i have no doubt it will be a "quiet" update sometime in the next month or so. my imac arrives today but its going straight back.
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Cancel order of 2012 iMac and wait for Refresh? Advice please.
- Thread starter wilds94
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So your going to send it back. I think I should too. I'm haunted by the idea that it might have some sort of gtx 780mx (discrete Titan) and pcie attached ssd
How do you gather? They're all just GK104 chips - the difference being how well they tested and thus what bin they were thrown in.
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The Titan is a workstation-class, $1200, dual-slot desktop card. The iMac won't have anything resembling that.
There's really nothing going on in the graphics market that is worth waiting for. Nvidia is going to keep making Kepler cards until 2014, when the new architecture (Maxwell) launches. AMD is doing much the same thing - releasing more cards on last year's architecture. Will be small tweaks between now and next year for both companies.
It's possible, I guess, that a 780MX could be launched with another 10% boost beyond the 780M. It's possible, though unlikely, that Apple would put in 2 mobile GPUs on SLI. However, for someone sitting without a current Mac, the risk/reward factor here is quite low. The expectation should be that the GPU upgrade is underwhelming - and the sooner the silent refresh occurs, the more underwhelming it will be.
If improved data transfer rates from the already-fast SSD are enough to let you go without for some undetermined amount of time, then that's up to you. Just please don't wait expecting some graphics rabbit to be pulled out of a hat - that was last year's trick. And do not be surprised if the refresh is September or later.
I'm sorry for my ignorance in just assuming you were in the US. That blu-ray drive will allow the Mac to play & burn blu-ray discs. You'll have to get 3rd party software for it though. There are several choices for less than $50. I like the idea of 50GB of writeable disc storage. Steve Jobs called blu-ray "dead", but it outlived him so what did he know?
As long as you're willing to wait 4+ months for the refresh, I would hold out for it.
I agree it's unlikely we'll see Titan, but then nobody saw the 680MX coming either until Apple announced it...basically a downclocked version of the fastest desktop GPU that existed at the time. I also think it's unlikely we'll get a Retina display option, but that possibility has been in the cards for awhile and the probability we'll see it this year is going increase a lot if Apple releases a 4K Cinema display to go with the 4K display capable Pro this fall.
I do strongly believe we'll see PCIe SSDs in the refresh though.
As always, if you *can* wait...it's always the smarter move. You buy when you *need* to, just don't let impatience get the better of you. We're in the middle of the product cycle right now, which is a good time to buy if you're looking for a refurb--but a terrible time to buy if you're paying full price. Wait 4-6 months and the same money will buy you a better machine that will hold its value just that much longer.
What about the possibility of haswell integrated HD 5000 replacing dedicated you in at least the low-end?
What is the exact difference between mobile and desktop class processors? Because I could consider getting a Mac mini -it's way more upgradable and affordable, but only has integrated graphics. A haswell Mac mini could be nice.
Still, I'm pretty sure I can no longer wait. Improved SSD bus and future proofing the wifi is about all that would be improved in a silent update I think. Maybe 256 gb fusion? I don't know. But as mentioned invisible waiting game vs not having a computer at all? I think I may bite in a current iMac.
What is the exact difference between mobile and desktop class processors? Because I could consider getting a Mac mini -it's way more upgradable and affordable, but only has integrated graphics. A haswell Mac mini could be nice.
Still, I'm pretty sure I can no longer wait. Improved SSD bus and future proofing the wifi is about all that would be improved in a silent update I think. Maybe 256 gb fusion? I don't know. But as mentioned invisible waiting game vs not having a computer at all? I think I may bite in a current iMac.
Intel has already replaced a lot of low end gpus, but their IGPs have gotten a lot better. My first laptop had a Radeon VE- a stripped down Radeon 7000 and could barely run Return to Castle Wolfenstein at the lowest resolution and settings. Now the Intel HD 3000 on my Macbook Pro can run Starcraft 2 at 1280x800 and at medium settings.
You won't see the HD 5000 on the iMac because of the display size. To run a computer with a huge display size you need memory bandwidth and IGPs are limited by the speed of the RAM, whereas discrete GPUs have their own RAM speed to play around with.
Desktop GPUs are clocked higher. Waaaay higher. That includes memory bandwidth too. My GTX 660 Ti has 1344 shaders and on turbo the clock runs at 1.2GHz.
I am probably going to wait until October or so myself, but that is mostly for financial reasons (I just bought a freaking house).
If I had the cash laying around right now, I'd probably buy now. The 2012's were such a major update I don't expect the 2013's to be so dramatic. I'm sure there will be some nice bumps but for my needs, and I'd argue for the needs of most people on here, it won't be that much of a difference.
That's just my two cents though- I know your dilema. I usually am the type to wait it out and then buy a new unit the instant they are available just to maximize the lifespan and value of the expense.
If I had the cash laying around right now, I'd probably buy now. The 2012's were such a major update I don't expect the 2013's to be so dramatic. I'm sure there will be some nice bumps but for my needs, and I'd argue for the needs of most people on here, it won't be that much of a difference.
