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Help me choose a machine!

D

draculr

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 31, 2013
50
8
I'm a photo+video editor looking to get a Mac to replace my PC tower. I'm looking forward to be able to switch to FCPX over Premiere Pro but will most likely for now stick with Lightroom 5 and Photoshop for photo editing.

It looks like I have the following options:

1/ Base Mac Pro (I cannot stretch to the six core as much as I'd love to) to use with my Dell 27"
2/ Maxed out iMac (w/ i7, 780M, SSD)
3/ Wait and hope for iMac/Mac Pro updates in October

I'm leaning toward the current model Mac Pro because it seems better with thermals and expansion and I can pick one up for $3100 (the current RRP in Australia is $3999!).

I just hope I don't pick one up only to have a major update in the next month.

What do you guys think?
 
draculr said:
I'm a photo+video editor looking to get a Mac to replace my PC tower. I'm looking forward to be able to switch to FCPX over Premiere Pro but will most likely for now stick with Lightroom 5 and Photoshop for photo editing.

It looks like I have the following options:

1/ Base Mac Pro (I cannot stretch to the six core as much as I'd love to) to use with my Dell 27"
2/ Maxed out iMac (w/ i7, 780M, SSD)
3/ Wait and hope for iMac/Mac Pro updates in October

I'm leaning toward the current model Mac Pro because it seems better with thermals and expansion and I can pick one up for $3100 (the current RRP in Australia is $3999!).

I just hope I don't pick one up only to have a major update in the next month.

What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

If they did update (I don't think they will until 2015) would you pay the $3999 and wait a month for shipping for maybe 15% all round extra performance? If you can't do that then buy now.
 
Umbongo said:
If they did update (I don't think they will until 2015) would you pay the $3999 and wait a month for shipping for maybe 15% all round extra performance? If you can't do that then buy now.
Click to expand...

Not for just 15% but on the off chance the base model came out as a 6 core for 3999 i'd definitely wish I had waited! I guess it just depends how big an update it is.
 
I had this exact same quandary a few months ago, but I didn't have a screen which could match the iMac's which pushed it way over if I'd gone fore a iMac Pro.
I ended up buying a just about fully tricked out iMac 27" and it's plenty for FCP etc.
 
draculr said:
Not for just 15% but on the off chance the base model came out as a 6 core for 3999 i'd definitely wish I had waited! I guess it just depends how big an update it is.
Click to expand...

I find that unlikely. The new Xeon line doesn't have a cheap 6-core like the i7s and Apple haven't overpriced the Mac Pro by all accounts. Expect a very minor performance bump for the base model.
 
Then you should read my previous post, it is still on the first page. I'm also a photographer/videographer, so our needs sould be the same.

The geek bench score for my previous and current machine at work shows a 5-10% different, but real world performance difference is around 10 to 30%. The price to reach that performance is too high to justify that difference.

I had an octo core and the current one is six core. My suggestion is to get at machine with least a 20% increase in geekbench score for you to be satisfied with purchasing a new machine.
 
I've ordered the base mac pro! I wish I could've sprung for the six core version but alas it's too much of an increase for me. Can't wait till I get it!
 
draculr said:
I've ordered the base mac pro! I wish I could've sprung for the six core version but alas it's too much of an increase for me. Can't wait till I get it!
Click to expand...

Let us know how you like it! It flies in FCP X thanks to those GPUs mostly.
 
draculr said:
I've ordered the base mac pro! I wish I could've sprung for the six core version but alas it's too much of an increase for me. Can't wait till I get it!
Click to expand...

congrats on the new mac pro your going to love it.
You can always upgrade the processor later. (not easily, but due-able if work requires it. If your making money from your editing, then the time saved of rendering etc (or even your own sanity), is money well spent. you'll earn back from doing other jobs.
From switching to FCPX and my nMP, I cut down almost 7 hours of render time. ( I have strict 48 hour turn-around cutting up about 2 hour sequences
 
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