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FlyLight

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 28, 2014
13
0
Hi all. i currently have a 2009 27" iMac, and a 2006 Mac Pro between two offices, both used for two different businesses with two user accounts on each.

I'm about to consolidate everything as I'll be working just from home, and would like a new iMac to do everything (Can't justify nMP for my use). Old machines are getting a bit "dead-end" for upgrading. iMac will be staying at office for occasional use. Essentially looking to replace old MP1,1.

Tasks are
- Adobe LR, PS, and ID for magazine publishing and photography stuff.(60%)
- Lots of browser-based digital publishing. (30%)
- Editing DSLR video footage on Adobe PP or FCPX. (10%) 10-15 minute clips max. ATI Radeon HD 4850 in iMac and 5770 in MP seem to handle it ok, but I wouldn't know what to look for it they actually weren't. Will always be running a 22 or 24" second monitor.
- Work files stored on computer during mag production (50-100GB), moved to storage after.
- Want to keep it for about 4-5 years.

Questions are:
- 16GB is usually enough RAM on my iMac, 10Gb not enough on my MP. If i get 8GB fitted and add 16GB after market (OWC) will they mix-and-match and play together to get 24GB?

- What would be the reasons for getting the 780 GPU rather than the 775? I'll never game on it. Don't currently edit 4k, but who knows?

- I currently have a 256 SSD boot in the MP, and plain 1TB HDD in the iMac. I have set up a user account on both machines that accesses a home folder on an external RAID1 drive (USB3). Frankly its a nightmare, as some programs won't run in certain user accounts and I have to switch back to the original "inside" user to do some work, then switch back. File permissions and preferences are a PITA too. Would like to run all accounts on one user account on new machine, and sync all mail accounts etc to it. Figured a 1TB fusion drive would give me more room for essentially two users and video files during editing? Or is USB3 fast enough for external file access and I'm better off with a 256GB flash drive? Have only edited off internal drives so far.

- Is a trackpad useful in PS for zooming etc? Never used one. I currently use a tablet for right hand, mouse in left.

That's it (for now...)

Thanks in advance.
 
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