

If rendering an 8K video is a necessity for your work or hobby, consider the iMac Pro. To decide between the iMac and iMac Pro, decide how much power you need in a computer, and make sure your choice can provide it.īoth of these computers have been top choices among professionals in graphic design, gaming, and video and music production. The iMac is far more practical Bill Roberson/Digital Trends This capacity may seem like a minute detail, but the extra port could be monumental for users who balance a ton of peripheral connections, although the iMac Pro will never be compatible with USB4, which is a downside for long-term use. It maintains that same variation but also supplies four Thunderbolt 3 ports instead of only two options. However, when comparing features side by side, the iMac Pro wins marginally. The newest models feature a 3.5mm headphone jack, a Gigabit Ethernet port, an SDXC card slot, two Thunderbolt 3/USB4 ports, and two USB 3 ports. IMacs are generally well-equipped in terms of connectivity. This is Apple’s custom silicon for Macs, and it enables new levels of security by integrating the controllers found across the image signal processor, audio controller, and SSD controller. The iMac Pro also features Apple’s T2 co-processor. The price is expensive, too, with Vega 64 coming in at $550 extra and Vega 64X costing an additional $700. These graphics cards are far more capable and are for serious designers and professionals. With the iMac Pro, you get options for the Radeon Pro Vega 56, Vega 64, or Vega 64X. These still aren’t the most powerful options, and only the high-end model of the iMac packs the option for the newer Radeon Pro Vega 48 graphics. On the 5K iMacs, graphics include the Radeon Pro 570X, 575X, or 580X. The 4K iMacs come with Radeon Pro 555X or the 560X, which can be upgraded to the Radeon Pro Vega 20. Features Bill Roberson/Digital TrendsĪll but the most basic 4K iMac come with dedicated graphics cards, which add extra power for video editing and content creation.
Imac pro vs imac astronomer upgrade#
5K iMac models also pack the Fusion Drive, but you can upgrade to an SSD on all models. In contrast, the 4K and 5K iMacs start with either a regular hard drive or a Fusion Drive, which combines a traditional spinning hard drive with a small amount of flash storage. The types of storage are also different, with the iMac Pro starting with faster solid-state drive storage. Priced at $4,999, it is something designed for more serious professionals like video editors, designers, and animators.Īll entry models of 4K and 5K iMacs start with 8GB RAM, whereas the iMac Pro starts with a whopping 32GB of RAM. Unlike what you can get on the 4K or 5K iMacs, this is a powerful workstation-class processor. Turning to the iMac Pro, that system comes with options for an Intel Xeon W processor with either eight, 10, 14, or 18 cores.

This in-house chip has led to better performance metrics and is a strong contender if you are looking for a potential upgrade. The 2021 iMacs upend previous strategies with Apple’s own eight-core M1 processor. The 21.5-inch variants come with older 8th-generation Intel processors, whereas the 27-inch ones include 10th-generation chips. Performance Bill Roberson/Digital TrendsĪlongside size differences, there’s also a lot under the hood that sets the iMac and iMac Pro apart. It also sports a unique Space Gray color that sets it apart from the silver color found on the rest of the lineup. Moving to the iMac Pro, it exclusively comes in a 27-inch variant with a 5K resolution display.
Imac pro vs imac astronomer plus#
The new iMac also introduced a variety of bright colors to choose from for the first time, plus a slimmer-than-ever panel. That’s ideal for content creators and photographers. Higher resolutions mean crisper images and resolution, especially on a smaller display. Looking at just the iMac, you can easily find 27-inch 2020 versions available, but the newest 2021 model is a 24-inch version equipped with a 3.5K-resolution Retina display. That look is a design classic that hasn’t changed much over the years, but it makes for one clean desk setup. Designīoth the iMac and iMac Pro are made of aluminum and are designed as all-in-one computers.

However, our guide is still useful if you want to compare your options for an iMac upgrade. You can still buy refurbished versions, but MacOS support for them will eventually end, and at those prices, we can’t really recommend this option. Important note: The iMac Pro has, at this time, been officially discontinued. In this guide, we consider design, performance, and features to help make sense of the differences between the two.
