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When to buy an iMac?

T

timsun28

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 2, 2014
17
0
Hi guys,
I'm planning to buy a new imac, is now the right time or should i wait till new update?
I need the new mac before 20st of july, so do you guys think apple will bring out a new mac before then or should i just buy the current model?

Thanks,
Timsun
 
You're at the end of the life cycle of the current model, but without a broadwell chipset an update to the iMac isn't likely to occur between now and July when you need it. To that end, get the configuration you need since waiting isn't going to buy you anything.
 
timsun28 said:
Hi guys,
I'm planning to buy a new imac, is now the right time or should i wait till new update?
I need the new mac before 20st of july, so do you guys think apple will bring out a new mac before then or should i just buy the current model?

Thanks,
Timsun
Click to expand...

I wouldn't expect an iMac before late fall. Just a quick piece of advice for buying the current model. If you are planning on buying the maxed out version, get a 2013 model, but otherwise you should get the 2012 refurbished i7/1 TB Fusion/8 GB/gtx 680mx. It is a better performer than 90% of the 2013 models, and is only 1949$ on Apple refurb. Check it out, as Apple did not make major updates in 2013, and they skimped on the midrange.

Matt
 
Fusion or SSD

Thanks for the replys,

now there is only one problem i have, should i buy a fusion drive or the normal ssd? Cause i read that the PCI ssd in the latest iMac is super fast, but is the fusion drive also super fast or is that a slower ssd (for booting in mac)?

Timsun
 
timsun28 said:
Thanks for the replys,

now there is only one problem i have, should i buy a fusion drive or the normal ssd? Cause i read that the PCI ssd in the latest iMac is super fast, but is the fusion drive also super fast or is that a slower ssd (for booting in mac)?

Timsun
Click to expand...

ssd
 
Practically no chance of a new iMac by July.

SSD + External HD would be best but Fusion is simpler if you prefer that, and will still be fast.
 
I'm also looking forward to buy a new iMac, but suspecting it won't be out before fall, and probably released along with the new iPhone.

Fusion is fast, but not as fast as ssd. Get ssd and external.
 
I'm in the same situation, I need a new Mac and can't really wait anymore, but I don't want to buy the current one when maybe in a few months, for the same price, I have a faster one. For me the speed is really crucial because I need to work with it.

As for the SSD or Fusion drive question… it depends what you need. I'll be going with an SSD because I need everything on the Mac to be as fast as possible. Fusion drive is good for "normal use", basically it just moves the files you use frequently to the flash storage, the rest is on a normal hard drive.
 
It's June.

If you're willing to wait until December, knock yourself out.

Either you need or want to purchase now, or you don't need or want it now and can wait. Just like buses, elevators, and politicians, there's always another update just around the corner.

If I were going to purchase, I'd go with a Haswell (late 2013) and SSD.
 
There will always be updated models and no one will know the exact release dates until Apple wants you to know so if you wait around for the newest model you might end up not buying anything.

Wait as long as you can before you have to have it and then order. Maybe you will get lucky and they will have release an updated model by then.
 
There is rumour that new iMacs to be released next week but maybe only a small speed bump.
 
I ordered a 2013 refurbished 27" last night. I will wait to see what happens next week: what would I receive and what these speed bumps really mean.

What do you think will be the performance difference with 0.1Ghz?
 
McGiord said:
I ordered a 2013 refurbished 27" last night. I will wait to see what happens next week: what would I receive and what these speed bumps really mean.

What do you think will be the performance difference with 0.1Ghz?
Click to expand...

you will not notice 100mhz.

my thing is i just bought a maxed out iMac and I am only worried that the GPU will be better next week. They say thunderbolt 2 may come, but I haven't really found a use for the first thunderbolt and my macbook air and new iMac have it. If they come with retina it would be more taxing on the gpu which is the opposite of what i want as the iMac screen already looks amazing.
 
oftheheavens said:
you will not notice 100mhz.

my thing is i just bought a maxed out iMac and I am only worried that the GPU will be better next week. They say thunderbolt 2 may come, but I haven't really found a use for the first thunderbolt and my macbook air and new iMac have it. If they come with retina it would be more taxing on the gpu which is the opposite of what i want as the iMac screen already looks amazing.
Click to expand...
I agree. If there are new iMac's released next week the differences between the 2013 models are going to be small and not really enough to rush out and upgrade. I highly doubt it will come with a retina display next week. For those who don't have one yet, it's a good idea to wait and see.
 
oftheheavens said:
you will not notice 100mhz.

my thing is i just bought a maxed out iMac and I am only worried that the GPU will be better next week. They say thunderbolt 2 may come, but I haven't really found a use for the first thunderbolt and my macbook air and new iMac have it. If they come with retina it would be more taxing on the gpu which is the opposite of what i want as the iMac screen already looks amazing.
Click to expand...

I was worried about a new GPU next week as well, so I returned mine yesterday (within 15 day period) and I'm waiting to see what's in store.
 
I think the safest time is always buy after a new refresh.

However, echoing everyone else. Wait until the last minute, and buy current. If you can wait until July, then wait until then. But if you need a new computer tomorrow, then nothing can be said and go buy one now.
 
With the new rumor of iMacs coming out next week, I think you'd have to be pretty desperate to have a good excuse not to wait. Even if the speed bumps/upgrades are small, the rumors are that the model will be cheaper than the current one. So...as I always say, you have nothing to lose by waiting. I'm gonna buy at the next refresh, almost no matter what (unless they announce Retina later this year).
 
May as well wait for the refresh they say is coming next week. I highly doubt Apple will launch anything significant without an event so I'd expect a similar update that the MBA's went through.
 
Next weeks bump (assuming it happens) is minimal to say the least.
Unless they upgrade the I.O. in some dramatic fashion, what's the worry?

Anyone who's been paying attention, will realize there's little difference in the updates every 3-4 years that makes a real difference in how you use the computer. Late 2012 was the big change (Screen), or you could argue that the late 2013 PCIe addition was something worth a notice (Internal Bus Speed)

Again, these minor changes are not earth shattering performance bumps from year to year. It's by design and always has been. Please keep the panties dry for some other activity ;)
 
thedeske said:
Next weeks bump (assuming it happens) is minimal to say the least.
Unless they upgrade the I.O. in some dramatic fashion, what's the worry?
Click to expand...

Price drop? For the sake of a few days, it has to be worth hanging on. I've read that people who ordered over the last few days have had their delivery dates pushed on by 2-3 days implying they'll get the new models but no talk of a refund. Unless you really need a replacement/new machine it wouldn't hurt to wait til Wed/Thurs of next week.
 
chelch said:
What are the chances that the video cards see an update as well?
Click to expand...

very slim. probably not at all. I can say 99% sure that the 880m won't make it in as the 780m is actually better than it at many tasks since it is just a rebranded 780m with more ram. Many programs don't utilize the 880m's ram and even where it is faster in terms of FPS it is only by a few tenths per second. I still have the chance to return mine but if it is for the 880m I am not sure it would even be worth putting it all back in the box
 
oftheheavens said:
very slim. probably not at all. I can say 99% sure that the 880m won't make it in as the 780m is actually better than it at many tasks since it is just a rebranded 780m with more ram. Many programs don't utilize the 880m's ram and even where it is faster in terms of FPS it is only by a few tenths per second. I still have the chance to return mine but if it is for the 880m I am not sure it would even be worth putting it all back in the box
Click to expand...

Why would they not update the GPU when they actually update the iMac. Doesnt make sense to keep a 1 year old card in favour of the latest....Even if they were EXACTLY the same.
 
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