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Appledoesnotlisten

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 2, 2017
505
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I have been using 15" Macbooks with 4K external monitors, but now want to migrate to a 5K 27" monitor (or two) and use higher than standard resulutions, and Macbooks are going to overheat.

My workload is relatively light, but I want to use crazy high resolutions (up to 7680x4320).

Can you please tell me...
1) Do I need iMac or Mac Pro, because Mac mini is not going to cut this?
2) Is iMac a better choice, because a 27" LG (without a computer) costs almost as much as a 27" iMac?
3) What configuration is better (within a reason)?

Thank you!
 
Last edited:
Probably not the mini. The UHD 630 can only drive a single 5K display so you will never have the option to go dual 5K without adding an eGPU. Also the 630 can stutter a little on complex desktop animation effects on very high resolutions.

So probably the iMac. Comes with the first 5K display, and can drive a second 5K. For light workloads even the baseline should be quite satisfactory, but if you are coming from 15" MBPs you probably want to configure it with a pure SSD since Fusion drives can feel slower in comparison.
 
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If your workload is light then the Mac Pro will be massive overkill. A 27 inch iMac will do the job and will give you the resolutions you desire. As stated above, just make sure you get an SSD.
 
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I have been using 15" Macbooks with 4K external monitors, but now want to migrate to a 5K 27" monitor (or two) and use higher than standard resulutions, and Macbooks are going to overheat.

My workload is relatively light, but I want to use crazy high resolutions (up to 7680x4320).

Can you please tell me...
1) Do I need iMac or Mac Pro, because Mac mini is not going to cut this?
2) Is iMac a better choice, because a 27" LG (without a computer) costs almost as much as a 27" iMac?
3) What configuration is better (within a reason)?

Thank you!


"Turn your workspace into a showcase.

Thunderbolt 3 lets you add one 5K display to the amazing one already on your iMac. Or you can connect two 4K displays and put over 32 million pixels into play."


Source: Apple's website.

"My workload is relatively light, but I want to use crazy high resolutions (up to 7680x4320)."

Dell sell an 8k monitor on Amazon. £3-4k depending on timing. Need a couple of eGPUs to drive that I should imagine. See reviews of monitor and the Nvidia cards to drive it on YouTube. It's been reviewed over the last couple of years.

Mac Mini?


2x 4k displays.

Macbook Pro 16 inch.


2(!) 6k displays.

Mac Pro...





"High-Speed Connections

Powerful I/O to hand.

Mac Pro has extremely high-performance I/O, and lots of it. It begins with four Thunderbolt 3 ports, two USB-A ports and two 10Gb Ethernet ports. And with every MPX Module you add you get more capability. Connect up to twelve 4K displays or up to six Pro Display XDRs from Apple and see your work with over 120 million pixels. It’s now easy to expand at will."


Source: Apple's website.

Azrael.
 
^^^
I'd take the time to read the "16" MBP IS HOT AND LOUD WITH EXTERNAL MONITOR" thread before going that route.
 
Re: above.

Ironic. That the only option is a Mac Pro for 'cool' and 'power.' £6000 for basic specs.

Surprise. Instead of the 'fry' the components iMac/MacBooks/Minis.

Anybody with an eGPU set up...confirm that it takes the load off the 'thinner' enclosures to do the heavy lifting for the many screens set up (so that the '16' inch MBP doesn't get hot and loud?)

I hope the coming revisions of the iMac step back from the 'thin' obsession and opt for superior cooling (see iMac Pro) and better components.

AMD have shown better performance, more cores and better thermals. I can't see why Apple can't offer a proper mid-tower G3/G5 solution for the many that would like it. Just take out the 'exotic' M/B out of the Mac Pro chassis (which I do love...) and offer non Xeon (which I couldn't care less about) cpu eg. Ryzen 12 and 16 core options. And a Radeon 5700XT.

Design the iMacs around the Pro monitor for superior cooling ventilation and crib the iMac Pro interior cooling as well.

You'd then have a kick bottom set up.

Also. Mac Mini. Why not offer an eGPU docking station on top/bottom for it to mirror it's form factor so you end up with a nice cube shape (Very romantic re: the old Cube...)

All is politics.

Azrael.
 
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