What IMac is best for me while still saving money?

Helicopterman · Post by **Helicopterman** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 11:50 pm

I am looking at buying an Imac using DP 7, Altiverb, Komplete 7, and other software like it. I used to do allot of 3D animation which is much more processor and RAM oriented but I'm looking to save money but not cheat myself either. I'm looking at the 27 inch model Imacs and I'm not sure if a 2009 or 2010 model would be suffice for what I'm doing. I also use Opus 1 and allot of Absynth. I just want to make sure that I'm not over doing the power needed and spending $500 more then I have to. Please let me know what you think.

bayswater · Post by **bayswater** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 8:33 am

If you go for the 27" iMac, you might be better off with a newer one that allows you to remove the optical drive and replace it with a second HD. Otherwise you are a bit limited by the single FW connection. It's fine for what I do, but would be a problem with very high track counts.

You certainly won't be "overdoing" it. The question is whether you really should be looking for a Mac Pro.

cuttime · Post by **cuttime** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 9:07 am

I might add that the new 21" iMacs can be custom built with i7 Sandybridge processors. The most bang for the buck, IMHO, if you are willing to wait it out on the Thunderbolt accessories, if and when they arrive.

http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtop ... =4&t=47419" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also, make sure you upgrade your RAM through OWC:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Helicopterman · Post by **Helicopterman** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:44 am

Thanks for the info. I just sold my Mac Pro needing the money which is why I am looking at an Imac but I'll definitely stick with the 27 inch model since it's to hard to see with a small monitor. I was actually doing some research and it looks like it may be a good buy to get last year's 27 inch model I7 Imac. It's 15% faster then this year's I5 $1700 version and cost a few hundred dollars cheaper.

mikehalloran · Post by **mikehalloran** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 2:56 pm

The 2011 iMac does not allow a hard drive upgrade unless ordered from Apple that way due to internal changes in the cooling system - you may add SS drives only which are still pricy.

The 2010 iMac 27" does lets you upgrade the internal hard drive and add a second -You can also add an eSATA port. I had OWC do this when I bought mine. eSATA is just as fast as an internal - at least it is on mine. This can only be done on the 2010 27" iMac. Here are the options
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/turnkey/iMac_2010_27" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
In my case, I had Apple ship my refurb to OWC. I paid IL instead of CA sales tax and got the upgrade for very little due to the tax difference.

There is a refurb 2010 i5 Quad Core in the Apple Store
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC511LL/A" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You can get eSATA drive docks as little as $18. No housing - the drive sits in it vertically and works fine.
http://www.microcenter.com/single_produ ... id=0300528" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

$150 buys you a wide range of 23" monitors for additional real estate. Highly recommended.

2011 iMacs have Thunderbolt ports. External HDs will be available but not yet. TB is the future so, if you are not in a hurry, it might be the way to go. I would still go with the 27" because of the Quad Core i5 and i7 processors.

Helicopterman · Post by **Helicopterman** » Tue Nov 08, 2011 11:56 am

I think I'm going to go the route of Ebay. Refurbished is to expensive. I did check the Imac Benchmarks and still wondering what is fast enough as far as audio is concerned. I'm so used to looking at it from doing 3D graphics and rendering but not for audio. I use Altiverb, DP 7, Komplete 8. Can a bench mark of 7000 be fast enough for what I use? Here's the benchmarks. http://www.primatelabs.ca/blog/2011/05/ ... -mid-2011/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I'm also set on a 27" Imac and I don't have a whole lot of money to buy it. What is your take on it?

macguy · Post by **macguy** » Tue Nov 08, 2011 2:09 pm

bayswater wrote:If you go for the 27" iMac, you might be better off with a newer one that allows you to remove the optical drive and replace it with a second HD. Otherwise you are a bit limited by the single FW connection. It's fine for what I do, but would be a problem with very high track counts.

You certainly won't be "overdoing" it. The question is whether you really should be looking for a Mac Pro.

a 2011 iMac stomps an 8 core MacPro in benchmarks! So, use TB and use SSD's in RAID 0 for OS X and your sample libraries and audio drives and your good!
The 2010 iMacs can get an ESATA connector from OWC and you could RAID off it too! The newest iMac is faster than the equivalent core count MacPro and they are equal to an 8 core MacPro!!!

Helicopterman · Post by **Helicopterman** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 4:56 pm

Do you think an IMac like this would work fine for me? I see this listed for $1475 on Ebay?

Processor Type: Intel Core i5 Release Month: May
Processor Speed: 2.7 GHz Product Family: iMac
MPN: MC813LL/A

macguy · Post by **macguy** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 5:23 pm

They are nice but I'd shop around... That's a bit high for an i5 considering on Apples site a refurbished is the same and it's from Apple and you get the confidence of a warrantee. I just don't feel good about buying from private parties when the price is the same from Apple directly. I'd shop around... it's a recession, good for the buyers right now!

Helicopterman · Post by **Helicopterman** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 5:36 pm

what do you think of this? http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC511#overview" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

mikehalloran · Post by **mikehalloran** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 8:36 pm

Helicopterman wrote:what do you think of this? http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC511#overview" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have the i7 version of that machine with the eSATA port from OWC. It rocks.

MikeHalloran wrote:The 2011 iMac does not allow a hard drive upgrade unless ordered from Apple that way due to internal changes in the cooling system

Update: OWC has figured a way around that and can install up to a 3G drive as well as an eSATA port on the 2011 27" iMacs (HD upgrade only on the 21"). Now you can have TB and eSATA on the iMac - that is way cool once reasonably priced TB peripherals start shipping.
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/turnkey/iMac" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The eSATA port costs $169 including return shipping to you. Apple will ship your new or refurb to OWC for free (use the Toll Free # instead of ordering online - no extra charge). In my case, the difference between CA and IL sales taxes made the upgrade less than $50.

That makes this 2011 at the same price the better buy:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC813LL/A" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The $20 eSATA/usb dock from Micro Center (and others) lets you use 2.5" or 3.5" drives - they just slip in as there is no case. It even comes with an eSATA and a usb cable. I have two - one via eSATA for my VIs and another via usb for Time Machine.
http://www.microcenter.com/single_produ ... id=0300528" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It doesn't look exactly like this - but close:

Time Machine must be run to another drive - it can be attached, networked or wireless as speed does not matter. If networked, you can use one drive to back up many computers via TM.

VIs stream better from another drive. Do not run TM and your VIs on the same external drive, however.

mikehalloran · Post by **mikehalloran** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 8:55 pm

For the curious, those eSATA docks are rated at 300 MBps. That is 3 times FW800, 5 times usb2 and 6 times FW400. It is the rated transfer rate of a 3G SATA drive. Not bad for $20. No fan as the drive is exposed - it's a touch louder than a really well baffled enclosure and much quieter than most.

Using a timed 500G raw data dump, my results were about the same +/- 8%. I didn't measure the speed, just compared transfer times.

macguy · Post by **macguy** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:40 am

Nice info Mike!
The processing power of the newest iMacs are equal to an 8 core MacPro (2.93 Ghz) and if you don't need a PCIE solution for your plugs, they're a sweet solution. Yes, there are FW solutions but that buss has been overcrowded and I'd just go native... hopefully, we will see some TB solutions soon! Very interesting times indeed for DAW users!
I remember the Diaxis II... we thought we were really hot stuff with one of those he he.

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