Mac Pro, or iMac?

Started by ShoeflyDBM, November 03, 2009, 07:41:17 PM

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ShoeflyDBM

November 03, 2009, 07:41:17 PM
Looking to buy a new Mac, and I can't really decide whether to go for a full-fledged Mac Pro, or to "settle" for an iMac.
I have a few questions:

Is there really that much of a noticeable difference between the two processors (Nehalem/Core 2 Duo)? I think I'm gonna go for quad-core anyway, so..
How do the two compare in terms of noise?
Is it really worth the extra money for the Mac Pro? It's not really an issue of money, I just want the best value for my cash, and I want a serious workhorse..

I'd be grateful if anyone had any thoughts to share on the matter. :)

Bokkie

#1
November 03, 2009, 10:19:22 PM
I think it depends  where you going to use it for. If you going to use many heavy reverbs and lots of other plugins and virtual instruments, i would go for the mac pro.  There are some advantages having a mac pro:
You can expand ram memory more than 4 G.
you can ad at least one more harddrive(dunno how many for q-core/q-core duo), so you don't have your media drive on a wire(speed).

But the new Imac's are very cool and fast(3 GHz).
If wishes where horses, we\'re all been eating steak.

Bokkie

#2
November 03, 2009, 10:22:13 PM
Now there are two of the same replies.
something with a server error. :(
If wishes where horses, we\'re all been eating steak.

Drarok

#3
November 03, 2009, 11:21:42 PM
Quote from: "ShoeflyDBM"How do the two compare in terms of noise?
I believe the iMacs are very quiet, but I really can't hear my Mac Pro, even when it used to be on the desk next to me instead of on the floor.
QuoteIs it really worth the extra money for the Mac Pro? It's not really an issue of money, I just want the best value for my cash, and I want a serious workhorse..
The iMacs are very good machines, but limited expandability. If you might need to install an extra hard drive or an internal sound interface, the iMac is a no-go.

The Mac Pro has room for 4 internal drives and loads of room for RAM, whereas the iMac only has room one drive (I think), but still can go up to 16GB RAM (the brand new ones, anyway).

You can attach a second monitor to iMacs, too! Not sure if you can upgrade the graphics card in them, mind.

Don't forget that the Mac Pros use dual processors, not just a single dual-core one, so they are more powerful...

Hope I've helped a little! :)

Krische_Jasche

#4
November 04, 2009, 12:53:29 AM
I ordered the i5 iMac a couple of days ago. I would tell you what I thought about it, but those blasted i5/i7's don't seem to have started shipping yet so I guess it'll be a while till I see mine.

The specs are good though. Still, the Mac Pros are the workhorses if that's what you need. And of course the versatility with upgrading is, as everyone else say, a huge difference. It may very well be that factor alone that makes the Mac Pro a better investment. Instead of having to buy a new iMac every 3-4 years or so, you could just upgrade the Mac Pro and still keep up with the technology race for 6-8 years, or even longer...

ShoeflyDBM

#5
November 04, 2009, 01:23:14 AM
Quote from: "Krische_Jasche"And of course the versatility with upgrading is, as everyone else say, a huge difference. It may very well be that factor alone that makes the Mac Pro a better investment. Instead of having to buy a new iMac every 3-4 years or so, you could just upgrade the Mac Pro and still keep up with the technology race for 6-8 years, or even longer...

Well, seeing that you can't upgrade the CPU on the Mac Pro, and that the iMac now supports up to 16 GB of RAM, the only thing that would be the difference would be the ability to upgrade the graphics-card, or expanding the number of hard-drives. As I see it, of course..

That, and the fact that you actually get a big-a** monitor which on the 27"-model you can connect an external video source to.. It makes me think that maybe there really isn't that big of a difference.

I mean, it looks like I'll go for an iMac, but the thought of having to replace it in 3 years time seems a little off-putting.. I can't really decide.

But thanks for all the help, guys! :D

johninblack

#6
November 04, 2009, 05:46:27 AM
Quote from: "Bokkie"Now there are two of the same replies.
something with a server error. :(
I guess this is just one of "those" posts, I deleted 2 "copies" of it last night!!
"F#?K OFF, GRANDAD!!!!"

Bokkie

#7
November 04, 2009, 07:19:48 AM
Quote from: "johninblack"I guess this is just one of "those" posts, I deleted 2 "copies" of it last night!!


Indeed it was, and thank you sir, for your swift response    :D
If wishes where horses, we\'re all been eating steak.

Valhall

#8
November 05, 2009, 12:42:58 AM
If money is really not an issue, Mac Pro all the way my friend !

I have to admit I mainly stick to my Mac Book Pro these days, but the big guy is a serious workhorse alright... I don't think I ever reached its limits. The 8-core, dual Nehalem setup is a monster (plus the Turbo Boost overclocking function is really efficient).

I don't know if that will help... The iMac is a splendid piece of technology too, but as far as true, blatant power goes, it's no match.
...Whatever.

Dave M

#9
November 05, 2009, 02:24:18 AM
I have the last generation iMac, I record (mostly audio tracks as opposed to midi) using logic and I've had no issues with it, it's close to silent and for extra space I use an external HD. The new ones look great ... Depends on what you want it for I guess !
... it was like watching a peach jelly f##k a steel drum ..  

Trapezium Artist

#10
November 05, 2009, 01:19:35 PM
New iMac it is for me, real soon now, albeit for more normal day-to-day family stuff, not music-making.

Then again, it's going to replace an 7-year old (!) eMac, so the wife and kids will be more than happy with the increased, err, everything  :D

I bought it at the time rather than the then-new fancy LCD-on-a-stick iMac because it seemed likely to be much more robust in the face of the toddlers we then had. Indeed, total vindication arrived a few years later when I went upstairs and saw that my 4-year old son and his similarly-aged friend had scribbled pretty hard all over the case, screen, and desk with a biro  :shock:

As for me, I very much like the fact that I'll be able to plug my work MacBook Pro into the 27 inch iMac and use the latter as a big monitor at home ... even if it's still smaller than the 30 inch Cinema Display on my desk at work ...  ;)

Drarok

#11
November 05, 2009, 05:45:15 PM
Quote from: "ShoeflyDBM"Well, seeing that you can't upgrade the CPU on the Mac Pro
Officially not, but in fact, you can.

MarkOneMusic

#12
November 06, 2009, 03:41:13 PM
I got an iMac a couple of months ago, with Logic, using it with a firewire audio interface, on projects laden with AU synths and audio tracks... (Well it is prog, after all!) and so far it hasn't broken a sweat.

those quad core i7s must be fantastic.

I know expandability is an issue but I figured that with my PC setup I hadn't needed new internal gizmoes in 5 years so it was unlikely I'd need em now.

As for noise?  it is really, nice and quiet.
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