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iMac or Custom Build for Graphic Design and Gaming

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dondon4720

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 12, 2012
34
2
I have a MacBook Air and I absolutely love it, I like OSX over Windows I and I find myself using my MacBook more often than my gaming laptop I keep docked at my desk.

I am a console and PC gamer (Simulators, FPS, and RPGs) and I am going to school for graphic design. So the 5k screen will really help with that but I feel that the GPU is holding the machine back, I though about investing in a MacPro but the FirePro GPUs are not really optimized for gaming.


I really don't want to build a hackintosh. So what should I do, go with iMac, Custom, or Mac Pro??:)

My budget is $4000 and that is with about $1000 in accessories ( and monitors if I go custom or Mac Pro)
 
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dondon4720 said:
I have a MacBook Air and I absolutely love it, I like OSX over Windows I and I find myself using my MacBook more often than my gaming laptop I keep docked at my desk.

I am a console and PC gamer (Simulators, FPS, and RPGs) and I am going to school for graphic design. So the 5k screen will really help with that but I feel that the GPU is holding the machine back, I though about investing in a MacPro but the FirePro GPUs are not really optimized for gaming.


I really don't want to build a hackintosh. So what should I do, go with iMac, Custom, or Mac Pro??:)

My budget is $4000 and that is with about $1000 in accessories ( and monitors if I go custom or Mac Pro)
Click to expand...
If you have a Mac that fully supports UEFI 2.0 (basically any Mac that supports PCIe SSDs), then you can just go down the eGPU route and game on your MacBook Air.

Visit here: http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/6689-[guide]-2013-15-macbook-pro-gtx780ti@20gbps-tb2-sonnet-echo-express-iii-d-win8.html and http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/7685-2013-11-macbook-air-titan@10gbps-tb1-sonnet-ee-iii-d-osx10-9-4-[-kryzaach].html

The steps will be identical for all Macs that are UEFI 2.0-compliant. So far, the Sonnet IIID seems to be the best (and also the priciest).
 
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I'm having the same problem.

I can get:

--- ACER Predator = 1700 euro
+ Intel i7 quad core 3.4 ghz with turbo 3.9 ghz.
+ 16 gb ram
+ 256 gb ssd + 1 tb hdd
+ Geforce GTX 980 4gb GDDR5
+ Windows

OR

--- APPLE iMac 21.5 inch = 1450 Euro
+ Intel i5 quad core 2.9 GHz with turbo 3.6 ghz.
+ 8 gb Ram
+ 1TB 5400rpm HDD (I have an external SSD 128 gb)
+ NVIDEA GT 750M
+ Mac OS

And I can't decide..
 
For those games no need for 980 so the iMac is more elegant and simple computer...no more cables and wired things...
But Overwatch is out already? i thought it will be next year or so
 
Serban said:
For those games no need for 980 so the iMac is more elegant and simple computer...no more cables and wired things...
But Overwatch is out already? i thought it will be next year or so
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's not out yet. I'm just sure I'm going to play it haha.

Also, do you think that iMac will do for 3/4 years?

Or should I go with the other one, and hackintosh it.

Keep in mind, I also have a mac rMBP.
 
The games I play (an want to play) are:
Sims 3
Cities skylines
Fallout 4
Farcry 4
Star wars Battlefront
GTA V
Diablo 3
Starcraft 2
Bioshock Infinate
Batman arkham series

I am leaning toward the retina iMac I guess the deciding factor will come after WWDC on monday

Then for graphic design I would be using the adobe suite mostly.
 
dondon4720 said:
The games I play (an want to play) are:
Sims 3
Cities skylines
Fallout 4
Farcry 4
Star wars Battlefront
GTA V
Diablo 3
Starcraft 2
Bioshock Infinate
Batman arkham series

I am leaning toward the retina iMac I guess the deciding factor will come after WWDC on monday

Then for graphic design I would be using the adobe suite mostly.
Click to expand...

I don't think the retina iMac will be great at GTA or Fallout or Star wars, atleast, not at a reasonable resolution for it. I'd recommend a good pc/game pc, and hackintosh it.


EDIT: Saw that you din't want a hackintosh. nvm.
 
I want a iMac too.. Though it has a worse gpu than I now have, so I'm not sure what to do..

