Should I get an iMac or holdoff

[grcar]

I pulled the trigger last wednesday, working on photos with this thing is just lovely! everything is so smooth and you can view photos at 80-100% on the beautiful screen, which makes working on them easier.

I bought the same model, and I am very happy with it.

 

[T-Will]

Our 21" 4K is arriving on Monday!

 

[Sakurambo-kun]

I've been reading this forum for a while. I currently have a mid 2010 MBP that has been very good to me over the years. But since I went into photography (www.m7m.photo) 2-3 years, the last year or so it has been a struggle to work on the little thing, thing just chokes now and space on the HDD is really running low. Was planning on getting the iMac (3.3 GHz, 2TB Fusion and R9 M395) this month, but then I read this and now I'm in doubt.

is there going to be a big difference in performance with the new GPUs, and when is the expected iMac update?

if the difference is just going to be slight for most of work I do (planning on getting into video as well). Like just a savings minutes of rendering or something then it might not be worth the weight, as working on my MBP has put off photography a little bit as its too slow now.

I'd wait. The GPUs in the current iMacs are horribly underpowered (exacerbated by Apple's miserably out of date and slow OpenGL drivers, and their refusal to support Vulkan). Apple will no doubt continue using dumbed down laptop chips in high end desktops which in itself is absurd. but next year's chips should be a great deal more powerful all the same.

It's also worth noting that iMacs have real thermal issues. I have a 4Ghz iMac and when the CPU is under load the fans ramp up very quickly and the system throttles the CPU so much there is little point buying such a high end CPU at all. I guess it just isn't possible to cool such a hot chip under load with the iMac's limited cooling system.

 

[maflynn]

It's also worth noting that iMacs have real thermal issues. I have a 4Ghz iMac and when the CPU is under load the fans ramp up very quickly and the system throttles the CPU

What are you running to push the CPUs? Personally I've not had any problems with temperatures or throttling on my M395 iMac.

I'm very happy with the GPU, its fast enough for my needs, though admittedly I'm probably not needing a lot of GPU horsepower.

 

[Sakurambo-kun]

What are you running to push the CPUs? Personally I've not had any problems with temperatures or throttling on my M395 iMac.

I'm very happy with the GPU, its fast enough for my needs, though admittedly I'm probably not needing a lot of GPU horsepower.

3D rendering and processing photogrammetry.

Realtime 3D performance is frankly abysmal. It's far worse than my mid range desktop PC, and that's 3 and a half years old at this point. Performance is much better in Windows on the iMac due to it running a modern graphics API (DX 11 or 12) as opposed to the prehistoric version of Open GL in OS X. Still, there's only so much you can do on a cheap mobile GPU.

 

[m7ammed]

I'd wait. The GPUs in the current iMacs are horribly underpowered (exacerbated by Apple's miserably out of date and slow OpenGL drivers, and their refusal to support Vulkan). Apple will no doubt continue using dumbed down laptop chips in high end desktops which in itself is absurd. but next year's chips should be a great deal more powerful all the same.

It's also worth noting that iMacs have real thermal issues. I have a 4Ghz iMac and when the CPU is under load the fans ramp up very quickly and the system throttles the CPU so much there is little point buying such a high end CPU at all. I guess it just isn't possible to cool such a hot chip under load with the iMac's limited cooling system.

already pulled the trigger last Wednesday! https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/should-i-get-an-imac-or-holdoff.1968616/page-2#post-22856531

 

[maflynn]

3D rendering and processing photogrammetry.

I see, then yeah, you're pushing your machine harder then mine.

 

[grcar]

I see, then yeah, you're pushing your machine harder then mine.

The thing is, when the machine costs so much, the cooling should be able to handle any load.
[doublepost=1462115868][/doublepost]

already pulled the trigger last Wednesday! https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/should-i-get-an-imac-or-holdoff.1968616/page-2#post-22856531

The other people who wrote here are a little bit dishonest, because Apple released the first 27inch retina in MAY 2015, then the current crop in OCTOBER 2015. It would not be a surprise if the next refresh is JUNE 2016.

 

[accentaudio]

I'd wait. The GPUs in the current iMacs are horribly underpowered (exacerbated by Apple's miserably out of date and slow OpenGL drivers, and their refusal to support Vulkan). Apple will no doubt continue using dumbed down laptop chips in high end desktops which in itself is absurd. but next year's chips should be a great deal more powerful all the same.

It's also worth noting that iMacs have real thermal issues. I have a 4Ghz iMac and when the CPU is under load the fans ramp up very quickly and the system throttles the CPU so much there is little point buying such a high end CPU at all. I guess it just isn't possible to cool such a hot chip under load with the iMac's limited cooling system.

I hate to admit it, but I agree with you. And I have my 5k arriving tomorrow, max specs. I am going to spend the day doing some testing, including the image persistence test and if it proves to be a weak machine it's going back. I don't know what I'll get then, as the MP is pathetically 3+ years old now... I never gave much mind to the thermal issues. I am now.

