The iMac Pro is finally here! Apple introduced us to this amazing machine several months ago, there was chatter we’d see it in December. Yesterday Apple officially released the 27-inch 5K iMac Pro. This computer is available in several configurations, up to a 18-core processor, 128gb of memory and up to 4TB of storage. Let’s take a quick look at the specs in some more detail.
The standard configuration comes with the 3.2GHz 8-core processor, it features 32gb of ram, the Radeon Pro Vega 56 graphics card and a 1TB SSD drive. However, you have almost endless upgrade options for the iMac Pro. You can choose from 4 different processors, 8-core, 10-core,14-core or 18-core processors. With each processor choice, you can choose from 32gb, 64gb, or 128gb of memory. Each configuration also comes with options to upgrade your storage capacity from 1TB to 4TB and you can choose from either the Radio Pro Vega 56 graphics card with 8gb of memory or the Vega 64 with 16gb of memory. The flexibility in configurations means you can truly can customize it to fit your performance needs.
There is more to this mac than just incredible configuration options. The iMac Pro features the T2 chip. What is this you ask? The T2 chip allows for even higher levels of data security than your standard computer. Data stored on your SSD is encrypted using dedicated hardware encryption that is unique to each iMac Pro. This feature provides full disk encryption performed by a dedicated AES crypto engine. The FileVault on the iMac Pro extends encryption to your personal user key and keeps your credentials secure.
The iMac Pro continues to deliver impressive features with its ability to offer real-time 3D performance that is up to 3 times faster than the standard iMac with a Radeon Pro 580 graphics card. Adobe Photoshop might not be a program that you would think is a one for power users, but it is. For photographers working on very large files and projects, the iMac Pro is impressive. Multithreaded filters can run up to 3x’s faster than a Mac Pro, now that is something!
Ok, so I have listed some pretty cool statistics and configurations, but how many folks will need to take advantage fo this mega machine? After all, it’s base model pricing is $4999. First, consider what the machine is. Not only is it an incredibly powerful computer, it’s also an impressive 5K display so it’s multiple products in one. Users who are needing a computer for high-end digital work, those involved in 3D graphics or anyone getting into VR content will benefit from this computer. Additionally, as I mentioned earlier, it’s incredibly customizable. You can build a machine to truly fit your computing needs. This machine is probably more than the average computer user needs, but for someone working on very large digital projects and those working on tight deadlines, the iMac Pro is an excellent choice.