Can get a super high spec pc with gtx 980 4gb ddr5
 
It wouldnt make sense to make a 21.5" 4k screen the screen is too small for you to get the most out of it. Maybe retina but not 4k
 
Seems that you don't know Apple very well and the aspect screen...5k was overkill for 27" based on what you say but they did it because is very easy for them to double the pixel number than making a specific one and mess up all the apps OSX etc....so the 21.5" iMac will be 4k for sure double the 1080p
 
Serban said:
Seems that you don't know Apple very well and the aspect screen...5k was overkill for 27" based on what you say but they did it because is very easy for them to double the pixel number than making a specific one and mess up all the apps OSX etc....so the 21.5" iMac will be 4k for sure double the 1080p
Click to expand...

You have a point ;):D

back on topic

Should I go custom or should I get a Mac. Would a Mac Pro with d500s do well gaming? Hopefully we will get some better specs for both machines tomorrow at WWDC. Can't watch the keynote live I have to work. :(:(
 
If I were you i'd get a refurb decked out 5K iMac. Refurbs are as good if not better than new and they arrive in absolutely immaculate condition. I'd never buy new if I can get the spec i'm after. Ask anyone on this forum and they will tell you the exact same thing. Never understood why people like pc gaming so much. I get the mods, graphics, maybe you prefer keyboard and mouse. I had a decked out gaming pc with a 3930k, 16gb ram, 2xgtx 680's and I absolutely hated playing games on the thing. Games actually quit occasionally and going through all the drivers and everything it's a pain in the neck. Consoles may not have as good of graphics and the frames per second may be lower but it's plug and play. I grew up with consoles though and will never go back unless they fix some serious issues. Like I said i'd get an iMac which you can still play games on if you boot into windows and lower the resolution and steam does have some mac games and use the rest of the cash to get some games for console.
 
placidity44 said:
If I were you i'd get a refurb decked out 5K iMac. Refurbs are as good if not better than new and they arrive in absolutely immaculate condition. I'd never buy new if I can get the spec i'm after. Ask anyone on this forum and they will tell you the exact same thing. Never understood why people like pc gaming so much. I get the mods, graphics, maybe you prefer keyboard and mouse. I had a decked out gaming pc with a 3930k, 16gb ram, 2xgtx 680's and I absolutely hated playing games on the thing. Games actually quit occasionally and going through all the drivers and everything it's a pain in the neck. Consoles may not have as good of graphics and the frames per second may be lower but it's plug and play. I grew up with consoles though and will never go back unless they fix some serious issues. Like I said i'd get an iMac which you can still play games on if you boot into windows and lower the resolution and steam does have some mac games and use the rest of the cash to get some games for console.
Click to expand...


I am a console gamer at heart ( have everything from current gen back to NES) but there are some games that I enjoy more on the pc and my friends have pc and I enjoy playing with them. I have a big enough budget to not have to buy a referb that was the other guy who posted in the thread, I am the original starter :)

Thanks for the help guys will post back tomorrow after wwdc, we will have to see :)
 
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I could have unlimited funds and still go with a refurb. They're last years models clearing inventory or 14 day returns which have been tested rigorously for defects of any kind. You're more likely to get a machine with no issues if it's a refurb than brand new. They can't rigorously test every one on the assembly line. I have had OCD my entire life and a single scratch, ding, backlight bleeding, a defect of any kind would drive me up a wall but all my refurbs have been perfect without any issues. You get a 14-day return policy, standard one year warranty, and can get apple care. Unless you can buy a completely spec'd out machine and not think anything of it i'd go with a refurb and get more spec for the money when it's exactly the same as new except for the box. But if you're dead set on new than the machine you get you'll be very happy with.
 
Well there were no new Mac announcements this morning so I guess I am stuck waiting until the right time. Lucky I haven't saved all of the money up yet.
 
dondon4720 said:
Well there were no new Mac announcements this morning so I guess I am stuck waiting until the right time. Lucky I haven't saved all of the money up yet.
Click to expand...

Hey , I know right.

I'm getting the newer mid 2015 Retina iMac (released like a week ago). That thing is sick, specs are great and it's very new.

Skylane won't matter much for desktops, so screw that.
 
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