New Mac choices...help!

EvenBowl075

EvenBowl075

EvenBowl075

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Joined
24 Nov 2011
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10
Hi folks

Looking for some advice on a new Mac. I've been really distracted by a severe case of the "oooo shiny" so I'm looking for some real world advice/help!

I am looking for a system that I can use for photo editing (Photoshop, Lightroom working with RAW files), some video editing (previously been using Premiere Pro CS5) and bits of web design. Out of all of it I do photo work the most, video editing is small side projects (time lapse films, promotional videos for local charities, short films of less than 10 mins).

I was previously using a PC but it wasn't up to the job. I have been using Macs for the last few years but ended up buying a PC as I needed something to edit on in a hurry and on the cheap, turned out to be quite a mistake!

I am very tempted by the 27" iMac 3.4GHz i7 but its a lot of money for a system and I'm wondering if it will be severe overkill. I was also tempted by the Mac Mini 2.0 GHz i7 but read in a couple of places that its lacking a bit in power. Will the lower end iMacs carry enough grunt to be able to do the work I need? A Mac Pro would be really nice but thats even more money and I would have to go second hand, and it probably is serious overkill.

Anyone here have any experience of these systems in regards to photo and video work? I feel like I'm kinda running around in circles and have blown my own mind with too much reading!

Thanks :D
 
Depends if you need the real estate of a 27", any of the iMacs would do your job just fine, 27" is a lot more screen space though

Mac Mini would be ok but the lack of graphics might be a big pain when you do your video editing, even if it is just small side projects,
then you'd need a good monitor on top of that for photos anyhows
 
My late 2010 iMac (top model for the time) really takes off doing the stuff your going to be doing, and the current entry level models are superior in every aspect tbh so you won't have any problems :)

However! (and there's always a however)

After seeing a mates entry level MBA, I'm sure the performance with this kind of stuff really wipes the floor with my iMac when working with multiple 5D MKII RAW files, so stretching to include a SSD might be a good idea, as its the only component which on paper is quicker then what I'm using, yet its performance is just :o over mine.
 
Righty ho, iMac it is.

Interesting advice on the SSD. Hadn't really thought about them much as I have just installed one in a mates PC and its pretty terrible to be honest, made no difference whatsoever.

Its something I will consider for the Mac though but I might go about installing one myself once the warranty has run out or something as they seem hellish expensive bought direct from Apple.

Thanks folks
 
I would highly advice against fitting an SSD into the latest iMac yourself, I did it about a month ago and it was a very scary job. Pretty much had to take the whole thing apart, around 30 screws and 18 ribbons cables later... I wish I had just paid the extra to being with.

The speed increase however was definitely worth it and I would definitely recommend getting one.
 
How much difference would an SSD make to the performance of the i7 mini? Or is it the dedicated graphics that make the difference there?

Popped into the Apple shop in Newcastle today for a look at the 27" iMacs, they were lovely. Im currently using a 24" monitor so the iMac doesn't seem too much bigger, but I will be keeping the 24 so might struggle for desk space with the two. But the smaller iMacs did seem noticably smaller..hmmm
 
MonkieMann said:
I would highly advice against fitting an SSD into the latest iMac yourself, I did it about a month ago and it was a very scary job. Pretty much had to take the whole thing apart, around 30 screws and 18 ribbons cables later... I wish I had just paid the extra to being with.
Click to expand...

+1
Been a PC tinkerer (and an electronics engineer by profession) for many years and with the glass and display panel off the iMac and cables and circuit boards all over the place i wish i would never have started. Don't do it unless you are very handy at this type of thing. My 2c....
 
Thanks for the info folks

I've come into some money over the last few days and as a result I am reconsidering my options.

At the moment its down to the iMac i7 3.4GHz 27" or the 8 core Mac Pro. I have two new video projects coming up involving a lot of editing in HD which is swaying me towards the Mac Pro, coupled with the instant expandability (I have the HDD from my old system which I need to get all my work off). But its a lot more expensive and I would need a monitor (although the glossy iMac screen is not a favorite of mine).

How do the Mac Pros perform with video editing? My old PC (AMD 4 core, 12GB RAM) really struggled even with a short timelapse video using small 5MP files. If it can beat that then I'll be happy!
 
Ah, hadn't spotted that. They don't seem too enthusiastic over the iMacs either.

Starting to think going back to a PC is the only option as I need a new editing system before Christmas

Bugger
 
EvenBowl075 said:
Ah, hadn't spotted that. They don't seem too enthusiastic over the iMacs either.

Starting to think going back to a PC is the only option as I need a new editing system before Christmas

Bugger
Click to expand...

The iMac is a great machine that is actually decent value compared to other all-in-ones (remember, the monitor itself costs ~£900 if bought on its own). It also would easily cope with all the work you plan to do. I'd go for it if I were you!
 
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