 

[maflynn]

The thing is, when the machine costs so much, the cooling should be able to handle any load.

I'm not disagreeing, My usage habits are such that, my iMac is running cool, so all I can do is talk regarding my personal experience.

 

[accentaudio]

I'm not disagreeing, My usage habits are such that, my iMac is running cool, so all I can do is talk regarding my personal experience.

I have learned some things by watching this thread that I was not even aware of. I didn't know cooling was an issue with the iMac. I mean if they are basically the same components that are in the MBP why should the additional space cause cooling issues? Doesn't make sense to me as you don't seem to hear too many people complaining that their MBP have cooling issues.

 

[Ankaa]

I didn't either. I only knew about the rMBP.

Now I'm actually worried. Was going to order a 27'' next week While I'm not going to do 3D rendering (and am not sure if I will need a lot of GPU power, or not - I just don't know if my usage needs GPU, being ignorant here), I certainly will need CPU power and that's why I was going for 4 GHz and a lot of RAM. Running such things as Matlab, Parallels (prob with ArcGIS)... I don't mind fans powering up if necessary under full last, but throttling... I was a proud user of the MBA 1st gen. No, thank you, I don't need that again ...

 

[accentaudio]

I didn't either. I only knew about the rMBP.

Now I'm actually worried. Was going to order a 27'' next week While I'm not going to do 3D rendering (and am not sure if I will need a lot of GPU power, or not - I just don't know if my usage needs GPU, being ignorant here), I certainly will need CPU power and that's why I was going for 4 GHz and a lot of RAM. Running such things as Matlab, Parallels (prob with ArcGIS)... I don't mind fans powering up if necessary under full last, but throttling... I was a proud user of the MBA 1st gen. No, thank you, I don't need that again ...

Yeah I just don't like the idea of owning a somewhat gimpy crippled machine. Even though I may not do things that tax it that heavily, the bottom line is this simply shouldn't be the case for this high dollar of machines.
[doublepost=1462127151][/doublepost]The following video might shed some light for all those involved in this post:

 

[Ankaa]

The other people who wrote here are a little bit dishonest, because Apple released the first 27inch retina in MAY 2015, then the current crop in OCTOBER 2015. It would not be a surprise if the next refresh is JUNE 2016.

But what were the big updates in the May 2015 release? Maybe it was only to deal with the heat issues?

Usually Apple doesn't do two updates in one year. Yes, it happens, but it's not normal.

 

[Dean Yu]

But what were the big updates in the May 2015 release? Maybe it was only to deal with the heat issues?

Usually Apple doesn't do two updates in one year. Yes, it happens, but it's not normal.

The May 2015 update? Nah, just a cheaper $1999 model to lower the entry cost/replace the high-end non Retina 27". Nothing else significant.
[doublepost=1462135203][/doublepost]

The thing is, when the machine costs so much, the cooling should be able to handle any load.
[doublepost=1462115868][/doublepost]

The other people who wrote here are a little bit dishonest, because Apple released the first 27inch retina in MAY 2015, then the current crop in OCTOBER 2015. It would not be a surprise if the next refresh is JUNE 2016.

1. First retina 5K was available in October 2014.
2. It's not the cost, it's the physical thermal envelope (size, thinness), cooling configuration(one fan/low rpm, exchange cooling efficiency with noise level) and component (6700k and m395x are fairly hot for this form factor).
Basically Apple just want one to step up to a $3K Mac Pro for these property one want. Shameful.
[doublepost=1462135791][/doublepost]

I have learned some things by watching this thread that I was not even aware of. I didn't know cooling was an issue with the iMac. I mean if they are basically the same components that are in the MBP why should the additional space cause cooling issues? Doesn't make sense to me as you don't seem to hear too many people complaining that their MBP have cooling issues.

No and No.
The high-and iMac 5K has a desktop 6700K, which has a 91W TDP, and a R9 M395X, which despite being a high end mobile GPU still has 125W of power. That's more than the D700, the one in the top-of-line Mac Pro (in term of raw power 0.2 TP higher than the Mac Pro).
MBP 15 retina DG? Alright, A whip 4980HQ has a 47W TDP, and a M370X provide additional <60W of heat out put.
It seems the MBP 15 thermal issue is not wide-spreaded enough
Nevertheless, I would say that the M395X is generally better than the M295X in terms of thermal.

 

[komiez]

Need to buy a new mac, pref the iMac within the year or beginning of next year when I have saved some cash.

I will mostly do music in Logic and use a lot of VST's and virtual instruments like Kontakt etc, so if I had the late 2015 version at 27" now I would add upp the RAM to 32gb at least.

Since I need to wait couple of months before I buy my iMac which I wanna use, would it be good to wait for the next one? Or when would be the "best" time to buy a new iMac, bypass the Kaby lake and wait for the Cannonlake?
The thing is the "best" iMac at apple store is 4.0Ghz version, do you guys think that the newer iMacs would have the same CPU prefs or would the next (Kaby lake?) be even better because of the updates and new Intel's?
Will be working long hours so got a little worried with the "overheatings", why I wonder if wait for the next ones would be a better option. I will really need as fast processor as possible.

