At the WWDC conference in June, Apple introduced the iMac monoblock update. Even now you can buy iMac based on Kaby Lake processors, but in December 2017 iMac Pro will ship with a flagship iron. Is it worth waiting for a "professional" computer model "all in one" or is it better to purchase a more affordable iMac right now?.
Improved graphics vs advanced graphics.
21.5-inch iMac comes with integrated graphics Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640. There are also models with Radeon Pro 555 with 2 GB of video memory and Radeon Pro 560 with 4 GB of video memory. IMac 2017 in the minimum configuration is sufficient for most users. It allows you to work without problems on the Internet, watch videos on YouTube, work with photos, play not too resource-intensive games.
The 27-inch iMac comes with discrete graphics Radeon Pro 570 with 4 GB of video memory, Radeon Pro 575 with 4 GB of video memory or Radeon Pro 580 with 8 GB of video memory. Its capacity is enough for powerful 3D games and video editing. With the release of macOS High Sierra, the computer will be an excellent platform for creating virtual reality content.
IMac Pro has graphics Radeon Pro Vega - the most advanced graphics processor in the history of Mac. In all the resource-intensive tasks, such as VR-games and work with 3D-graphics, the frame rate will be significantly higher than that of conventional iMacs. Vega can process up to 4000 GB of data per second, which is more than enough for 3D rendering in real time and creating realistic virtual reality content with a high frame rate.
-If your needs include only web surfing, as well as basic photo or video processing, you will have enough iMac (for those who often work with graphics, the 27-inch model is more suitable).
-If you work with 3D-modeling, develop games or plan to use virtual reality, you should wait for December and purchase iMac Pro.
4 cores vs. 18.
21.5-inch iMac in the minimum configuration comes with a 2-core Intel Kaby Lake processor with a frequency of 2.3 GHz. A 4-core chip with a frequency of up to 4.2 GHz is also available. 27-inch iMac is equipped with a 4-core processor with a frequency of up to 4.2 GHz and acceleration of Turbo Boost up to 4.5 GHz.
IMac Pro in maximum configuration has an 18-core server processor Intel Xeon with a clock speed of up to 4.5 GHz and a cache of up to 42 MB, which is able to cope with the most complex tasks. This means that the candy bar can work through detailed animation in 3D with incredible performance and without the slightest delay.
-If you have to work with such programs as Logic Pro or Final Cut Pro, and you need a high speed, you should choose a 27-inch iMac.
-If your work involves processing large files and 4K video, creating audio or games with heavy graphics, your choice of iMac Pro.
A large amount of RAM against a huge amount of RAM.
The amount of RAM iMac starts with 8 GB (in the 21.5-inch model, you can not add more memory). The maximum capacity is 64 GB.
IMac Pro comes with 128 GB of RAM, which can be expanded to 4 TB. That is, you will not feel a lack of RAM even when working with complex 3D projects.
-If you need several applications to work in the background, while you are editing the video in Final Cut Pro, safely take iMac 2017.
-If you have to work with large and resource-intensive projects or test dozens of cross-platform applications, obviously you should wait for iMac Pro.
32 million pixels versus 44 million pixels.
With two Thunderbolt 3 ports, you get a data transfer rate of up to 40 GB / s. The latest iMac models also feature a USB-A connector, an Ethernet card reader and a headphone jack. Thunderbolt 3 allows you to connect one additional monitor with a resolution of 5K or two with a resolution of 4K to 32 million pixels.
IMac Pro is equipped with four ports Thunderbolt 3 and four ports USB-A, a card reader, a 3.5-mm connector and a 10-gigabit Ethernet port. Thunderbolt allows you to connect two RAID systems and two 5K monitors simultaneously, which is already 44 million pixels.
-If you are not going to connect several external monitors to a computer, you will have enough of the usual iMac.
-If 32 million pixels for some reason seems small to you, or you plan to create an environment with several additional monitors, until December there are not many.
Should I wait for iMac Pro?.
If you need the most top graphics for complex 3D projects, then you should wait for iMac Pro. For ordinary games and simple editing, it's enough for the usual iMac.
Memory is one of the main criteria. If you develop complex 3D games or VR applications and test everything at once, the obvious choice is iMac Pro. For normal web surfing, several resource-intensive applications and fast video editing, the performance of standard models will suffice.
To connect multiple monitors with a resolution of 5K will have to wait for the end of the year. If you do not need external monitors at all or you have one 5K display or two 4K ones, choose iMac.