27" iMac vs Custom Build 9600K System?

lumencreative · 10 Nov 2018 at 22:56

I am looking at buying a new work computer for home. I currently use a Core i5 HP Envy laptop but hate almost everything about it, so while a laptop would be more convenient, I know I could get much more value from a desktop computer.

So, being a fan of Mac's, my first instinct was to go with an 27" iMac (but probably a previous gen one), so would probably spend £1,000 or so. However, for £900, I could build a pretty decent Core i5 9600K system with 16GB Ram, 512GB Intel NVMe Drive and something like an nVidia GTX1050 GPU. I already have 2 Dell 23" U2312HM screens so don't need a new screen.

If it was you, what would you go for?

lumencreative · 10 Nov 2018 at 23:36

Combat squirrel said:
Depends on how much you want OSX and if you want/need OSX for your work - I currently have a high end windows system, but windows 10 is doing my head in so saving up for an OSX based powerful system, sadly, it will cost me 3500 or more after selling this system to match its performance, but i gain OSX and basic human rights as far as privacy goes (windows 10 is a spyware hell)

That's what I cannot decide. I love OSX (my wife has a Macbook, and I used to have a Macbook Pro). I use Windows at work, but there's nothing that requires Windows as such (mainly use Photoshop, Dreamweaver and such). Our accounts system is also Quickbooks Online so don't need Windows for that, and we have Office365 at work so I can download Office for Mac from there.

If I could choose, I would most probably choose OSX over Windows, but from a performance standpoint, as you said, Macs are way more expensive.

lumencreative · 12 Nov 2018 at 16:46

Thanks for the replies. I was under the impression the SSD on the Mac Mini is soldered to the logic board, so would need to run an external which I'm not overly keen on. Will look into the Mac Mini more though.

lumencreative · 13 Nov 2018 at 21:52

LiE said:
The i7 does look like it will be a very good CPU.

Here is my basket currently with education pricing. Without it would be £2,157. So a saving of £163.

It's very close to iMac 5k price. I'm tempted to just sit tight and see if Apple do a refresh early next year on the iMac.

That's the same spec I've been looking at, and I have read that the performance is pretty close to the iMac Pro's (minus the GPU performance).