such as desktop or MBP.
Can you do video and music editing on the iMac ok?
And I am not suggesting just the new Mac Pro. I have just had such a bad experience with my i7 mid-2011 27" iMac that I will probably never buy a high-end iMac ever again. In contrast, my office has nine Mac Pro 3,1 2.8GHz octocore machines which run 24/7, and none of them has ever had any serious problems which I could not fix on my own. The only problem I ever had was a burnt out GTX 285 card which I promptly replaced with a GTX 680, and it just keeps going.
My poor iMac in contrast has visited the Apple Store to replace the graphic card twice, the optical drive once, the LCD panel once, and they are about to replace the graphic card now a third time. To be fair, Apple Care has been fantastic, but it is just sad to have my primary computer down so many times and for so long. And when I got mine, it was north of $3000.00 as I had it topped out with every single option I could get.
So in my personal opinion, stick with a MacPro, 3,1 or later, and you will be much happier. The used market is good -- make sure the case is intact and in good condition, and buy a 30" ACD -- I have three of those now which I bought for about $500/each. It was a work of art then, it is still a beauty today.
How much would be the used Mac Pro?
How much might each of those other things you mentioned cost?
So what would be the total be
such as desktop or MBP.
Can you do video and music editing on the iMac ok?
MartinAppleGuy,
What is a dedicated GPU?
Some Yosemite features require wireless AC wifi?It is a desktop. The highest end iMacs are very powerful computers. For a performance/dollar ratio, iMacs will be be better than any of the laptop options that Apple has.
This is my favorite current offering:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/G0PG1LL/A/refurbished-27-inch-imac-34ghz-quad-core-Intel-Core-i5
This is my second favorite:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/G0MS5LL/A/refurbished-27-inch-imac-34ghz-quad-core-Intel-Core-i7
The only benefit of the 2012 i7 model is the extra processing power. It is about 15% more powerful than the 2013 i5 model. The first option has a better Fusion Drive and AC wifi (some OSX Yosemite features require AC wifi). The i7 will cost you an extra $80, which is pretty good, so if you are doing photo/video editing it is maybe better to get the 2012 model. There is no external difference between the 2012 and 2013 model, and the 2012 model will be a better performer by a small margin. Both of the computers are powerhouses. A comparable DIY PC would cost around $1600.
The only reason not to get either of these models is if you are going for a baseline 21" model, or you want to get a maxed out $3000 iMac. Any of the models in the $1800-$2400 price range will give you significantly worse performance/dollar. You can get slightly better performance, but it will cost about $600 more before you really notice it.
Best,
Matt
Some Yosemite features require wireless AC wifi?
My advice is to max out the machine you are purchasing with the exception of RAM if it is user upgradable. Not only will this lengthen the lifespan of the computer but also increase the amount of interest when re-selling the machine down the track, and increasing resale value.
Note that a Windows desktop uses a lot more electricity (idle, an iMac uses 35 - 45 watts, and a desktop PC could use anything from 100-150, then maxed out an iMax will draw 90 watts, and a desktop PC could draw 10X that). This means electricity bills will be much larger on a windows desktop over an iMac.
Note that a Windows desktop uses a lot more electricity (idle, an iMac uses 35 - 45 watts, and a desktop PC could use anything from 100-150, then maxed out an iMax will draw 90 watts, and a desktop PC could draw 10X that).
So how much would it be to max out on an iMac?
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About how much larger?
Clearly, iMac power draws can vary quite a bit depending on the model:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3559
Sure, a desktop PC _might_ draw more power if you've got a couple of highend graphics cards or other power-hungry accesories, but with similar components, the difference isn't going to be that huge.