$5,000 computer?

Yougotcarved · Jan 2, 2013, 01:04 PM

So I've specced an iMac how I'd like an ordered it to get in the queue:

- 27"
- 8Gb RAM (aftermarket to 32)
- 3.4 Ghz
- 680 video card
- 768Gb SSD

Now I'm in the UK so this comes out to ~$4,800. I did order it but it seems like a crazy amount of money...now I don't really know what else is out there and was just wondering if that is a stupid amount of money to spend on an iMac?

I've never used Macs before but I really like the look of them, they're beautiful. I have about $30,000 in savings and I'm currently on a gap year and I would use it for photo/video editing, game design, audio recording..I sort of figure given I have one year to develop all these skills may as well fork out on a good computer?

But yeah not knowing whether there are any other INCREDIBLE options for that price whose performance would outweight the design aesthetic just thought I'd ask around for advice? Is the iMac worth spending a lot of money on?

mobilehaathi · Jan 2, 2013, 01:10 PM

If you're just developing your skills, you could settle for a much cheaper mac.

That's an awfully large chunk of money to spend out of your savings, and it sounds like you won't be earning a salary during this gap year?

wrinkster22 · Jan 2, 2013, 01:11 PM

Why do you need such a large ssd?

Yougotcarved · Jan 2, 2013, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobilehaathi

If you're just developing your skills, you could settle for a much cheaper mac.

That's an awfully large chunk of money to spend out of your savings, and it sounds like you won't be earning a salary during this gap year?

I'm earning about $1500 a month doing math tutoring but you're right its still an awful lot.

Do you have any recommendations for someone in my position? Would you maybe just cut out some of the addons or just not go iMac?

Muscle Master · Jan 2, 2013, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yougotcarved

I'm earning about $1500 a month doing math tutoring but you're right its still an awful lot.

Do you have any recommendations for someone in my position? Would you maybe just cut out some of the addons or just not go iMac?

you could have bought an aftermarket SSD and saved a $1000

GGJstudios · Jan 2, 2013, 01:15 PM

For the needs you described, you could go with a 2.9GHz 27" with a 1TB fusion drive for £1,699.01, about half the cost. You probably wouldn't notice any significant difference in performance, given your intended use.

Yougotcarved · Jan 2, 2013, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrinkster22

Why do you need such a large ssd?

I don't really but I love SSD speeds and I'm not sure I want a computer deciding what will be fast and what will be slow aka Fusion...though most users here seem to have had a good experience of Fusion drives so maybe I should switch that option out...

forty2j · Jan 2, 2013, 01:16 PM

The $1300 SSD is the main problem. ~90% of use cases would get approximately the same performance from the $250 1TB Fusion.

mobilehaathi · Jan 2, 2013, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yougotcarved

I'm earning about $1500 a month doing math tutoring but you're right its still an awful lot.

Do you have any recommendations for someone in my position? Would you maybe just cut out some of the addons or just not go iMac?

I don't know if you also have rent/other bills to pay, but I'd focus on building up savings even if you don't.

The machine GGJstudios recommends will more than meet your needs.

Chris Blount · Jan 2, 2013, 01:21 PM

Go with the Fusion and save yourself big bucks. If you want more SSD space, you can always add an external SSD later.

I've been working the crap out of my Fusion drive and still haven't had any apparent slowdowns.

Ron12 · Jan 2, 2013, 01:25 PM

if you have the money , take Mac Pro

Arman · Jan 2, 2013, 01:28 PM

Skip the SSD. Go 1TB or 3TB Fusion and invest in a thunderbolt external backup drive. Your going to need a backup solution to save all your work. Something like a Western Digital 4TB or 6TB Thunderbolt myBook or a G-Technology equivalent.

Yougotcarved · Jan 2, 2013, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron12

if you have the money , take Mac Pro

Do you really get better value considering you have to buy a separate display and the Mac Pro is a bit outdated at the moment?

mobilehaathi · Jan 2, 2013, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yougotcarved

Do you really get better value considering you have to buy a separate display and the Mac Pro is a bit outdated at the moment?

