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Will an iMac work for heavy graphic work?

Tuesday, May 5, 2009 / Intel Macs, Software

Hi,

I work in graphics, especially large (50 -150 MB) RAW files. I also teach other graphics programs to serious pixel pushers.

I have been using a G5 dual 2.3 GHZ with 4 gigs of RAM. Adobe now requires an Intel chip, etc for its products. The only Intel I can afford is an iMac. The most recent ones – the most powerful – have what Adobe considers minimum requirements. I’ve never used an iMac before. Would I be dooming myself to a life of slowness or other problems if I purchase this computer for heavy graphics work?

Thanks in advance,
Betsy

I have long felt that the iMac was a good alternative to the full-blown Mac Pro workstation. I do believe this still to be the case, but I do not want to mislead you into thinking it will be a limitless computer. The iMac will constrain some of your capabilities. It would not be an ideal computer for HD Video or After Effects work on the production level. The iMac will certainly handle most graphic design work but so to would your G5. The new CS4 requires an Intel chip due to only half the software included in the bundle. Photoshop and Illustrator, for example, will work on a dual G5 processor system.

If you are looking to focus on 2D still graphics, with some light instructional video demonstrations, then the iMac should work well for you. Bump up the RAM and hard drive on the 24″ iMac and you should have decent machine. You should also pick up a DVI to mini-DVI adapter to use your current DVI display as a second monitor on the iMac.

Hope that helps,

Jacob

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3 Responses to “Will an iMac work for heavy graphic work?”

Dawn McKibbin
January 21st, 2011 at 9:30 am

Hi!
While I don’t do the heavy-duty photo editing Betsy does, our shop runs a pair of refurbished, current generation iMacs. We are using CS4, and they do everything we need – quickly. I have not had any problems editing camera files in Photoshop, though most of what we do is simply toning. The iMacs have been fine for building full color brochures in Indesign.

I hope this helps, though we are not serious pixel pushers. Most of our design is for business cards with the occasional 9×4 color brochure and calendar. The calendars were full color and from my photos. The iMac did fine. I didn’t have any pauses or troubles in Indesign.

Dawn from Old West Press
Leslei Fisher
January 25th, 2011 at 1:08 pm

Actually I have the same question Jacob, except I want to purchase a laptop…what is the best laptop configuration to do what Betsy is doing? I move around alot–as long as I have internet and my laptop I can get work done. To upgrade to CS5 I need an intel based laptop (my ol’ G4 laptop pro has been a real trooper)…thanks!
Michelle Ryther
January 28th, 2011 at 9:35 am

Hi Leslie,

The new crop of iMacs make great graphics work stations. They now have four RAM slots and can take up to 16gb total RAM. They also all have independent graphics cards which are required for Creative Suites and Final Cut Studio and other graphics intensive programs. I would recommend an i5 or i7 chip for the optimal power.

Thanks a bunch,
michelle@powermax.com