My first iMac, but which one will it be?

hi,

i'm make leap windows mac in form of imac, i'm not sure 1 go for.

i've been mac store , both 21.5 , 27 inch screens have pro's , cons. dimension of 21.5 in terms of bulk on desk, it's not intrusive. thought 27" oversized when sat in front of immersion seemed great, , imagine making use of screen real estate tool bars, email, when editing video clips etc. undecided on that, though think 27.

in terms of specs, love pay min specs, i've not got awful lot of spare cash. maybe if tell i'll using can give me benefit of opinion , perhaps convince me 1 way or other. thing is, presently have i7, wife i5 , if seems system cost third of price, runs better (at least normal apps) i'd honest opinions advantage of i7 on i5 or indeed other way if that's think. don't want i7 because it's best on paper, there clear difference?

using predominantly work (stage 6 architecture student) programs i'm using are: autocad 2011, ps, id, sketchup , aim start using vectorworks architect , buy iwork instead of office. don't want use windows @ software mac native (i need relearn autocad on mac think)...

i've seen on youtube, 27" i5, 4gb ram, 1 gb gfx seems run well, or think benefit upgrading gfx card 2 gigs or processor i7? buy crucial ram later on , expand 12gb myself. or maybe think 21.5 inch more suit purpose, in case 512mb gfx enough or there way 1gb on 21.5 inch? whatever think, please share me can make decision well. made such bad decision last windows pc , don't want repeat mistake!!!

thanks.

 

if video editing, have chosen right system ... mac!

think go 27" , top model me (i7 3.4g). video exporting consume cpu power. ssd or fastest video card not much. (or no difference)
, recommend upgrade ram (maybe after purchase) @ least 8gb. activity monitor told me consume memory... upgraded 16gb ram. ;-)

anyway, welcome mac family!

 

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