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Will there ever be a new large iMac (Pro)?
- Thread starter krazzix
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Well. It IS exciting.
I say that as an Intel iMac buyer.
To FINALLY have an Apple 'beating heart' in a Mac?
That alone makes it exciting. Yes. It has to perform. And Apple can finally 'tune' and customise cpus to the user workflow.
That is going to 'ace' the monolithic traditional Intel/AMD/NV' performers in some areas.
And in efficiency? Blow the doors off.
50% better perf' than the current Intel CPUs that run hot? Or the mediocre iGPUs. Or the 'so last year' and 'so mid range' AMD GPUs?
Software and hardware. Apple in charge of the Metal API. 'Smooth as butter iPad style' user performance feel. iOS millions of apps. A gateway to more apps than the Mac could ever dream of. Innovation rather than boat anchored to the past and generic middleware or generic monolithic hardware.
New form factors. Touch on the Mac. New paradigms 'Mac' stuff beyond must making the current ones slimmer or having longer batter life. New 'Mac' products maybe like a surface pro...but done with more potent hardware with a better price.
Actual Mac gaming instead of being a 2nd class Mac gaming citizen?
Truly, a Golden Age is upon us.
Azrael.
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You'll even have a Mac mini and all consumer Macs with decent gpus...!
Azrael.
Thank you so much for your input.
I think I'll go for the 5700 instead of 5700XT. The extra 10% is not worth and the Vram is probably not something I would take advantage of and seeing that this computer might be replaced in about 3 years ( i usually like to sell it before Apple Care runs out) then the extra $300 (CAD) is probably not worth it for the future proofing.
Now, my next debate is 1TB vs 2TB but to be honest I know I'll go for 2TB. I just hate the price tag
The nano coating - well, I hate glossy but testing it at home I think I might be able to survive with it but I will order the nano to see what I prefer. The price tag is even worse but I just can't not see it. I am that crazy.
Shame that Apple doesn't have it on display as that would save tons of returns.
Regardless, considering that I go on 8gb ram (I did notice small limits here and there) and I have 5500XT I have to say that this computer is very impressive. I'm sure when I load 32gb (or maybe 64) and get 5700 this is going to be a beast.
I just wish the bezels were thinner. They could cut them in half and it would all be ok.
Damn
How do you love yours?
I think I'll go for the 5700 instead of 5700XT. The extra 10% is not worth and the Vram is probably not something I would take advantage of and seeing that this computer might be replaced in about 3 years ( i usually like to sell it before Apple Care runs out) then the extra $300 (CAD) is probably not worth it for the future proofing.
Now, my next debate is 1TB vs 2TB but to be honest I know I'll go for 2TB. I just hate the price tag
The nano coating - well, I hate glossy but testing it at home I think I might be able to survive with it but I will order the nano to see what I prefer. The price tag is even worse but I just can't not see it. I am that crazy.
Shame that Apple doesn't have it on display as that would save tons of returns.
Regardless, considering that I go on 8gb ram (I did notice small limits here and there) and I have 5500XT I have to say that this computer is very impressive. I'm sure when I load 32gb (or maybe 64) and get 5700 this is going to be a beast.
I just wish the bezels were thinner. They could cut them in half and it would all be ok.
Damn
How do you love yours?
Hello Freida,
I'm glad you're having fun on your new iMac. And....no issues!
I would plump for the 5700 to 'balance' your system (seems like you're leaning that way..?) 50% speed difference for a few hundred is worth it. That's half a gpu better! It also future proofs your investment. Considering you're a Vfx artist.
There's nothing wrong with the 5500. Anyone coming from 2017 or 2012 (me...ME!) will notice a warp drive difference.
HD with super high frames. QHD with high frames. And both in Ultra mode. Some 4k gaming, depending on age of game. (I found WoW np in 4k.). 5k. Fans on max settings. WoW setting '5' at 5k 93 fps. Now that's pretty impressive for WoW. For any old game it's pretty gluttonous on resources. If you're a part time gamer/'light' gamer. I would have thought the 5700 with it's 8 gigs should be 'good' for at least a couple of years.
