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Level 1

4 points

latest and greatest imac or slightly less late and great imac?

It's looking like it's time to upgrade from my '08 22 inch Imac. Wondering what the real world differences are between the maxxed out mid 2011 (3.4 Ghz i7) and a brand new maxxed out imac, in terms of speed/power, etc.

I'll be using this mainly for video production related tasks - editing video, occasionally burning discs, motion graphics, animation (using Anime Studio), and a few others things.

The places I really see my current machine struggling are rendering times in FCP, or any program, "real time" playback in same (FCP, After Effects, Motion, Anime Studio). Probably related to the same inadequacies.

So given that many things on the Mid 2011s and newest Imacs are about the same/comparable, and then I could likely get a refurb mid 2011 for about $1000 less than a maxed late 2012, how much better in reality is a new one? What is the deal with the SSD/Fusion Drive/Flash storage--would they be useful to me and make a huge difference? Any other considerations?

I'm well aware of the missing FW800 and optical drive on the new one which is another reason an older one is somewhat appealing.

Posted on Dec 10, 2012 2:24 PM

28 replies

Paul_31

Level 6

14,160 points

Mar 25, 2013 3:09 AM in response to The Bass

Are you sure? Unless I'm missing something, I can't see anywhere on the Apple site where only a 256gb SSD is an option.

What does About this Mac say - anything about a fusion drive which is a split between SSD and convential drive.

Apple Menu>About this Mac>More info>System report - what does it say against storage?

The Bass Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 25, 2013 4:00 AM in response to Paul_31

im not saying it CANT be upgraded, im simply saying that whereas i thought that it came with both a 256 ssd and a separate 1tb spinning drive, i recently realized it only has the ssd installed at this time. im asking you guys if another hd can be added. yes, under "about this mac " it says 256 gb of storage. nothing about another drive. again, i realize this is all on me, im just annoyed about it and cant believe i made the initial mistake. unless im mistaken the fusion drive is only on the new 2012s. if those can be installed in a 2011 im open to that pending cost. i suspect the answer will be live with the ssd, or get a 1 or 2 tb spinning drive. not both and no fusion drive.

MichelPM

Level 10

80,980 points

Mar 25, 2013 7:16 AM in response to The Bass

The 2011 models didn't have an option for the Fusion drive. Only for either the regular 7200 RPM drives OR for an SSD, not both. The only other internal option is to remove the internal SuperDrive and put another SSD or Fusion drive in that space. You'd have to buy an external optical drive at that point.

Another option is to purchase an SSD in an external enclosure connected by Thunderbolt ports.

Check out OWC (macsales) for this option.

The Bass Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 25, 2013 12:46 PM in response to MichelPM

That's what I figured when I made my horrible realization. So does anyone know what an internal (i.e replace optical drive) 750 GB (or max size) SSD runs costwise vs a fusion drive? I hear the fusion is pretty badass, don't know if better/equal to SSD in terms of speed/power? If I have apple care is the installation free, by chance?

External optical can be had for about $80, right? Not a huge deal if that has to come out.

MichelPM

Level 10

80,980 points

Mar 25, 2013 12:54 PM in response to The Bass

AppleCare only covers OEM parts and replacements.

If you want to add something new, you will need to pay for parts and labor.

The Bass Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 25, 2013 12:55 PM in response to MichelPM

****. Anyone got a guesstimate on that for a SSD or Fusion to replace the optical?

MichelPM

Level 10

80,980 points

Mar 25, 2013 1:06 PM in response to The Bass

That's why it would be easier and cheaper just to get an external SSD in an Thunderbolt enclosure connected it up via Thunderbolt cable. Use it for storage.

You'll save the labor costs of an internal installation.

Look at OWC (macsales) for pricing.

Message was edited by: MichelPM

The Bass Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 25, 2013 1:18 PM in response to MichelPM

Ok, I see where you're going. In that case, wouldn't a SSD be overkill? For external you could use any old drive, if it's just storage. Thought it might be nice to have more internal storage so I wasn't always having to have an external drive running for more everyday stuff (as opposed to keeping media from a video project on an external drive). Also might want to keep that t-bolt port free for something else. Althought I guess they have t-bolt breakout boxes, right?

MichelPM

Level 10

80,980 points

Mar 25, 2013 4:39 PM in response to The Bass

Well, you could use it as an additonal active, scratch disk drive for the applications you are using, too!

You can partition an SSD just like you partition a hard drive.

Plus, access times either as a scratch disc or for storage retrieval would be very fast.

For most video work you need an external drive solution for swapping out lots of footage and for editing.

An SSD make these tasks a lot faster than the old fashioned 7200 rpm drives.

Your not beeping held to transfer speeds that are a result of the read/write speeds of a standard hard drive.

The Bass Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 29, 2013 9:35 PM in response to MichelPM

This all true. I have external storage now, spread across many firewire and USB based drives (one of the reasons I went with the older model mac--firewire). I was going to stick with those while I could, though this may seem like trying to make the Mac work with my backwards-*** old timey methods instead of "getting with it," and upgrading all the drives to SSD, but "getting with it" costs a lot more money!

That said, any recommendations on brands/models of t-bolt/SSD drives? Seems like most folks are very pro-LaCie, so I have quite a few of those.