Looking for the best (used)Imac for $1000 and under for PT.Your opinion here

[studiostrat]

Howdy folks.I'm currently one of a million fence sitters in PTdom.I will probably upgrade soon to 10/11,but I currently run 8.03.I have an investor whose budget is around 1k.I want to be able to run Native Instruments Complete for synth/sample needs.BFD2 and EZ drummer are a daily occurence,though I love it when I can afford a real drummer.I play guitar,keys,bass,and program drums.Alot of my clients are all inclusive country,pop/rock and worship music folks(all inclusive means I do it all,in the way of instrumentation in this case.)I also play 'regular' simul sessions at bigger studios on guitar.You could kindof compare what I'm after,thorouput and soundwise to Nathan Chapman or Ed Cash's approacht,though I am far from famousI have a Digi 002 MX and a 003 Rack.So,do I get a fast I3 and slam it with ram,or a slower I7(or I5) and slam it with ram?Your thoughts here.I'm not interested in the hackintosh approach(yet),so I really do mean ImacThank you all so much for your input.
Studiostrat
PS-while I am fence sitting,this same machine may be used to run Logic.Backup plan

[JFreak]

PT10/11 really loves i7 processor so I would not look at anything else. And if we're talking about 2nd hand computers, the price difference shouldn't be that much. Don't compromise here!

[Southsidemusic]

Sorry but what do you mean "Fast i3 or slower i7"

I7 is THE fastest right now and an i3 is just a crapshoot and i5 is kinda no no as you said you are using alot of VI's so it is the other way around = i3 and Up!

Get an FAST i7 qnd habe atleast 8 GB but preferably 16 GB ram.

Best
Chris

[JFreak]

Originally Posted by Southsidemusic

Sorry but what do you mean "Fast i3 or slower i7"

He means clock speed. Of course 3.0 is faster than 2.6 right? :)

[Southsidemusic]

Originally Posted by JFreak

He means clock speed. Of course 3.0 is faster than 2.6 right? :)

I think that Darryl would disagree with such an equation if we are talking about i3-i5 vs i7 with a bit slower processor seeing that you can't calculate CPU vs Processer capacity that easy

Sorry I thought PT wanted the lastest CPU and LOTS of Ram so I would easy get a 2.6 GHz with 16 GB rather than a 2.9-.3.2 GHz with 8GB. And not to mention i3 should be Far Far off anyones wishlist, we have one of those 21.5 inch i3 locked up in a closet if you want it free of charge I'll throw it onto Silja Serenade or Viking Cinderella and you can pick it up in Åbo

All kidding aside though i7 for real to the OP and if you can shove 16GB or update later to 16GB and take 8GB now.

We have our Macbook Pro Retina 15" mid 2013 2.6 GHz with 8 GB (i know) and we run that in the second studio room with atleast 80-90 tracks, 25+ VI like Kontakt5 PhalanX Nexus2 Synthmaster Tone2 ElectraX and even Rob Papen XLN Addictive Drums along with 65-75 plugins and 25 aux busses with no issues at all. Apollo Quad and no Octo card in that so if we can run all that with room to spare at 8GB you should be good with 8GB and the fastest i7 you can find within your budget.

Best Regards
Christopher

[JFreak]

Yep.

Anyway, this is pretty nice resource for comparing Mac performance.

[feliponk]

Instead buying an old and dying system w/o warranty, take a look here.

http://www.tonymacx86.com/398-buildi...mber-2013.html

[YYR123]

Hackintosh - power over price any day however many people don't feel comfortable building / installing computer/software (so there's that)

I run a 6core i7 and it's a mad hatter - I don't own enough VI's to make it choke if you decide to go that route / follow the hardware purchases that are recommended (especially video cards and mobo models) and you will have no problem

Mine cost me $1500 sweet deal when a equally (as much as possible) priced Mac will run $3500 - I sold my 2008 8-core Mac Pro to fund it... Best of luck

[feliponk]

Originally Posted by YYR123

Hackintosh - power over price any day however many people don't feel comfortable building / installing computer/software (so there's that)

I run a 6core i7 and it's a mad hatter - I don't own enough VI's to make it choke if you decide to go that route / follow the hardware purchases that are recommended (especially video cards and mobo models) and you will have no problem

Mine cost me $1500 sweet deal when a equally (as much as possible) priced Mac will run $3500 - I sold my 2008 8-core Mac Pro to fund it... Best of luck

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