The XT has that bit extra performance... (which for those that need it...will know who they are...) but it's that 16 gig of VRAM which is the killer feature there... In, eg. 4k gaming. That might be noticeable in some games. And the 'latest' games over the next two years are going to keep pushing texture size/amounts. Game sizes are getting huge. And that's with the increased poly size, bigger landscapes...and mainly, the textures to go on more complex scenes.
In creative workflows. You have some people who need 64 gigs of system ram for their army of plug ins. They know who they are.
Similarly. 16 gigs of Vram. 50% more Vram than the 5700 vanilla. And that's partly what you're paying the premium for. And 10% or higher difference in speed. It's always about buying 'seconds' for £££.
It's about texture size. In games. And in creation software. I was running XSi (Softimage...) on my Athlon 800 MHz and Nvidia gpu. And the one thing that choked things real quick (back then) was memory. Holding a street scene (even with simple boxes...for models...) with lots of textures put a real strain on the rig I had back then. Modest by today's standards or even my old iMac. But it stuck with me. System Ram. Vram. So I thought I'd always buy the most Vram I could (and yes, a big dollop of system RAM.). 32:16 on my current rig.
Things are different now. An experience fx artist like yourself will firstly know how to be economic with luxurious resources. But the gpu workflow is increasingly gpu based. So having the grunt of a 5700 makes complete sense. The lack of such a powerful option before in an iMac has been vocally lamented by myself and others.
This iMac should be more than enough to paint 2D, paint in 3D, render in 3D. Model with millions of polys. That 5700 8 gig is going to kick az. Best thing to do would be to test texture painting on 3d models or a scene with lots of 4k texture sizes and see how the 5500 handles it. Then imagine 50% MOAR! The 5700 with 8 gigs makes more sense for you, from what you've said. So if you were once talking about an iMac Pro for your budget...pushing to the 5700 and you'll have an iMac Pro like experience for up to £2000-ish less.
I want to tell you to get the 5700XT with 16 gigs of Vram. But only you'll know if you need that as a VFX artist who may or may not take work home. Me? I'm thinking of scenes with lots of textures and where games or creative software might be in two+ years time. I remember thinking 8 gigs was 'a lot' and now game reviews sniff at 4 gigs of Vram.
Even my 680MX could handle Z-Brush with a few hundred thousand poly models. I'm going to bench my new rig with Z-Brush and see what detail levels I can get in real time and then render.
From what I saw of Maya 'back when' it seemed to run 'slow' with even modest scenes. I would have thought now, 32 gigs of system ram, an 8 gig gpu and an 8 core it would be far more tolerable. But my knowledge with Maya is not upto date. I'd be curious to hear of how you find the rendering of scenes...and how the iMac handles 3d scenes in the modelling window. If you're under NDA
I'll download the latest Blender and run some test renders.
Azrael.
I would like to say that my new computer has been issueless, but alas that has not been the case. Fortunately it is all minor stuff, but time consuming annoyances nonetheless. I decided to take the easy way out and use Migration Assistant to transfer everything from my Time Machine backup and things did not go well. The computer went into a loop and kept shutting down on restart.
I erased the drive and reinstalled to factory status figuring I would just do a clean install. All seemed well until I tried to do a new Time Machine backup. I got an error saying that I had two Macintosh HD-Data partitions and to rename one. That didn't make much sense to me, but when I looked it was true. For some reason a second partition was generated, but it had only 827 KB on it (see attached). I figured I could just delete it, but out of an abundance of caution I decided to call Apple. Mistake. They were sort of clueless, took up way too much of my time and were afraid of my losing data (which I appreciate, but my computer didn't 't have anything on it yet) so are escalating the issue.
Anyway, I just renamed it so I could use Time Machine figuring it's not doing any harm, but yet one more Catalina glitch? The OCD part of me hates that it is there, so I will probably eventually delete it.
