Custom PC Specs

Apple iMac Specs

27-inch iMac with Retina 5K Display Intel i7 Quad-Core 4.00Ghz 32GB 1867Mhz DDR3 SDRAM 1TB Flash Storage AMD Radeon R9 M395X w/ 4GB Video Memory FINAL PRICE $4,431 (Apple Tax required)

Given below are the tests that were carried out on both machines.

Custom PC SpecsApple iMac SpecsImage Testing MethodologyLightroom ImportLightroom Smart PreviewsLightroom Develop Module Image To Image Time

Image Testing Methodology

For the following series of tests, 1,121 identical RAW images from the Canon 5D Mark III and Canon 5DS were used on both machines. All image settings were held equal between machines for control, and all tests were run 2-3 times to ensure accuracy.

Lightroom Import

Time required to import a total of 1,121 images directly from the internal SSD drive on each machine.

Custom PC took 51 Seconds Apple iMac took 81 Seconds

RESULTS: CUSTOM PC approx. 114 percent quicker than Apple iMac

Lightroom Smart Previews

Time required to generate 1,121 Smart Previews for the imported images, both machines used 2048px and the same ‘Medium’ quality settings for their Smart Preview settings in the Catalog Preferences.

Custom PC took 19 Minutes 22 Seconds Apple iMac took 26 Minutes 01 Seconds

RESULTS: CUSTOM PC approx. 26 percent quicker than Apple iMac

Lightroom Develop Module Image To Image Time

All catalogs/previews deleted. Images re-imported without any form of previews. This test measured the amount of time it took to scroll through 114 RAW images within the Develop Module as we wait for each image to fully load on screen.

Custom PC took 114 Images in 1 Minute and 10.3 Seconds Apple iMac took 114 Images in 1 Minute and 58.1 Seconds

RESULTS: Custom PC approx. 81 percent quicker than Apple iMac Looking at these test results, we can safely conclude that a custom built PC is much powerful than an iMac that carries the same price tag, mainly because of Apple’s affinity to price its products at an insanely high price. This goes to show you that if you want more firepower, then you should invest in a custom built computer system. Slrlounge