2017 iMac Discussion (WWDC announcement)

[falcon511]

So I need some advice. I ama web design/Graphic designer. I have a gaming desktop right now which is running fine, however I hardly if at all use it for gaming. I was thinking of getting the middle of the road iMac 21.5 inch with 16gig of ram and the 1tb fusion drive. The graphics dont really bother me as I will just be using a second monitor that is at 2k. Its an asus monitor.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236453

The Apple rep told me the Fusion drive will actually benefit me more since my line of work will just run better on the mac. Is this true?

Any advice or suggestions are welcome.

 

[Trebuin]

I have mine ordered:

27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display
Hardware

• 4.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz
• 8GB 2400MHz DDR4
• 2TB SSD
• Radeon Pro 580 with 8GB video memory
• Magic Trackpad 2
• Upgrading the memory aftermarket

 

[glenthompson]

I was actually impressed with the upgrades Apple offered today, you now get a pretty good package for reasonable money. No big price increase etc. Has everything I was looking for, dGPU in 21.5" and USB-C I'm happy

I agree. Just looked at the receipt for my wife's mid-2011 21.5" iMac and it cost $1499. Mid 21.5" model is $1299 and has more memory, 4K display, and dGPU. We're replacing it with a 27" model.
[doublepost=1496715167][/doublepost]

So I need some advice. I ama web design/Graphic designer. I have a gaming desktop right now which is running fine, however I hardly if at all use it for gaming. I was thinking of getting the middle of the road iMac 21.5 inch with 16gig of ram and the 1tb fusion drive. The graphics dont really bother me as I will just be using a second monitor that is at 2k. Its an asus monitor.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236453

The Apple rep told me the Fusion drive will actually benefit me more since my line of work will just run better on the mac. Is this true?

Any advice or suggestions are welcome.

The 1tb fusion drive only has a 24gb SSD vs. the 128gb SSD in the 2 and 3tb models. Performance tests show a big difference.

 

[Trebuin]

Ok, so now I'm in line for the iMac, I need to figure out exactly what memory I should install. The 8GB package comes with 2x4GB 2400MHz DDR4 modules & I'm probably going with an additional 2x8GB, but I need to figure out what brand & model I should install...probably between Kingston & crucial. Thoughts anyone?

 

[ThisBougieLife]

Does the 21" have two USB-C ports too? I can't seem to find any images of the back of the 21".

 

[KlimtMed]

Does the 21" have two USB-C ports too? I can't seem to find any images of the back of the 21".

https://www.apple.com/imac/specs/

 

[dborod]

Anyone know how the 16GB of RAM in the 27" models is provisioned? 2 x 8GB or 4 x 4GB?

 

[Dave245]

I'm currently using a 2012 iMac (Very first slim version) does anyone know if the new iMac would be a big jump up from what I currently have?

 

[Trebuin]

Anyone know how the 16GB of RAM in the 27" models is provisioned? 2 x 8GB or 4 x 4GB?

Likely 4x4GB as the 8 as 2x4GB. Ask Apple to be sure.

 

[KlimtMed]

I've been using my 13" 2011 macbook pro (2.3ghz i5, 4gb RAM, 128 SSD) for years and even though it still runs like a champ, I'm looking into getting one of the new imacs. I don't need a lot of power in my computers... lots of internet (I read a lot for my job), listen to music, take breaks with netflix, etc.

I want to keep cost (relatively) low so I'm debating the entry level imac with upgrade to SSD ($1300) or the 4k 21.5" as is ($1300).

Would I notice a slowdown in going from my laptop's SSD to imac's hard drive? processor speed is identical but imac would have double the RAM.

The entry level imac at 1920 x 1080 would be a really nice upgrade already... but my gut tells me the 1TB hard drive will be fine, go for the extra pretty screen and as 4k content becomes even more available... maybe even standard, I'll have a capable system.

I suppose I could also go with an old mac mini, upgraded to 256 GB SSD and 16 GB RAM for $1100, and just hook it up to my 26" 1080p TV. Thoughts?

 

[yadmonkey]

I'd appreciate some speculation/conjecture: will the top end i7/580 iMac be suitable for gaming?

I'd install a Windows partition for gaming and not looking for the be-all-end-all in gaming performance, but... can it game at all in 4K and if not, will lower resolutions look crappy?

 

[Sam_S]

I'd appreciate some speculation/conjecture: will the top end i7/580 iMac be suitable for gaming?

I'd install a Windows partition for gaming and not looking for the be-all-end-all in gaming performance, but... can it game at all in 4K and if not, will lower resolutions look crappy?

Is gaming your sole purpose for buying the machine?
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I'm currently using a 2012 iMac (Very first slim version) does anyone know if the new iMac would be a big jump up from what I currently have?

What are the specs of your machine?

 

[jinnyman]

now that they have USB-C port with TB3, can a new iMac 27" 5K be used as a target display? Anybody know if it's mentioned somewhere?

 

[yadmonkey]

Is gaming your sole purpose for buying the machine?

Nope, but a consideration. I'd love to upgrade to Retina (currently on late 2013 27"), but have heard mixed things about Retina iMacs for gaming and would wait another cycle if they're still not up to the task.

 

[zen]

The 21 inch iMacs have had only integrated graphics, while the 27 inch models had mediocre to poor discreet graphics. Now all models will have optional discreet graphics, and they seem to be fairly respectable cards.

But they're still mobile versions, to get them into the thin case.

 

[Dave245]

What are the specs of your machine?

It's the 27" 3.4ghz core i7, 16GB Ram, GeForce GTX 680MX 2048MB graphics, 2560x1440 screen and a 3TB Fusion drive. At the moment I'm contemplating getting one of these new iMacs or waiting until the rumoured redesign next year.

 

[tangfish]

If only the Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad also came with Touch ID (happy to pay for it). I have become so dependent on that convenience with my TBMBP, and didn't realize it until I eventually paired the machine with a 5K Ultrafine display. Touch ID on the Magic Keyboard would've been a smooth solution to that. #firstworldproblems

 

[Lankyman]

Ram upgrades haven't changed on the 27inch. Obviously the 21 is another story but then just get the 27 if user-uogradable ram is important to you.

As for any other upgrade, if you have to completely dissassemble the computer to do it, it's not really meant to be "user upgradable". This goes for every previous iMac too. Doesn't mean it can't be done, but it's never been a piece of cake.

If you read my other posts you will see I have moved on - built my own Windows 10 PC with half-decent specs at a third of the cost of replacing my iMac.

 

[KnoeSS]

If only the Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad also came with Touch ID (happy to pay for it). I have become so dependent on that convenience with my TBMBP, and didn't realize it until I eventually paired the machine with a 5K Ultrafine display. Touch ID on the Magic Keyboard would've been a smooth solution to that. #firstworldproblems

Got my apple watch unlocking it

 

[jeanlain]

But they're still mobile versions, to get them into the thin case.

They are only slightly downclocked desktop versions, not GPUs designed for mobile.

 

[zen]

They are only slightly downclocked desktop versions, not GPUs designed for mobile.

Are you sure about that? A full-sized AMD 570 card looks too big to fit into an iMac enclosure. Apple usually get around this by using the mobile versions of such cards, normally designed for performance laptops.

 

[adnbek]

If you read my other posts you will see I have moved on - built my own Windows 10 PC with half-decent specs at a third of the cost of replacing my iMac.

Good stuff.

 

[jfredsilva]

Is the storage also user upgradable?

 

[The Doctor11]

Does anyone know what the black bar at the bottom of the iMac Pro does? Fan exhaust seems to be the most likely answer to me.

 

[Sam_S]

Does anyone know what the black bar at the bottom of the iMac Pro does? Fan exhaust seems to be the most likely answer to me.

That's exactly what it is. The old "fat" iMacs used to have one.