Older iMac for Editing: I've been using a mid 2012 Macbook Pro for photo editing but it's too slow. I've been thinking, due to budget reasons, of an older iMac. Maybe a Apple iMac...

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

I've been using a mid 2012 Macbook Pro for photo editing but it's too slow. I've been thinking, due to budget reasons, of an older iMac. Maybe a Apple iMac 21.5" i5 8GB 1TB (Late 2015) Mk442ll/a model for around $600. Looking for suggestions and input from the Hoggers!

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Steve, I had to upgrade, finally. The latest version of Ps won't run on my current 10 year old iMac.

I'm not sure 8GB of ram is going to cut it. However, you didn't mention which processing software you're using.
--Bob

SteveG wrote:

I've been using a mid 2012 Macbook Pro for photo editing but it's too slow. I've been thinking, due to budget reasons, of an older iMac. Maybe a Apple iMac 21.5" i5 8GB 1TB (Late 2015) Mk442ll/a model for around $600. Looking for suggestions and input from the Hoggers!

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

rmalarz wrote:

Steve, I had to upgrade, finally. The latest version of Ps won't run on my current 10 year old iMac.

I'm not sure 8GB of ram is going to cut it. However, you didn't mention which processing software you're using.
--Bob

Luminar 4. I had upgraded my MacBook to 16gb but it's still like a snail. It's the minimum for Luminar. I'm wandering if that iMac will be fast enough with 8. I could probably upgrade it if needed

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Have you thought about building your own?

Check out this article on building one - Best Computer for Photo Editing [2020 PC BUILD]

At the end of the article, there are some build examples and the costs...

Good luck in your search...

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

Shellback wrote:

Have you thought about building your own? br br C... (show quote)

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

Go to Best Buy and buy a new 27" iMac on an 18 month interest free payment plan. Don't buy an old Mac or PC your just asking for trouble.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

If you’re going to buy a 2015 21.5” IMac, you need to find one with 16GB memory (16GB was an option and you cannot upgrade the 8GB version) and find one with the quad core 2.8 GHz I5, NOT the dual core 1.6 GHz I5. The dual core I5 with 8GB would not be satisfactory to me, but the quad core with 16GB should be usable. Definitely worth any extra cost for those two options.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

SteveG wrote:

I've been using a mid 2012 Macbook Pro for photo editing but it's too slow. I've been thinking, due to budget reasons, of an older iMac. Maybe a Apple iMac 21.5" i5 8GB 1TB (Late 2015) Mk442ll/a model for around $600. Looking for suggestions and input from the Hoggers!

I have the iMac you are talking about but that particular model is very difficult to upgrade, to add RAM the computer has to be completely taken apart, a major surgery. Fortunately I was able to buy a 2012 27" iMac from another hogger here that has 32Gig of RAM and i7 processors for about $650 and now after a recent move my 21" iMac never got unpacked from its box. I am perfectly fine with the 27" iMac and honestly I never had any big problems with the 21" however I am not sure that it would be a huge upgrade from your MacBook Pro.

The iMac you are considering is one of a few that is difficult to upgrade, before you buy a used iMac I would strongly urge you to research how they are upgraded, many of them you simply have to open a door on the back of the computer, others like the 2015 have to be completely taken apart, the display has to be removed, fans, hard drives, speakers disconnected, small wires taken out of their chases.... while others it is simply opening a door and changing out chips. You can find videos online about upgrading the different models.

uhaas2009

I do have the late 2015. If you google A1418 you will see there are different hardware build iMac.
My Mac it runs but it’s Not fast when I use certain programs. Those iMac are not supposed to be “upgraded” but people open them and exchange To SSD drive

domcomm Loc: Denver, CO

If it is slow, you probably don't have enough RAM. If you can add more RAM, do it, and save the cost of buying another computer.

BrHawkeye

The key, as has been suggested by others, is RAM. 8GB won't do it. 16GB is better. But I'd go for 32GB if you can afford it because the story of processing requirements is that they have steadily increased over time. I've been limping along on a 2015 iMac with 8GB of RAM that was just fine when I bought it. Its RAM can't be upgraded. I'm planning on upgrading to a new iMac with more RAM next year.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Spend some time watching videos by Luke Miani on YouTube. He specializes in Apple computers, and he's always fixing or upgrading something. One episode was about the best old Mac to get - and the worst.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=luke+miani

EDIT: You can get a Samsung SSD for a good price, and it's easy to replace the HDD in your MBP. I did that with mine (2012), and it runs faster. The processing itself isn't faster, though.

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

SteveG wrote:

Luminar 4. I had upgraded my MacBook to 16gb but it's still like a snail. It's the minimum for Luminar. I'm wandering if that iMac will be fast enough with 8. I could probably upgrade it if needed

Better make sure you CAN upgrade the 21" unit.

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

That's a good video Jerry. I have already done that to MY 2009 27" mac. Gives me another year of use for when the new apple chips are put in the next wave of iMACS. and it only cost me 450.00

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Blurryeyed wrote:

I have the iMac you are talking about but that par... (show quote)

It’s not only difficult, it’s not possible (at least unless you’re skilled at soldering very small and perhaps surface mount components) - the memory is soldered in.