For your purposes, you'd be wasting money. Frankly, buying a pumped up 27" is unnecessary for you. That SSD is far too expensive.

edry.hilario · Jan 2, 2013, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron12

if you have the money , take Mac Pro

lol apples current mac pro is not even worth the price they are asking its extremely outdated. DO NOT GO FOR THE MAC PRO!

Yougotcarved · Jan 2, 2013, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobilehaathi

For your purposes, you'd be wasting money. Frankly, buying a pumped up 27" is unnecessary for you. That SSD is far too expensive.

Thanks for your advice (and everyone elses)!

So you'd say cut out the SSD and go with the base 27" with Fusion...thanks for the help

tom vilsack · Jan 2, 2013, 01:58 PM

Heck my 2006 Imac would do what you need. (min small screen size)...why are you wasting your money? I'm assuming your relatively young? You should take savings and invest in smart div stocks ect (for the long term) not waste it on $$$ computers that you don't need. (in 30 years you will remember this and thank me!)

Listen to GGJ and buy that model!

Yougotcarved · Jan 2, 2013, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom vilsack

Listen to GGJ and buy that model!

Haha! So would you say that the GGJ model is worth it or would you go for something even less expensive? Say a Windows PC or a Mac Mini?

xgman · Jan 2, 2013, 02:06 PM

Buy it all!!

GGJstudios · Jan 2, 2013, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yougotcarved

Haha! So would you say that the GGJ model is worth it or would you go for something even less expensive? Say a Windows PC or a Mac Mini?

I only offered that as a less-expensive alternative that would still get you the 27" display, assuming you insisted on the iMac. You could also easily accommodate your needs with a Mac mini or a refurb iMac.

Yougotcarved · Jan 2, 2013, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GGJstudios

I only offered that as a less-expensive alternative that would still get you the 27" display, assuming you insisted on the iMac. You could also easily accommodate your needs with a Mac mini or a refurb iMac.

Oh I see. Thanks for your suggestion I'm leaning towards going with something like that. Only question is do you not think the higher processor and graphics card are worth the cost? I gather the SSD is not worth it but what about the other items?

GGJstudios · Jan 2, 2013, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yougotcarved

Oh I see. Thanks for your suggestion I'm leaning towards going with something like that. Only question is do you not think the higher processor and graphics card are worth the cost? I gather the SSD is not worth it but what about the other items?

Most average users never come close to pushing the CPU or GPU to their limits. Most users notice increases in RAM and drive speed more than increases in CPU/GPU performance. Some obvious exceptions are gamers and others pushing the envelope with high-resource-demand apps. What you described as your intended use could easily be handled by any Mac model in the last few years.

noahc · Jan 2, 2013, 02:11 PM

I think for what you are looking to do, the base 2.9 with a 1TB Fusion drive should do the trick. I recently bought the same and it has been doing great -- no complaints on performance.

talmy · Jan 2, 2013, 02:14 PM

High performance systems are, from my experience, *never* necessary for instructional purposes. They need to be financially justified -- if the faster system allows you to accomplish more in a given time and if you are being paid per project, then go for it. But that doesn't seem to be the case here at all.

A used, older iMac would be just fine. Put the saving back in the bank until you really need it.

JoeRito · Jan 2, 2013, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edry.hilario

lol apples current mac pro is not even worth the price they are asking its extremely outdated. DO NOT GO FOR THE MAC PRO!

Negative, take the mac pro with 12 core processing!! same price, wicked machine.

Jan 2, 2013, 01:04 PM	#1
Yougotcarved macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2012	$5,000 computer? So I've specced an iMac how I'd like an ordered it to get in the queue: - 27" - 8Gb RAM (aftermarket to 32) - 3.4 Ghz - 680 video card - 768Gb SSD Now I'm in the UK so this comes out to ~$4,800. I did order it but it seems like a crazy amount of money...now I don't really know what else is out there and was just wondering if that is a stupid amount of money to spend on an iMac? I've never used Macs before but I really like the look of them, they're beautiful. I have about $30,000 in savings and I'm currently on a gap year and I would use it for photo/video editing, game design, audio recording..I sort of figure given I have one year to develop all these skills may as well fork out on a good computer? But yeah not knowing whether there are any other INCREDIBLE options for that price whose performance would outweight the design aesthetic just thought I'd ask around for advice? Is the iMac worth spending a lot of money on?
	0

