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User profile for user: rgtingle09
rgtingle09 Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Which Mac should I buy?

I currently have a Macbook Pro from 2016 and I need to upgrade. I have been creating a start up business over the last two years that includes travel photography, videos, blogs, advertising and more. I need a good amount of storage and speed as the Macbook Pro just isn't working well enough to continue with it. I would like to upgrade to a desktop feature. What is best for me...? I am looking at a combination of the Mac Mini and iMac, the iMac Pro, or a combination of the iMac display and Mac Pro. I do a lot of work with 4K video and graphics for my website. I need something with storage and high speed

Current Pro Desktops

Posted on Jun 16, 2020 8:16 AM

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User profile for user: Allan Jones
Allan Jones
User level: Level 9
72,176 points

Posted on Jun 16, 2020 8:31 AM

Welcome!


The Mini uses integrated, not discreet, graphics and I doubt that will add joy to the tasks of video editing.


...or a combination of the iMac display and Mac Pro.


That's off the table. Only certain iMacs made between 2009 and mid 2014 can be used as external monitors for another Mac.


RAM in an iMac Pro or an iMac 21.5-inch is not user-accessible, so you would have to order either with a lot of expensive Apple RAM up front. Think of it as your "forever" RAM.


That leaves a 27-inch 5K iMac. You can get very powerful processors and video hardware up to 8GB VRAM. They will officially handle up to 64GB of user-installable RAM and, unofficially 128GB.


From what you describe, I would go for the i9 processor and the 8GB video option. Order with the base amount of RAM and then get the additional RAM from OWC or Crucial (not one else, IMHO) and install it yourself. I did that with my 2017 5K iMac 27 and applied the saving on RAM to the next item, storage:


Storage—this is very important—ONLY get the factory SSD!!! The regular mech drives and the Fusion drives are too slow. The factory SSD screams; I have to wear googles to use this computer! Just kidding, but the SSD is amazingly fast.




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User profile for user: Allan Jones
Allan Jones
User level: Level 9
72,176 points

Jun 16, 2020 8:31 AM in response to rgtingle09

Welcome!


The Mini uses integrated, not discreet, graphics and I doubt that will add joy to the tasks of video editing.


...or a combination of the iMac display and Mac Pro.


That's off the table. Only certain iMacs made between 2009 and mid 2014 can be used as external monitors for another Mac.


RAM in an iMac Pro or an iMac 21.5-inch is not user-accessible, so you would have to order either with a lot of expensive Apple RAM up front. Think of it as your "forever" RAM.


That leaves a 27-inch 5K iMac. You can get very powerful processors and video hardware up to 8GB VRAM. They will officially handle up to 64GB of user-installable RAM and, unofficially 128GB.


From what you describe, I would go for the i9 processor and the 8GB video option. Order with the base amount of RAM and then get the additional RAM from OWC or Crucial (not one else, IMHO) and install it yourself. I did that with my 2017 5K iMac 27 and applied the saving on RAM to the next item, storage:


Storage—this is very important—ONLY get the factory SSD!!! The regular mech drives and the Fusion drives are too slow. The factory SSD screams; I have to wear googles to use this computer! Just kidding, but the SSD is amazingly fast.




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Which Mac should I buy?

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