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Entry 27" iMac suitable for HD only video editing?

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Hi there

My Dad is looking at getting a new iMac. He liked to do home based video editing (holiday videos etc). He shoots on HD (MP4/AVCHD). He won't be moving up to 4k. No photoshop or heavy graphics work. Just HD editing.

He'll edit on Adobe Premiere Elements.

So, I think the entry level (r.e cheapest) new iMac 27" will be good enough for this.

I was just wondering if someone more technical / 'in the know' could let me know if I'm right. Thanks

Buy iMac - Apple (UK)
 
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It will do it, just slower than the other models.
 
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Thank you for your fast reply!

But will it be noticeably slower? i.e, will it be slow while editing / freezing etc or just when exporting (which is fine)... I just can't see much difference between the entry and middle level models and the top model seems over kill for home video! But, equally, I don't want my dad to pay out and have a slow mac!
 
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Extremely as the entry model has a 34GB SSD and a slow old platter drive. Suggest he go with at least a 512GB SSD, 16GB memory and the better graphics card. Don't forgfewt bhew will usae this for some (maybe many) years and frustrations with a slow computer just grow.


Customise iMac - Apple (UK)
 
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Thanks Harry

This is what I was thinking of getting the below but going up to 16gb on the memory front...

Retina 5K Display
3.0GHz 6-Core Processor with Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz
1TB Storage
3.0GHz 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor
Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz
8GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory, configurable up to 32GB
1TB Fusion Drive1
Radeon Pro 570X with 4GB of GDDR5 memory
Two Thunderbolt 3 ports
Retina 5K 5120x2880 P3 display
 
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I got my new iMac earlier this year as I was doing more and more video editing work (though on iMovie and not Premiere).

I bought the entry model but with a 256GB SSD and then I upgraded the RAM to 16GB myself (don't pay Apple to do it).

I also store all my video files on external SSD, and I find the system is perfectly capable of 4K video editing so 1080 would be a breeze I'd imagine.

Now, I believe iMacs work better with Apple's proprietary video editing applications (iMovie and FCP) as they are optimised for these.
 
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That's great! Thanks Nickyr - appreciate that!

We've just got the imac entry level 27" with 16gb but with discount. So happy days! :) thanks
 
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I don't think you'll be disappointed - enjoy :)
 
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I see this is an old thread, but here goes in case new readers arrive...

I do a LOT of video editing on a 2011 27inch iMac with 16gbs Ram. Works great.

For what it's worth, I edit using Hitfilm 4 Express, free video editing and compositing software for Windows and Mac. They have a very helpful forum. I have no business or personal relationship with the company.
 

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