what are the real-life benefits you hope to gain from the new ports and Polaris? I'm sitting on a 2011 MBP and have unfortunately never once used the TB.
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Late 2016 iMac - what's probable
- Thread starter Plughugger
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It is the possible benefits of fast external hard disks and graphics adaptors together with running a 5k external display. I am just as bothered about not having computers with different ports, so will be upgrading my laptop and desktop at the same time so all peripherals work with all my computers without dongles etc.
It depends on your usage with hardware I guess. For example I had a 2015 macbook and rarely used the USB C on it [used it standalone and everything on cloud], however my Rmbp is constantly hooked up to a display, hard disks etc.
Also I am an early adopter so always have to have the newest and latest........... unfortunately I do struggle not to buy, but Apple tech really is my only indulgence so its fine.
It depends on your usage with hardware I guess. For example I had a 2015 macbook and rarely used the USB C on it [used it standalone and everything on cloud], however my Rmbp is constantly hooked up to a display, hard disks etc.
Also I am an early adopter so always have to have the newest and latest........... unfortunately I do struggle not to buy, but Apple tech really is my only indulgence so its fine.
Well Polaris is said to be a huge upgrade from the 390 series, much more than from 290 to 390. It's a different story if retailers are marking them down since they are last year models.
The ports are a "nice to have", IMO.
The real benefit will be the GPU as the new production process will allow the GPUs to run significantly cooler. The R295X and R395X can both exceed 100°C at full-load and it was a real issue with the R295X - the iMac's fans had to run at top speed so there was significant fan noise and even then the GPU would down-clock itself, impacting performance.
Either the R395X seems to be much more tolerant of higher temps or Apple re-worked the internal cooling as my fans run much lower with it then the R295X did on the same tasks and test show the R395X does not appear to need to throttle. On the flip side, for many games the R395X is no faster than the R295X.
One benefit of the Thunderbolt 3 is the possibility of a officially supported external gpu setup!
But if the 2016 iMac has a Polaris dGPU, what value is the possibility of an eGPU?
TB3 is a nice peripheral upgrade on an iMac, but [appears] to Make more sense on a laptop or mini with a 5 or 8k monitor with an integrated PCIe slot for high end GPU cards.
Because the 2016 iMac will still have the mobile version of the Polaris gpu? A M390 and 390 are not even close in performance.
Well this year we might see desktop gpus in iMacs since the new Polaris cards are much lower power consuming 14 nm card which then draws less heat. The only reason why Apple is including mobile gpus in iMacs is because desktop gpus runs too hot for the slim body of the iMac.
Nonetheless I'm pretty sure the mobile version too, or a custom card from AMD of this years architecture will be a lot higher performance than last years cards (which were just rebrands)
You can put 64GB ram in the Late 2015 27" iMac, Apple just says it isn't supported (but it is).
I know but buying that machine now when I already own the maxed out previous 5k iMac would be a bad investment. Too little performance change, same gpu performance and close to a possible new release with a proper gpu update.
Apple has a long history of undersizing the GPUs, i.e., not using the best or fastest. While I hope that is not the case for the next revision, I wouldn't be surprised to see apple skimping on the dGPU again.
Apple uses mobile GPUs because they have a better watt/power ratio than desktop GPUs.
This will be valid for Polaris too.
I mean even if it is higher in performance than the past, it will never be close enough to a desktop version. Typically the mobile version is about half the performance of the full size desktop gpu. In the end, CPU utilization for gaming is not really as fast changing as the gpu. I'll be happy to own the '16 iMac for 5-7 years but with the possibility of being able to upgrade the gpu when needed.
I'm not saying that is a recommended action, however much some members would read into it.
Obviously future models will support 64GB ram as an after purchase upgrade in the 27" iMac.
Indeed. One of Apple gear's big selling points are the technical synergies allowing sharing of data etc. Folks migrating away from Macs might choose Android or other gear. Possibly the Apple accountants have not considered this aspect of sales. Even though difficult to quantify, it is real. Thanks for mentioning iMcLovin.
Apple's number one priority is churning iPhones out the door.
Haha damn, this is taking so much energy from me right now, buy it now or wait.
Since most DAW's such as Logic is more dependent on CPU power like the newest one has 4.0Ghz +turbo speed that's a main factor to me buying the newest iMac.
If they don't include Kaby lake, then would they still use the Skylake for the late '16 model?
Probability of them using Kaby lake and in that case (2016-2017), which is the processor that will be the i7 top of the line one or the one used in the 27" , the 7700K?
Since most of the Kaby lake processors don't match the high base clock like the Skylake...this makes me wanting the newest 2016 version Right now, since Logic is more dependent on CPU. But would the newer Kaby lakes maybe be a Great improvement so that the Ghz can be overseen? 14nm, 3.6Ghz->4.2Ghz and perhaps better GPU etc.
