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iMac Pro with new Enclosure?

macpro2000

macpro2000

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 23, 2005
1,354
1,156
OK so here's the deal...I have the newest iMac 27" 4.2, 32GB, with a 3TB Fusion so our kitchen. It gets used all the time and the location being the kitchen it is nice to not have external drives to clutter it up. We have 2.5TB used on the drive so since it's getting close to full I need to look at other options. Like I said, externals are an easy option but not aesthetically pleasing. So unfortunately Apple's max with Fusion drive is still only 3TB (my last iMac prior from 2012 was a 3TB Fusion...ridiculous that it hasn't gotten larger in 6 years). So my only real option is the iMac Pro as I can get a 4TB SSD with that. And with the specs I would want it would run me $10k vs $4k but to be honest that's not a big issue, however I really don't like throwing away money either. My big question though is that it appears as though when the 'new' iMacs are released, many people think that it will have a new enclosure. Of course we all want the new looking stuff. The iMac Pro is barely a year old...wouldn't it be hard to believe that Apple discontinues the current form factor of the iMac Pro after only one year if the iMacs were to be a different form factor to come. Surely Apple wouldn't leave the iMac Pro to be the old style with the cheaper iMacs having the brand new look. Any other thoughts on this?
 
I think it depends how the iMac Pro has done in sales, for what I understand the iMac Pro was to be a stop measure computer for those who needed a computer for professional reasons. I know a lot of people have been patiently waiting for the new Mac Pro to come out. If sales haven't been so hot then Apple might even stop the iMac Pro line once the Mac Pro line comes out. Though who knows what Apple is going to do for they seem to march to their own drum.
 
You can buy a 4T Samsung 860 EVO SATA III SSD for $799 list. A 2T Samsung 970 EVO blade is $579 list. The pin-out adapter is $13. An experienced tech will take less than an hour to throw it into your iMac. 6T SSD onboard storage that you can fuse or not for less than $1,500 including labor. You can also leave the 128G blade alone to save $600.

Getting rid of the HDD will lower internal temperatures. Or you can replace it with a 10T WD Red @ $389 list plus labor.


If storage is the only issue, you don't need an iMac Pro.
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Strider64 said:
I know a lot of people have been patiently waiting for the new Mac Pro to come out.
Click to expand...
The Mac Pro is being designed to run bleeding edge apps for the film industry. Apple told us this in the Tech Crunch article.
https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/05/apples-2019-imac-pro-will-be-shaped-by-workflows/

As such, it is likely to compete with high end PCs like the Maya Box rendering station: $13K for 8 core to $150K for 52 core, 1T RAM, 8T SSD.

Many of us believe that the iMac Pro will bridge the gap between that new MP and the iMac. There is no way it will be moderately priced.
 
OP wrote:
"My big question though is that it appears as though when the 'new' iMacs are released, many people think that it will have a new enclosure. Of course we all want the new looking stuff. The iMac Pro is barely a year old...wouldn't it be hard to believe that Apple discontinues the current form factor of the iMac Pro after only one year if the iMacs were to be a different form factor to come."

Look at what Apple just did with the 2018 Mini.
Significantly improved "guts", but they LEFT THE CASE THE SAME as it's been for years.
Same form factor, with improved ports on the rear.
It's grey now, instead of silver. Big deal.

I predict the same course for the 2019 iMacs (and iMac Pro, if there's going to be one).
That is -- nearly the same exterior design, with all the "improvements" INSIDE.

It's almost as if the designers at Apple were finally "taking the hint" -- "it's what's inside that counts".

The current iMac design is so well-done that there's not much to be "improved", anyway.
It is what it is.

That's my prediction and I'm stickin' to it!
 
Yep.

Only the Mac Pro will be completely new. Besides multiple eGPU, expect it to be configurable with multiple cores. Given the expected customer (film industry) and the competition (Maya Box PC), this makes sense. It will not look like the cheese-grater and Apple has already declared that the trash can, with all of its cooling problems, was a mistake.
 
macpro2000 said:
I may get a 4TB NVMe SSD iMac after all.
Click to expand...

I don't think so. When you read the description, it contradicts itself in many places. I don't think the English language is their strong suit.

They have a good rep but you need to know exactly what you're getting. Do write and ask them exactly what components are inside.

These guys have been around awhile. They are clearly buying base model iMacs and hot-rodding them. Performance should be the identical and you will save money. I'll give an example:

I can buy the most basic 2017 27" i7 for $2,299. I can upgrade it to 4T (2T PCIe +2T SATA) and 64G RAM for an additional $1,500 including labor (list prices + $100 to throw it in) for a total of $3799. BTW, for $4,200, I can have a 4T SATA SSD instead of 2T.

Apple wants $5,299 and you only get 2T PCIe onboard — no additional SATA inside.

I'm not saying to avoid these guys. Just understand exactly what you're getting.

Here's the down side. If there are warranty issues, Apple will not cover non-Apple components. Doesn't bother me a bit but I'm not you.
 
mikehalloran said:
I don't think so. When you read the description, it contradicts itself in many places. I don't think the English language is their strong suit.

They have a good rep but you need to know exactly what you're getting. Do write and ask them exactly what components are inside.

These guys have been around awhile. They are clearly buying base model iMacs and hot-rodding them. Performance should be the identical and you will save money. I'll give an example:

I can buy the most basic 2017 27" i7 for $2,299. I can upgrade it to 4T (2T PCIe +2T SATA) and 64G RAM for an additional $1,500 including labor (list prices + $100 to throw it in) for a total of $3799. BTW, for $4,200, I can have a 4T SATA SSD instead of 2T.

Apple wants $5,299 and you only get 2T PCIe onboard — no additional SATA inside.

I'm not saying to avoid these guys. Just understand exactly what you're getting.

Here's the down side. If there are warranty issues, Apple will not cover non-Apple components. Doesn't bother me a bit but I'm not you.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the great reply. I totally get what you're saying. They want $1350 to upgrade my current i7 4.2 iMac to 4TB and $1950 to upgrade it to 5TB. Even though they say warranty is still good, I don't believe that either. Best to just have stock stuff and not have to worry about it. It would sure be nice for Apple just bumped up the specs on the iMac Pro so they were up to date and buying wouldn't be a question. Some people are saying maybe the week of Thanksgiving. We'll see. If not, I'll probably just go ahead and order a 10 core with 4TB of SSD. Just seems crazy to spend $10k on a machine for the kitchen that's mainly for mail, safari, and my 9 year old playing Roblox. But, I'll have a warranty and a cool Space Grey machine. ;)
 
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