 

[m7ammed]

Need to buy a new mac, pref the iMac within the year or beginning of next year when I have saved some cash.

I will mostly do music in Logic and use a lot of VST's and virtual instruments like Kontakt etc, so if I had the late 2015 version at 27" now I would add upp the RAM to 32gb at least.

Since I need to wait couple of months before I buy my iMac which I wanna use, would it be good to wait for the next one? Or when would be the "best" time to buy a new iMac, bypass the Kaby lake and wait for the Cannonlake?
The thing is the "best" iMac at apple store is 4.0Ghz version, do you guys think that the newer iMacs would have the same CPU prefs or would the next (Kaby lake?) be even better because of the updates and new Intel's?
Will be working long hours so got a little worried with the "overheatings", why I wonder if wait for the next ones would be a better option. I will really need as fast processor as possible.

If you need it now get it, if you don't get it when you do need it. I'm enjoying mine now and I dont think I will have any regrets whatever they release next.

 

[maflynn]

Usually Apple doesn't do two updates in one year. Yes, it happens, but it's not normal.

Agreed, and what does Apple have to update? I mean for the 5k iMac its already on the skylake chipset. I don't see them upgrading the line just for the new AMD GPU. So that leaves the 21" iMac, I'm not sold they'll do that in WWDC.

 

[iMcLovin]

Agreed, and what does Apple have to update? I mean for the 5k iMac its already on the skylake chipset. I don't see them upgrading the line just for the new AMD GPU. So that leaves the 21" iMac, I'm not sold they'll do that in WWDC.

What I dont understand is why apple, once released something cant change the BTO options. If they gave you the ability to get the new AMD cards once they are out, or they change out the components to choose from on Mac Pro, people wouldn't be so frustrated with the slow refresh rates on apples Professional workstations. But, if you look at buyers guide, apart from a couple of very slow refresh rates (when apple struggled to get the new thin imac out, etc) the usual refresh rate is about now and 2-3 months forward. So I hope they at least makes improvements on the GPU options before fall.

 

[Ankaa]

I have a more or less unrelated question: Does anybody know how long they will keep it if I do "Ship to Store"? I'll be gone for two weeks and if I order now, the iMac is scheduled to arrive 2 days after I left...

 

[komiez]

What I dont understand is why apple, once released something cant change the BTO options. If they gave you the ability to get the new AMD cards once they are out, or they change out the components to choose from on Mac Pro, people wouldn't be so frustrated with the slow refresh rates on apples Professional workstations. But, if you look at buyers guide, apart from a couple of very slow refresh rates (when apple struggled to get the new thin imac out, etc) the usual refresh rate is about now and 2-3 months forward. So I hope they at least makes improvements on the GPU options before fall.

Just read this link:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/broarwell-e-processor-cinebench-testing/?&utm_term=DT Newsletter - Daily Subscribers

Why does some pages say dual core and quad core?! When the Broadwell-e i7 6800k and 6850k say six and eight and 10 cores Broadwell-e if I'v not misread it?

http://wccftech.com/intels-10nm-can...ies-q3-2016-kaby-lakes-desktop-chips-1h-2017/

What do you think fellas?

 

[Lankyman]

Personally given the concerns on Wall Street, TC having to submit to a rare interview to assuage investor fears and the likes of Carl Ichan selling all his Apple stock, I would wait for Apple to get their heads out of their backsides and decide just where they're taking the 'Desktop'.

Who else on this planet (except die hard Apple fans) would pay top dollar for outdated hardware. You only have to compare units such as the NUC Skull Canyon against the Mac Mini to see what an embarrassing situation this has become. The sensible money would be to do absolutely nothing in the short term and see what happens.

 

[Zarniwoop]

Apple will do most likely a silent update for iGPU models to Skylake era including Iris Pro 580 before WWDC. Could be also that 27" 5k m380 model becomes iGPU only, because they're pretty equal, at least on paper.

What happens to dGPU models, let's see. Maybe Apple will reinvent iMac when macOS comes out next fall... who knows.

 

[Lankyman]

Apple will do most likely a silent update for iGPU models to Skylake era including Iris Pro 580 before WWDC. Could be also that 27" 5k m380 model becomes iGPU only, because they're pretty equal, at least on paper.

What happens to dGPU models, let's see. Maybe Apple will reinvent iMac when macOS comes out next fall... who knows.

Sounds like a lot of 'likely's' and 'maybe's' to me. Can I assume you know absolutely nothing about Apple's future plans?

 

[Zarniwoop]

I know just that they (Apple) are emptying their stock with those models mentioned. Goes interestingly inline with Intel release and Iris Pro 580 having exact same computing capabilities as Radeon M380 has. Same happened with Macbook, around one month before update they started to empty their stock to certain resellers.

I wrote "likely" because Apple might have other reasons for this too. Let's see, this Apples offer to resellers will end on 10th of May.

So if dGPU units stay, they're not going to be updated very soon. Their future is total speculation.