Need some advice for iMac vs Mac Pro

[adipurdila]

Hi everyone,

I've already searched for a similar topic, but I couldn't find any so I do apologize if this is a duplicate.

So here's my situation:

I'm a web designer. I work with Photoshop every now and then and mostly with Sketch. I also do a lot of video editing (around 20-30 videos per month). For this, I'm currently using a MacBook Pro Retina Early 2013, top specs. This is hooked up to a 1440p Dell display.

This setup is ok for easy stuff, like browsing and coding but for editing or the occasional screen sharing in Skype is awful. My CPU stays around 90-100 celsius and the fans go up to 5700 RPM... and that doesn't work for me. It takes a long time to render 720p videos, not to mention the fan noise and overheating.

So, I'm looking for an alternative. I would love a top spec'd 5k iMac because of the screen (it would be a huge bonus for me as a web designer), but the Mac Pro would be a beast in terms of CPU and GPU power.

I looked at the benchmarks and the iMac i7 seems to beat everything in single core score and it's still above the rMBP in multi-core. But still, benchmarks don't tell the whole story.

So, here lies my dilemma.

Would a 5k iMac be a lot better at rendering and overall multitasking than my rMBP? Also, would it handle the heat better? Because I don't really want to spend $5000 on a machine that overheats and has loud fan noise.

Or, should I wait until I get more money and go straight for the Mac Pro (was thinking 8-core, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, D700)? Would the Mac Pro be overkill for the type of work I do?

I appreciate your time and your advice

Thank you,
Adi

 

[jjhoekstra]

The iMac would be a bit faster at rendering (remember that rendering is done by CPU and GPU working together where most of the actual rendering is done by the GPU, so that CPU benchmarks are only a part of the story) and would get almost as hot and as loud as you rMBP. iMacs are not designed as workhorses for big/long rendering jobs.
A MP again would be faster than your rMBP, and probably a bit faster than the iMac depending on the GPU you get, but it would stay cool and whisper-silent no matter how much rendering you throw at it. It was designed for these kind of heavy duty tasks and the components inside are spec'd to withstand high loads for as long as is needed.
In your situation I would get a MP with a nice screen, or 2, and benefit from a professional setup.

Just my two cents, and euro-censt at that...

 

[robgendreau]

I agree; I think barefeats.com has some comparisons, but one would expect video to tip the balance in favor of the MP. You've already got a retina screen, which would be helpful for proofing, but the big rendering jobs are a MP kinda thing.

 

[adipurdila]

Very good points.

I do love that retina screen, but I think for the long run the MP is the way to go. And for the screen I guess I'll just wait for Apple to release a standalone 5k Thunderbolt.

Thank you both

 

[pjfan]

Mac Pro would certainly provide the best results and you should make your way to such a machine.... But considering you're in "wait mode" due to $$$ (if choosing Mac Pro), perhaps you should explore investing in an iMac now to help you more efficiently get work done, then sell it when you're ready to invest in Mac Pro. There might even be a Mac Pro update by the time you're ready for the larger investment. I only suggest this due to you having to wait to buy, and if this is your business, perhaps an intermediate step would be appropriate.

For the Mac Pro, you'll need to buy some screens as well... You can always start making those investments at the same time you're using your iMac.

Any iMac retina in the refurb store that meets your spec? Refurb stores are another means of saving money for your greater investment in the MP.

Good luck! Update the thread after your investment!