Full Spec Imac versus "NEW" Mac Pro ($3000+tax Entry Level System)

Audio Issues are concerning the use of Logic Pro and some people with a Fusion drives.
Specifically with connecting USB speakers such as the MAudio USB bookshelf kind and some people were hearing pops and clicks. This could be an issue of the speaker's internal amp shielding.

Not with the use of FCPX.

Most people editing on an iMac will use the SPIF Optical out or just a good set of headphones into the same output.

Many people don't even know that the Imac has S/PDIF digital optical output, of the same output that they use for headphones for fantastic surround sound.

All modern Macs have optical audio output, and it is compatible with the optical input of any 7.1 system so long as you get an appropriate fiber optic cable. I'm doing exactly that with a Mini and a 7.1 Onkyo system. You can also use a Thunderbolt to HDMI converter to send both video and digital audio through an HDMI cable

Hmmmm

Headphone port
Headphone/optical digital audio output (minijack)

Curious if that would give you clean audio into an audio interface like a MOTU or something like it.

Yes a Motu looks like it would be awesome.
Something like AJA would make.

Curious you say digital SPIF might not be clean as digital infers DIGITAL "clean audio"

Use what ya got, hook up your old Non-HDMI 5.1/7.1 amp thats good enough to reference audio from
with decent speakers.

ronny courtens wrote: After having compared real-world performance of an entry-level new MP against one of our maxed out late 2013 iMacs myself there is no doubt in my mind: if you work with Apple pro apps the new MP is the best thing you can buy at this moment. And the more you upgrade the MP, the more drastic the differences get.

Between these two machines, was there any noticeable difference in the responsiveness of the interface?

Does anyone have any thoughts regarding the longevity of either machine? Will the dual GPUs (even the D300) give the nMP a longer usable life?

If you plan on editing 4K buy a Mac PRO
If you plan on doing mostly 1080p then you might be best served by a Core i7 iMac with lots of ram.
My wife uses a 8 year old Macbook Pro. I had a 2008 iMac that I just sold with a new SSD put in it.
It will run for a long time.

Both are whisper quiet.

Cost and 4K thats what you really looking at when you pose this question.

Please understand the iMac is still a beast I render feature length 1080p (multi-cam) video in a very short time.

Get a fast raid for your fast Mac and you will be fine with either system.

Thanks. I'm sure either system would be great. The full spec iMac with 32GB ram (from OWC) comes in at just under $3000. The entry level Mac Pro with 32GB ram is just under $3500 (plus a monitor). The question is whether that extra $$$ for the Mac Pro is worth it when the performance may not be that much better than the iMac in certain situations. The dual GPUs and the extra Thunderbolt ports have me thinking yes. And if FCPX's interface is smoother on the Mac Pro, then I'm really thinking yes.

Is the base model Mac Pro a viable 4K machine? We don't do any 4k at the moment, but it is a possibility in the future.

4K... I'em looking at 6K.

I would like to see a comparison between the new Mac Pro's... two basic baseline vs custom.

Why not super High Resolution 8K?

Scrubelicious wrote: 4K... I'em looking at 6K.

I would like to see a comparison between the new Mac Pro's... two basic baseline vs custom.

Unfortunately, it seems like Barefeats hasn't gotten their hands on all configurations yet.

Topher5 wrote: Why not super High Resolution 8K?

Naaa I will be skipping that one and wait when Vector Video hits.

Topher5 wrote: Why not super High Resolution 8K?

Well, if you're working with RED Dragon footage, that is 6K. I know they exist, but I don't think any of the popular high-end Cameras shoot 8K yet.

Well there is Astro Design, isn't planned that the Olympics in Tokyo suppose to broadcasted in 8K?

It is. As I said, there are 8K cameras out there, but there doesn't seem to be one used in the feature film space as far as I'm aware. Considering Dragon JUST dropped last year I doubt RED will be making the jump to 8K this year.

And considering many movies are only just starting to be finished at 4K, I don't think the pressure is on.

Perhaps by this time next year, some of the power of the new MacPros will trickle down to a top level BTO iMac. I think people would kill for an all in one solution with that kind of power. I would.

dinerdog wrote: Perhaps by this time next year, some of the power of the new MacPros will trickle down to a top level BTO iMac. I think people would kill for an all in one solution with that kind of power. I would.

I'm not sure how much they can do within the confines of the current iMac case. Even if there were room for the larger components, I don't think the room is there for adequate cooling. Perhaps Apple could find room for an optional second GPU, but I'd wager it would be another MOBILE GPU (like what's in there now).

Besides, I'd be wary of coupling a high performance machine to a display. One or the other is very likely to go out of date first, and keeping them separate gives you some flexibility.

Disproportionate Pictures wrote: ... Even if there were room for the larger components, I don't think the room is there for adequate cooling. Perhaps Apple could find room for an optional second GPU, ... .

... just some silly idea from a zero-engineer:
a Thunderbolt-connected break-out-box with a second GPU as co-processor???? :woohoo:

For my ol' macMini, I had a Elgato Turbo264HD-stick, which did marvel for my underpowered system. I have absolute no idea if MacOS would allow such manipulation and detours, but transferring 'render jobs' to some external box, containing an off-the-selves (=not too expensive)card ... maybe some 3rd-party vendor could do that? Would have a 9/10 on my want-scale. ....

Break-Out-Box...
It makes so much sense to have a device that is upgradeable, with internal storage, not very big, that can be used as the "heavy-lifter" attached to the rMBP...

If you're looking for external GPU options, you may be waiting a while.

A GPU is typically a 16-lane PCIe card. Right now, Thunderbolt 2 cannot handle that kind of bandwidth; I think it's equivalent to 6-lane PCIe. Perhaps when Thunderbolt 3 is launched in a few years, the next jump in bandwidth will make ALL PCIe cards installable via external chassis. But I haven't even seen the vaguest of roadmaps for when to expect Thunderbolt 3.