2017 iMac vs. 2019 iMac for Photo/Video Work

[kgphotos]

Hi all. I have a 2017 4.2 GHz Intel Core i7 with 32 GB Ram and Radeon Pro 575 with 4GB. I do a lot of photography work in Lightroom and Photoshop and also video work with FCP. I am looking at the 2019 iMac with the Intel Core i9, 16 GB Ram and going back and forth on between the Radeon Pro 580X with 8GB or the Radeon Pro Vega 48.

Here's what I want to know- How big is the speed difference between the iMac I have with the i7 vs. the i9? Also, what video card would you go with for photo and video work? And lastly, how is the heat issue with the i9 and Vega 48?

One more question, how easy is it to install RAM? I know buying RAM from Apple is expensive, so trying to save money on this one. I would like to have 32 GB.

Thanks!

 

[Freida]

Why would you want to upgrade? 2017 vs 2019 is not a massive jump so are you getting a good deal or what is your thinking?
If I were you I wouldn't upgrade unless I got a really awesome deal or some other really good incentive.
2017 vs 2019 is not massively different unless you go for more cores but even then its not worth it imho.
Sure, more cores the better but the software has to take advantage and even then it depends how much you actually do that. If you save 10 mins a day its not worth it. If you save 1-2 hours a day then its a must most likely.

If I was in your situation I would keep 2017 for much longer and upgrade later because then the jump would be much bigger. Average lifespan of a computer should be longer than just under 2 years.
Anyway, unless you get a great deal and resell yours OR your time/computing savings will be huge then its not worth it.

Only you can answer if its need or lust.

 

[kgphotos]

If I was in your situation I would keep 2017 for much longer and upgrade later because then the jump would be much bigger. Average lifespan of a computer should be longer than just under 2 years.
Anyway, unless you get a great deal and resell yours OR your time/computing savings will be huge then its not worth it.

Only you can answer if its need or lust.

Yeah, I’ve decided to keep it. I’ve been mulling it over for a little while and thought I’d ask if there was a noticeable difference. Thank you for your reply.

 

[mrvo]

If I were you, I’d pop open the iMac for a thorough cleaning, repaste with better TIM for a better sustain load. Since it’s the 7th gen i7, you might want to delid the CPU and replace the IHS paste with Liquid Metal and then repaste the heatsink.

So best combo is:

CPU: Silicon > Conductonaut > IHS > Kryonaut > Heatsink
GPU: Kryonaut on Silicon & Minus 8 pad on VRAM (1mm).

Conductonaut / Kryonaut / Minus 8 are from Thermal Grizzly.

Invest in the Loupedeck Plus too! That thing works great.

 

[Freida]

If I were you, I’d pop open the iMac for a thorough cleaning, repaste with better TIM for a better sustain load. Since it’s the 7th gen i7, you might want to delid the CPU and replace the IHS paste with Liquid Metal and then repaste the heatsink.

So best combo is:

CPU: Silicon > Conductonaut > IHS > Kryonaut > Heatsink
GPU: Kryonaut on Silicon & Minus 8 pad on VRAM (1mm).

Conductonaut / Kryonaut / Minus 8 are from Thermal Grizzly.

Invest in the Loupedeck Plus too! That thing works great.

I wouldn't recommend that unless OP is very skilled with these things. Although it does sound great I would be worried that I would mess something up and warranty killed.