Upgrade to iMac?

[Broken247]

I have been battling PT issues for the last 3 years with my Mac Mini (2.6 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM). I can't record with any plug-ins going, sessions do not open the first couple attempts, and a whole slew of other performance related issues.

I have finally had it and want to shell out the $$$ for an iMac since that is the next jump up in the Mac line. I just want to be sure this is a significant performance upgrade.

I am concerned because it looks like the CPU is similar (3.0GHz or 3.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 or 3.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor
Turbo Boost up to 4.2GHz). 8 GB RAM is standard. I am getting the extra cores which should hopefully make a difference.

I am curious if I should spend the money to upgrade the CPU or memory. Also, should I spring for the Fusion or SSD drive. I use an external drive today but I am wondering if the Fusion drive will help reduce the number of failure points.

Would love to get some advice and pointers in the right direction. Thanks.

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by Broken247

I have been battling PT issues for the last 3 years with my Mac Mini (2.6 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM). I can't record with any plug-ins going, sessions do not open the first couple attempts, and a whole slew of other performance related issues.

I have finally had it and want to shell out the $$$ for an iMac since that is the next jump up in the Mac line. I just want to be sure this is a significant performance upgrade.

I am concerned because it looks like the CPU is similar (3.0GHz or 3.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 or 3.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor
Turbo Boost up to 4.2GHz). 8 GB RAM is standard. I am getting the extra cores which should hopefully make a difference.

I am curious if I should spend the money to upgrade the CPU or memory. Also, should I spring for the Fusion or SSD drive. I use an external drive today but I am wondering if the Fusion drive will help reduce the number of failure points.

Would love to get some advice and pointers in the right direction. Thanks.

Be careful when pricing things as there's a couple of different levels of iMacs (regular and iMac Pro). Go for the i7 cpu. You didn't say what screen size but I'd go for the 27 inch model; amongst other things you can put in your own ram I believe.

Whatever you do do NOT get a Fusion drive as a system drive as it's been well documented here and other places that they are death to PT. It's a very small ssd combined with a usually slow spinner drive that moves data from one to the other at will according to usage. Think you have problems now with the Mini? A Fusion drive will only make it worse. An ssd as a system drive will be as good as it gets and if you get one big enough you can put your sessions on that if you want until such time as you can get an external drive to record to (and another for samples).

[DetroitT]

Take yours to 16 gb ram and a ssd 1tb.
At least check into the cost.

I just revived an i5 macbook pro 2011 with wonderful results.