apple) and installing it yourself. EASY as HECK with the MacPro. Open the side panel- lay on side and pop in thew new.

 Another thing about the current Nehalem MacPro's (have read) is that they are really clean inside-nothing in the way of upgrading,,,,, You used to build your PC's so adding RAM, and extra HD's (1 TeraByte for $69?) would take you minutes.