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Mac Hardware and Software |OT| - All things Macintosh
- Thread starter 3N16MA
- Start date
Autumn Wind
Member
The iMac update is fascinating. Even as recently as a year or two ago, you couldn't have convinced me to get an iMac. I was dead set against it. I wanted a new Mac mini. I still would like a new Mac mini, but the 4K iMac is changing things.
I would almost want to save up for it now except next year the Iris Pro 580 is going to be a pretty big boost over the Iris Pro 6200. I would also like a computer that takes 32 GB of RAM instead of just 16 GB even though my needs only require no more than maybe 8 GB. My only gripe with the 27" iMacs is the lack of nVidia discrete cards.
I would almost want to save up for it now except next year the Iris Pro 580 is going to be a pretty big boost over the Iris Pro 6200. I would also like a computer that takes 32 GB of RAM instead of just 16 GB even though my needs only require no more than maybe 8 GB. My only gripe with the 27" iMacs is the lack of nVidia discrete cards.
The GPU stuff is interesting. As of now Nvidia's gone from Apple's setup entirely, which isn't unprecedented. But Apple usually flip-flops pretty regularly. I wonder if AMD is desperate enough they're willing to cut much better deals than Nvidia and we'll see Apple keep with them more. The lack of a dGPU in the 21" as a top-of-the-line option is pretty surprising to me, but I guess is just following the precedent of Apple's notebooks. You'll get a GPU in the top-of-the-line MBP, iMac, and Mac Pro from now on, and nowhere else.
I've been using a Wacom tablet recently when precision is necessary, even for non-drawing workflows. Especially the smaller Wacom tablets can be a great substitution for mouse/trackpad.
I know a lot of people who do this, but I haven't been able to get into it. I break out my tablet when I need to draw and that's it.
Yeah. I never understood why they hadn't released a 4k version. 5k has issues with the available Thunderbolt bandwidth. But that should not have stopped them from providing a 4k version in the meantime.
I mean, it'll happen next rev no matter what (unless they just scrap it completely), the current once can already do 4K@30Hz. Just depends when they'll actually update it. Seems likely since they didn't refresh it now it'll come sometime after the 13" MBPr refresh.
Only thing I can think of is that they want to release it with a Type-C connector.
The Real Abed
Perma-Junior
I was the same way until last years late Mac mini update. I was so excited to see what they were going to do with the mini hoping for integrated flash across the line and nice fast speeds all around. Then it came out. And it was shit.
Then I saw a refurbished top of the line 27" iMac current model and weighed my options. I decided instead of getting a mediocre Mac mini and having to use my current low resolution 20" 2005 ACD with it's way too dim screen and 1680x1050 resolution or having to get a separate display (Which would have been an Apple display either way) I just bit the bullet and got the iMac. I love it. I could never go back unless they did go the all flash route with the mini. Until they do I'm on team iMac.
Mr. Wonderful
Member
I could see them arguing that there's no need for a dGPU in the high-end 21" if they were using Skylake, but with a dated processor, it's a hard sell.
How are Intel's GPU drivers these days, by the way? For both gaming and compute? I know compute benchmarks often gave Intel a lead (at least in efficiency, IIRC?), but has that lead gotten larger, and are more apps supporting Intel GPUs for acceleration?
Can't speak to the larger world of programs, but modern Intel GPUs are acceptable for acceleration in AE and Premiere, and Metal works on everything back to the HD4000 series.
What disappoints me about the 21" losing the dGPU is that I always thought it'd be great for the 21" to work on its ownyou chose what size you wanted, and then you chose your options, rather than the 21" being the low-end, and the 27" the one you needed if you wanted a powerful machine. I'd much rather have the smaller footprint of the 21", especially since you can now get a razor-sharp, excellent display in that size. But you have to accept no dGPU and no easily accessible RAM as part of that bargain now.
The 2014 model isn't trash, it just has two shortcomings the original didn't suffer from: lack of expandable RAM and being dual-core only. I don't think any of those shortcomings will be issues to your mother, if I'm honest. Picking the 2012 or the 2014 model, just make sure you get one with flash storage: the HDDs Apple uses on the minis (and iMacs) are terribly slow, enough to drive your mom mad, even if she isn't too tech-savvy.
I don't think any Mini has an easy-to-replace HDD, at least the unibody ones. You have to take the whole thing apart to reach the HDD, and you need the proper tools for it.
victreeb3l
Member
Yup, I used to do it before I got my trackpad. Decided getting one since it was 1) a lot smaller and 2) gestures!
