2017 Imac 27in 5K 3.4 vs 3.5?

[Aces2412]

I am looking to purchase the 27in IMac 256gb or 512gb SSD with either 3.4 or 3.5 processor.

So my question is will I see a great difference between the 3.4 vs the 3.5. I will be using it with Capture One Pro and FCP with 4k video. I will not be playing games on the computer. If have to wait 10 more seconds for the 4k video to render, no big deal.

Also regarding storage. I will be putting all media on externals, so 256gb or 512gb?

Thanks.

 

[trsblader]

So my question is will I see a great difference between the 3.4 vs the 3.5. ... If have to wait 10 more seconds for the 4k video to render, no big deal.

Everyone's favorite answer they love hearing: it depends! I think you're looking at around a 5-10% increase at most based on benchmarks. Depending on codecs, length of video, etc. the length of time could add up if you're doing this regularly (such as for a full time job). If it's a weekend hobby once in a while sort of thing, probably not that noticeable.

I'm not familiar with either program, but if they are able to take advantage of the GPU for anything, it may be worth the upgrade to the 3.5 as it gets a slight GPU bunch as well.

Also regarding storage. I will be putting all media on externals, so 256gb or 512gb?

Hard to answer. How much space do you currently use, and do you see your storage needs changing? On my laptop, it has a 256gb drive that I have a very small, 40gb VM on and I keep that thing CLEAN. I mean I store most documents in the cloud, and other than a few misc. files there's nothing on it that I don't use regularly. Even with the VM I have roughly 160gb free. Now my desktop, with a 1tb drive, has over 700gb used as I'm a lot more lazy with it. I bet I can find hundreds of gb's worth of files I haven't used since the day I bought that machine in 2011, in addition to 5 or 6 VM's that are close to 80gb each.

If you're close to 256 used now, I'd buy the 512. If you're like me and on a 2012 machine you still have 150+gb free, you're probably safe with a 256.

On another note: it's just a $200 upgrade, and is a good deal I think, so if you're still up in the air and have the funds, then I say go for the 3.5

 

[Aces2412]

Everyone's favorite answer they love hearing: it depends! I think you're looking at around a 5-10% increase at most based on benchmarks. Depending on codecs, length of video, etc. the length of time could add up if you're doing this regularly (such as for a full time job). If it's a weekend hobby once in a while sort of thing, probably not that noticeable.

I'm not familiar with either program, but if they are able to take advantage of the GPU for anything, it may be worth the upgrade to the 3.5 as it gets a slight GPU bunch as well.



Hard to answer. How much space do you currently use, and do you see your storage needs changing? On my laptop, it has a 256gb drive that I have a very small, 40gb VM on and I keep that thing CLEAN. I mean I store most documents in the cloud, and other than a few misc. files there's nothing on it that I don't use regularly. Even with the VM I have roughly 160gb free. Now my desktop, with a 1tb drive, has over 700gb used as I'm a lot more lazy with it. I bet I can find hundreds of gb's worth of files I haven't used since the day I bought that machine in 2011, in addition to 5 or 6 VM's that are close to 80gb each.

If you're close to 256 used now, I'd buy the 512. If you're like me and on a 2012 machine you still have 150+gb free, you're probably safe with a 256.

On another note: it's just a $200 upgrade, and is a good deal I think, so if you're still up in the air and have the funds, then I say go for the 3.5

Thanks for the reply! If you had to choose the storage upgrade or the processor... which one?

 

[trsblader]

Thanks for the reply! If you had to choose the storage upgrade or the processor... which one?

Tough call. I'd personally go for that mid level 3.5 as it includes the slight graphics increase as well. I still use a 16gb iPhone with 4gb free, so I'm very used to using small internal storage amounts and keeping clean machines when necessary, while storing everything else externally. I feel that decision is probably in the minority though.

 

[EugW]

I'm no expert but given the dependence of Final Cut on CPU, GPU, and storage speeds, I'd probably get a 3.8 GHz i5 with Radeon Pro 580 and 512 GB SSD (or more).

But if not that, then the 3.5 GHz i5 with Radeon Pro 575, again with 512 GB SSD (or more).

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"I will be using it with Capture One Pro and FCP with 4k video."

Spend the extra $200 for the 7600 CPU and better GPU.
You're going to need it!

 

[cynics]

Those two processors (i5-7500 and i5-7600) are too close to in performance to each other to notice any real world difference. Expect at the absolute best 10% increase in performance. So it would only matter if your projects took HOURS to render out.

If you are using a lot of effects you would also benefit from the upgraded GPU like mentioned. But again still a relatively mild bump in performance.

Your workload does lean to getting a better than base model iMac though.