This was how I did it: http://forum.techinferno.com/implem...16gbps-tb2-sonnet-iii-d-win8-1-[squinks].html
This method applies to any Mac that has a UEFO 2.0 capable logic board, which means all Haswell and later Macs, and the Ivy Bridge-E nMP.
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iMac vs. Mac Pro
- Thread starter Trhodezy
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This was how I did it: http://forum.techinferno.com/implem...16gbps-tb2-sonnet-iii-d-win8-1-[squinks].html
This method applies to any Mac that has a UEFO 2.0 capable logic board, which means all Haswell and later Macs, and the Ivy Bridge-E nMP.
The baseline quad nMP is horrible value for money.
When released the CPU was 12% faster than the old 2012 mac mini but @ 300% the price.
The i7 5K iMac is a monster in speed and value
About 35% faster than the 5K base iMac at only a 10% higher price..
Hard to get a better deal from Apple.
When released the CPU was 12% faster than the old 2012 mac mini but @ 300% the price.
The i7 5K iMac is a monster in speed and value
About 35% faster than the 5K base iMac at only a 10% higher price..
Hard to get a better deal from Apple.
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I guess I might be dreaming, but I can't be the only one.
Haha, trust me they won't do it
. People have been asking for this for years and Apple won't bite because even iMac sales would be cannibalized. They could easily take the guts of a high end iMac and put it into a Mac Mini type of case and sell it for half the price of a low end Mac Pro while out performing the Mac Pro.
The baseline quad nMP is horrible value for money.
When released the CPU was 12% faster than the old 2012 mac mini but @ 300% the price.
The i7 5K iMac is a monster in speed and value
About 35% faster than the 5K base iMac at only a 10% higher price..
Hard to get a better deal from Apple.
Keep in mind that the i7 5K iMac will run far hotter and throttle way faster than the nMP. So in sustained performance, the base nMP will still run circles around it.
The i7 is 15% faster to begin with so there is some room for throttling without it getting slower than the nMP 4c..
The i7 basically keeps up with the 6c.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJt3av99e8k
The nMP will be silent thou and that´s really nice.
Advantages of 4-Core nMP versus advantages of best iMac 5K
I have both the top iMac 5K and the 8-core nMP sitting side by side. Recently I added the Dell 5K display to the nMP so they match in the display department. So after using both for several months, this is my take:
ADVANTAGES of the nMP with Dell 5K.
1. The nMP is quieter and runs cooler.
2. The nMP's flash storage module is easier to upgrade. No case to crack open. I recently upgraded to the faster SM951 flash module thereby increasing the large sequential transfer speed from 1000MB/s to 1500MB/s).
3. The nMP has two GPUs instead of one. Not too useful for games but very useful for FCPX, Resolve, and other multi-GPU aware pro apps.
4. The nMP has triple bus, six port Thunderbolt 2.0. I have had three striped LBD TB2s transferring at 3740 MB/s.
ADVANTAGES of the iMac 5K
1. Costs less than a comparably equipped Quad-Core nMP. The top iMac 5K with 4.0GHz Quad i7 processor, 32G of RAM, 1TB Flash, and R9 295X GPU lists at $4399. The price of a 4-core nMP with 32G RAM, 1TB Flash, dual D500 GPUs is $4699 + $2000 for the Dell 5K display (Amazon) = $6699. Order the D700s an you are up to $7299.
2. The iMac 5K's USB 3.0 ports transfer data slightly faster than the nMP.
3. The iMac 5K has a smaller footprint on your desk compared to the nMP with Dell 5K.
I have both the top iMac 5K and the 8-core nMP sitting side by side. Recently I added the Dell 5K display to the nMP so they match in the display department. So after using both for several months, this is my take:
ADVANTAGES of the nMP with Dell 5K.
1. The nMP is quieter and runs cooler.
2. The nMP's flash storage module is easier to upgrade. No case to crack open. I recently upgraded to the faster SM951 flash module thereby increasing the large sequential transfer speed from 1000MB/s to 1500MB/s).
3. The nMP has two GPUs instead of one. Not too useful for games but very useful for FCPX, Resolve, and other multi-GPU aware pro apps.
4. The nMP has triple bus, six port Thunderbolt 2.0. I have had three striped LBD TB2s transferring at 3740 MB/s.
ADVANTAGES of the iMac 5K
1. Costs less than a comparably equipped Quad-Core nMP. The top iMac 5K with 4.0GHz Quad i7 processor, 32G of RAM, 1TB Flash, and R9 295X GPU lists at $4399. The price of a 4-core nMP with 32G RAM, 1TB Flash, dual D500 GPUs is $4699 + $2000 for the Dell 5K display (Amazon) = $6699. Order the D700s an you are up to $7299.
2. The iMac 5K's USB 3.0 ports transfer data slightly faster than the nMP.
3. The iMac 5K has a smaller footprint on your desk compared to the nMP with Dell 5K.
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For the SM951 module, did you buy the M.2 SM951 or the one with the proprietary Apple form factor (also based on the SM951) pulled off Broadwell Macs?