And, if they add the USB-C, would that be the Only usb port or would there still be some 3.0/3.1 ports available?!
So yeah, what do you think and what would you do? Much difference in base clocks of 3.6 and 4.0Ghz even if they have the same boost speed?
Since most DAW's such as Logic is more dependent on CPU power like the newest one has 4.0Ghz +turbo speed that's a main factor to me buying the newest iMac.
If they don't include Kaby lake, then would they still use the Skylake for the late '16 model?
Probability of them using Kaby lake and in that case (2016-2017), which is the processor that will be the i7 top of the line one or the one used in the 27" , the 7700K?
Since most of the Kaby lake processors don't match the high base clock like the Skylake...this makes me wanting the newest 2016 version Right now, since Logic is more dependent on CPU. But would the newer Kaby lakes maybe be a Great improvement so that the Ghz can be overseen? 14nm, 3.6Ghz->4.2Ghz and perhaps better GPU etc.
And, if they add the USB-C, would that be the Only usb port or would there still be some 3.0/3.1 ports available?!
So yeah, what do you think and what would you do? Much difference in base clocks of 3.6 and 4.0Ghz even if they have the same boost speed?
No it doesn't prove anything. Apple was unable to provide a 5K display partly due to the lack of a port that could handle it. Now there is TB3 but there is no Mac that has a TB3 port. The Mac Pro is nearly 3 years old and approaching the time where Apple believe it is time to upgrade. I do agree that they are moving slightly away from the Pro market however I don't agree that they have left it.
I think they will have a couple of months coasting between new announcements from today. Of course, there maybe a new MBA before then, but that will only be late for the university students in the northern hemisphere.
Me too. I decided to wait. I'll have to buy adapters for the USB-C, but better that than not have it. I'm really hoping for good Mac Mini option.
I think the opposite, I think Apple will be killing the MBA, the rMB has been eating its lunch (so to speak), and its only a matter of time before Apple kills off that computer line.
That's an understatement. They've shown a complete disregard towards the pro market. I don't think you can consider yourself a pro-focused computer company and leave the Mac Pro untouched for so long, but that's a discussion for a different thread (and forum)
Why not, since Apple is still using Haswell for their 15" MBP models
Ohh, so that's nice! Maybe I'll wait then. I do not have the money for a 27" iMac now so, I will have to wait either way.
And, one can def still get the current iMac when the late '16 will be released and decide then.
Just worried that they will use the usb-c inputs ONLY...but that might not be the case to 100% perhaps...or I will need to buy adapters to my external HDD and SSD+enclosure.
It's nice tho that there are usb 3.0 ports on all 4 ports on the current iMac:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...-inch-aluminum-retina-5k-late-2015-specs.html
Maybe I'll just buy it when the late '16 comes out
Ahh, this just eased my mind.The current one had pretty, good results on heat etc so perhaps it's a good one.
About the Kaby lake's being more energy efficient, for a user I mean...what does that Really proves and makes for your usage? Running cooler? Faster with applications and processes?
Still need to go for the Ghz for my prio 1.
Yes, fusion drive needs to be standard for all iMac models.
I understand they have to market the iMac as having a large amount of storage (gb) (one of their selling points for the iMac).
So they need to keep the big number but hell, what a disgusting idea the 5400 rpm drive. Sorry, but not only is it an embarrassment, but it's an insult. Don't blame me, blame Apple.
They need to remove that immediately and make a 1 tb fusion with 128 gb SSD and 1 tb 7200 rpm HDD standard in all iMac configurations. (with all the SSD options offered as a BTO option).
I understand that is literally impossible.
Which is why I'm actually in favor of a slight price increase if it would make something like that happen. That may be slightly too luxurious a configuration (even though it isn't even luxurious at all) for Apple to do in the current situation which is why I am in support of a slight price increase if it means we can have better quality like that across the board.
And again I know that is all but impossible. But that is what I wish would happen so that Apple could finally be a company with integrity once again. Obviously from a consumer standpoint, I want Apple to operate as a company with great integrity. Naturally, Apple is in existence to generate income so that is always a consideration. But I am allowed to desire whatever I'd like in this realm.
Well that would be just a shame. The MacBook Air is wonderful machine and it is an iconic part of Apple's history. Who remembers the first Air commercial where she pulls the Air out of the manilla envelope with the song playing in the background? That ad was just wonderful. The Air is an iconic machine.
They also use them because desktop GPUs physically can't fit within the tiny iMac casing. I am also in favor of a slightly thicker Mac if it means better performance.
Nobody gives a ** how thick a desktop is and in addition to that, I only look at this thing from the front. I don't even get to have the visual benefit from the thinness hardly ever.
What does the MBA have that the retina MacBook have? There's so much similarity and the MacBook as a better screen, its a hard sell