On the positive side, things otherwise seem to be OK (knocking on wood), and my 32 GB Crucial RAM kit arrived and is running at 2667 Mhz in dual channel in slots 2 and 4. The Apple RAM I received with the computer was Micron so I had to try it with the new RAM to see for myself that it would slow the RAM speed down and ... no surprise ... it did. Oh well. I have 8 GB of Apple RAM in the drawer now.
Hopefully all will go well from here, but it is going to take more time to set up than I would like because I have to reinstall everything. And then when Big Sur is out for a little bit and the initial bugs worked out I'm going to do a clean install of that and go through the process again... sigh.
I erased the drive and reinstalled to factory status figuring I would just do a clean install. All seemed well until I tried to do a new Time Machine backup. I got an error saying that I had two Macintosh HD-Data partitions and to rename one. That didn't make much sense to me, but when I looked it was true. For some reason a second partition was generated, but it had only 827 KB on it (see attached). I figured I could just delete it, but out of an abundance of caution I decided to call Apple. Mistake. They were sort of clueless, took up way too much of my time and were afraid of my losing data (which I appreciate, but my computer didn't 't have anything on it yet) so are escalating the issue.
Anyway, I just renamed it so I could use Time Machine figuring it's not doing any harm, but yet one more Catalina glitch? The OCD part of me hates that it is there, so I will probably eventually delete it.
On the positive side, things otherwise seem to be OK (knocking on wood), and my 32 GB Crucial RAM kit arrived and is running at 2667 Mhz in dual channel in slots 2 and 4. The Apple RAM I received with the computer was Micron so I had to try it with the new RAM to see for myself that it would slow the RAM speed down and ... no surprise ... it did. Oh well. I have 8 GB of Apple RAM in the drawer now
. Hopefully all will go well from here, but it is going to take more time to set up than I would like because I have to reinstall everything. And then when Big Sur is out for a little bit and the initial bugs worked out I'm going to do a clean install of that and go through the process again... sigh.
Attachments
Well my iMac was delivered this afternoon, 2 days ahead of schedule. I set it up as a new machine, and am manually migrating my data, as I'm changing some of my apps (goodbye adobe!) and storage locations (more local storage). It will probably take me a few days to get everything how I want it.
2 observations:
I set it up as a new machine, and am manually migrating my data, as I'm changing some of my apps (goodbye adobe!) and storage locations (more local storage). It will probably take me a few days to get everything how I want it.2 observations:
- I can hear it. It isn't obtrusive, but it isn't silent either, and it isn't doing much, just transferring files from my NAS.
- The screen is REALLY small compared to the 40" 4K display I was using previously. I'm sure I will get used to it, and it will be simpler and more convenient to live with.
Well my iMac was delivered this afternoon, 2 days ahead of schedule.
2 observations:
Unfortunately the courier delivering my memory couldn't be bothered using the intercom to contact me, so I'm stuck at 8GB until I can get it redelivered or picked up.
- I can hear it. It isn't obtrusive, but it isn't silent either, and it isn't doing much, just transferring files from my NAS.
- The screen is REALLY small compared to the 40" 4K display I was using previously. I'm sure I will get used to it, and it will be simpler and more convenient to live with.
It is probably indexing all the files that you are transferring hence why you can hear the fans. If you open activity monitor you will be able to see this under the CPU tab. After it's all done it should settle down and it will be silent when there is nothing being done. Enjoy
Try a black desktop background. I use it and especially on my iPad, it is very difficult to see what is what.I just wish the bezels were thinner. They could cut them in half and it would all be ok.
It's a shame that only the tier 3 iMac has configurable GPU. If I only want a better GPU than 5300 in the tier 1 iMac I have to pay an extra $673 for 5500XT, $1265 for 5700 or $1551 for 5700XT in Sweden. That's more expensive than RTX 3080. At least with previous iMacs I could choose the tier 2 model for better GPU, but not now.