Yeah. It's pretty straightforward, but it's a fair amount of steps that requires near-total disassembly to reach the lower drive bay. They made it more difficult in the newest model because there's security screws locking down the whole thing whereas before you just unscrewed the bottom to add more RAM or whatnot.
killertofu
Member
Is Mission Control supposed to be laggy as hell on the 5k iMacs? This is worse than my 2012 iMac
Got a weird issue with my girlfriend's Mac. (2011-2012 MacBook Pro I think)
A while ago I put in my old Crucial M4 SSD to replace her HDD. Running fine, etc. Only recent change was updating to El Capitan, but more or less worked fine since then.
When starting it up last night, it was sitting on this screen.
I can actually access all the files on the drive, when I plug it in externally in an enclosure, so all the data is still there - just won't boot. (I cloned the drive to an external HDD just in case - that also wouldn't boot after the clone)
I figured since it's an old Crucial M4, I updated the firmware because I remember hearing boot failures with them. Finally did the firmware update, but no change.
I ran Disk Utility on it, and it claims the disk is fine, so I'm not sure what to do now apart from reformat or get a new HDD, and use the data migration tool to bring over the user profile, etc.
Halp!
A while ago I put in my old Crucial M4 SSD to replace her HDD. Running fine, etc. Only recent change was updating to El Capitan, but more or less worked fine since then.
When starting it up last night, it was sitting on this screen.
only, that there is no progress on that bar at all. Just sits there empty.
I can actually access all the files on the drive, when I plug it in externally in an enclosure, so all the data is still there - just won't boot. (I cloned the drive to an external HDD just in case - that also wouldn't boot after the clone)
I figured since it's an old Crucial M4, I updated the firmware because I remember hearing boot failures with them. Finally did the firmware update, but no change.
I ran Disk Utility on it, and it claims the disk is fine, so I'm not sure what to do now apart from reformat or get a new HDD, and use the data migration tool to bring over the user profile, etc.
Halp!
CrudeDiatribe
Member
Boot in verbose mode (hold cmd-v as it boots) and see where the robot-barf stops, and Google that.
For some reason, the progress bar goes to 55% now, and stalls.
Command+V once I choose it (still booting as an external) - I get this
Also,
I tried another HDD in the Mac, and it boots. I tried the faulty SSD in my own Mac, and it fails to boot as well, to rule out hardware issues.
CrudeDiatribe
Member
You said it is a MacBook Pro; that screen says it is an Air. Also, appears to have had a kernel panic which seems to be why it isn't booting.
Are you sure it is booting from external HDD? You are holding option to choose boot device?
Things to try:
Boot with shift key down. If it works it will boot very slowly in safe mode, which disables kernel extensions that may be fucking it up.
Boot with cmd-r to see if it will boot from recovery partition or in Internet recovery.
(Not at the same time)
Are you sure it is booting from external HDD? You are holding option to choose boot device?
Things to try:
Boot with shift key down. If it works it will boot very slowly in safe mode, which disables kernel extensions that may be fucking it up.
Boot with cmd-r to see if it will boot from recovery partition or in Internet recovery.
(Not at the same time)
CrudeDiatribe
Member
Re your stealth-edit (or thing I missed):
Backup the files, erase the SSD and reinstall the OS and migrate from backup.
Backup the files, erase the SSD and reinstall the OS and migrate from backup.
I have the external drive plugged into an Air at work (holding Option to boot off the USB). The MacBook Pro is at home. I don't know if I should be expecting it to boot/work on an Air if it works on another MacBook.
Edit: Shift key didn't seem to make a difference
Cmd+R eventually brings up time machine, reinstall OS X or disk utility. No option for recovery partition or internet recovery.
CrudeDiatribe
Member
It should, it was just a difference between what you posted in text and in the screen shot
Then you got the recovery partition, which the OS put on the ass end of the disk. As I said in my last post, I would erase the problematic disk, install the OS fresh and then migrate from the backup (the problem is very unlikely to be in anything it will migrate).
It's a huge letdown for me too. 27" is far too big for me on top of a second monitor, 21" however is perfect. I think Apple are being pretty stupid about this as generally speaking those who want a 21" iMac are going to buy a 21" iMac, they're not going to be up-sold to a 27" just for a dGPU. Forcing customers to compromise like that isn't going to build much good will. Luckily I intend to keep this iMac for at least another 5 years and maybe something will change between now and then.
At this point, it's more likely that eGPUs become a thing with TB3. Which is actually fine by me if they work well, because I'd be fine swapping my GPU between my portable and desktop machines depending on the project or game.
I would be totally fine with that too. No different than an external HDD really.
