What 2019 iMac Did You Order?

[fokmik]

Vega was proven to run cooler also into the MBP2018...thanks to included HBM2
i9 was also proven that thanks to the included thermal cooling into the chip itself runs 10-15 degrees C cooler than any other i7

SO if you want the most silent imac, go base i5 that is 61W and with 570X
If you want more than that, the only choice is the combo i9+vega

 

[Jimmdean]

Vega was proven to run cooler also into the MBP2018...thanks to included HBM2
i9 was also proven that thanks to the included thermal cooling into the chip itself runs 10-15 degrees C cooler than any other i7

SO if you want the most silent imac, go base i5 that is 61W and with 570X
If you want more than that, the only choice is the combo i9+vega

It's a bit early to know for certain if any of this will be an issue in the 2019 iMac. We don't know if they made any changes to the thermal profile/heatsinks just yet. I bought the base model last time so I don't know, but if the top-line i7 was objectively "noisy" under load it stands to reason Apple would at least attempt to improve that a little.

 

[jimduhh]

Hello, I'm kind of a n00b at this so bear with me.

I was told at the Apple store that with the newer iMacs you cannot change the processor. But, I'm seeing a lot of people talking about getting a base processor and upgrading???

I'm assuming it's cheaper to go that route than to pay extra for Apple to do it for you. Can someone explain this process to me please?

(Btw I was looking at the 32GB i7 21.5" model)

Also, I'm in the market for specs that will help me make this computer last about 4 years with daily use for video editing and such, if you guys could make any recommendations. Thanks!

 

[fokmik]

only RAM is user replaceable , so cpu/gpu are very hard to change
On the 21.5" the RAM is also NOT user replaceable, only the 27" has it

 

[deconstruct60]

Yeah, that guy is wrong. You can always add eGPUs. The cost of enclosures is coming down and you can add your own card without having to get a big expensive kit from Apple.

In general, yes. However, in the context of Avid Media Composer... no (for now. I think there are rumblings they are looking to overhaul their core "engine" in the future. ). Composer has a rigid model where the only GPU that is relevant is the one that your primary monitor is directly hooked to. Yes, FCPX , DaVinci (and some others) will/can run circles around that.... but Composer is far more about momentum of doing what everyone else was/is doing in the recent past.

As a learning tool, either one is probably good enough. ( not worth completely busting a budget ). The Vega has more legs long term and enables incrementally more exploration. But if skipping back-up or primary storage capacity , gas money to go to class , or other essentials it probably isn't worth it.

 

[bwsteg]

Is there any negative effect to buying “too much” of a computer aside from financial reasons? For example, I don’t need the i9 nor the vega but I rather spend the extra and have a “better” iMac.

 

[Jimmdean]

Is there any negative effect to buying “too much” of a computer aside from financial reasons? For example, I don’t need the i9 nor the vega but I rather spend the extra and have a “better” iMac.

That's a pretty big reason. Everyone has to find their own personal sweet-spot. Otherwise we'd all have iMac Pro's.

 

[Tumbleweed666]

Hello, I'm kind of a n00b at this so bear with me.

I was told at the Apple store that with the newer iMacs you cannot change the processor. But, I'm seeing a lot of people talking about getting a base processor and upgrading???

I'm assuming it's cheaper to go that route than to pay extra for Apple to do it for you. Can someone explain this process to me please?

I think you'll find they mean selecting a model with a base processor that can be "upgraded" (the 3.0Ghz model cannot) as part of the config process of choosing what processor you want. eg choose either of the two more expensive "base" models and you then get a choice to "upgrade" the processor (eg, pick a faster one)
They dont mean "open it up and put a different processor in themselves" as a DIY task.

 

[SkiHound2]

Is there any negative effect to buying “too much” of a computer aside from financial reasons? For example, I don’t need the i9 nor the vega but I rather spend the extra and have a “better” iMac.

I think the only POTENTIAL issue heat. The i7 RX580 combo (and to a lesser extent the i5 8600k variant) had heat issues and considerable fan noise for many folks. The base and middle tier models have lower TDB cpus and GPUs that generate less heat and had no such issues. fokmik in this thread is saying the i9 runs cooler than and i7 and that the Vega will run cooler than the RX 580x. I have no reason to doubt that comment, but I've not really seen tests that verify that.

