HELP with Configuration for 5k iMac

[fathergll]

Yeah I'll be getting it in the next few weeks. Does the new updates make the 295x run even better as well?

There was nothing really wrong with the 295x to begin with. To sum it up it runs hotter and the fan is louder than the 290 and a software update is not going to change that. In my opinion if the 295x doesn’t add much improvement to your workflow it’s probably better to skip it. If you’re doing basic photo and video editing im not sure the 295x is needed. Obviously if you were going to edit a 4k feature film then by all means get an i7, SSD and 295x.

 

[JaySuperstar]

If I remember correctly, it was in the 20-30FPS range but I didn't do extensive testing in 4K. 1440p was fine (2560x1440), which is exactly 1/4 of the native resolution of the iMac - good for scaling (1px = 4px). This will appear to you the same as a non-retina iMac would. The game would run in 1440p very well even with ultra/high settings, from what I remember.

The Mac client for GW2 is still beta, and it's far worse than running Windows in BootCamp and playing natively.

You can get great visuals from games on this iMac. You should also bear in mind this isn't a gaming computer and it will be outperformed by proper desktops with desktop-class GPUs.





Even with throttling, the M295X will outperform the M290X.




There are very few 'common' OS X problems with the M295X. Early days saw some weird artefacts, but they were not specific to the M295X and got patched up pretty quickly.

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A quick note on the term 'throttling' with regards to the M295X GPU. The card uses AMD technology called 'PowerTune'. Essentially this is used to dynamically control the clock speed based on a number of variables. Simply put, it looks at upcoming instructions to predict power draw, and it regulates its own temperature.

This means the card core clock speed will fluctuate (making it hard to detect thermal throttling). However, in the case of the 5K iMac it can be seen that the GPU reaches 105C and then the 850MHz turbo-boost speed is rarely seen. Further clock speed throttling also occurs in some case. This tells us that PowerTune is now lowering clock speed to regulate the heat, first and foremost.

My point is, the card is built with variable clock speeds in mind. Don't get caught up in measuring clock speed because it'll look worse than it is. Just try it with your usage, and if it's fine, it's fine. Don't worry about overheating/failure. You've got AppleCare for that.

Sounds awesome, does the 1440p look better when you play it normally? or in full screen? Also I have always used parallel desktop, is it better to run windows programs using bootcamp, or will parallels be just as good?

Yeah if I have AppleCare and it burns out within 3 years, I can just get it replaced. Fan noise doesn't sound like it will bother me. I'll more than likely choose the 295x.

Also I love Macs, I know other desktops will kill it in terms of gaming, but as long as it can do the best it can, I'm good with it lol

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There was nothing really wrong with the 295x to begin with. To sum it up it runs hotter and the fan is louder than the 290 and a software update is not going to change that. In my opinion if the 295x doesn’t add much improvement to your workflow it’s probably better to skip it. If you’re doing basic photo and video editing im not sure the 295x is needed. Obviously if you were going to edit a 4k feature film then by all means get an i7, SSD and 295x.

I will probably go with 295x to future proof it incase my girlfriend's upgrades her cam to 4k and needs to edit lots of clips for it.

 

[andy9l]

Sounds awesome, does the 1440p look better when you play it normally? or in full screen? Also I have always used parallel desktop, is it better to run windows programs using bootcamp, or will parallels be just as good?

Not sure what you mean by your first two questions. Running the game at 1440p on the 5K iMac looks the same as running it at 1440p on a 2013 iMac or any other non-retina 1440p screen. It's still full screen, but it's just upscaling every pixel to take the strain off the GPU. In short, it looks great.

BootCamp outdoes Parallels every time for gaming. Native > virtualisation. But for normal Windows programs, virtualisation is quicker and easier. You can use Parallels WITH your BootCamp partition (best of both worlds).

 

[JaySuperstar]

Not sure what you mean by your first two questions. Running the game at 1440p on the 5K iMac looks the same as running it at 1440p on a 2013 iMac or any other non-retina 1440p screen. It's still full screen, but it's just upscaling every pixel to take the strain off the GPU. In short, it looks great.

BootCamp outdoes Parallels every time for gaming. Native > virtualisation. But for normal Windows programs, virtualisation is quicker and easier. You can use Parallels WITH your BootCamp partition (best of both worlds).

I mean like similar to when I watch a youtube video on my mac, if I put it in full screen, the quality doesn't look as crisp as if I didn't put it in full screen. Does this happen on the retina iMac?

Nice, I'll probably use BootCamp. When you say use Parallels with the BootCamp partition, you mean run OS X on the parallels and use windows natively when I'm running games?

 

[andy9l]

HELP with Configuration for 5k iMac

I mean like similar to when I watch a youtube video on my mac, if I put it in full screen, the quality doesn't look as crisp as if I didn't put it in full screen. Does this happen on the retina iMac?



Nice, I'll probably use BootCamp. When you say use Parallels with the BootCamp partition, you mean run OS X on the parallels and use windows natively when I'm running games?

Yeah, that still happens. You're watching a full screen video/playing a full screen game that is less than the native resolution so it will scale-up and look slightly 'worse'. My point is, it'll look almost identical to any other non-retina iMac at this point. Nothing to worry about, been this way forever.

No, the other way around. You install Windows via BootCamp. This means you can restart your iMac and boot Windows natively for games. Once that's done, install Parallels on OS X and choose to use an existing BootCamp partition. This will then let you boot your BootCamp partition (Windows) from within OS X, preventing the need for two separate Windows installs.

You can then boot the same copy of Windows natively or through Parallels. Native for gaming, Parallels for the odd application.

More info: http://kb.parallels.com/en/112941

 

[JaySuperstar]

Yeah, that still happens. You're watching a full screen video/playing a full screen game that is less than the native resolution so it will scale-up and look slightly 'worse'. My point is, it'll look almost identical to any other non-retina iMac at this point. Nothing to worry about, been this way forever.

No, the other way around. You install Windows via BootCamp. This means you can restart your iMac and boot Windows natively for games. Once that's done, install Parallels on OS X and choose to use an existing BootCamp partition. This will then let you boot your BootCamp partition (Windows) from within OS X, preventing the need for two separate Windows installs.

You can then boot the same copy of Windows natively or through Parallels. Native for gaming, Parallels for the odd application.

More info: http://kb.parallels.com/en/112941

Yeah that is true

Ahh gotcha, that makes more sense doing it that way