New Mac Pro vs. maxed out iMac

I'd have thought the Xeon powered Pro would destroy the iMac, but the Pro obviously comes at a premium cost.

 

Mac Pro faster and more expensive.
iMac slower and cheaper.

How much is your time worth?

 

Adobe and other software makers also seem to be moving now to OpenCL with the latest software so should be able to use the FirePro Cards in the various Apps nicely. Even on Windows Premier Pro is adding OpenCL support so Adobe products don't seem to be forcing you down an Nvidia route anymore.

Having said that it will probably require you to upgrade to the next cloud service version of the Adobe Suite rather then stop with v6.

In terms of speed then the Mac Pro as previewed with the right software will completely outclass even a fully maxxed out iMac. In terms of storage then both will be external unless you can live with an SSD and Single HD in the iMac.

Unless they drop the specs and have a simpler base version then I believe that many of the casual owners that bought the Mac Pro simply for the storage expansion are going to be priced out of the Mac Pro for the future.

Personally it is too rich for me, unless there are lower spec base versions confirmed.

 

Depends on the software and what Xeon they use. My ESXi server has a Xeon 1230 v2 (basically a i7 3770 sans graphics core). You would be hard pressed to see a difference between the top imac and that processor.

If you have a lower clocked 6+ core Xeon (assuming SB/IB/Haswel) and heavily multi threaded software it could stomp all over the i7. If the software is single threaded the higher clock of the i7 may be faster.

I think the advantage to the new MacPro would be on the i/o side with the new PCIe SSD.

 

lets also not forget the GPU`s, if you are doing any type a 3d CAD work, the new Mac Pro will smoke it.