Speccing new iMac

Stephen L

Stephen L

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I’m speccing up a new iMac to replace my present incumbent. I’m going for 27” with (initially) 8gb ram (I will upgrade to 16 using Crucial) and a 512gb SSD. Do I go for the i7 4.2Ghz and Radeon 575 4gb video, or i5 3.8 Ghz and Radeon 580 with 8gb video? The i7 has a £50 premium over the i5. In other words, is one preferable to the other for mainly Lightroom work with light Photoshop, word processing, and mail, browsing etc. I’m not a gamer. In either case the images will be called in from an external drive.
 
GTG said:
i5 8600 VS i7 8700 I assume ?
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The actual model numbers aren’t quoted, but they’re the 7th generation versions if that helps.

Edit: they are both 4 core, not 6.
 
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Since I only intended to do PP on this iMac I got the essential.
As I don't do videos nor play games, I ignored the more powerful
graphic card. I went for… i7 + 5K + 27" + 1TB SSD (should be in
the machine) + basic 8GB that I upgrade myself to 32 GB later.
 
Stephen L said:
The actual model numbers aren’t quoted, but they’re the 7th generation versions if that helps.

Edit: they are both 4 core, not 6.
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Get 8th gen or wait. Should be illegal to still sell 7th gen.
8th gen was the biggest improvement in the last 10 years.
 
GTG said:
Get 8th gen or wait. Should be illegal to still sell 7th gen.
8th gen was the biggest improvement in the last 10 years.
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Gen 8 is not available. Waiting is not an option unfortunately.
 
If you're unable to wait for the refresh with 8th gen processors, I'd probably pick the I5 with the better graphics card. It should still easily be able to crunch through the tasks you've listed once you've upgraded the RAM. I don't think Lightroom or simple Photoshop taxes the graphics card too much, but good to know it's there if needed.
 
SsSsSsSsSnake said:
is not waiting caused by gas or something more important Stephen?
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Not really gas! There’s a screen fault on mine, intermittent but annoying, which can only be solved by sending it to Apple or an authorised mender. This would probably be done under their 6 year clause, but what would I do for the few weeks it would be away? Funds have been authorised by the financial director (me) and approved by the Head of State, so my cunning plan is to buy a new one (she thinks 5 years is a long time for me to have owned anything (except her)) then sell the repaired Mac. ;)
 
Stephen L said:
Not really gas! There’s a screen fault on mine, intermittent but annoying, which can only be solved by sending it to Apple or an authorised mender. This would probably be done under their 6 year clause, but what would I do for the few weeks it would be away? Funds have been authorised by the financial director (me) and approved by the Head of State, so my cunning plan is to buy a new one (she thinks 5 years is a long time for me to have owned anything (except her)) then sell the repaired Mac. ;)
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use your ipad while its away :rolleyes::D
 
Kodiak Qc said:
•


Since I only intended to do PP on this iMac I got the essential.
As I don't do videos nor play games, I ignored the more powerful
graphic card. I went for… i7 + 5K + 27" + 1TB SSD (should be in
the machine) + basic 8GB that I upgrade myself to 32 GB later.
Click to expand...
Hi Kodiak, can I ask if you have experienced any noise issues from the cooling fan? I have read conflicting reports on this. Apart from this your spec looks to be very similar to the conclusion I had reached.
 
Kodiak Qc said:
A cooling fan? Where? :cool: :D:D:D
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No, I've never heard it in my current i5 either! Sometimes I take these "complaints" with a bucket of salt. ;)

That's settled it then. When I come back from hols I'm putting in an order for one of your spec with the exception of the larger graphics card. :ty:
 
I didnt think you could get into the newer iMac's to upgrade the RAM? I know they put a stop to this with the newer Mac Mini's.

I only ever my cooling fans when I run them on a higher setting with SMC Fan Control. The additional noise is worth it to see the temperature drop and performance increase.

I am currently looking into building a custom alluminium shelf (to aid heat dissipation) for my Macbook pro and to include some cooling fans built into it.
 
Kodiak Qc said:
Why do you need that? (honest question!)
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I'm not certain I need it. In fact, I know I don't at the moment. I'm just thinking there may come a day when I do, and as you know it is not an upgradeable item.
 
Mr Pid said:
I didnt think you could get into the newer iMac's to upgrade the RAM? I know they put a stop to this with the newer Mac Mini's.

I only ever my cooling fans when I run them on a higher setting with SMC Fan Control. The additional noise is worth it to see the temperature drop and performance increase.

I am currently looking into building a custom alluminium shelf (to aid heat dissipation) for my Macbook pro and to include some cooling fans built into it.
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Yes, in fact I did it when I got my present Mac. There's a wee flap on the back just above the power inlet. Flip that off and it's straight into the memory chamber. Pop your new DIMMS in and bob's your whatsit.
 
Stephen L said:
not an upgradeable item.
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If Apple closed it, it can be reopened though they made it tough.
If you don't game and shoot videos, spare the money and get
1TB SSD.
 
Kodiak Qc said:
If Apple closed it, it can be reopened though they made it tough.
If you don't game and shoot videos, spare the money and get
1TB SSD.
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Yes, I’ve budgeted for the internal 1Tb SSD. I’ve seen the instructions for opening the case by cutting the glue strip round the monitor and I don’t think I’ll bother, even though I used to rebuild Compaq servers! Must admit I’m still on the fence re the graphics. I suppose I could use the savings for a good TB3 external drive instead of my USB3 ones.
EDIT sorry, meant USB2!
 
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Stephen L said:
I suppose I could use the savings for a good TB3 external drive instead of my USB3 ones.
EDIT sorry, meant USB2!
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Thunderbolt 3 that is! ✓
 
Mr Pid said:
I didnt think you could get into the newer iMac's to upgrade the RAM? I know they put a stop to this with the newer Mac Mini's.

I only ever my cooling fans when I run them on a higher setting with SMC Fan Control. The additional noise is worth it to see the temperature drop and performance increase.

I am currently looking into building a custom alluminium shelf (to aid heat dissipation) for my Macbook pro and to include some cooling fans built into it.
Click to expand...

The standard iMacs still have the flap on the back to upgrade the RAM easily. The iMac Pros on the other hand don't offer this option.
 
madders said:
The standard iMacs still have the flap on the back to upgrade the RAM easily. The iMac Pros on the other hand don't offer this option.
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:eek: I'm not shelling out for a Pro! :eek:
 
madders said:
The standard iMacs still have the flap on the back to upgrade the RAM easily. The iMac Pros on the other hand don't offer this option.
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Cheeky sods - and Apple massively inflate the upgrade prices, particularly on RAM :-(

My Macbook Pro has half the RAM of my Mac Mini but I would still say the MacBook pro is faster, which I put down to the other "Pro" elements. They both share the same i7 processor though... hmmmm
 
Mr Pid said:
Cheeky sods - and Apple massively inflate the upgrade prices, particularly on RAM :-(

My Macbook Pro has half the RAM of my Mac Mini but I would still say the MacBook pro is faster, which I put down to the other "Pro" elements. They both share the same i7 processor though... hmmmm
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Yeah, the prices they charge for adding extra RAM when you spec them up on their website is ridiculous!
 
madders said:
Yeah, the prices they charge for adding extra RAM when you spec them up on their website is ridiculous!
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Definitely one thing to be aware of. Especially when they've made it so simple to upgrade by yourself.
 
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