Looking for some advice - considering upgrading from a iMac 27" mid 2011 to iMac 27" 5k or Mac mini

[Col127]

Hey all!

Had a quick question for you guys. I currently own a iMac 27" (Mid 2011), with a 2.7GHZ Intel Core i5, 12GB ram, the AMD Radeon HD 6770M 512MB video card and a thunderbolt SSD drive.

For me, this iMac is still a complete beast and fast enough for everything I need it to do. The only problem I have is being stuck on macOS High Sierra... I know the limiting factor is the GPU but I don't think I'm handy enough to upgrade it... so I'm wondering, should I upgrade to either a Mac mini or the iMac 5K? I have enough reward points on my credit card to get either one through the reward store, but trying to figure out what's the best bang for the buck consider what I'm currently using. They can't be configured and have to be 'stock". Like I said, I'm really happy with my current iMac. It's more than fast enough for me!! I just want to be on the latest Mac OS.

I do some graphic design work from time-to-time (Adobe CS products - mostly photoshop. indesign, maybe illustrator once in a blue moon), but generally it's just my home office computer... so MS Office, things like that is the primary use case.

Mac-wise, I'm looking at the Mac mini , 6-core 3.0GHz 6-core I5, 8GB ram OR the 27" iMac 5K 3.0GhZ 6-core i5, 8GB ram.... I haven't looked at Macs in almost a decade - but the Mac mini and the 27" iMac seem to be identical, except for the HD, graphics card, and of course the lack of a screen. Is that right? Are the specs pretty much the same? My biggest concern with the Mac mini is the crappy shared graphics card that it comes with... I don't know if that's good enough for Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator ?

I do have an extra 28" LED TV laying around my house, and I have a separate keyboard/mouse - so there wouldn't be extra cost to me to have to be peripherals.

What would you suggest? Appreciate your advice.

 

[glenthompson]

27” iMac because you can upgrade the ram yourself. Also the tv might not make a very good monitor unless it’s a 4K model.

 

[Col127]

27” iMac because you can upgrade the ram yourself. Also the tv might not make a very good monitor unless it’s a 4K model.

You can upgrade The Mac mini ram easily. Is that the only reason you’d say the iMac?

 

[ScreenSavers]

I'd get the iMac. The Mac Mini has a pretty weak GPU and the iMac has an excellent screen. Surprised your 27" 2011 GPU has lasted this long!

 

[wkw]

I voted for mini. You could get started with the peripherals you already have. Maybe you could use the reward points you saved and get some other cool stuff. Is that 28” monitor 1080p? The 5k screen on the iMac is really hard to beat. Tough choices man!!
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Maybe you should plug your 28” tv into your 2011 iMac and see what it’s like to use as a monitor.

 

[Col127]

I'd get the iMac. The Mac Mini has a pretty weak GPU and the iMac has an excellent screen. Surprised your 27" 2011 GPU has lasted this long!

my iMac has been going really strong! It’s in perfect condition... re the GPU on the Mac mini, aside from it not doing graphic work that great, I’d assume the specs are same to the new iMac 5k I’m looking at?
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I voted for mini. You could get started with the peripherals you already have. Maybe you could use the reward points you saved and get some other cool stuff. Is that 28” monitor 1080p? The 5k screen on the iMac is really hard to beat. Tough choices man!!
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Maybe you should plug your 28” tv into your 2011 iMac and see what it’s like to use as a monitor.

yeah it’s a 1080p 28”. Can you hook up a second screen to the iMac? I didn’t know it was possible lol. It’s a hdmi tv.

 

[wkw]

You would need an adapter to try it. They are pretty cheap but probably not worth it for just trying it out. The 28 1080p actually would be a big step down from your 2011 iMac 27 with 1440p.

if your choices are pretty limited in the rewards store maybe the new iMac is the way to go.

I changed my vote back to iMac.
It’s fun telling others what to do!

 

[kschendel]

I toyed with replacing our old 2009 iMac with a hackintosh driving a 4k or 5k monitor, and decided it wasn't worth the hassle; we just went for a new 27" iMac. It was the right decision IMO; we don't do anything graphics heavy but even for documents, web, and email the new screen is just gorgeous.

Going from your current screen to a 1080p monitor would be a big step backwards, never mind comparing a 28" 1080p TV with a 5K iMac screen.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi!

I would just replace the video card following this thread...

You can live some more years with this beautiful machine

 

[Phil77354]

I agree with the recommendations to get a 27" iMac, the RAM configuration doesn't matter because upgrading is simple.

And since you're not in a rush, I would suggest waiting until we see what Apple introduces later this year, since an update to the iMac seems likely to appear at some point.