Is it time to upgrade?

[Macinsquatch]

So I'm currently using a late 2014 iMac 5k with the i7 @ 4 ghz, 32 gb ram, 1 TB SSD - not fusion, and the R9 M295X 4GB gpu. A not terrible machine overall.

I have the iMac driving two 4k (Dell P2715Q) displays which I use for CAD/photogrammetry work. The machine was regularly hard locking at least once a day which I suspected was due to the GPU overheating, so I am now driving the external displays with an eGPU (Radeon VII) in a Razer Core X and haven't had an issue in months. But even with this machine being maxed out it is still starting to feel its age, especially when running windows in a virtual machine for CAD work (trying to avoid bootcamp). My main motivator is needing more ram, photogrammetry can really tax that area, and without enough, take orders of magnitude longer to complete and return results. I've used Bootcamp in the past, have it on my Mac Pro, but workflow dictates running both OS's side by side.

I purchased this machine used for a good price, and am always looking to upgrade. Recently there has been a 2019 iMac 5k 3.1 i5 base model dropping in price, getting really close to the 1k mark. I'm fairly certain I can sell this one for close to that due to the ram and SSD.

But my concern is that the new machine isn't really that much faster than what I'm currently using. Even though the processors are 4 generations and 5 years apart (i7-4970k to i5-8600), the new i5 @ 3.1 GHz isn't really blowing the older i7 @ 4.0 GHz out of the water especially for single threaded applications. Yes I get 2 more cores, faster RAM and Thunderbolt 3 but benchmarks (mostly synthetic I know) generally show about a 30% improvement in speed for the CPU and GPU.

But benchmarks are a snapshot in time, and really don't tell the whole story. So I'm asking the masses, has anyone upgraded from a similar machine recently? How are you liking the 2019 model, and was it worth the hassle/cost to upgrade and sell/dispose of your old machine.

 

[Lankyman]

So I'm currently using a late 2014 iMac 5k with the i7 @ 4 ghz, 32 gb ram, 1 TB SSD - not fusion, and the R9 M295X 4GB gpu. A not terrible machine overall.

I have the iMac driving two 4k (Dell P2715Q) displays which I use for CAD/photogrammetry work. The machine was regularly hard locking at least once a day which I suspected was due to the GPU overheating, so I am now driving the external displays with an eGPU (Radeon VII) in a Razer Core X and haven't had an issue in months. But even with this machine being maxed out it is still starting to feel its age, especially when running windows in a virtual machine for CAD work (trying to avoid bootcamp). My main motivator is needing more ram, photogrammetry can really tax that area, and without enough, take orders of magnitude longer to complete and return results. I've used Bootcamp in the past, have it on my Mac Pro, but workflow dictates running both OS's side by side.

I purchased this machine used for a good price, and am always looking to upgrade. Recently there has been a 2019 iMac 5k 3.1 i5 base model dropping in price, getting really close to the 1k mark. I'm fairly certain I can sell this one for close to that due to the ram and SSD.

But my concern is that the new machine isn't really that much faster than what I'm currently using. Even though the processors are 4 generations and 5 years apart (i7-4970k to i5-8600), the new i5 @ 3.1 GHz isn't really blowing the older i7 @ 4.0 GHz out of the water especially for single threaded applications. Yes I get 2 more cores, faster RAM and Thunderbolt 3 but benchmarks (mostly synthetic I know) generally show about a 30% improvement in speed for the CPU and GPU.

But benchmarks are a snapshot in time, and really don't tell the whole story. So I'm asking the masses, has anyone upgraded from a similar machine recently? How are you liking the 2019 model, and was it worth the hassle/cost to upgrade and sell/dispose of your old machine.

Better the devil you know. There's little mileage in change for change sake.

 

[Madhatter32]

My two-cents (and you get what you pay for): Use what you have until it no longer works or fails to assist you in what you need it to do. Sounds like your current setup is getting the job done. Using this strategy, you will always keep your optionality available in case Apple does something great with a new release or product.

 

[velocityg4]

So I'm currently using a late 2014 iMac 5k with the i7 @ 4 ghz, 32 gb ram, 1 TB SSD - not fusion, and the R9 M295X 4GB gpu. A not terrible machine overall.

I have the iMac driving two 4k (Dell P2715Q) displays which I use for CAD/photogrammetry work. The machine was regularly hard locking at least once a day which I suspected was due to the GPU overheating, so I am now driving the external displays with an eGPU (Radeon VII) in a Razer Core X and haven't had an issue in months. But even with this machine being maxed out it is still starting to feel its age, especially when running windows in a virtual machine for CAD work (trying to avoid bootcamp). My main motivator is needing more ram, photogrammetry can really tax that area, and without enough, take orders of magnitude longer to complete and return results. I've used Bootcamp in the past, have it on my Mac Pro, but workflow dictates running both OS's side by side.

I purchased this machine used for a good price, and am always looking to upgrade. Recently there has been a 2019 iMac 5k 3.1 i5 base model dropping in price, getting really close to the 1k mark. I'm fairly certain I can sell this one for close to that due to the ram and SSD.

But my concern is that the new machine isn't really that much faster than what I'm currently using. Even though the processors are 4 generations and 5 years apart (i7-4970k to i5-8600), the new i5 @ 3.1 GHz isn't really blowing the older i7 @ 4.0 GHz out of the water especially for single threaded applications. Yes I get 2 more cores, faster RAM and Thunderbolt 3 but benchmarks (mostly synthetic I know) generally show about a 30% improvement in speed for the CPU and GPU.

But benchmarks are a snapshot in time, and really don't tell the whole story. So I'm asking the masses, has anyone upgraded from a similar machine recently? How are you liking the 2019 model, and was it worth the hassle/cost to upgrade and sell/dispose of your old machine.

The computer is an investment for work.
- How much time will you save per year with faster hardware?
- If you saved time. Could you get more work to fill that time?
- How much more could you get done with the time saved?

Basically if the computer will make you more money than you put into it. You should certainly do the upgrade. 30% can lead to a whole lot of extra cumulative time. It would also make sense that if more performance equals more work. That you get an i7 or even an i9 with a Vega GPU or even an iMac Pro. Getting a low interest business line of credit or small business microloan. If you can't buy it outright. As business purchases which improve revenue beyond the additional costs make sense.

If it's just about less frustration. 30% improvements is still 30%. If it won't cost you much all in. I'd go for it. As it can mean you get your work done faster and have more free time.

 

[pldelisle]

I'd wait for the 2020 model. At least you would get 10 cores and Radeon Pro 5700 (supposedly...). Still your Radeon VII is better than this, but you could get more RAM and faster built-in SSD. Plus maybe a redesign if Apple decides it.

Next step would be iMac Pro, but it's aging and wouldn't buy it brand new. Refurb at best if very rushed in time, or wait for iMac Pro likely coming this fall with RDNA2.0 GPU and Cascade Lake Xeon CPU ... if Apple decide not to drop the product.

 

[Macinsquatch]

I appreciate all the input, I agree it's better to keep this setup going until it is no longer usable.

Thanks again folks.

 

[Wesmosis]

I have exactly the same specs and It's doing the trick for me.