BTO IMac Pro

[sage73]

Hello all. I currently have a mid 2015 imac 5k with the i7 and 512 ssd and thinking about building an IMac pro through apple. I do iphone development, final cut pro and some light gaming.

Im considering a 10 core, with 2TB ssd, vega 64x and 64gb ram.

I'm nervous spending the money (7k) and then apple phases out the model when the new mac pro is released (im not sure they sell well anymore tbt), wondering if i should just wait and get an entry level mac pro. I have been on this fence for like 3 weeks and cant decide! lol.

 

[SecuritySteve]

Wait for the entry level Mac Pro, and upgrade the CPU / GPU as needed and then add aftermarket RAM. Your cost might be slightly higher due to needing to buy an external monitor, but at least you can pick up a monitor that meets your needs instead of what Apple thinks your monitor needs are. The Mac Pro is such a better option as an investment of your workstation capital, because you can upgrade the machine ad-nauseum.

This is coming from someone who bought the iMac Pro two years ago, and wishes the Mac Pro was an option then.

 

[zedsdead]

I would wait because the iMac Pro is almost 2 years old at this point. I do think they will update it because the Mac Pro sits at a higher price point. The iMac Pro has gotten excellent reviews and it fills a gap between the high end iMac and the new Mac Pro.

 

[mam8dg]

Yeah, I agree with the other posters. I bought a refurb 10c iMac Pro earlier this year and don't regret it at all (I really needed a new machine), but the Mac Pro is so close that you might as well wait a couple of months and get a newly released machine that will last you longer and that you can upgrade down the road.

 

[Ethosik]

So I’m glad I didn’t get my iMac Pro yet. I had a similar thread that went for 5 pages but the general consensus was to get it.

I’m thinking the i9 iMac will suit me for a good 2-3 years and (hopefully) the Mac Pro will be more affordable by then. Instead of trying to get 5+ years out of an iMac Pro.

 

[Trusteft]

So I’m glad I didn’t get my iMac Pro yet. I had a similar thread that went for 5 pages but the general consensus was to get it.

I’m thinking the i9 iMac will suit me for a good 2-3 years and (hopefully) the Mac Pro will be more affordable by then. Instead of trying to get 5+ years out of an iMac Pro.

Performance wise the iMac Pro (especially a 10+ core one) shouldn't have a problem handling any workload it's good for today, for another 3-5 years. I don't know about reliability of course.
I am considering getting one or imac myself and it's a very hard decision to reach when you are not rich or even well off. What if Apple releases a new iMac Pro this year? What if they release a new iMac this year with not only better performance, but also larger screen (32 inches?). Many what ifs and none of them help.

 

[Duradrum]

I just ordered the exact spec as OP.

Base Mac Pro comes with lower processor, Graphics Card and smaller SSD.... At $5999. So it’s going to be a lot of money just to bring it up to spec for spec to the iMac Pro.

Then you need to add screen.

I know the Mac Pro can be upgraded but I think for the majority of small one man businesses / creatives, it’s a little out of reach, and more aimed at production houses with bigger budgets.

 

[bpeeps]

Wait for the entry level Mac Pro, and upgrade the CPU / GPU as needed and then add aftermarket RAM. Your cost might be slightly higher due to needing to buy an external monitor, but at least you can pick up a monitor that meets your needs instead of what Apple thinks your monitor needs are. The Mac Pro is such a better option as an investment of your workstation capital, because you can upgrade the machine ad-nauseum.

This is coming from someone who bought the iMac Pro two years ago, and wishes the Mac Pro was an option then.

People keep saying to wait for the Mac Pro, but no one knows what the pricing of the spec upgrades are going to be, which will be necessary. 128 GB SSD standard on the Mac Pro is ridiculous. The cost is going to be way higher than what an iMac Pro would get you. Get the iMac Pro, OP. The performance of a 10 core will last a long time. Even if Apple discontinues the iMac Pro, they'll still support it for years to come.

 

[Duradrum]

People keep saying to wait for the Mac Pro, but no one knows what the pricing of the spec upgrades are going to be, which will be necessary. 128 GB SSD standard on the Mac Pro is ridiculous. The cost is going to be way higher than what an iMac Pro would get you. Get the iMac Pro, OP. The performance of a 10 core will last a long time. Even if Apple discontinues the iMac Pro, they'll still support it for years to come.

My guess:

Base Mac Pro:
$5999

• 8-core Xeon processor
• 32GB RAM
• AMD WX 7100 GPU
• 256GB SSD storage

Upgrades with rough guess

• 8 Core to 12 Core: $1200
• 580X to Vega II: $700
• 256GB to 1TB SSD: $500

So $8399 to bring it to a similar spec to the 10 Core iMac Pro , that's not even upgrading the 32GB RAM. Then no display. Add the $5000 apple display and you're getting serious.

 

[mikehalloran]

Seeing as the BTO upgrade prices came down 2 weeks ago, it is highly unlikely that the new Mac Pro is going to be a bargain by comparison.

Remember, the only thing we know right now about the new Mac Pro is that it's $6,000 for the base model. Yes, we expect upgrades to be less aggressively priced in light of the price reductions but it isn't going to be less.

The exact model you are looking for was in the Refurb Store for $6,079 last week. It's gone now but there are plenty of others.
https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/mac/imac-pro

When in the market, it's good the check at least twice a day—sometimes stock is updated more often than that. If you see what you want, put it in your cart before someone else does. You have 15 minutes to complete the sale.

