iMac i9 vs iMac Pro for DP?

[chlorinedream]

Hi - considering upgrading from my late 2013 iMac i7 to either a new i9 iMac or the 2017 iMac Pro. Does anyone have recommendations over which may DP would take better advantage of? Leaning toward the i9 but hearing some concerns about heat throttling.

[mikehalloran]

Hi - considering upgrading from my late 2013 iMac i7 to either a new i9 iMac or the 2017 iMac Pro. Does anyone have recommendations over which may DP would take better advantage of? Leaning toward the i9 but hearing some concerns about heat throttling.

Listen to the concerns. The iMac Pro is a truck designed for heavy lifting. For DP, I’d rather have a pumped up 2018 Mini than the i9 iMac. With either the 10G Ethernet Mini or iMP, if you didn’t buy “enough” Mac at first, you can add 10G Minis as expansion devices through the T2 chip (for, say VEP). 10G Ethernet is standard on the iMP, optional on the Mini and, like the T2, not available on the i9.

The Refurb Store has plenty at 15% off. The base iMP is $200 more than a pumped up i9 but with faster SSDs and better GPU plus 10G Ethernet, an additional Thunderbolt 3 bus, better cooling, you can add two 5K monitors (only one on the i9), quieter ... there’s more but you get the idea.

https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/mac/imac-pro

The only time I’ve ever heard what the fans sound like on mine is when I run a test to make sure they’re working — it runs each one separately.

You don’t say what your needs are so I can’t offer anything other than boilerplate observations.

[chlorinedream]

Hi - considering upgrading from my late 2013 iMac i7 to either a new i9 iMac or the 2017 iMac Pro. Does anyone have recommendations over which may DP would take better advantage of? Leaning toward the i9 but hearing some concerns about heat throttling.

Listen to the concerns. The iMac Pro is a truck designed for heavy lifting. For DP, I’d rather have a pumped up 2018 Mini than the i9 iMac. With either the 10G Ethernet Mini or iMP, if you didn’t buy “enough” Mac at first, you can add 10G Minis as expansion devices through the T2 chip (for, say VEP). 10G Ethernet is standard on the iMP, optional on the Mini and, like the T2, not available on the i9.

The Refurb Store has plenty at 15% off. The base iMP is $200 more than a pumped up i9 but with faster SSDs and better GPU plus 10G Ethernet, an additional Thunderbolt 3 bus, better cooling, you can add two 5K monitors (only one on the i9), quieter ... there’s more but you get the idea.

https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/mac/imac-pro

The only time I’ve ever heard what the fans sound like on mine is when I run a test to make sure they’re working — it runs each one separately.

You don’t say what your needs are so I can’t offer anything other than boilerplate observations.

Thanks! I'm not a power user at all - more a hobbyist. I didn't experience any problems with my 2013 i7 iMac until very recently when I started to notice temporary processor spikes when using soft synths such as Pigments 2.0 and Omnisphere. They usually play normally without noticeable latency but when the spikes hit I'll get a temporary drop out. My songs are using no more than 10-15 tracks playing at once so I suspect the iMac Pro is overkill. However I do use a lot of effects. I am also a bit nervous about investing in a new Mac that doesn't support their new T2 chip, etc.

[mikehalloran]

Hobbyist or no doesn’t matter. Omnisphere does.

A hobbyist is rarely buying a computer for right now. You want something that’s going to give you good service for a long time. The iMP shares much of the advanced tech found in the new Mac Pro (as does the Mini). The i9 does not.

The first time you peg the fans with Omnisphere, you’ll wish you had spent the extra dough for the do-re-mi.

This one is used, under $4K Buy It Now and comes with AppleCare good through 2/2021. If a seller gives you the serial number on a used one, you can enter it on Apple’s support page and find out if it a) is covered by AppleCare to what date, b) is eligible for AppleCare purchase (Ike the one I bought) or c) support has ended.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-27-IMac- ... SwraRdbdZ6

Again, there’s a bunch in the Refurb Store. All of those are eligible for AppleCare (+$169). The little secret of the Refurb Store is that most iMPs are new — it’s how Apple lowers the price without officially lowering the price. The base model @ $750 off is never, ever out of stock.