Opinion on late 2015 27: 5k iMac....

[gpspad]

Is a late 2015 27" i7 iMac with 512GB SSD, 32GB Memory, and 4GB Graphics Card still a viable machine?

I checked the usual online retailers, and I really can't afford what any new 27" iMac with a SSD seems to be going for. It seems like iMacs with SSD drives are tough to find. I can't seem to find many used 27" iMacs with SSD drives, and not sure I want to wait another 2-3 years before SSD iMacs start to trickle down.

What would the above be worth?

 

[filmak]

It is for sure a viable machine.
What are your main software needs, to be more specific?

 

[gpspad]

Internet surfing, photo editing, and maybe some light video converting and editing.

I just do some geneaology research and tend to keep a lot of things open at the same time. I don’t have the desktop room but two 27” displays would really come in handy some day.

 

[filmak]

Are you sure you would need the i7?
It is a bit noisy.
Of course it is up to you, if you do not mind.

 

[B.A.T]

For some perspective I've had the 2013 i7 model for 5 years now and do similar work. I'd be fine with an i5. I use Lightroom frequently, minimal photoshop and lot's of web browsing. I'm hoping this iMac hasn't even hit half-life yet. Hope that helps.

 

[gpspad]

Thanks, why would the i7 be ,older than the i5?

Wouldn't you be better with a faster chip for when you do more intense tasks like video conversion?

 

[1050792]

Are you sure you would need the i7?
It is a bit noisy.
Of course it is up to you, if you do not mind.

Lol, no it isn't noisy at all, unless you are decoding or rendering video which is the main point of it, since the CPU uses more power thus creating more heat and noise. I own a Late 15" 5K i7 for several years and it's quiet as it can be.

To the OP, the iMac model is still worth it since it's capable of doing everything you need to do and even more.
In your case I'd still opt for a cheaper alternative since the listed specs are overkil, I still kept 8GB of RAM on mine and can have Logic projects with 80 Tracks + full plugins, Final Cut Pro X 4K editing, Safari with Youtube tabs and iTunes open at the same time with no hiccups.

 

[gpspad]

There seems to be quite a few 2015 iMacs on the used market right now in the 1,500 to 2,000 range; some with SSD's. I have been looking to see if the usual mail order sources had iMacs with SSD's on sale, but even last years iMacs with SSD's are over 2k on sale.

I may look for a 2015 27" iMac 5k with an SSD drive, it sounds like they will suit my needs for a while.

 

[jmoore5196]

I have the 2014 5K 4.0GHz i7 with a 512GB SSD and 32GB RAM. it's the most trouble-free Mac I've owned since 1996 ... in daily use for fairly demanding graphics work since mid-2015 with nary a hiccup.

I would like to swap the USB-A ports for USB-C, but that's my only niggle.