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My 21.5 inch iMac is now 8 years old (late 2012 2.7GHz i5, 8GB, 1TB hard drive). Considering that it’s still going well but it’s starting to be to slow down running Lightroom. Last year I shifted the OS to an external SSD and that made things faster but I think this year could be time to later looking at replacing it.
My key wants are:
* 512GB SSD (I have external storage for RAW’s and backup drives so is the minimum I’d likely need)
* Min 16GB but really up to 32GB in the future (I’ve had a look and 2x 8GB is currently £65 from Crucial)
* Good processor suitable for Lightroom.
I currently have some thunderbolt 2 external hard drives for RAWs, backup and portable storage docks so I would look at keeping them (I would need an adapter to thunderbolt 3).
I’ve been reading a few reviews about iMacs and it seems the best route would be the 27 inch, probably the top end version with an upgrade to 512GB SSD and maybe the i9 processor. I’ve decided I’d be best to upgrade the RAM later myself. That’s one of the reasons why I’ve decided the 21.5 inch isn’t worth going, I’d need to upgrade RAM, storage and possibly processor all on purchase and works out to be just as much as a 27 inch without the RAM (which I could update later), and I’m not paying £540 for 32GB RAM from Apple when it’s around £120 from Crucial!).
IMac’s are annoying that you can’t upgrade storage or RAM (on the 21.5 inch) at a later date, that means I’d need to look at what I really need now and potentially in the future when I purchase it. Why Apple don’t include SSD as standard I will never know.
I’ve costed up a few options on apples website:
Low end with 512SSD
High end with 512GB SSD
High end with 512GB SSD and upgrade processor.
Other questions are would a second hand/refurbished iMac be worth considering? I’m guessing it’s harder to find a upgraded version as many buy them with fusion disks rather than SSD’s.
Does anyone have an idea when the iMacs will be updated again? The current version is early 2019. Is a 2020 coming out soon?
I’d potentially consider a PC again but I’d need to consider a good screen as I don’t have one at present. Another option I’d consider is a laptop with docking station and screen.
I have used an iMac for 7 years I’m happy with them. This will be a long term purchase, most likely 8-10 years again so it’s got to last that time. I’m presently carrying out initial research into the options and what the potential cost is.
PLEASE NOTE: I DONT WANT THIS THREAD TURNING INTO A PC V MAC DEBATE. IT ISN'T ABOUT WHATS BETTER. ITS ABOUT HELPING SPEC A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT.
My key wants are:
* 512GB SSD (I have external storage for RAW’s and backup drives so is the minimum I’d likely need)
* Min 16GB but really up to 32GB in the future (I’ve had a look and 2x 8GB is currently £65 from Crucial)
* Good processor suitable for Lightroom.
I currently have some thunderbolt 2 external hard drives for RAWs, backup and portable storage docks so I would look at keeping them (I would need an adapter to thunderbolt 3).
I’ve been reading a few reviews about iMacs and it seems the best route would be the 27 inch, probably the top end version with an upgrade to 512GB SSD and maybe the i9 processor. I’ve decided I’d be best to upgrade the RAM later myself. That’s one of the reasons why I’ve decided the 21.5 inch isn’t worth going, I’d need to upgrade RAM, storage and possibly processor all on purchase and works out to be just as much as a 27 inch without the RAM (which I could update later), and I’m not paying £540 for 32GB RAM from Apple when it’s around £120 from Crucial!).
IMac’s are annoying that you can’t upgrade storage or RAM (on the 21.5 inch) at a later date, that means I’d need to look at what I really need now and potentially in the future when I purchase it. Why Apple don’t include SSD as standard I will never know.
I’ve costed up a few options on apples website:
Low end with 512SSD
High end with 512GB SSD
High end with 512GB SSD and upgrade processor.
Other questions are would a second hand/refurbished iMac be worth considering? I’m guessing it’s harder to find a upgraded version as many buy them with fusion disks rather than SSD’s.
Does anyone have an idea when the iMacs will be updated again? The current version is early 2019. Is a 2020 coming out soon?
I’d potentially consider a PC again but I’d need to consider a good screen as I don’t have one at present. Another option I’d consider is a laptop with docking station and screen.
I have used an iMac for 7 years I’m happy with them. This will be a long term purchase, most likely 8-10 years again so it’s got to last that time. I’m presently carrying out initial research into the options and what the potential cost is.
PLEASE NOTE: I DONT WANT THIS THREAD TURNING INTO A PC V MAC DEBATE. IT ISN'T ABOUT WHATS BETTER. ITS ABOUT HELPING SPEC A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT.