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# New iMacs Available for Order
- URL: https://chrisenns.com/2012/12/new-imacs-available-for-order/
- Published: 2012-12-10T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2024-04-08T23:52:34.000Z
- Author: Chris Enns
- Tags: Uncategorized, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-04-08 17:47, #ichris

Apple's redesigned [21.5" and 27" iMac is now available for order](https://www.apple.com/ca/imac/?ref=chrisenns.com). I got to order one, albeit vicariously, for a [client](https://lemonproductions.ca/?ref=chrisenns.com) with the new [Fusion drive](https://www.apple.com/ca/imac/performance/?ref=chrisenns.com) which will be interesting to see how it performs.

Which got me to thinking - if I was blessed with an anonymous donation for the [SSKTN studio](https://ssktn.com/?ref=chrisenns.com), what would I upgrade the mid-2008 iMac I use for recording podcasts and producing video to, and how much would it cost?

### Current Dream Power-horse Mac

- 27" Display
- 3.4GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz
- 16GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2X8GB
- 1TB Fusion Drive
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX 2GB GDDR5
- Apple Magic Mouse + Magic Trackpad

The $200 upgrade to the Core i7 would help when bouncing a recording out of Logic to an MP3 for a podcast or exporting a video edited in [ScreenFlow 4](https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?grid=9646&id=6PFrOqNV4B8&offerid=162397&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=3664&RD%5FPARM1=https%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fca%252Fapp%252Fscreenflow-4%252Fid573279886%253Fmt%253D12%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30&ref=chrisenns.com) or [Final Cut Pro](https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?grid=9646&id=6PFrOqNV4B8&offerid=162397&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=3664&RD%5FPARM1=https%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fca%252Fapp%252Ffinal-cut-pro%252Fid424389933%253Fmt%253D12%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30&ref=chrisenns.com).

Going from the stock 8GB DDR SDRAM to 16GB for $200 would be an upgrade I probably wouldn't do if it was my own money - but since we're playing fantasyland here, why not? Going to 32GB though is excessive.

The $250 upgrade to Apple's new Fusion drive would be a mixture of wanting the performance that an SSD gives you plus curiosity about new tech. An extra $150 would give me a 3TB version which might be good - except that more storage means you just have more to backup. I kind of like having limits - like the 256GB SSD on my MacBook Air - that force me to decide what to keep and what to toss rather than just being a digital packrat.

I'd upgrade the video card to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX 2GB GDDR5 for $150 but only if it wasn't my money. I don't need it really but it would come in handy for those occasional [Motion](https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?grid=9646&id=6PFrOqNV4B8&offerid=162397&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=3664&RD%5FPARM1=https%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fca%252Fapp%252Fmotion%252Fid434290957%253Fmt%253D12%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30&ref=chrisenns.com) edit sessions or random game that I get 5 minutes to play.

### Sub-total

So far we're at $2,799 + tax for that configuration.

I'd probably grab the $69 upgrade to the Magic Mouse/Trackpad combo just to have a Trackpad around and throw on the $199 AppleCare. It might be a cash grab for Apple but I can't afford to be fixing an iMac over the next 3 years so it's worth the insurance for me.

So the grand total would be $3,067.00 + tax.

It says a lot about how far the iMac has come and how far the Mac Pro has fallen behind that I wouldn't really even consider a Mac Pro for this kind of setup anymore. If you'd asked me 3 years ago there's no question I'd have jumped straight to the Mac Pro config page if I was looking to upgrade my home studio hardware.

Alright anonymous donor. Time to [step forward](https://www.ssktn.com/sponsorship/?ref=chrisenns.com).