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cinnabun814

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Original poster
Apr 2, 2018
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I want to get one of them eventually but I don't edit videos or anything super intensive like that. I do run some SAAS software for work and want to start a saas business but if i'm not getting much benefit for the core count I won't bother.
 
Almost certainly the i9. Not many day to day programmes are truly designed to make use of 8 cores, let alone 18. Definitely don't waste money on the iMac Pro.
 
I want to get one of them eventually but I don't edit videos or anything super intensive like that. I do run some SAAS software for work and want to start a saas business but if i'm not getting much benefit for the core count I won't bother.
oh damn, if you are asking then you don't need 18core.
Everyday task? Which everyday tasks require 18 cores?
i9 (or even lower) is perfectly fine for everyday tasks.
The thread is really silly and I think you know that :)
 
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Almost certainly the i9. Not many day to day programmes are truly designed to make use of 8 cores, let alone 18. Definitely don't waste money on the iMac Pro.
I'd waste the money for the dual fans cooling and Vega 56 :D, the rest ~ meh
 
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I'd waste the money for the dual fans cooling and Vega 56 :D, the rest ~ meh

That was my thought as well. When the new iMac Pro comes out, it might be a good idea to get a discounted base model 2017 iMac Pro simply for the enhanced video card and cooling system.
 
For everyday tasks get the i5 9th gen and that should last you a long time and save money you can put towards startup costs for your business. Unless you're expecting to 10X right out the gate? In that case, do you need a designer?
 
If you have to ask, then it's probably not for you.
If you want a larger epeen, then go buy a larger epeen. Your decision.

If you are an aspiring business owner then think of the CPU cores in terms of employees and the work you need them to do.
Say your job or task is to move 9 boxes from point A to point B.
Do you hire 9 to 18 workers to move those boxes?
Do you hire 18 to 36 workers to move those same 9 boxes?

If you don't need it, you're hiring all of those people to say "HEY, my business has 18 employees!!" .... "but I don't have enough sustained work to keep them employed so I'm going to lose a ton of money employing 18 workers."

So your decision is, do I pay $3,000 to open a webpage or $10,000 to open the same webpage?
 
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I'd waste the money for the dual fans cooling and Vega 56 :D, the rest ~ meh

Given that macs aren't gaming machines if you're chasing the openCL (or metal) compute power, just buy an i9 imac and plug in like 2-3 Radeon VII (or Vega 64s) in external enclosures, with proper cooling (each of which will murder a Vega 56) - for way less money - and be able to sell/upgrade them when Vega 56 is no longer relevant?
 
Given that macs aren't gaming machines if you're chasing the openCL (or metal) compute power, just buy an i9 imac and plug in like 2-3 Radeon VII (or Vega 64s) in external enclosures, with proper cooling (each of which will murder a Vega 56) - for way less money - and be able to sell/upgrade them when Vega 56 is no longer relevant?

Wouldnt those eGPUS run better attached to an iMac Pro?
 
An MacBook air Will do.
Maybe — or an iPad.

SAAS is "cloud based" everything. A variation on what we called Thin Client over 30 years ago. Your internet connection is the most important factor.

Whatever the minimum system requirements for a Mac are should also be the maximum system requirements.

If looking at a 27" iMac, get one with an SSD instead of a Fusion drive. Just in case you want to do something that requires actual system resources, ya know?

Or save your money and get a 2018 Mini (spend the extra $100 for 10G Ethernet—you might be able to use it in a couple of years) with a really nice 27", 32" or 34" LG 4K monitor. Not the right machine for me but, from what you've posted, more than what you need.

https://www.lg.com/us/4k-monitors
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Wouldnt those eGPUS run better attached to an iMac Pro?
The Black Magic eGPU is a 580 or Vega 56. The base iMac Pro is Vega 56 with a BTO Vega 64 or 64x option.

SAAS is Thin Client—everything over internet. Cannot benefit from Vega anything. It's the other things the OP hasn't told is that may justify an iMP. Of course, if he just wants one, ain't nuttin' wrong with that at all.
 
Given that macs aren't gaming machines if you're chasing the openCL (or metal) compute power, just buy an i9 imac and plug in like 2-3 Radeon VII (or Vega 64s) in external enclosures, with proper cooling (each of which will murder a Vega 56) - for way less money - and be able to sell/upgrade them when Vega 56 is no longer relevant?
I know, really... for the extreme gaming or film industry AV files the OP is crunching, it certainly makes sense, right.

Waitaminit... I haven't seen any of that mentioned...
 
I know, really... for the extreme gaming or film industry AV files the OP is crunching, it certainly makes sense, right.

Waitaminit... I haven't seen any of that mentioned...

True. Someone already covered the "why are you buying an iMac Pro for everyday tasks" thing above.

But even if you're looking at an iMac Pro - you'd be wanting to verify whether or not your workload scales with more CPU cores or more GPU power. Because if you're GPU bound then.... the 18 cores may be pointless. And the saved money vs. buying an iMac Pro (they start at roughly double the cost where i live) could be put into at least 2 or more Vega 64s (or maybe even CUDA capable Nvidia cards if that's your thing) and external (non blackmagic) thunderbolt enclosures to run them in.
 
An MacBook air Will do.

I run a 2013 MacBook Air 4gb ram 128gb harddrive plugged into an LG ultra wide monitor in clamshell mode with a 1tB Samsung ssd connected. Never close windows. Always sleep the system never shut down or rebooted. Only reboot if something goes weird which is like once a year or two.

3 desktops open at all times.

Desktop 1 mail and calendar side by side filling whole screen

Desktop 2 safari and iMessage side by side safari taking up majority of screen iMessage thin like on iPhone, notes in background behind safari, three finger or is it four finger to expose
Safari multiple tabs never closed atleast 4 constantly open.

Desktop 3 iTunes open all the time WiFi syncing to my iPhone XS Max

Four finger swipe between desktops

Never a stutter except for adding a new calendar event so mostly do that on iPhone.

Edit 1080p video easy in iMovie with all of that still open and running. 4K will edit but it’s a chore and won’t play smoothly so it’s a bit of a guessing game haha

Numbers for spreadsheet works fine with everything left open.
Writing in pages fine.

Just saying OP so you can see how capable Apple’s machines are.
 
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I run a 2013 MacBook Air 4gb ram 128gb harddrive plugged into an LG ultra wide monitor in clamshell mode with a 1tB Samsung ssd connected. Never close windows. Always sleep the system never shut down or rebooted. Only reboot if something goes weird which is like once a year or two.

3 desktops open at all times.

Desktop 1 mail and calendar side by side filling whole screen

Desktop 2 safari and iMessage side by side safari taking up majority of screen iMessage thin like on iPhone, notes in background behind safari, three finger or is it four finger to expose
Safari multiple tabs never closed atleast 4 constantly open.

Desktop 3 iTunes open all the time WiFi syncing to my iPhone XS Max

Four finger swipe between desktops

Never a stutter except for adding a new calendar event so mostly do that on iPhone.

Edit 1080p video easy in iMovie with all of that still open and running. 4K will edit but it’s a chore and won’t play smoothly so it’s a bit of a guessing game haha

Numbers for spreadsheet works fine with everything left open.
Writing in pages fine.

Just saying OP so you can see how capable Apple’s machines are.

I decided just to keep my current MacBook Pro. It has an i7 and 16GB of ram. From what everyone is telling me I shouldn't need more than that.
 
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