It is. A 'shame.'
Apple pull this kind of 'upgrade' crepe.
You should be able just add the high end gpu to a given tier. Rather than having to upgrade the tier to get artificial upgrade choices.
Apple's over sea prices need a reality check.
No affordable Mac tower (one that borders on actual sanity?). No Ampere. At all.
Politics. Hmph.
In fairness to the latest 'late' iMac it is the most powerful yet. Any of the gpus are more than sufficient in general.
If you want bang for buck the tier 3 is it.
You want really power for buck? The 5700 GPU.
If you want the future proofing of an extra 8 gig of Vram and that bit extra perf' (which you might notice on some 4k gaming...it's on the edge, right?). The 5700XT is the ultimate in performance. If not in value.
Tier 3. No upgrades bar external 3rd party memory. Is the sweet spot. If I wasn't running boot camp I could have done that config'.
Value is in the eye of the beholder, perhaps.
GPUs. They're finally getting somewhere after years of stagnation. Ampere and the pending RDNA2. (Coming to a PS5 no less...). And even the iMac got a 16 gig VRAM (some said 'not going to happen...) 5700XT. Now it's here, and lamenting the lack of gpu perf' in an iMac...I had to walk my talk and get one.
Azrael.
Apple pull this kind of 'upgrade' crepe.
You should be able just add the high end gpu to a given tier. Rather than having to upgrade the tier to get artificial upgrade choices.
Apple's over sea prices need a reality check.
No affordable Mac tower (one that borders on actual sanity?). No Ampere. At all.
Politics. Hmph.
In fairness to the latest 'late' iMac it is the most powerful yet. Any of the gpus are more than sufficient in general.
If you want bang for buck the tier 3 is it.
You want really power for buck? The 5700 GPU.
If you want the future proofing of an extra 8 gig of Vram and that bit extra perf' (which you might notice on some 4k gaming...it's on the edge, right?). The 5700XT is the ultimate in performance. If not in value.
Tier 3. No upgrades bar external 3rd party memory. Is the sweet spot. If I wasn't running boot camp I could have done that config'.
Value is in the eye of the beholder, perhaps.
GPUs. They're finally getting somewhere after years of stagnation. Ampere and the pending RDNA2. (Coming to a PS5 no less...). And even the iMac got a 16 gig VRAM (some said 'not going to happen...) 5700XT. Now it's here, and lamenting the lack of gpu perf' in an iMac...I had to walk my talk and get one.
Azrael.
All depends on our work and play points of view.
Budgets. What we have now. What we don't have now (as was my case when my old iMac gpu fried an egg.)
If you want to work and play with decent value. This iMac fits the bill in a way no previous ones did. It's a beast.
And the AiO iMac beast is only set to get more beastly powerful as Apple heads onto the AS frontier. (For those that can wait.)
Azrael.
Budgets. What we have now. What we don't have now (as was my case when my old iMac gpu fried an egg.)
If you want to work and play with decent value. This iMac fits the bill in a way no previous ones did. It's a beast.
And the AiO iMac beast is only set to get more beastly powerful as Apple heads onto the AS frontier. (For those that can wait.)
Azrael.
The prices here have the tax included and $1 is worth 8.74 SEK (Swedish Crowns). As you understand my point was that for a better GPU I have to go up two tiers and buy a whole new computer and that makes it so much pricier than the tier 1. Of course I get other better components but I don't need those, just a better GPU. Well, it is as it is. The AS iMacs had better be good.
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I've been (finally) downloading/installing all my 2D and 3D software. (Affinity Photo/Design/Publisher, Manga Studio (now Clip Studio) and for 3D: Z-Brush, Poser Pro 11, Lightwave 3D, Blender 3D.)
Installation is lightning quick. (One of the things that used to chug a bit on my 2012...)
...I'm installing the content for LW2018. I'll see what the render for the dragon is like. That took my 2012 a white to render. (But I don't remember my quad core making much noise...)
