New Apple iMac Pro - 18 cores, built for the pros

[fmr]

Will not buy it.

Because of lack of serviceability and the tiny package for too much heat. They're elegant as hell, unless something goes wrong.

I agree. With those lines and those colours, and considering the tandem of computer, keyboard and mouse, this is by far the best looking Mac in many years.

That said, the price, and the fear of overheating when subject to really hard work makes me think I would never buy it, even if I had that amount of cash to burn (which I don't, unfortunately).

But I guess that well succeeded designers and visual artists, which are more sensible to these aesthetic aspects, will buy these.

[stratology]

Apple has had many thermally challenging designs in the past, including the Cube, the current line of iMacs, and the trashcan Mac Pro (with Xeon CPUs). None of these machines ever had a reputation for overheating.

Thermal design is an integral part of Apple's hardware design. No reason to assume that they suddenly forgot how to do it, or that they would release a pro machine that would overheat under load.

[fmr]

Apple has had many thermally challenging designs in the past, including the Cube, the current line of iMacs, and the trashcan Mac Pro (with Xeon CPUs). None of these machines ever had a reputation for overheating.

Thermal design is an integral part of Apple's hardware design. No reason to assume that they suddenly forgot how to do it, or that they would release a pro machine that would overheat under load.

Actually, I remember reading several reports about overheating in Macbooks and Cubes. Not iMacs, true, but it's the first time Apple builds an iMac as powerful as this.

[stratology]

Actually, I remember reading several reports about overheating in Macbooks and Cubes.

Link?

One user claiming that a machine fails due to overheating and ranting about it on the Internet does not make a thermal design problem.


Also, don't forget that there are many idiots out there who mess with their Mac's temperature by using apps that override the automatic fan control...

[ftech]

Also, don't forget that there are many idiots out there who mess with their Mac's temperature by using apps that override the automatic fan control...

Yep. And not placing their machine properly and in a compatible environment.
Shoving a computer in a closed cupboard, or in the corner of a room that's either too hot or has no air flow or conditioning is not going to help performance.

[Michael L]

This may help clarify:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_design_power
TDP are set for each 'class' of processor so if you want your laptop to run cooler, choose the slower clock speed among the few available for that class of processor.
FYI, these iMacs have an added fan and cooling vents; but are still not upgradeable.

[Debutante]

I dread to think how much this will cost

Starting at $4999, although base spec isn't actually that disastrous for a change :-

8 Core Xeon
32GB RAM
1TB SSD
TB3
10GB Ethernet
5k Retina
Radeon Vega workstation GPU

Actually pretty comparable with a similarly specced PC, although I would imagine speccing it up from there becomes exponentially more expensive.

Not a PC v Mac thing BUUTT ------This is hopelessly wrong. Why such poor info!??!?! This is what you get for US4999 = CAN$6,729.73 ...and I forgot to add OS system ssd

http://imgur.com/gallery/YCpOw

What would the Mac cost with all that??? WHHHYYYYYY would you say they are comparable!?!?! ...in what respect

An 8 core Xeon machine would cost about HALF ...yes HALF of that.

[Debutante]

x2

[Zexila]

http://imgur.com/gallery/YCpOw

Apple peripherals aren't that cheap tho and how can two HD monitors compare to 5k too.

[chk071]

I dread to think how much this will cost

Starting at $4999, although base spec isn't actually that disastrous for a change :-

8 Core Xeon
32GB RAM
1TB SSD
TB3
10GB Ethernet
5k Retina
Radeon Vega workstation GPU

Actually pretty comparable with a similarly specced PC, although I would imagine speccing it up from there becomes exponentially more expensive.

Not a PC v Mac thing BUUTT ------This is hopelessly wrong. Why such poor info!??!?! This is what you get for US4999 = CAN$6,729.73 ...and I forgot to add OS system ssd

http://imgur.com/gallery/YCpOw

What would the Mac cost with all that??? WHHHYYYYYY would you say they are comparable!?!?!

I was actually pretty surprised about that too. I'd rather say, you pay at least $1000 for the Apple name. Fair enough. An Apple has to be expensive to be exclusive.

[keyman_sam]

I don't think anybody builds PCs as sexy as Apple, so let's give them that. There's a price to be paid for tight integration and if that costs a little extra then so be it.

If I were to spec out my dream PC/laptop to compete with apple's iMac/Mac Pro, it'll cost 4K. Unfortunately the price of a stable machine is pretty high on the PC world where you can go wrong with SO many things..

[Debutante]

...that's not peanuts, more drives, more monitors, 12 more cores, twice the memory, and complete configurability. If anyone ever makes a MacPC counterpart to the hackintosh...

sorry for running away with your thread. I just had to put that "comparable" comment in it's place. I realize some software is Mac only, and if it appealed to me I'd likely buy it as well but it would have to REEEEALLY appeal to justify that discrepancy in pricing. I don't hate macs... just the pricing

[chk071]

I don't think anybody builds PCs as sexy as Apple, so let's give them that. There's a price to be paid for tight integration and if that costs a little extra then so be it.

If I were to spec out my dream PC/laptop to compete with apple's iMac/Mac Pro, it'll cost 4K. Unfortunately the price of a stable machine is pretty high on the PC world where you can go wrong with SO many things..

Mh... i disagree about the stability thing, from my own experience with both Windows and Mac machines (and i actually don't quite get why it is so widespread among Mac people...). But, i don't see anything bad about Apple charging more money. Considering the market they deliver to. I actually consider it a good thing that there's a place for almost everything.

[stratology]

Regarding the price point, let me repeat something I posted on GS a few days ago.


You can have a 'powerful' PC for less money than a similar Mac as long as:

- you ignore total cost of ownership
- you ignore resale value
- you evaluate computers the way it was done in the 1990s (CPU speed and RAM tunnel vision)
- you ignore the value of software - both the OS and included apps
- you ignore the quality and speed of connections to peripherals
- you ignore build quality and materials
- you ignore the value of design (meaning actual design, like the design of trackpads, not 'looks')
- you ignore durability
- you ignore follow up cost for pro software (compare the price of Motion to similar PC apps. Or developer tools. Or FCP.)
- you ignore time spent for maintenance
- you ignore the speed of OS development
- you ignore integration with other computing devices
- you ignore actual customer satisfaction as a valid metric

[Zexila]

Regarding the price point, let me repeat something I posted on GS a few days ago.


You can have a 'powerful' PC for less money than a similar Mac as long as:

- you ignore total cost of ownership
- you ignore resale value
- you evaluate computers the way it was done in the 1990s (CPU speed and RAM tunnel vision)
- you ignore the value of software - both the OS and included apps
- you ignore the quality and speed of connections to peripherals
- you ignore build quality and materials
- you ignore the value of design (meaning actual design, like the design of trackpads, not 'looks')
- you ignore durability
- you ignore follow up cost for pro software (compare the price of Motion to similar PC apps. Or developer tools. Or FCP.)
- you ignore time spent for maintenance
- you ignore the speed of OS development
- you ignore integration with other computing devices
- you ignore actual customer satisfaction as a valid metric

Great point.