Help Needed - 2017 27 iMac vs 2019 27 iMac

[way77]

Trying to decide if this is a better deal than the new 2019 27 iMac... I use Sketchup and plan to use this with Twinmotion Seems like the 8 GB GPU would be better than the 4 GB on the base 2019 model. I like the third option but $800 savings is significant. Thots appreciated!

1) $1599 2017 3.8 GHz Intel Core i5 Quad-Core

• 3.8 GHz Intel Core i5 Quad-Core, 7th gen CPU
  
• 8GB of DDR4 RAM | 2TB Fusion Drive
• 27" 5120 x 2880 IPS Retina 5K Display
• AMD Radeon Pro 580 Graphics Card (8GB)

2) $1719 2019 3.0 GHz Intel Core i5 6-Core

• 3.0 GHz Intel Core i5 Six-Core, 8th gen cpu
  
• 8GB of DDR4 RAM | 1TB Fusion Drive
• 27" 5120 x 2880 IPS Retina 5K Display
• AMD Radeon Pro 570X GPU (4GB)

3) $2219 2019 3.7 GHz Intel Core i5 6-Core

• 3.7 GHz Intel Core i5 Six-Core, 9th gen CPU
  
• 8GB of DDR4 RAM | 2TB Fusion Drive
  
• 27" 5120 x 2880 IPS Retina 5K Display
• AMD Radeon Pro 580X GPU (8GB)

 

[Whiteman007]

When I buy my next Mac I’m planning on getting option 3 exact Setup. Option 1 looks good too but I think going SSD is what u wanna do. If you can add an SSD to option 1 maybe that one.

 

[way77]

When I buy my next Mac I’m planning on getting option 3 exact Setup. Option 1 looks good too but I think going SSD is what u wanna do. If you can add an SSD to option 1 maybe that one.

The 2 TB fusion drive in #1 has 128 GB of SSD which made me think this is a pretty good value and the Geekbench scores for it are around 15000 which is not bad compared to the newer #2 iMac at around 20000.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

I'd go with #3 but with the 2 TB fusion drive. Unless you're rebooting or restarting applications often (if so, WHY?), the fusion drive works well and is effectively invisible in day to day use.

 

[nihil0]

Go for #1, add external ssd tb later, if needed (I have exact same config and don't need it)

 

[way77]

Go for #1, add external ssd tb later, if needed (I have exact same config and don't need it)

I Like that #1 has the 580 and the 2 TB drive compared to the 2019 #2. Not sure still how big a real world difference the the 580 has over the newer 570X. Do you find your Mac to be relatively fast?

 

[nihil0]

I Like that #1 has the 580 and the 2 TB drive compared to the 2019 #2. Not sure still how big a real world difference the the 580 has over the newer 570X. Do you find your Mac to be relatively fast?

I use my iMac 99% for photo editing in Photoshop, Lightroom and Luminar 3 so for me the GPU power is not #1 priority although from time to time I play videogames either on Bootcamp or macOS natively and that is where GPU shines. Anyway, the difference between 570X and 580 will be roughly similar as between 570 and 580 because the X version is only slightly clocked higher. But 580 has 8 GB of VRAM and that always comes handy when trying to power amazing 5K display. My Mac is as fast as those apps I use allow it to be. For example, non of the apps I use benefit from having more than 4 CPU cores so 6 core option for me would be only a little step up. But for 3D rendering the more cores you have, the better (saves time). Although, it is a qustion whether it is 800$ worth of time.

 

[way77]

I use my iMac 99% for photo editing in Photoshop, Lightroom and Luminar 3 so for me the GPU power is not #1 priority although from time to time I play videogames either on Bootcamp or macOS natively and that is where GPU shines. Anyway, the difference between 570X and 580 will be roughly similar as between 570 and 580 because the X version is only slightly clocked higher. But 580 has 8 GB of VRAM and that always comes handy when trying to power amazing 5K display. My Mac is as fast as those apps I use allow it to be. For example, non of the apps I use benefit from having more than 4 CPU cores so 6 core option for me would be only a little step up. But for 3D rendering the more cores you have, the better (saves time). Although, it is a qustion whether it is 800$ worth of time.

Thanks for the feedback. The newer one is a 9th generation chip vs the 2017 7th generation chip. That's probably the most attractive aspect. I plan to use this with Twinmotion which is based on the Unreal engine, so basically quite similar to video games you mention. Also do a lot of photography so either one should work well for that. 2 years difference makes the latter a bit more futureproof, but I'm using a late 2012 iMac and it's still hanging in there... mostly.

 

[nihil0]

Thanks for the feedback. The newer one is a 9th generation chip vs the 2017 7th generation chip. That's probably the most attractive aspect. I plan to use this with Twinmotion which is based on the Unreal engine, so basically quite similar to video games you mention. Also do a lot of photography so either one should work well for that. 2 years difference makes the latter a bit more futureproof, but I'm using a late 2012 iMac and it's still hanging in there... mostly.