 

[Dezlboy]

My requirements are rather pedestrian - Web browsing, email, Office for Mac (Word, Excel).

Debated back and forth and back between 27" and 21", Amount of Ram, Ability to add RAM later, I3, I5, etc.

Made my call on what my needs are. Hard to fight off the urge to get a more "sexy" machine configuration.

ORDERED:
-- 4K 21.5 inch monitor
-- 3.6GHz Quad-Core I3 processor
-- 16 GB RAM
-- 256 SSD

I think apocalyarts, Dingster101, ccsicecoke, and I are the only 21.5 inchers.

To all...again, thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge.

 

[Jimmdean]

Where are you getting you data on heat generation? I've been searching for sources that actually compare the heat from the i5 9600k and i9 9900k. Don't see myself really needing either the i9 or the Vega, but heat issues and fan noise in the the prior i7 iMac concern me. I suspect the 570 or 575 gpus would be fine for my needs but as soon as you upgrade the storage on the lower and middle tier variants the prices get very close to the price of the higher tier. The i5 9600k, RX 580, with SSD seems like the best value for me. And I just found out I have SMART errors on main drive of my 2012 Mini so I'm either going to need to make the upgrade or buy an external SSD to use as a boot drive for my old Mini for a while.

All of the 9th Gen CPUs have the same thermal design change (heat-spreader). So logically there is no way the i9 could be cooler than the top-model i5 here, especially when all 12 cores are pegged. The 580x is kind of a mystery though. It’s a re-brand/clock bump for sure, but better thermal dissipation would seem to be expected as well based on the seemingly little overall change, but nearly 2 years additional time for design tweaks.

 

[TomOSeven]

Still waiting for a steeply discounted SSD iMac 5k 2017 to pop up somewhere.

A processor bump is the last thing I needed.

 

[apocalyarts]

I think apocalyarts, Dingster101, ccsicecoke, and I are the only 21.5 inchers.

To all...again, thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge.

Yaaay, Team 21.5

I actually went to a local tech store where they had some iMacs standing next to each other to see which one I want. And honestly, with the big bezels that 27" iMac is just too huge for me.

My girlfriend started to take over my homeoffice in preparation of her final exams, so I'll probably set the iMac up at our big living room table where I'll be sitting rather close to the screen anyway. From what I'm reading here I guess more would buy the 21.5, if it had accessible RAM as well.

 

[patmo]

Can't choose between these new imac... I'm graphic designer and wonder if i should go with the first model (3.0Ghz) with 512 SSD or the last (3.7Ghz) with 512 SSD... I will pay 2459 € for the first option or 2719 € for the second... This 260 € more worth it ?

 

[JohanCruyff]

My 2007 24" Core 2 Duo 2.4 Ghz, with a HD->SSD replacement is still working, except for the DVD reader, but will likely be replaced by a new 2019 iMac:

• 27"
• i5 9th generation 3.7-4.6Ghz
• 8GB RAM (DIY upgradable)
• 512GB SSD
• (Italian) Magic Keyboard with numeric keypad
• 2.869 euros in Italy (VAT included), but I have to check if I can save a bit thanks to my son's status (University Student)

It will be used for general purposes + photo editing, and I expect it to be OK even if in the next years I'll have to post-process RAW files of, say, 50-60 MPixels.

All of the 9th Gen CPUs have the same thermal design change (heat-spreader). So logically there is no way the i9 could be cooler than the top-model i5 here, especially when all 12 cores are pegged. The 580x is kind of a mystery though. It’s a re-brand/clock bump for sure, but better thermal dissipation would seem to be expected as well based on the seemingly little overall change, but nearly 2 years additional time for design tweaks.

I think I will wait and read the first reviews.
My iMac will be placed in my living room, so I expect it to be silent, even if it involves a 5/10% reduction in performance.
Maybe the 65W i5 8th gen (8600) could be better than the 95W 9th gen (9600K), even if I realize that the value for money of the 9600K + 8GB 580X is better than the 8600 + 4GB 575X.

