Retina iMac vs Mac Pro - Which to purchase?

[thomamon]

So I am making a new purchase in the next couple of months, just not sure which way to go as of yet.

I really would like a high resolution monitor, which is why the iMac looks real nice to me. I would bump up all the specs tho and go with a higher end model.

I really like the power of the Mac Pro tho. I do use it for video editing including Final Cut Pro.

Thoughts or feedback would be incredibly appreciated!

 

[kelon111]

So I am making a new purchase in the next couple of months, just not sure which way to go as of yet.

I really would like a high resolution monitor, which is why the iMac looks real nice to me. I would bump up all the specs tho and go with a higher end model.

I really like the power of the Mac Pro tho. I do use it for video editing including Final Cut Pro.

Thoughts or feedback would be incredibly appreciated!

What's your budget?

 

[tillsbury]

If your budget is for the four or six-core MP, probably go iMac. If you can reach the top of the MP scale, then that will be be worthwhile, particularly for FCP

 

[thomamon]

Budget is a good question as I was waiting to have enough for the machine I want. I was thinking what I want to spend is 4,000.

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This is what I have priced as far as both machines go...

iMac w/Retina -
i7
16GB Memory (Unless I can update cheaper on my own?) Haven't researched
256 or 512 Flash Storage
AMD Radeon R9 M295X 4GB GDDR5

Mac Pro -
I would either go with a Quad Core machine and make a few upgrades or go with the 6-Core and Dual GPU as is...

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If your budget is for the four or six-core MP, probably go iMac. If you can reach the top of the MP scale, then that will be be worthwhile, particularly for FCP

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What's your budget?

 

[robgendreau]

Take a hard look at BareFeats or somewhere to see what the difference in speed is for software you use; generally the iMac can be faster at many tasks than the quad cord MP, or certainly in the ballpark. And value-wise it's a huge winner. Lots of folks have been writing about this:

http://www.computerworld.com/article/2861004/tech-face-off-apples-mac-pro-vs-the-5k-retina-imac.html
http://www.imore.com/retina-imac-vs-mac-pro-which-mac-powerhouse-should-you-get

I think you're in the budget area where a low end MP and monitor would be a worse deal than a riMac. If you were going for multiple monitors, lots of external add-ons, etc, then for sure the MP, but that's outta your budget right now.

If my boss were buying, MP for sure. If I use it all day, including for lots of other tasks besides FCP, and its my money, then probably riMac. It's definitely more bang for the buck. Besides, you could probably sell it after a year with Apple Care and not lose that much.

 

[thomamon]

Take a hard look at BareFeats or somewhere to see what the difference in speed is for software you use; generally the iMac can be faster at many tasks than the quad cord MP, or certainly in the ballpark. And value-wise it's a huge winner. Lots of folks have been writing about this:

http://www.computerworld.com/article/2861004/tech-face-off-apples-mac-pro-vs-the-5k-retina-imac.html
http://www.imore.com/retina-imac-vs-mac-pro-which-mac-powerhouse-should-you-get

I think you're in the budget area where a low end MP and monitor would be a worse deal than a riMac. If you were going for multiple monitors, lots of external add-ons, etc, then for sure the MP, but that's outta your budget right now.

If my boss were buying, MP for sure. If I use it all day, including for lots of other tasks besides FCP, and its my money, then probably riMac. It's definitely more bang for the buck. Besides, you could probably sell it after a year with Apple Care and not lose that much.

Thanks! I think I am leaning towards the riMac... For what I need it for and as much as I would be using FCP, I think the iMac would be suffice...

If I wait a bit longer, maybe they will bump up the specs a bit, lol