That's just my two cents though- I know your dilema. I usually am the type to wait it out and then buy a new unit the instant they are available just to maximize the lifespan and value of the expense.
Thanks for the insights.
Doesn't the iMac run a mobile GPU though?
I also meant to ask what the primary difference in class of mobile CPUs vs desktop. I guess maybe the same answer - clocked higher.
But it seems you can get a quad core i7 Mac mini for cheaper than an quad core i5 iMac.
You certainly can, but it will just have the Intel integrated graphics which isn't rearly as powerful.
So i think i'm just going to stick with it, maybe a year or two from now, when i have this computer i can hold out and play the waiting game for the next one. But for now, there's 4-7 days until my new computer arrives
Congratulations on your first mac it should serve you well for a couple of years, i would however not update until the retina displays emerge by than you will enjoy your mac and have time to learn the fundamentals of mac osx.
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HD5000 is actually not bad as far as integrated graphics go... it's can't replace the performance (such as it is) of the 640M on the 21" yet, but it's closer than you'd think.
Actually the iMac uses desktop CPUs. Yes, but the mini doesn't have an expensive display as part of its price. Also different graphics, etc.
Ok i'm going to admit, i did end up cancelling my order
I've already owned an iMac for a few weeks and sent it back to get the SSD option which may have started this whole debacle. I'm not exactly sure what i'm doing at the moment, and the best thing to do right now is wait. My options are, build a gaming computer for the gaming side of things (half of what i was going to use the iMac for) and buy a rMBP 13" or 15". Or i could wait until the iMac refresh and then proceed from there... So much uncertainty.
I've already owned an iMac for a few weeks and sent it back to get the SSD option which may have started this whole debacle. I'm not exactly sure what i'm doing at the moment, and the best thing to do right now is wait. My options are, build a gaming computer for the gaming side of things (half of what i was going to use the iMac for) and buy a rMBP 13" or 15". Or i could wait until the iMac refresh and then proceed from there... So much uncertainty.
Ok i'm going to admit, i did end up cancelling my order
I've already owned an iMac for a few weeks and sent it back to get the SSD option which may have started this whole debacle. I'm not exactly sure what i'm doing at the moment, and the best thing to do right now is wait. My options are, build a gaming computer for the gaming side of things (half of what i was going to use the iMac for) and buy a rMBP 13" or 15". Or i could wait until the iMac refresh and then proceed from there... So much uncertainty.
It is a shame you cancelled your mac, your situation is the polar opposite to mine i had an late 2009 27" imac which i sold for $1,300 the price was to good to let go so i took it. Presently I own a retina macbook 15" which is doing me fine for gaming, word processing etc. My advice to you is get a retina macbook 15" use it for a couple of years or even keep it when you make a decision to get a iMac. Also invest some money into a gaming console like a WII U and PS4 this should solve your gaming problems.
However tempting this years iMac is, it has little to offer besides Haswell, the ac wi fi standard and ssd pcie which i won't get as it will be costly and not worth the expense especially if you are like me and don't hang onto your gear for long periods. Also I personally like to own two computers a laptop and desktop that way when i decide to sell or fix one i always have something else to fall back to.
In addition to this with this years announcement that the Mac Pro is getting dedicated 4k graphics, thunderbolt 2, and with high resolution osx wallpaper leaks. A thunderbolt 2 display won't be far away, thus for those who think a retina display is far away they are wrong we are likely to see a retina iMac with thunderbolt 2 ports late next year or 2015 latest as the prices of 4k displays rapidly fall.
I actually already had a rmbp for gaming. It ran far too hot for the games I wanted to play, and I wanted to get back into the pc gaming space properly, and I didn't think a laptop would do what I needed it too. I'm thinking a custom desktop pc for gaming as a little project as I can get far more power for much less. And get the new 15"rmbp when it comes out?
Whatever tickles your fancy, i personally hate gaming rigs apart from Alienware. I prefer to invest in a gaming console keep it for 5 or 6 years and than change when a new one comes out. The gaming rigs are too costly and don't look sleek as Apple computers. But i envy your choice to get a new macbook i would personally not change mine until the new usb 3.0 , thunderbolt 2 ports and the video cards after maxwell (not sure the name hehehe) come out. Therefore my macbook is still great to get me by until a next gen iMac wins my heart and pocket. I however look forward to Mavericks and the improvements it will bring to our machines in the late fall.
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I think we will see a retina Thunderbolt Display with the Mac Pro before it comes to the imac in the generation after Haswell, but that's just my gut feeling reading Mac news all the time. A retina display imac would get me to upgrade my late 2012 imac, which I love. I don't use wifi so a wifi bump wouldn't matter to me, if you use wifi, it might be of interest to you to wait...but the wait might be 1-2 quarters and at that point you might wanna take a look at the Mac Pro and retina display. The next imac will also have a faster SSD, and maybe better SSD options. In reality, the current SSD is as fast as you need, you will have a tough time saturating it. So if you want an imac, buy today's...it's awesome. If your not in a rush, wait..and see. I waited almost 2 years and am very happy I did because I wanted usb3