Fingers crossed that pans out as a viable option.
Intel certainly seems to have put the effort into it with TB3, and it's possible to do now with TB2, albeit with more potential bandwidth bottlenecks. I guess it's up to either Apple to offer support, and/or vendors to provide drivers similar to how Nvidia offers a web driver for non-Apple-offered GPUs.
Rukes
The front page still gets no respect
Having an odd problem, all of a sudden the CoverFlow browsing option is missing when adding files through a web browser (Firefox and Chrome) such as adding a photo on Twitter.
Any idea how to get it back?
On El Capitan, but I think it worked fine before too.
Any idea how to get it back?
On El Capitan, but I think it worked fine before too.
As long as the model has an SSD the model year really doesn't matter much.
The Real Abed
Perma-Junior
Yup. A SSD will make a much bigger difference than a couple processor generation gap. My dads 2010 MBP with an off the shelf SSD feels faster than my 2014 iMac with HDD. And that's a quad core i7. The MBP is a Core 2 Duo. Man it's been a while since I had to type that. Feels so weird.
If Apple/intel don't screw it up it sounds like TB3 could be the most important Mac hardware update since the SSD and 64bit intel. 2016 should be very interesting!
Angelus Errare
Banned
Having an odd problem, all of a sudden the CoverFlow browsing option is missing when adding files through a web browser (Firefox and Chrome) such as adding a photo on Twitter.
Any idea how to get it back?
On El Capitan, but I think it worked fine before too.
The bigger question is why are the icons not horizontally centered in those buttons. D:
It should, it was just a difference between what you posted in text and in the screen shot
Then you got the recovery partition, which the OS put on the ass end of the disk. As I said in my last post, I would erase the problematic disk, install the OS fresh and then migrate from the backup (the problem is very unlikely to be in anything it will migrate).
Did a fresh install, then the user migration app to pull from the backup - worked like a charm. Back up and running! Thanks for your help and moral support!
Ifixit tore down the new iMac and the hdd/ssd is no longer replaceable along with the usual soldered in ram and processor. The fusion drive flash has also been reduced from 128gb to 24gb. Buyer beware and all. It's such a bummer compared to the original MacBook and the iMacs of years past, especially since the physical exterior of the device hasn't changed in years to require such sacrifices.
That's a function of the high-contrast accessibility mode being active, I believe.
The Real Abed
Perma-Junior
Aww, you're lucky. I'd give anything for the Coverflow option to finally disappear on my computer too.Having an odd problem, all of a sudden the CoverFlow browsing option is missing when adding files through a web browser (Firefox and Chrome) such as adding a photo on Twitter.
Any idea how to get it back?
On El Capitan, but I think it worked fine before too.
Oh wait, it's only in file selection dialogs? Damn, I thought they were finally dropping it for good once and for all.
I can confirm it does not exist on my end too. I'm sure they removed it from file browser dialogs. Hopefully as a sign that they're phasing it out slowly. (Next step, removing it from the Finder)
I don't understand why it ever needed to exist outside a clever little show-off gag to make your album art look neat. It's inferior to both icon view and list view combined. I never understood why Apple bought it. Maybe one day it'll finally disappear. I'd much rather just have Icon, List and Column view.
You should have gotten the Trackpad. No Mac user should get the Mouse.
See, I have a Macbook Pro, so joke's on me right?
The Real Abed
Perma-Junior
Do you not like the trackpad on your computer? Because I can't even stand using even a normal mouse now.
I believe they'll have a restocking fee if you take it back but you should be allowed within 14 days last I checked.
It's great. Ergonomics don't apply to it - anyone actually tried to make their hand conform to the shape of the mouse is completely missing the point.
If you don't need it now, I'd wait til next year. This year's update was pretty marginal.
That sucks, the RAM and the SSD in the old 21" were replaceable if you had the patience to open up the iMac. So many compromises for no gain.
I am perfectly okay using trackpads while away from home but when I am at my desk I definitely prefer a mouse. Gaming on a trackpad is impossible. Steelseries and Razer do good mice, forget about the Apple one.
dark_chris
Member
Need some help.
Got a Macbook Pro that is stuck on the login screen when you try to type a password. I don't really know what to do. Can anyone help?
Using Yosemite
Got a Macbook Pro that is stuck on the login screen when you try to type a password. I don't really know what to do. Can anyone help?
Using Yosemite
Do you have a backup you can restore from?
Can you boot into safe mode? (hold shift when you power on your system)
dark_chris
Member
I don't think i have a backup to restore from.
Also, I can boot into safe mode but won't let me click on either the name or "Other User". It just freezes there.