Jan 2, 2013, 01:10 PM	#2
mobilehaathi macrumors 68030 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA	If you're just developing your skills, you could settle for a much cheaper mac. That's an awfully large chunk of money to spend out of your savings, and it sounds like you won't be earning a salary during this gap year? __________________ Of crimes---none is greater than having things that one desires; Of disasters---none is greater than not knowing when one has enough. Of defects---none brings more sorrow than the desire to attain.
	3

Jan 2, 2013, 01:11 PM	#3
wrinkster22 macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Toronto	Why do you need such a large ssd? __________________ Macrumors Scavenger Hunt Part 1 Score: 7 Macrumors Scavenger Hunt Part 2 Score: 3 Macrumors Scavenger Hunt Part 3 Score: 1
	1

Jan 2, 2013, 01:16 PM	#8
forty2j macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NJ	The $1300 SSD is the main problem. ~90% of use cases would get approximately the same performance from the $250 1TB Fusion. __________________  2012 iMac 3.2GHz 27" 680MX Fusion  iPhone 5  Apple TV 2  iPad 2 
	1

Jan 2, 2013, 01:28 PM	#12
Arman macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SoCal	Skip the SSD. Go 1TB or 3TB Fusion and invest in a thunderbolt external backup drive. Your going to need a backup solution to save all your work. Something like a Western Digital 4TB or 6TB Thunderbolt myBook or a G-Technology equivalent. __________________ Late 2012 27" iMac 3.4Ghz, 32GB, 1TB fusion, 675MX Late 2011 15" MacBook Pro, 2.2Ghz, 16GB, 250GB SSD iPhone 5 Black 32GB; iPad 4 Black 32GB
	0

Jan 2, 2013, 01:15 PM	#6
GGJstudios macrumors Westmere Join Date: May 2008	For the needs you described, you could go with a 2.9GHz 27" with a 1TB fusion drive for £1,699.01, about half the cost. You probably wouldn't notice any significant difference in performance, given your intended use.
	5

Jan 2, 2013, 01:21 PM	#10
Chris Blount macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX	Go with the Fusion and save yourself big bucks. If you want more SSD space, you can always add an external SSD later. I've been working the crap out of my Fusion drive and still haven't had any apparent slowdowns.
	0

Jan 2, 2013, 01:25 PM	#11
Ron12 macrumors member Join Date: Dec 2012	if you have the money , take Mac Pro
	1

Jan 2, 2013, 01:58 PM	#17
tom vilsack macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: ladner cdn	Heck my 2006 Imac would do what you need. (min small screen size)...why are you wasting your money? I'm assuming your relatively young? You should take savings and invest in smart div stocks ect (for the long term) not waste it on $$$ computers that you don't need. (in 30 years you will remember this and thank me!) Listen to GGJ and buy that model!
	0

Jan 2, 2013, 02:06 PM	#19
xgman macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2007	Buy it all!! __________________ {2012 27imac-3.4i7-680mx-32gb ram-768SSD+External TB Samsung840pro ssd + TB velociraptors-UAD Apollo/Marantz/Amphion/Bowers&Wilkins Sound-Impulse 61} {ipads}{iphones}
	1

Jan 2, 2013, 02:11 PM	#23
noahc macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2005	I think for what you are looking to do, the base 2.9 with a 1TB Fusion drive should do the trick. I recently bought the same and it has been doing great -- no complaints on performance.
	0

Jan 2, 2013, 02:14 PM	#24
talmy macrumors 68030 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oregon	How to burn through savings quickly High performance systems are, from my experience, never necessary for instructional purposes. They need to be financially justified -- if the faster system allows you to accomplish more in a given time and if you are being paid per project, then go for it. But that doesn't seem to be the case here at all. A used, older iMac would be just fine. Put the saving back in the bank until you really need it. __________________ 27" i7 iMac, 15" MacBook Pro, Mac mini with SL Server, 4 other Macs and an Apple TV.
	0

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode