Help in choosing between 21.5 inch iMacs

[sylvia777]

Hello, I'm hoping I can get some advise from you guys. I've never owned an iMac before and looking and either getting the

21.5-inch iMac w/Retina 4K Display
3.0GHz Processor
OR
3.4GHz Processor

I would not mind upgrading to the 256GB SSD - which I've read is way faster.

Basically, this is just a computer I want for basic usage: surfing the web, watching YouTube videos, working from home on Word/PowerPoint/Excel, email. We dont do gaming or edit photos or movies or anything like that. However, the computer I currently have is a HP and and SUPER SLOW! I want to throw it out the window!!!! It takes forever to turn on or wake up and cant do too many things at once such as work on a word file and look up something on the internet and maybe send an email too. If I do think it will slow down again and freeze and take FOREVER to work property. Its probably close to 10 years old. (Yes, time for an upgrade.)

I would also purchase an external hard drive to save files.

Would I be safe in buying the 3.0GHz processor for the basic work I will be doing on it? Will it continue to work and not slow down in time?

 

[padams35]

3.0GHz should be fine, but unless you prefer tested designs vs the latest tech you may wish to wait and see what gets released on the October 30th event.

The most important thing is to skip the slow 5400rpm HDD. If you plan on keeping the iMac for as long as possible then the second most important thing it to get 16GB of Ram. 8GB + SSD is solid for office work today and the near future, but the RAM isn't user upgradable in the 4Ks and in 6+ years you will probably want more than 8GB.

 

[redfirebird08]

I have 3.0 Ghz with 16 gigs of RAM and 256 gig internal SSD. It runs great! I use an external SSD similar to this one for iTunes music files, photos, and so forth.

http://a.co/d/5Vg1S90

 

[keysofanxiety]

Remember to wait for the rumoured update this coming Monday before purchasing.

 

[mikehalloran]

We dont do gaming or edit photos or movies or anything like that.

The i5 should be fine but I'm one of many who prefer the i7 in case you do wish to do any of those things—that's where the extra $200 pays off.

3.0GHz should be fine, but unless you prefer tested designs vs the latest tech you may wish to wait and see what gets released on the October 30th event.

The most important thing is to skip the slow 5400rpm HDD. If you plan on keeping the iMac for as long as possible then the second most important thing it to get 16GB of Ram. 8GB + SSD is solid for office work today and the near future, but the RAM isn't user upgradable in the 4Ks and in 6+ years you will probably want more than 8GB.

I agree 100%

Don't like slow? Avoid the HDD.

Plan to keep it for the next 10 years? Avoid the Fusion Drive—the HDDs wear out and generate a lot of heat.

Going with a small SSD and planning for external storage is a good way to go for what you are planning. The latest version of iTunes now makes it easy to store your music on another drive (it's always been possible but easy is good!).

Getting the 16G RAM now helps to future-proof this iMac if possible—none of us have crystal balls but some of us have owned Macs over 30 years.