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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Thoughts on the Apple iMac 5k 3.2GHz
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06/28/2015 11:56:05 PM · #1
I'm in the market to buy a new computer and I'm considering purchasing the Apple iMac 5K? Do any of you own this particular desktop? What are your thoughts on it in regards to photography?
06/29/2015 12:10:53 PM · #2
BUmp
06/29/2015 12:16:38 PM · #3
don't own one yet, but will definitely get one later this year. the screen is unbeatable.
06/29/2015 12:40:47 PM · #4
I'm not a Apple-O-Phile, but with respect to displays, Apple really never disappoints. They do a really good job of seamless integration of the hardware and OS. There are few video cards that are capable of driving a 5k display and I believe that Apple is using the nVidia "workstation" cards, which are my first choice on the PC end as well.
06/29/2015 01:09:24 PM · #5
I upgraded to that mac a few months ago.
Previously. I was using an apple 20 in. attached to an old MacBook Pro.

Since I'm 42, my eyesight is just recently having issues so the retina display is not my highest priority.
What does make a huge difference to me is the Fusion drive (much speedier at opening files and applications). =)

In regard to photography, I think the image quality is excellent and color seems very good. I work in graphics and printing and we were always under the understanding that the glossy/glassy iMac display was inferior to the Apple cinema displays but I think this is an outdated notion. I was also told the dedicated separate display was more easily calibrated for output purposes. Honestly, I'm not sure how true that is at this point.
06/29/2015 04:14:10 PM · #6
I'm feeling your pain in regards to the eye situation tate. (I have a year on ya) Time to take the expensive plunge now. Thank you for the feedback everyone.
06/29/2015 04:52:23 PM · #7
Less expensive plunge (same warranty).
06/29/2015 04:55:42 PM · #8
I can't speak for the particular model you're looking at but in general Apple displays are excellent. However, for the premium you pay for them, you could probably get two fantastic other brand monitors and hook them up to a pretty powerful editing machine.

Sure, you'll have some more cables, perhaps a touch less integration, but you'll have twice as much screen real estate and probably some money left over.

If you really really want a Mac then go for it, they're great, I've owned a number, but an Apple monitor has never been part of it. I just can't see that they're worth the extensive mark up Apple place on them relative to what else is out there.
06/29/2015 07:16:16 PM · #9
So Shannon I found on Amazon the latest model for the same price as the refurbished model you posted. Do you know if it makes much of a difference to go from 3.3 to 3.5? I honestly don't know a thing about GHZ to make an educated decision.

Message edited by scalvert - Fixed broken link.
06/29/2015 08:45:09 PM · #10
The difference between a 3.3 and 3.5 processor is trivial. You'd never notice it in practice. However, the new Mac you listed has a 1TB hard drive while the refurb in my link has a 1TB fusion drive which uses flash storage for rapid access to recent and active data. The performance difference between those is 200-350%, and will affect nearly everything you do from startup to Photoshop.

Message edited by author 2015-06-29 20:47:34.
06/29/2015 10:11:09 PM · #11
I reluctantly dropped Apple as they've made their MacBooks impossible to upgrade post purchase…No HD upgrade, no RAM upgrade, no replacement battery.

The performance of their hardware and the integration with software is really tops though.
06/29/2015 10:11:09 PM · #12
I reluctantly dropped Apple as they've made their MacBooks impossible to upgrade post purchase…No HD upgrade, no RAM upgrade, no replacement battery.

The performance of their hardware and the integration with software is really tops though.
06/30/2015 11:26:42 AM · #13
Yes. Shannon and I both mentioned the Fusion drive with good reason. I have a 27 inch iMac at work without a Fusion drive and my Mac at home HAS one. The difference is huge.
When we purchase Macs in our department now, I insist that they spend the extra couple hundred bucks for the Fusion drive.

Originally posted by scalvert:

However, the new Mac you listed has a 1TB hard drive while the refurb in my link has a 1TB fusion drive which uses flash storage for rapid access to recent and active data. The performance difference between those is 200-350%, and will affect nearly everything you do from startup to Photoshop.
06/30/2015 01:31:21 PM · #14
Oh man.... I'm so glad I asked you guys. I really appreciate the information, now off to order. Thank you so much.
06/30/2015 03:25:14 PM · #15
Originally posted by scalvert:

The difference between a 3.3 and 3.5 processor is trivial. You'd never notice it in practice. However, the new Mac you listed has a 1TB hard drive while the refurb in my link has a 1TB fusion drive which uses flash storage for rapid access to recent and active data. The performance difference between those is 200-350%, and will affect nearly everything you do from startup to Photoshop.


Just dropped a 4TB Fusion drive into my Mac Pro as my new Aperture library... I thought the old disk was on its way out but now I find it's just a bug in Nik. Aperture crashes on my laptop too when I go into Nik...

I'm pleased with the drive though - it was on 50% off on Amazon.
07/01/2015 06:26:36 AM · #16
Originally posted by pearlseyes:

Oh man.... I'm so glad I asked you guys. I really appreciate the information, now off to order. Thank you so much.


Please keep us posted as to how it goes, have fun.
07/01/2015 10:00:25 AM · #17
Don't forget to add RAM to maximize performance. It's very easy to do. The more the merrier, although adding even 8GB will give you a decent boost.
07/01/2015 11:43:25 AM · #18
Hey Shannon,
So I ended up ordering a Refurbished 27-inch iMac 4.0GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7 with Retina display. Per your recommendation, I just ordered 16GB of Ram, giving me a total of 24. I'm just hoping like hell that it's easy to install since I have to play IT girl at my house. (Which is pretty much a joke)
07/01/2015 02:17:04 PM · #19
Yes, it's easy. Just a single Philips screw under the display. Pop the RAM into the empty slots (you might have to push hard to make sure it's seated), and you're done. The RAM modules have a notch on one end so you can tell which way they go in.
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