So realistically, what can we expect GPU wise this fall?

[scoobeesnac]

The better option for the iMac is a cooler but performant GPU. Everyone knows the issues with heat-related problems as well as fan noise.

The AMD Polaris range seems to fit the bill, along with VR, HDR and the connections.

I understand that there are more performant gamer-type cards.

 

[tomwvr]

I don't think its quite as clear as that although I'm sure money is a HUGE factor. AMD had to collaborate with Apple for their proprietary single tile 5k P3 display TCON. We don't know much more than that, for all we know nVidia could have said to buzz off.

AMD and nVidia have different business models. Neither AMD nor Apple are currently struggling especially AMD with their contracts. I mean come on, you are 5x more likely to see/use an AMD product than nVidia in your everyday routines....Playstation and Xbox alone almost guarantee that.



You just feel nVidia is more premium because they currently have a better GPU line out. And with the use of Vulkan those lines are being more and more blurred. The Fury X was AMD's version of the Titan X (previous generation) and it held its own.

This is reminiscent of saying the Galaxy S(whatever) is better then the iPhone simply because they have different launch dates. Of course the newest thing from either competing company is going to be better.




List your parts you are using....

Its literally impossible to build a computer that is 4x faster than a maxed out iMac at the same price. Even if you are doing something as weird as comparing it to last years iMac you still can't build a PC that is 4x faster at the same price. You'll exceed the entire price of the iMac in a quest finding a CPU that is 4x faster. The iMac uses m.2 PCIe storage, nothing that is 4x faster. Thunderbolt, USB, etc etc all similar. Memory can definitely really be improved but not 4x...maybe 2x. So really when you say "pretty much every aspect" you mean "only the GPU"?

Plus you are building a desktop tower not an AIO which the two shouldn't be compared so easily. And YOU are building it yourself if I build something equivalent to a maxed out iMac with a GTX1080 through another manufacturer I come up with this. (its hard to find everything Apple offers in a BTO pc especially a 6700k and m.2 storage but I found Alienware has something similar).

i7 6700k, 32gb RAM, 1tb M.2 SSD, Windows 10 Home 64bit, GTX1080 Founders, with an optical drive (I couldn't remove that so take off 50 bucks).

View attachment 647754

No monitor, no speakers, no mic, no camera, no thunderbolt. (I'm ASSUMING it comes with a mouse and keyboard although not positive about that).

Sorry but compare the IMAC to an ALL IN ONE not a DESK TOP...
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Hehe, yeah that would have been a bit funny But, then again, I'm glad I made the switch. If apple would have released that now before I ordered my pc I probably would have made another stupid iMac 5K purchase, which like we discussed, would have been stupid. This machine is a pure production machine, with high focus on GPU and CPU heavy tasks..something I really need as I work in the games and VFX industry.

I do own a bunch of other Macs and pads though (Mac mini SSD as my entertainment system, MacBook Retina, iPad Pro, air2, air1 etc etc). so its not like I'm leaving Apple, but the iMac will no longer be my main work machine.

But, I hope for the sake of new iMac buyers they will still give options of top end GPUs that can handle the tight space. That would prove that Apple is shifting its focus a bit, something I think they should do for the future of Macs. VR, Games and AR is becoming increasingly important in peoples lives and Apple should acknowledge that...So it would be nice if OS X and Macs in general would become more than primarily productivity machines.

I don't want a top END GPU - I just don't like AMD and never have, its a personal preference. I had not owned a MAC in over 20 years * had a MAC SE long ago. Always loved the environment of Apple , and the rest of my family all had MAC laptops. So I got the 2012 IMAC but made sure I had the best card available - if they had had an AMD card in it I would not have purchased it.
[doublepost=1473036531][/doublepost]

The better option for the iMac is a cooler but performant GPU. Everyone knows the issues with heat-related problems as well as fan noise.

The AMD Polaris range seems to fit the bill, along with VR, HDR and the connections.

I understand that there are more performant gamer-type cards.

