iMac Review: Paying 2,000 Euros for an Old i5 and Slow Hard Drive

Two thousand Euros for an i5 that isn't Skylake and a laptop hard drive

A desktop computer costing nearly 2,000 Euros with an Intel Core i5 processor that isn't Skylake, integrated graphics, and a laptop hard drive spinning at 5,400 revolutions per minute. This is the technical description, without frills, of many iMacs in the catalog when this query was raised. The buyer wasn't asking if it was worth it; they were asking which configuration to choose. In a market where the brand outweighs the specs, the conversation turned to an uncomfortable question: how much of that price pays for the hardware and how much for the logo.

What you really buy for 2,000 Euros

The most repeated advice to someone seeking guidance was simple: the more expensive, the better. A 27-inch Retina 5K display, a quad-core i7 processor, 32 GB of RAM, 1 TB of flash storage, and a graphics card with at least 4 GB. With that setup, the argument went, you could finally start working. The bill, including extended warranty, easily exceeds two thousand Euros.

The problem arises when someone scrutinizes the components. An i5 that isn't Skylake—an already outdated generation when sold—two 8 GB modules, and a drive designed for laptops. Some argue that this combination guarantees a bottleneck as soon as heavy image or video files are peine. And the advice of a veteran professional pointed in another direction: if the usage is truly professional, the machine to look at isn't the iMac.

The infuriating comparison: 450 Euros and it performs better

The calculation running through the entire discussion is always the same: that machine, bought piece by piece, costs around 450 Euros in any component store. The defense of the high price relies on the rest of the package: the 21.5-inch 4K monitor, a keyboard and mouse better than usual, the operating system, and a complete office suite. But even conceding that, the imbalance remains hard to swallow.

And there is a detail that stokes the flames even more: 240 Euros for an additional 8 GB of RAM. A price that, compared to the free market for memory, is directly called a rip-off. The catch—and this is the important part—is that on the 21-inch models, these modules are soldered to the motherboard, so there is no option to upgrade them yourself later.

The software that simply doesn't exist on Mac

Here appears the argument least discussed, because it isn't opinion. Modeling and architecture programs like 3D Max or Revit, by Autodesk, have no macOS version. If daily work involves these, the decision is made before starting: it's not a matter of price or system, it's that the tool isn't there. Those who design in 3D with these suites work on Windows out of necessity, not preference.

The second technical front is the graphics card. The story of superior performance doesn't hold up when design programs have been offloading work to the GPU for years. High-end iMac models antiestéticatured an AMD R9 290M—a laptop graphics card—with power consumption up to 110 W, a fact explaining why the cooling of such a thin machine forces the fans to roar as soon as the load is maintained for a few minutes.

Why are there only iMacs in the university?

The short answer: institutional agreements. The perception that half a Fine Arts faculty works on the bitten apple doesn't prove technical superiority, but the ability to sell in bulk to educational centers, with negotiated prices and included support. The same logic explains why a manufacturer places its entire fleet in an administration: it's not a performance exam, it's a contract.

Stripped of the aura, the interior remains: Intel processors bought by anyone, boards from Asian manufacturers, and standard components. Inside an iMac, there is no secret engineering, just a very well-designed box and vertical integration that makes the computer and screen one piece.

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And here comes the final paradox. The staunchest defenders of the machine talk about an iMac from a decade ago that is still on, without formatting or issues, while other users of the same model have it stored because they no longer use it. Paying the premium for a monitor every time you upgrade your computer is the least visible bill of this architecture, and those who have gone through two tell it without frills. The question is whether in five years it will still be worth it. The catalog numbers say one thing. The owners, another.