 

[Ethosik]

Performance wise the iMac Pro (especially a 10+ core one) shouldn't have a problem handling any workload it's good for today, for another 3-5 years. I don't know about reliability of course.
I am considering getting one or imac myself and it's a very hard decision to reach when you are not rich or even well off. What if Apple releases a new iMac Pro this year? What if they release a new iMac this year with not only better performance, but also larger screen (32 inches?). Many what ifs and none of them help.

See my situation is a little different. I don’t need 10 cores, so the i9 is good for me. Benchmarks and stress tests showed that most of the time, the i9 was just has fast as the iMac Pro (beating it in some cases) and remained very cool compared to the previous model’s i7.

I can get the i9 iMac, 8GB of RAM to upgrade myself after, 2TB SSD, and Vega 48 for only $3,300. The iMac Pro would cost $5,500 With 1TB SSD. So I don’t see the better cooling, T2, and extra ports worth the extra $2000.

 

[mikehalloran]

Benchmarks and stress tests showed that most of the time, the i9 was just has fast as the iMac Pro (beating it in some cases)

It all depends on what you're doing. Those who've actually worked with both go for the iMac Pro. There are a few who own both.

Video, AV, DAW, Graphics... the iMac Pro is the one to get.

 

[Trusteft]

See my situation is a little different. I don’t need 10 cores, so the i9 is good for me. Benchmarks and stress tests showed that most of the time, the i9 was just has fast as the iMac Pro (beating it in some cases) and remained very cool compared to the previous model’s i7.

I can get the i9 iMac, 8GB of RAM to upgrade myself after, 2TB SSD, and Vega 48 for only $3,300. The iMac Pro would cost $5,500 With 1TB SSD. So I don’t see the better cooling, T2, and extra ports worth the extra $2000.

Please don't mention prices. The i9 iMac you mention for 3300 is available here for no less than 5500.

I don't disagree with you about how good the iMac is. I was just answering how good the iMac Pro is going to be in the near future.

What I am doing (I am looking to get an Apple computer too), is debating the same questions, with the answer "wait till the next refresh" winning so far. I have a strong feeling the next iMac is going to have not only the T2 chip which can be godsend for rendering HEVC videos, but also (more important to me) perhaps a 32 inch screen option. Having worked on 40 inch screens (1080p and 4K), I have no idea how people find working on 4K (and 5K) resolutions on a 27 inch (and smaller) monitors doable in the long run without hurting their eyes/brain.
If that is not an issue for you, go for the i9 iMac. Its cooling solution might not be as good as the iMac Pro, but it is apparently (reviews) working amazingly.

 

[Ethosik]

Please don't mention prices. The i9 iMac you mention for 3300 is available here for no less than 5500.

I don't disagree with you about how good the iMac is. I was just answering how good the iMac Pro is going to be in the near future.

What I am doing (I am looking to get an Apple computer too), is debating the same questions, with the answer "wait till the next refresh" winning so far. I have a strong feeling the next iMac is going to have not only the T2 chip which can be godsend for rendering HEVC videos, but also (more important to me) perhaps a 32 inch screen option. Having worked on 40 inch screens (1080p and 4K), I have no idea how people find working on 4K (and 5K) resolutions on a 27 inch (and smaller) monitors doable in the long run without hurting their eyes/brain.
If that is not an issue for you, go for the i9 iMac. Its cooling solution might not be as good as the iMac Pro, but it is apparently (reviews) working amazingly.

Is that a rule on the forum to not mention prices? My point was a better i9 iMac is $2,000 cheaper than the iMac Pro

 

[Trusteft]

Is that a rule on the forum to not mention prices? My point was a better i9 iMac is $2,000 cheaper than the iMac Pro

That's what you got from that, that I told you an official rule? Really?

 

[ZipZap]

Hello all. I currently have a mid 2015 imac 5k with the i7 and 512 ssd and thinking about building an IMac pro through apple. I do iphone development, final cut pro and some light gaming.

Im considering a 10 core, with 2TB ssd, vega 64x and 64gb ram.

I'm nervous spending the money (7k) and then apple phases out the model when the new mac pro is released (im not sure they sell well anymore tbt), wondering if i should just wait and get an entry level mac pro. I have been on this fence for like 3 weeks and cant decide! lol.

I bought that iMac pro (64 not 64x) as a refurb with AppleCare. OTD $6700. The 64X add 10% gain...not with it. Apple will phase this device out in 2020. But you'll pay more for that new model until refurbs appear for it.

so fill your need, not your hopes.

 

[mikehalloran]

I bought that iMac pro (64 not 64x) as a refurb with AppleCare. OTD $6700.

Was that taxed?

In any case, you done good. No way there's going to be a Mac Pro anywhere near that price with those specs.

Apple will phase this device out in 2020.

I'll be surprised if that happens. Modified? Probably.

Most likely, there will be a 3-tier product line with the low-end iMacs, a mid-line occupied by the iMP and a high end which will be the Mac Pro. The Mini is closer to an entry level Mac Pro right now and I don't expect that to change. As is happening right now, there will still be overlap.

The product line shipping by end of year should be the most solid we've seen since 2013.

 

[ZipZap]

Taxed...yes

You're looking at refurb because like many, you don't want to pay full price for this damn thing. I don't think the Mac Pro or a new iMac Pro matter as you wont buy either at full price. I bought the pro as a business machine, if not for that I would have bought a refurb'd maxed out 2019 I9 whenever they became available.

 

[xgman]

Get at much as you can afford. You won't regret it either way. Basically, the more you spend the longer it should last performance wise. Resale value is relative.