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Just bought late 2015 iMac refurb, thinking about returning for 21.5"

macnewbie86

macnewbie86

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 3, 2014
34
6
Hello, well I just purchased a 2015 27" iMac and I'm wondering if I should return it. I'm all about speed and I thought I was getting the best of both words with the fusion drive on the 27" but then I found out after purchasing that it is only 24gb ssd instead of 128gb.

I was wondering, for about same price that I got the 27" refurb, I could get a brand new 21.5" 4k iMac with 256gb SSD. Unfortunately there are no refurbs in Canada that have SSD so I will have to buy new.

Just some info about my needs for this machine:
-Not a gamer
-don't do any final cut or iMovie editing
-I use my computer for Logic Pro(most of the space on my current HD is devoted to Logic Pro)
-I code
-will also use this machine for school work/productivity
-I don't watch movies on my computer

I'd like to have the extra real estate for logic but not if its going to be sloowww ;)

I'm coming from a 2013 rMBP and really liked the speed of the SSD but now I'm not sure about this iMac that I purchased (still hasn't arrived yet). Obviously I will have to try it out on my own when it arrives but I just wanted to know what other peoples thoughts are on this 24gb SSD fusion drive.

Has anyone else decided between these two types of machines? What was your experience? Thanks so much for your help.
 
Its a decent hard drive but as soon as you max out that cache its going to be dog slow I would get the 21.5 inch personally especially since you aren't going to be doing anything crazy like video editing.
[doublepost=1491618497][/doublepost]I have the 21.5 inch iMac and I love it, its perfect for me the screen is bigger and better res than my windows monitor lol. I haven't even hardly used my windows pc since getting the Mac. I just don't really feel like gaming that much these days. I prefer my Mac.
 
Do not even consider a 21.5" model unless it has an installed SSD. The stock 5400rpm drive is so slow it is like treacle. Pity you did not get a larger Fusion drive as the +2TB models still come with the 128GB Flash storage. If you can exchange it for a larger Fusion or SSD, do it.

After using your 27", 21.5" will seem puny.
 
I would have to advice you OP that Nambucca here often posts innacurate information, and I can tell you that sure the stock 5400rpm drive is not fast but its far from slow computer boots in 10 seconds for me and even opens pretty much any application within 5-8 seconds. So no its not nearly as bad as Nambucca here is saying.

Fusion isnt really faster its still a 5400rpm drive just caches frequently used applications so they load slightly faster. Otherwise its the same hard drive.

SSD is going to be faster obviously but expensive and really only worth it if you want to have the absolute fastest loading which really isnt necessary, I don't really like SSD drives because you pay a lot for a minor difference.
 
nambuccaheadsau said:
Do not even consider a 21.5" model unless it has an installed SSD. The stock 5400rpm drive is so slow it is like treacle. Pity you did not get a larger Fusion drive as the +2TB models still come with the 128GB Flash storage. If you can exchange it for a larger Fusion or SSD, do it.

After using your 27", 21.5" will seem puny.
Click to expand...

Ya I wish they had 2 gb fusion drive in the 27 inch on the refurb store. Can't afford to buy a new customized 27 inch. Also I'm coming from a 13" MacBook Pro so even the 21" is a big screen for me. :)

Thanks for your input about the slow hdd. I will not configure with the 5400 drive. I've been watching some YouTube videos and people seem to say go for the ssd instead of fusion if you can. I think I'm going to purchase a new 21 inch with 256gb ssd.

I know there are new iMacs coming but who knows how expensive they will be or what features they'll add or remove. Some people say they will be for pros and all that makes me think of is more $$$. I need one now and one that's fast so I'll get the 21 inch instead.
[doublepost=1491624536][/doublepost]
purpletalon55 said:
I would have to advice you OP that Nambucca here often posts innacurate information, and I can tell you that sure the stock 5400rpm drive is not fast but its far from slow computer boots in 10 seconds for me and even opens pretty much any application within 5-8 seconds. So no its not nearly as bad as Nambucca here is saying.

Fusion isnt really faster its still a 5400rpm drive just caches frequently used applications so they load slightly faster. Otherwise its the same hard drive.

SSD is going to be faster obviously but expensive and really only worth it if you want to have the absolute fastest loading which really isnt necessary, I don't really like SSD drives because you pay a lot for a minor difference.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your replies purple, I will try the iMac 27 inch when I get it. If the apps and files load that fast I will probably keep it but if I feel it's too sluggish I can always send it back if it's not fast enough.
 
macnewbie86 said:
Ya I wish they had 2 gb fusion drive in the 27 inch on the refurb store. Can't afford to buy a new customized 27 inch. Also I'm coming from a 13" MacBook Pro so even the 21" is a big screen for me. :)

Thanks for your input about the slow hdd. I will not configure with the 5400 drive. I've been watching some YouTube videos and people seem to say go for the ssd instead of fusion if you can. I think I'm going to purchase a new 21 inch with 256gb ssd.

I know there are new iMacs coming but who knows how expensive they will be or what features they'll add or remove. Some people say they will be for pros and all that makes me think of is more $$$. I need one now and one that's fast so I'll get the 21 inch instead.
[doublepost=1491624536][/doublepost]
Thanks for your replies purple, I will try the iMac 27 inch when I get it. If the apps and files load that fast I will probably keep it but if I feel it's too sluggish I can always send it back if it's not fast enough.
Click to expand...

Just FYI, you do have a third option.

An external SSD connected via USB 3 or Thunderbolt 2 depending on your needs.

I'm not sure how demanding logic is on the drive but assuming its like most things (where there's no practical difference between a high end SSD and a "low end" SSD), you might get more bang for your buck by just picking up a 960GB SATA SSD for like ~$200 (USD) or a 480GB SATA SSD for like $100-$150.

If you absolutely need PCIE flash speeds its gonna cost more than that, but assuming you don't (and even if you do, is 256GB really going to be enough?), I'd argue the 27" is a much more future proof option than a 21" (remember you can't upgrade the ram on a 21", EVER)
 
For Logic there is not really a difference between a 1TB Fusion Drive with 24GB and a 2TB with 128GB as Logic wil always write and read from the HDD. The speed difference between the flash and the fusion is there but not that huge but if you still want the pure flash speed for instant writting on Logic especially if you do live recording, then go for it, you won't be disappointed. Also to clarify a normal 5400 RPM drive is not as slow as many people think. Of course it's not as fast as an SSD but it is still capable of delivering an acceptable performance.
 
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