Or maybe an owner of previous iMacs (e.g. 7700K) can conferm that the heating and fan problems arise only when, say, exporting 4K videos, whereas photography editing and opening 20 Firefox / Chrome tabs didn't require 100% of the CPU?

 

[adamjackson]

Is there any negative effect to buying “too much” of a computer aside from financial reasons? For example, I don’t need the i9 nor the vega but I rather spend the extra and have a “better” iMac.

There's an unproven concern about the top end iMac being louder with fan noise. But it seems people can't really agree if it'll be louder or quieter.

There's also someone here who said hyper threading is "wear & tear" on a CPU. I've never heard that before and have had a hyper threaded Intel CPU in my computers over the last 10+ years with no chip failures and I run mine at 100% 8 hours a day.

If you can swing $4,000 for an iMac, you'll get many years of enjoyment out of the top-end machine.

 

[Dezlboy]

Yaaay, Team 21.5 I guess more would buy the 21.5, if it had accessible RAM as well.

Agreed! My one concern for future use buying the 21.5" was, "will 16GB RAM" be enough?" My current 2009 Mini maxed at 4GB. Ideally I would order any iMac with 8GB, and upgrade if needed more. The cost of upgrading the order from 8GB to 16GB (and not have to go into the guts to upgrade myself) made sense.

For heavy users, I see the advantage of going with the 27" with minimum memory in the Apple order, because those users will buy and install themselves 32GB RAM or more.

 

[ccsicecoke]

Yaaay, Team 21.5

I actually went to a local tech store where they had some iMacs standing next to each other to see which one I want. And honestly, with the big bezels that 27" iMac is just too huge for me.

My girlfriend started to take over my homeoffice in preparation of her final exams, so I'll probably set the iMac up at our big living room table where I'll be sitting rather close to the screen anyway. From what I'm reading here I guess more would buy the 21.5, if it had accessible RAM as well.

I would suggest go with built-in VESA mount. That saved tremendous space from my small desk

 

[Oldmanmac]

Those people replacing their 2015's. where?

 

[kahornshoej]

Hello guys and girls may you can help me out.

Rigt now I have a 21" late 2013 256gb ssd 16gb i7. Still running smooth.

I have been waiting and saving for an iMac upgrade. Now the 2019 upgrade is finally is here im thinking about ordering the following:

27" i5 9. generation
8 Gb ram
580x
512 gb ssd.

Price in Denmark: 3060 usd at educationstore. Im a teacher.

Well, for me its a lot of money and the specs are probably overkill. But I want my purchase to last many years. 5-10 years.

And that's where my concern comes in. Im thinking; what if the redesign comes at the next update? Will I have buyers remorse? I know it's a difficult question to answer. But what would you do in my situation?

Im really debating what to do. I just love new tech and I have been waiting so long and my wife has given me the go ahead. My old iMac is running fine for my needs, but man I would love that 27" screen.
I can probably sell my current iMac for 680usd.

 

[WrightBrain]

Definitely getting one if the thermals are fine and no T2 chip. Either maxed out 21.5” or mid tier 27” - not sure which as either size display will be fine with my vision.

6 core, probably not i9 though. Possibly Vega GPU, at least 32gb of RAM and 512gb - 1tb SSD. I do not really need the Vega, but after choosing the wrong GPU twice now, I think that might be the way to go. I’d rather have a little more computer than I need than not enough again.

Waiting on reviews about thermals, T2 chip inside(?) and overall responsiveness.

Definitely no T2 chip. But yeah, I'm waiting for someone to test the CPU temps. FWIW, the i9's are using solder and might be cooler. The 3.7 i5 (9600K) is also soldered.

 

[Ifti]

No 10GBe - even as a BTO option - is a deal breaker for me. Waited ages for an 'update' too!

 

[fokmik]

No 10GBe - even as a BTO option - is a deal breaker for me. Waited ages for an 'update' too!

why you waited ages for an imac since the 10Gbe was never a thing for the recent imacs?!

 

[Foxer]

Where are people buying their RAM?

 

[dimme]

Those people replacing their 2015's. where?

???