Azrael.
Installation is lightning quick. (One of the things that used to chug a bit on my 2012...)
...I'm installing the content for LW2018. I'll see what the render for the dragon is like. That took my 2012 a white to render. (But I don't remember my quad core making much noise...)
Azrael.
Apple makes you dance and follow the piper. Long silver spoons are my top recommendation.
AS iMacs will be what they will be. The 5700XT is a sound gpu. But it's a year late and a mid-range gpu. And quickly out of date as the comet speeds to order of magnitude improvements.
It's up to iMac buyers to decide if they can stomach the upgrades. (The matt option on this looks decent...better than the old smeary diffuse MacBook matt screens.).
10 core. 8 core. 5700. 5700XT. If you want the extra seconds and minutes. With a thermal budget that begs to defy physics... One pays for such things.
But this is nothing new. Only the user can decide if its worth it. And Apple will help them, of course.
AS Macs. They're entering a new universe of choice. 100% iOS compatibility is a fulcrum shift. It's the killer feature. Better that than 2nd class Windows/middleware rejects for top dollar. A new value equation will be defined.
No longer 'niche' the Mac will be part of a much larger family it fathered. The performance pudding will be in the eating.
Though one would think they wouldn't release a large screen iMac worse than one with a year old, mid-range gpu. And less cores. And even hotter running. That wouldn't make much sense to me.
Part of the 1 billion units. No longer an annexe. The Mac may yet be 'The Return of the King.'
Azrael.
AMD Radeon RX 6000 "Big Navi" teased in Fornite's Easter Egg - VideoCardz.com
AMD Radeon RX 6000 teased by Fortnite Easter Egg AMD sponsored Fortnite Streamer MissGinaDarling discovered a new Easter Egg in a new Fortnite Map. A number of steps were needed to see the Easter Egg and at one point it requires a ‘6000’ code to be entered. At the end a message is being shown: […]
SOON?
Azrael.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080: 168% of RTX 2080 SUPER performance in CUDA and OpenCL benchmarks - VideoCardz.com
The first post-announcement benchmark of the GeForce RTX 3080 graphics cards. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080: 168% of RTX 2080 performance The GeForce RTX 3080 has been put through a number of CUDA and OpenCL tests with the Compubench benchmark suite. The GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card has been tested...
AS WITH ALL things.....it depends on what you're comparing it to. The last ti? Or the last 2080?
As for my Jade Dragon Light Wave 3D render test. Fans. A 'loud' whrrrr as it renders a HD quality frame from the animation. I'd class it as irritating, yes. But I don't intend on listening to this 'all' day.
It's about a 5 minutes render. Fast out the gates...and now it's 'de-noising...' which is the part that takes so long.
I wonder. If real time rendering off a gpu in eg. Unreal Engine will make less noise?
Noise. Define. Whisper quiet? No. Loud like Big Ben? No.
But a WHHHHHHHHHR(!) that you will notice.
Azrael.
Of course.
It's a computer.
Those who want a completely silent computer must have an Atom 5w with passive cooling.
Not sure they will render anything good out of it thought......
Well...see my render of a LightWave 3D scene. I have to say. This iMac is powerful.
I won't be rendering all the time. (A part-time 3D renderer. Just for select scenes. Not for animation. For backgrounds in eg. Comic Books.)
Azrael.
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Thank you. I spoke to someone again today and just deleted the duplicate. All seems to be fine now.
Here's a 'hair' style render. The fans didn't kick in for this.
But weirdly. They pulse in...and go away after about 5-10 secs. Not something I'd expect in general U.I browsing in Z-Brush. Something my old iMac never did. As you'd expect in just general interface work it should be silent. Odd.
Today I managed to get all my apps installed so I'm gradually cranking up 'doing stuff' on the iMac.
I wonder between the gpu glitch and this 'random' fan behaviour if the cpu and gpu need a firmware patch or something.
The iMac is very cool to the touch.
Azrael.