I used the one with the Apple proprietary connector. There will soon be a source so Rev. A Mac Pro 'tube' owners can upgrade. I'll post the info here. Hopefully Apple will use it in the Rev. B Mac Pro 'tube.'
Actually the connectors aren't proprietary - they're regular PCIe connectors.
I was referring to the form factor.
Currently, iMacs and portables use the proprietary, non-M.2 form factor. However, for the nMP, I'm not sure.
Where did you get your SM951 from? Is it the SM951 with the proprietary Apple form factor or the standard SM951 with the M.2 form factor? Note that both of them have the same PCIe connectors though.
For the record, OWC already has SSD upgrades for the trashcan nMP.
I'm curious. Why did you go with both base models if they don't cost the same? What I mean is why not spec out an iMac for closer to the price of the base Mac Pro of £2,499.00?
4.0GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7
8GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x4GB
256GB Flash Storage
AMD Radeon R9 M295X 4GB GDDR5
£2,399.00
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Is there any noticeable speed differences between the 2 machines for real world usage?
UPDATE
After buying both the Mac's in question and using them, I found that although the iMac was gorgeous, took very little desk space up and was blazingly fast for day-to-day activities (still just as powerful when using Pro apps though!) I can't help but prefer the nMP with it's dual GPU, it really smoothes out the kinks and barely makes a noise even when under total stress (tests) and real world usage.
I've sent both of them back to Apple as I couldn't justify spending the money when a potential spec bump is just around the corner in June... I also bought myself a new car. So I'm a teeny bit "broke".
After buying both the Mac's in question and using them, I found that although the iMac was gorgeous, took very little desk space up and was blazingly fast for day-to-day activities (still just as powerful when using Pro apps though!) I can't help but prefer the nMP with it's dual GPU, it really smoothes out the kinks and barely makes a noise even when under total stress (tests) and real world usage.
I've sent both of them back to Apple as I couldn't justify spending the money when a potential spec bump is just around the corner in June... I also bought myself a new car. So I'm a teeny bit "broke".
Weeeellllll...
Why did your benchmark image miss the title revealing if it was single or multicore performance?
I think it was on purpose and a bit manipulative - lol
Here is a more realistic chart not featuring single core performance but the more important multicore performance which is way more relevant for pro apps:
About 35% faster than the 5K base iMac at only a 10% higher price..
Hard to get a better deal from Apple.
BY the way: the base 5K iMac is HORRIBLE - even simple OS X UI animation lag and studder massively because the base gfx chip is way too slow for 5K! You can check that out at your local Apple Store.
Your post is weird - what did you have to compensate for? LOL
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From my experience the two GPU are actually great for gaming.
You have to install Windows via Bootcamp. Then you can run both AMD GPUs in Crossfire mode with the latest Catalyst Driver.
Windows for gaming is always a better on every Mac (single or multi GPU). Frames per second are usually 30%-40% higher for the same game when comparing Windows Bootcamp to OS X games!
You also have a bigger library of games to choose from in Windows. And best of all most games aren't sub-par emulator ports from Aspyr ;-)
Just take the latest Tomb Raider and compare the FPS under Mac OS X and Windows and you get tears in your eyes.... so Bootcamp for the win!
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Well, I saw it with my own eyes on the base model in the apple store.
Also 24GB of RAM do nothing for graphics performance but thanks for including that information!
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6624344
"Just got the base model iMac Retina 5K. Mission Control is extremely slow,"
http://gotoanswer.com/?q=mission+control+imac+retina
"I've also experienced severe lag with almost all animations in Yosemite with my Retina iMac (base config with the exception of 16GB RAM, rather than the standard 8GB), not just Mission Control. Opening photos using Quick Look or attempting to open Finder shows a considerable animation lag."
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1818499/
"I just picked one up and have only briefly worked with it. First impression was amazing. Then I noticed Finder window lag."
"yes it studders on mission control"
This forum even predicted this:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1801945/
You know, if the stuttering animations are good enough for you then everything is fine - no worries
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Well, I saw it with my own eyes on the base model in the apple store.
Also 24GB of RAM do nothing for graphics performance but thanks for including that information!
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6624344
"Just got the base model iMac Retina 5K. Mission Control is extremely slow,"
http://gotoanswer.com/?q=mission+control+imac+retina
"I've also experienced severe lag with almost all animations in Yosemite with my Retina iMac (base config with the exception of 16GB RAM, rather than the standard 8GB), not just Mission Control. Opening photos using Quick Look or attempting to open Finder shows a considerable animation lag."
This forum even predicted this:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1801945/
You know, if the stuttering animations are good enough for you then everything is fine - no worries
Those links are 6 months old. There was an issue with Yosemite and the base 5K iMac. Performance has improved greatly with software update.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1863647/
Well this is great news!
However all users report it is smoother not perfect. And some apps are still bad. :-(
Not sure if troll or just retarded?
(I posted multicore (quite obviously), and that was "manipulative"? and then you post multicore (same numbers as me) again to set things straight?..)