I think that only real boost in 7th vs 9th gen is multicore speed because there are 2 more physical cores in 9th gen. But if it is worth 800$ to you, that is a question. That 1st choice is most solid price-performance ratio. I did not have any problems while playing games on my quad core CPU.

 

[SalisburySam]

Trying to decide if this is a better deal than the new 2019 27 iMac... I use Sketchup and plan to use this with Twinmotion Seems like the 8 GB GPU would be better than the 4 GB on the base 2019 model. I like the third option but $800 savings is significant. Thots appreciated!

1) $1599 2017 3.8 GHz Intel Core i5 Quad-Core

• 3.8 GHz Intel Core i5 Quad-Core
• 8GB of DDR4 RAM | 2TB Fusion Drive
• 27" 5120 x 2880 IPS Retina 5K Display
• AMD Radeon Pro 580 Graphics Card (8GB)

2) $1719 2019 3.0 GHz Intel Core i5 6-Core

• 3.0 GHz Intel Core i5 Six-Core
• 8GB of DDR4 RAM | 1TB Fusion Drive
• 27" 5120 x 2880 IPS Retina 5K Display
• AMD Radeon Pro 570X GPU (4GB)

3) $2399 2019 3.7 GHz Intel Core i5 6-Core

• 3.7 GHz Intel Core i5 Six-Core
• 8GB of DDR4 RAM | 512GB PCIe SSD
• 27" 5120 x 2880 IPS Retina 5K Display
• AMD Radeon Pro 580X GPU (8GB)

It would appear that you’re going to be best served by a faster processor and more RAM to keep as much of your workspace in the fastest memory while manipulating. To me that says go with #3 but consider two upgrades: a faster processor, and 16GB or more of RAM. The former is bought with the machine and cannot be upgraded easily ever. The RAM can be upgraded easily at any time up to the max supported on the machine. For your use the 580X GPU should work very well. I also agree the 0.5TB SSD is a better option than a fusion drive. For storage, you may with to add a Thunderbolt3 or USB3.1 external hard drive, of a speed and size sufficient for your work, or an expensive NAS setup.

 

[Apple Mac Daz]

Option 3 would never even consider a Fusion drive

 

[way77]

It would appear that you’re going to be best served by a faster processor and more RAM to keep as much of your workspace in the fastest memory while manipulating. To me that says go with #3 but consider two upgrades: a faster processor, and 16GB or more of RAM. The former is bought with the machine and cannot be upgraded easily ever. The RAM can be upgraded easily at any time up to the max supported on the machine. For your use the 580X GPU should work very well. I also agree the 0.5TB SSD is a better option than a fusion drive. For storage, you may with to add a Thunderbolt3 or USB3.1 external hard drive, of a speed and size sufficient for your work, or an expensive NAS setup.

Thanx, plan to add at least 32 GB of ram to either option, can't imagine them even running on 8GB!

 

[way77]

Option 1 it is.... Thanx all for the feedback.

 

[way77]

Option 1 it was, received the mid 2017 imac but the screen had faint diagonal lines on the inside of the screen as if someone swiped at the screen before assembly. Had to return it and in the meantime decided to go for the 2019 imac, option 3 but with the 2 TB Fusion drive and 24 GB ram total to try and keep the cost down. Geekbench scores were a lot better and 6 cores might come in handy with rendering.

 

[mlody]

I am interesting in Option 1 myself and curious where you are getting for that low? My plan is to rip out the spinning drive and add 1-2 TB SSD after.

 

[way77]

I am interesting in Option 1 myself and curious where you are getting for that low? My plan is to rip out the spinning drive and add 1-2 TB SSD after.

B&H Photo had it for that price but I think they've since raised it to 1699. After reconsidering, I think the 2019 is worth the difference in price: 6 core vs 4 core, 9th gen vs 7th gen, faster ram and bump up in GPU and it's 2 years newer plus much better Geekbench scores. Wish it had SSD but I've read it's pretty snappy with 2TB and if I decide to upgrade, prices on the larger SSD's should be a lot better in a few years. If you go to B&H, talk with a salesman and ask for the lower price (1599) if you decide to go the 2017 route. If they say no, ask them if they wouldn't mind asking the manager. They'll usually work with you on the price.

 

[mlody]

B&H Photo had it for that price but I think they've since raised it to 1699. After reconsidering, I think the 2019 is worth the difference in price: 6 core vs 4 core, 9th gen vs 7th gen, faster ram and bump up in GPU and it's 2 years newer plus much better Geekbench scores. Wish it had SSD but I've read it's pretty snappy with 2TB and if I decide to upgrade, prices on the larger SSD's should be a lot better in a few years. If you go to B&H, talk with a salesman and ask for the lower price (1599) if you decide to go the 2017 route. If they say no, ask them if they wouldn't mind asking the manager. They'll usually work with you on the price.

Thank you for the details. I might go B&H route for a closeout imac when the budget permits. Right now I am rocking used iMac 2012 that I picked up on craigslist so anything newer than that is an upgrade - even 2015 model. I swapped hdd with ssd and that thing is rock solid for most of my needs, but I would like to have 5k screen now.