Hey,
I've been thinking heavily about changing my main machine, and wondered what your thoughts are on this.
Current setup: cMP 5,1 with 12 Cores (2,93), 64 GB, RX 580, SSD via PCI, USB 3 card. Running Mojave. Screen is a 4k 32" Eizo.
Usage: Software development, some graphics editing (not so much into video at the moment), some research work (not often, but then I appreciate lots of RAM and lots of CPU power).
The past has been mostly good with this machine, although the graphics cards upgrades (original -> GF 680 -> RX 580) wasn't that great, and setting up multiple working monitors was a pain at times. Fumbling around with the drives (a couple of SSDs over the years) always gave a boost, but then I appreciate an "it just works" style of living. :-D
Speedwise it still isn't too bad, although I guess the rather poor single core performance really starts to show up, and the lacking AVX instructions make a good part of it. A recent eye-opener was compiling some files (non-parallel) on a 12 inch MB, which was 55 secs compared to 1 min 25 on the cMP. So I feel the sluggishness that starts to creep in would probably be blast away with new hardware (well, for a while).
From what I have read over the past days (or weeks), the 2019 i9 iMac *should* fit me rather nicely and worry-free. I am a bit hesitant because as of today it seems to be the last Mac without T2, so probably the first to miss some new features. As for the screen, I'd say the 5k is even to my 4k (non-glossy). before the 32" 4k, I had a "low-res" 30 inch display - basically about the same size as the iMac 27, but 16:10 instead - The increase in sharpness was the selling point, but I do actually feel that the screen is a bit "too wide". Odd?
The upcoming Catalina upgrade is of course a somewhat strong incentive to make the change rather sooner than later.
Money wise, using the cMP for another year is probably as expensive as making the switch now, give or take a couple of dollars.
Usually I'm not a big fan of AIO, for I have upgraded things in the past, and the inconvenience when something breaks (had an iMac to be exchanged some years ago, the replacement later had some screen problems although still usable) etc.
So I'm probably looking into a maxed-out iMac here (obviously 3rd party RAM) - the price reduction for the SSD today really helped. Which makes it pretty convenient (not sure what I should ever want to upgrade later), but you can't just put the drive into another machine if something fails.
I *think* this configuration should take me easily 5-7 years down the road (I don't mind the bezel, lol).
With better graphics the mini might have been an option, and I don't think the eGPU thing is completely hassle-free, starting with swapping inputs from eGPU to Mac and back etc, running fans, more boxes on the table... and maxed out it is not so much of a good deal anymore in comparison.
Sorry for being very long-worded and ... hmm ... chatty today, but I'd really appreciate your thoughts. Thanks
I've been thinking heavily about changing my main machine, and wondered what your thoughts are on this.
Current setup: cMP 5,1 with 12 Cores (2,93), 64 GB, RX 580, SSD via PCI, USB 3 card. Running Mojave. Screen is a 4k 32" Eizo.
Usage: Software development, some graphics editing (not so much into video at the moment), some research work (not often, but then I appreciate lots of RAM and lots of CPU power).
The past has been mostly good with this machine, although the graphics cards upgrades (original -> GF 680 -> RX 580) wasn't that great, and setting up multiple working monitors was a pain at times. Fumbling around with the drives (a couple of SSDs over the years) always gave a boost, but then I appreciate an "it just works" style of living. :-D
Speedwise it still isn't too bad, although I guess the rather poor single core performance really starts to show up, and the lacking AVX instructions make a good part of it. A recent eye-opener was compiling some files (non-parallel) on a 12 inch MB, which was 55 secs compared to 1 min 25 on the cMP. So I feel the sluggishness that starts to creep in would probably be blast away with new hardware (well, for a while).
From what I have read over the past days (or weeks), the 2019 i9 iMac *should* fit me rather nicely and worry-free. I am a bit hesitant because as of today it seems to be the last Mac without T2, so probably the first to miss some new features. As for the screen, I'd say the 5k is even to my 4k (non-glossy). before the 32" 4k, I had a "low-res" 30 inch display - basically about the same size as the iMac 27, but 16:10 instead - The increase in sharpness was the selling point, but I do actually feel that the screen is a bit "too wide". Odd?
The upcoming Catalina upgrade is of course a somewhat strong incentive to make the change rather sooner than later.
Money wise, using the cMP for another year is probably as expensive as making the switch now, give or take a couple of dollars.
Usually I'm not a big fan of AIO, for I have upgraded things in the past, and the inconvenience when something breaks (had an iMac to be exchanged some years ago, the replacement later had some screen problems although still usable) etc.
So I'm probably looking into a maxed-out iMac here (obviously 3rd party RAM) - the price reduction for the SSD today really helped. Which makes it pretty convenient (not sure what I should ever want to upgrade later), but you can't just put the drive into another machine if something fails.
I *think* this configuration should take me easily 5-7 years down the road (I don't mind the bezel, lol).
With better graphics the mini might have been an option, and I don't think the eGPU thing is completely hassle-free, starting with swapping inputs from eGPU to Mac and back etc, running fans, more boxes on the table... and maxed out it is not so much of a good deal anymore in comparison.
Sorry for being very long-worded and ... hmm ... chatty today, but I'd really appreciate your thoughts. Thanks
