Base iMac Pro vs 2019 iMac with i9

[memo90061]

I'm undecided about the following iMacs: Base model iMac Pro and the 2019 iMac with i9.
I do graphic design, and use premiere pro to edit videos. I've had an iMac since 2008 and in May I sold it to give a PC a try. I only lasted 2 months and just sold it for $2800. I want to buy an iMac and want to stay around 3000-3500.

My issue with the iMac from 2019 are the shipping times. :/ It says 9 weeks.
Which one do you recommend and why? Is there a major increase in speed from 8 core to 10 cores?

 

[pldelisle]

If you are rushed, refurbished iMac Pro is definitively the way to go. And when a newer model will come out (very soon), you will still be competitive in performance. Stay in refurb, don‘t pay full price for that because ...

... keep in mind it‘s a 3 year old computer you are buying for a ton of money. Waiting for the newer iMac with 10 core + RDNA1 will be a lot better purchase than a current iMac Pro.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

If you're going to really tax the system, go with the iMac Pro. The cooling system alone is worth the extra cost; more air-intakes, dual fans and a larger heat sink.

Other than this, most other improvements can be subjective and depend on the use case. Better speakers? Secure T2 chip? 1080p webcam? Faster SSD and RAM? More I/O?

With updates imminent, I would probably hold off and even consider one of these models as a refurb.