MP 1,1-5,1 Upgrade from base MacPro5,1 -> Which iMac?

[cosmichobo]

G'day,

I am currently running a Mac Pro 5,1 2.8ghz Quad as my main desktop, with 2 x 23" Apple Cinema Displays.

I had been considering changing over to a high spec M1 Mini, plus NAS (both second hand for around AU$1,500) and keeping the ACD's, but am starting to think a mid 2010's 27" iMac, and an early LCD/Thunderbolt 27" display may be better... + the NAS.

In terms of performance, what model/s am I looking at in the iMac range to be comparable to the base MP5,1? Year / processor?

I'm thinking I can pick up a second hand Apple 27" display for around $400, and if I can get the iMac for around $600, that still leaves $500 for a reasonable NAS.

Cheers

cosmic

 

[mikas]

Hope I got it right what you are going after for.

While an iMac 2010 i7 is almost a perfect match to your Mac Pro performance wise, you can't have any usable OSX with it after High Sierra. It's good for running older stuff or as an external target mode display, but not for anything more anymore. I've got a few of those as leftovers, and use as a monitor at times, or when in need to dig some old stuff.

There's no thunderbolt either, so you would need to find cinema displays for that, you can't use tb-display with it.

I'd suggests you go for a few years newer if you want a cheap intel iMac. You'll get a lot more performance out of your iMac with newer i7s (see list). Both single core and multicore fare way better than a 2010 iMac. You'll get the thunderbolt too (different versions of it, but they will work with TB display). Of course newer ones cost more too, but I wouldn't buy a 2010 iMac for anything of daily use aymore, because of High Sierra cap. No patch or open core will help with it, the GPU is not capable enough, and changing the GPU is more for tinkerers than for daily users in my opinion.

Please see attached CPUbenchmark.net comparison. I marked the Pro €core and the i7 iMacs for you at the topmost row. The i5s are good too, (not in the list) performance of i5s is not that far away from i7 models from that same time period.

With 2015 you get a Retina display too, don't know if that's a desirable or not feature for you and your work.

ps. gotta love your row of ~Art~ in the sig.

 

[cosmichobo]

Thanks for the feedback!

And yes - sorry was a bit confusing with the terminology I used. I just meant - an iMac from 2010 - 2020; but given pricing, probably a lot closer to 2010 than 2020...

Looking at the above chart that you've kindly provided, I'd say the 2013 iMac may be a good choice. They sell for around $500 - $800 AUD on eBay. Will need to look closer at the specs, but it's in the ball-park.

I can live without a Retina, probably... HD is fine for any video work I'd be doing (nothing professional). I guess it would be "nice" if it happened, but it's not a necessity.

And yes... I have a few art pieces...