I never hear a fan in my 2012 -but it is in my Basement that is constantly around 70

 

[Mac32]

Bullcrap. It's AMD who produces hot and under-performing GPUs, not Nvidia. Come on, Apple, get your act together.

 

[Trebuin]

Bullcrap. It's AMD who produces hot and under-performing GPUs, not Nvidia. Come on, Apple, get your act together.

Both are guilty. A bit after ATI left the scene, nVidia changed the temp limit of their GPUs from 80C to 100C which brought the lifetime of those chips with the metal compounds down significantly. This was significant among the 8xxx series and 9xxx series. When AMD came back with ATI's chips, they jumped on the new temp bandwagon and learned the same lesson. Dark days for graphics cards.

 

[iMcLovin]

I have finally finished building my PC and set everything up the way I liked it, with hidden cables, super clean tower internals, tweaked every settings in windows to my liking etc.... Of course building my own PC and install everything from scratch is a lot more work than getting a new iMac and plug in the cords and install the programs. But its rewarding in the end, a fun process. Now, when all of it is complete, I gotta say Im so happy with the installment. Its super quiet, can barely hear it, even when the machine is working on full load. I dont even notice any lag when working in other programs when the machine is working hard. And the 32" asus Pa329Q monitor is just gorgeous, in a different way than the 5K iMac, but it looks amazing...with less edge bleed and uneven back light and more uniform colors. So, all in all, I got a super fast computer with a great 4K screen, were I can replace the parts whenever I need and I can now sell my iMac with no remorse. I recommend everyone that is interested and need proper hardware (and sick of waiting for Apple) to simply just take the challenge (apple will never satisfy everyone who wants great GPUs and CPUs and have high demands of the computer internals anyway). Building your own is fun and rewarding...and not that difficult. Once you are finished you will notice that Windows 10 is pretty great in its own way (thats if you are not used to windows all ready), you get a super smooth computer for a cheaper sum and knowing that you can bolster your machine with whats important for you! is a great feeling. Right now I got less visible cables and stuff lying around my desk as well...no external HDD, so its a huge flat screen and a white box anonymously hidden under the table and keyboard and mouse is wireless just a good looking - So with all the peripherals you have to connect to a iMac or Mac Pro, I personally like this better. And not least, being able to play any games that exist in ultra settings - oh wow!. All in all - I couldn't be more satisfied.


....Just wanted to share my experience, even though it might not be what everyone wants to hear

 

[maflynn]

I have finally finished building my PC and set everything up the way I liked it

I've gone that route before, and more recently, when I needed to replace my laptop, I opted for a windows machine, specifically a SurfaceBook. I'm really enjoying what Win10 has to offer and allows a higher degree of control and customization.

I still use OS X and think it does some things much better then windows, but for my needs, Windows is a better fit

 

[CWallace]

If you can comfortably afford a $4000 fully-loaded iMac 5K, you can probably also afford a $1500 Windows 10 gaming machine. This is the route I will probably take as I just don't want to give up macOS for my daily work, but I am now starting to get interested in VR and playing Windows-only games with friends that requires much better GPU performance (via BootCamp) than Apple can / will put into an iMac. Best of both worlds and it's still cheaper than a Mac Pro.

 

[Mac32]

Yes, but some of us have limited space, and don't want to litter a small study room with two monitors, and two computers. I just want an AIO simple solution, where I can boot up in Windows now and then and play some STALKER, Doom 4, Metro, Wolfenstein, whatever. The fact that Apple insists on using the considerably slower GPU option, when there is a new high performing range that would really give a big performance boost is - well, very disappointing.

 

[scoobeesnac]

Isn't the AMD Polaris RX 470/480 the one they are using the PS4 Pro?

 

[Astelith]

I've solved the gaming issue with a game streaming server with a 1080gtx and the Moonlight chrome app, so I can play all the windows games in my iMac 5K in 4K resolution

 

[theitsage]

10.12.1 Beta has new drivers for Polaris cards. More importantly, the supporting kext file for Polaris GPUs is now a new file, AMDRadeon4100.kext.