Refurb MP or new iMAC

[H&J Studios]

In the market for a new mac. I was very close to pulling the trigger on a new BTO iMAC with CPU and GPU upgrades. After doing some research maybe a refurb MP would be a better option? No doubt the new iMAC looks like a performer but I think a MP is better for the long term.

This system will be used with Lightroom and Premiere. Options on the table are the 4 core MP at $1819 or 8 core at $2649. I do have two older 19" monitors but would like to get a cinema display.

Discuss.

Edit..... A new quad core MP could be on the table too, but with there being a update? this year maybe the refurb is the better buy.

 

[All Taken]

In the market for a new mac. I was very close to pulling the trigger on a new BTO iMAC with CPU and GPU upgrades. After doing some research maybe a refurb MP would be a better option? No doubt the new iMAC looks like a performer but I think a MP is better for the long term.

This system will be used with Lightroom and Premiere. Options on the table are the 4 core MP at $1819 or 8 core at $2649. I do have two older 19" monitors but would like to get a cinema display.

Discuss.

Edit..... A new quad core MP could be on the table too, but with there being a update? this year maybe the refurb is the better buy.

If you need a machine now and have your reasons for 'needing' a Mac Pro chassis then buy a refurb. You mention a quad core so your best bet is buying a refurbed quad and upgrading it yourself to a 6-core with a W3680.

Buy the most basic quad refurb you can and it offers good value with a DIY upgrade.

This is IF you need a Pro, do you?

 

[H&J Studios]

If you need a machine now and have your reasons for 'needing' a Mac Pro chassis then buy a refurb. You mention a quad core so your best bet is buying a refurbed quad and upgrading it yourself to a 6-core with a W3680.

Buy the most basic quad refurb you can and it offers good value with a DIY upgrade.

This is IF you need a Pro, do you?

The alternative is im stuck with what the iMAC has to offer today.

 

[nigelbb]

If you are using Premiere Pro then the two things that the Mac Pro can give you over the iMac is a second CPU and the ability to add a GTX570 CUDA graphics card. We have early 2008 3,1 dual-CPU 4-core 2.8GHz Mac Pros & Premiere runs like a dream on them especially after the GTX285 graphics cards were upgraded to cheap used PC GTX570 video cards & the hard disks upgraded to SSD. When rendering PP maxes out all eight cores on these machines which will grind through the work quicker than even the fastest 4-core iMac.