Any sweetspot on iMac5k

I think the 1TB model with 8GB of ram is a nice configuration.

better upgrade the GPU and go with the standard fusion drive or with the 512 SSD and get the i7 as well

yes you can add external with thunderbolt 2 hdd/ssd or wireless ssd/hdd. So no need for the internal to be so much higher capacity so i guess 256/512ssd is enough from performance stand point.

I would get the 256GB SSD it's no cost difference and you have a NAS. Fusion is nice but it's still a platter disk that makes noise and heat.

I would get the i7 if you plan to keep this 5-7 years. The i7 is a beast.

Unless you're doing 4k video editing or expect heaving gaming (which you don't appear to be) the 295 video card can be skipped. I haven't seen any mention of the base video card not able to push 5k pixels.

so to get a common config we all are agreed for you to get the
-i7
-8gb ram
-256 ssd

What kind of virtualization ?

I upgraded the CPU and GPU and went with the 256GB SSD and will upgrade the RAM myself.

My reasoning is that I can always add more disk if I need to - I also have a NAS so I don't foresee needing much more space any time soon. Your storage needs may be different though. How much disk space are you using on your current machine ?

I do believe the i5 and 290X should be enough for casual usage, BUT I want to futureproof it if I keep it for a few years. If I'm going to spend that much money on a computer, I don't want to berate myself in a few years because I saved $400.

If money were a problem, you could always upgrade the RAM later.

qunit said:

I have a few purposes for virtualization:
- Remote login to work which only works in a Windows environment (ugh)
- The occasional webbrowser test
- Software development/testing of software which normally works in a distributed environment (JEE, MongoDB, HazelCast etc.)
(We're not talking about dozens of virtual machines at once though)

As for required disk space: Currently I have about 300GB worth of data which I prefer inside or close to my computer (not on NAS). This includes about a 100GB Aperture Library. I could move that to the NAS but I worry that Aperture performance will drop when stuff is continuously transferred over the (Gigabit) network to/from a slow DS209 NAS.

For sure: i7, 8GB, going for full SSD (no more platters)
Almost sure: 290X
Still a choice:
- 256GB SSD and immediately replace DS209 NAS with faster one for Aperture
- 512GB SSD and purchase a faster NAS when it fills up
- Other options? 1TB SSD = too expensive

Click to expand...

I would go for the 512GB SSD. You'd probably be better off with an external TB or USB3 SSD than the NAS if and when the time comes but they're pretty expensive so that wouldn't save you much and having enough space inside the machine is so much more comfortable (and faster, and more reliable). You're too close for the 256GB.

Keep the NAS for backups and media sharing. I have the DS210 and I love it

I wish my job would allow me to connect through my own computer too !!!

qunit said:

Sounds reasonable:
For sure: i7, 8GB, 512GB SSD

Unsure: 290 or the 295

I know that the 290 is probably enough for my purposes, but I'm still hesitating. With the processor and SSD upgrade it feels kind of silly not to upgrade the GPU. Kind of "unbalanced"

(I think I'm starting to reason like my wife when she wants something )

Click to expand...

Well... I did upgrade it and I don't do any video or photography work, so I didn't really have a reason except that yes, it did seem kinda silly and unbalanced not to. As I said, if I'm going to spend that much money on something, I'm not going to be cheap for $235.

But then I'm a woman, so maybe I'm closer to your wife than you'd wish lol.

Would definitely get the 295x to "future-proof" the iMac as it only adds $250 to the already $2500 computer. Even an OS X update may put more stress on the 5k display.

How about a third option:

Stick with the base i5 but get the 295x and op for the 256ssd over the 1tb fusion.

Programmer here also. Here's what I'd recommend, after having to make similar choices:

CPU: i7 is a no brainer, every second or even ms counts for tasks repeated hundreds of times a day, whether compiling, running unit tests, refreshing pages, restarting services or VMs...

RAM: 8 GB is enough depending of the RAM you allocate to each VM* but 16 GB adds extra comfort. You can stay stock at 8 and buy 16 or 32 aftermarkets though rates have gone way up over the last year. Since Apple's 16 is 2 sticks, seems like a nice default+convenience combo despite the price, while still being upgradable and not have to sell the previous sticks.

Storage: A FD seems like a good compromise at first glance. I have one in a 21.5" but the HDD is 2.5" so quiet and lean aesthetically (yes it's inside but tidiness is ideal even unseen). A 3.5" seems so archaic at just 1 TB, I can't bear the thought of this old relic grinding inside such an otherwise modern piece of hardware. Not to mention noise, heat and fragility. So I'd go with an SSD, 512 GB if within budget.

GPU: That's a tough one in your case, because an M290X would suffice. Again, I'd have trouble buying an old architecture (Pitcairn) today in a brand new machine. Even purely to avoid buyer's remorse regardless of your needs, that would be the only certain decision of the lot: M295X (Tonga).

* You should look into lightweight containers (raw LXC or Docker) within a single VM, all sharing the same kernel.

My only thought, from my experience, is get a bigger SSD than 256GB.

I bought a new Mac Pro with 256 figuring I could offload a lot of stuff onto my Thunderbolt Pegasus RAID.

Easier said than done! It takes constant vigilance to prevent "buildup" of files on the SSD. On balance, I'd rather do this less often, so if I had it to do over again, I'd get at least a 512GB SSD.

Also, people who know more about this than I do told me that there is a performance "hit" the more of an SSD's capacity is used. I don't know if this is true or how bad the "hit" is if performance degradation at higher capacity utilization is a fact.

I use my Mac for video using Final Cut Pro. I also do a lot of graphic work using Adobe Creative Suite CS6. Even though I do keep all the media files on the RAID, there still seems to be a regular accretion of space-hogging files on the SSD!

qunit said:

Well, just ordered: i7, 295x, 8gb (will add more later), 512gb SSD. The price difference beteren normal and retina is too small to not do it. I also upped the specs. If I spent his much money on a new computer i might as well go "all-in".

Click to expand...

Good choice. This is the exact configuration I would go for, if I had to make your purchasing decision.

qunit said:

Well, just ordered: i7, 295x, 8gb (will add more later), 512gb SSD. The price difference beteren normal and retina is too small to not do it. I also upped the specs. If I spent his much money on a new computer i might as well go "all-in".

Click to expand...

I went for the exact same specs and popped in my own 32GB of RAM.

It's a beast. Enjoy it.