iMac Pro keep or re-sell 2017 iMac Pro

[partsofspeech]

I bought a 2017 iMac Pro along with dark-color keyboard, trackpad, and mouse. Since I bought it, I haven't used it for demanding jobs because I change my original projects. My current usage with it is making very basic Logic Pro loop, FCPX editing, and reading epub books. The machine is still running really smooth, rarely making any fan noise.

I am thinking about selling it if I can get a reasonable resale price and use the proceeds to buy the new Macbook Air M4.

Specs of the iMac Pro
Processor: 3.2 GHz 8-Core Intel Xeon W
Radeon: Pro Vega 56 8 GB
Memory 32 GB 2666 MHz DDR4

MacOs Sequoia Version 15.3.2 (24D81)
Built-in Retina Display 27-inch (5120 × 2880)
Storage: 1 TB SSD

 

[ignatius345]

Are you asking if you should sell it? I think a MacBook Air M4 will handle everything you list (though I don't know much about Logic Pro or its demands), and of course the Air will be portable as well. What it will not have is that big 5K display. Seems like that could be a factor with showing all the tools and timelines you need for video or audio editing.

But this all feels like a matter of personal preference to me!

 

[Regulus67]

What it will not have is that big 5K display. Seems like that could be a factor with showing all the tools and timelines you need for video or audio editing.

I agree this is an important point.
Another might be that it has 1TB storage, and can be user upgraded. Although it is a bit complicated.
I upgraded one a few weeks ago to 4 TB. And I am fairly certain you could even use the Mac Pro 2019 8 TB SSD kit.

4 TB SSD for $300 so far.

Apple storage prices are expensive.

I am thinking about selling it if I can get a reasonable resale price and use the proceeds to buy the new Macbook Air M4.

The iMac Pro base model is not easy to sell, but it depends on what you consider reasonable price?
Just look at the Mac Pro 2019 price drop this year.
The intel T2 macs are not that popular, with all the M4 hype in particular.

 

[partsofspeech]

I agree this is an important point.
Another might be that it has 1TB storage, and can be user upgraded. Although it is a bit complicated.
I upgraded one a few weeks ago to 4 TB. And I am fairly certain you could even use the Mac Pro 2019 8 TB SSD kit.

4 TB SSD for $300 so far.

Apple storage prices are expensive.


The iMac Pro base model is not easy to sell, but it depends on what you consider reasonable price?
Just look at the Mac Pro 2019 price drop this year.
The intel T2 macs are not that popular, with all the M4 hype in particular.

Storagewise I use Synology NAS, which is reliable. The small RAM runs into traffic jam if I run FCPX, Logic Pro, and programming software, and a bunch of other apps simultaneously.

A Macbook has an advantage of being able to be put on top of a digital piano for music composition.

The 5K display has an advantage of showing wider timeline.

Well, I guess I will keep it.

 

[Regulus67]

Storagewise I use Synology NAS, which is reliable. The small RAM runs into traffic jam if I run FCPX, Logic Pro, and programming software, and a bunch of other apps simultaneously.

The iMac Pro has upgradeable RAM. Offering a good range.
4x 16GB = 64GB
4x 32GB = 128GB
4x 64GB = 256GB.

Upgrading the memory is the easiest upgrade. But unfortunately it still requires one to open the machine, and pull out the logic card. As it is mounted with the underside toward the display.

My opinion is that if you were to open it to upgrade any part, except for the GPU that can not be upgraded. Is to upgrade both the CPU and memory. The storage is less convenient, and it requires a more complicated procedure.

It depends on your skills of dismantling the computer, and needs. It is more difficult than a PC for sure.

 

[fuchsdh]

Speaking as someone who upgraded from a Mac mini 2018 to an iMac Pro last year for some more processing power while keeping 32bit app/Mojave compatibility, you can check eBay for listings and what you can expect (minus the fees and cost it will take to safely deliver the machine.) Base models like yours typically go for around $700-900 in my market, although if you have the peripherals and original packaging that'll probably give you a better chance of getting the higher end (for comparison, I spent roughly $960 on my 10-core/64GB/Vega 56/2TB model with a throw-in Satechi hub and AppleCare, although that was a particularly good deal.)

You don't say what your existing setup is like, but one consideration is that you're replacing an all-in-one so getting another screen as good is going to eat a decent chunk of whatever you make. If you got a base M4 Mac mini and a cheaper non-Apple 4K display you can approximate the iMac Pro for a little more than it would probably sell for, but that will come with some downsides. As powerful as Apple Silicon is, especially for your use case, less RAM and storage space will still be felt.

The price for an old iMac Pro will only continue to go down, especially when support gets officially dropped, so I would say if your overarching concern is getting the most out of resale to put towards a new setup, sooner is better than later.

 

[pshufd]

I bought a 2017 iMac Pro along with dark-color keyboard, trackpad, and mouse. Since I bought it, I haven't used it for demanding jobs because I change my original projects. My current usage with it is making very basic Logic Pro loop, FCPX editing, and reading epub books. The machine is still running really smooth, rarely making any fan noise.

I am thinking about selling it if I can get a reasonable resale price and use the proceeds to buy the new Macbook Air M4.

Specs of the iMac Pro
Processor: 3.2 GHz 8-Core Intel Xeon W
Radeon: Pro Vega 56 8 GB
Memory 32 GB 2666 MHz DDR4

MacOs Sequoia Version 15.3.2 (24D81)
Built-in Retina Display 27-inch (5120 × 2880)
Storage: 1 TB SSD

I bought the same model a year ago for $800 and love it and have no plans to sell it.

I use it for general office stuff, video editing and some trading. The asking price for these in my region ranges from $800 to $1,500. There is currently one for sale for $200 with 10 core, 64 GB RAM and the Vega 64 in my state that's he dropped from $800. I sent him a list of normal questions that you ask when you go to buy a used system and said that he didn't want to answer them nor did he want to sell to me. So he dropped the price to $500, $250 and now $200. Weird but sometimes you run into folks like that.

I've tested using the iMac Pro as an external monitor from my Mac Studio and it works fine for that for what I use the Studio for.

I'm in New Hampshire and looking for one if you're local.

 

[partsofspeech]

I use the iMac Pro to edit music score with Dorico. When that is done, I export the midi file to Logic Pro X. The workflow is smooth. I used to use iPad Pro with Apple Pencil to do that. Comparatively, the iMac Pro workflow is much more efficient.

Though the large 5K screen allows me to see a large area of the score, the small iPad screen feels more friendly and 'natural'. The is one reason I was thinking about switching to a MacBook. (I don't want to have both desktop and notebook at the same time for decluttering and financial reasons.)