Imac i5 with HD Thunderbolt

[Psychonaut4]

I just bought a HD THUNDERBOLT system. I have a mid 2012 I5 Imac. When reading the system requirements avid recommends a Imac with a I7 processor. I looked all over the internet and I'm not even sure you can get a imac with an i7 processor. Does anyone have any experience using the HD THunderbolt with a i5 imac? Any issues? Thanks!

[nst7]

The I7 Imacs are upgrades from the regular I5's and are not stock models. So many dealers won't have them available, however, some do like B & H.

Typically you would order these from the Apple Store online, and select that processor upgrade.


As for I7 over I5, one reason is that on the Imacs, only the I7 processors have hyper-threading, which allows Protools to see more virtual cores. They tend to be more powerful in general. If you're stuck with an I5 I think it should still work okay. But if you can return it and get an I7, you may be happier in the long run.

[Psychonaut4]

Thanks for the info. I did hear from an Avid Rep that the Thunderbolt tested fine on i5's. They just want you to have the latest and greatest. Though he did say the more Ram the better as this effects the disc cache. If I could I would go get. New Mac but this bundle pretty much wiped me out. Maybe next year.

[Craig F]

it's not the Thunderbolt port it's the amount of raw CPU power available
i7 has a lot more power than an i5

[Psychonaut4]

I was referring to the Avid Thunderbolt setup. Not the imac. But yea I hearvwhat your saying.