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2020 iMac Teardown Reveals Internal Changes and Similarities
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What historical evidence are you using to make this claim?
Unless this thing is 0 decibels and at ambient temp at 100% cpu and gpu utilization then extra cooling is warranted.
The argument that this machine is designed for general use is invalid because the possible hardware performance of the selected components begs to differ.
I'm contemplating picking up a new "old stock" 2019 iMac 27" with the 575x video card, just so that I can upgrade in the future
Im delighted to see so many talking about doing the fusion drive to Sata ssd upgrade in this thread,
Seems like most of the time when someone talks about the (relatively simple imo) task of opening the imac to upgrade the spinning sata drive they get shouted down by dorks who say 'ooh thats too hard', 'putting the tape back on is scary' and all that nonsense.
We disagree on “relatively simple”.
Relatively simple compared to upgrading the RAM in a MBP 16, maybe.
there is a good thread here to watch https://www.gearspace.com/board/music-computers/1320912-new-27-inch-imacs-out-2.html#post14899792
I have a late 2013 27" iMac. It still works with all its original parts, but I'm working from home a lot more these days and using the iMac more often than my 2017 Macbook. It can get bogged down and feel sluggish at times, which is now more noticeable due to using it more, and I'm losing macOS upgradeability with Big Sur. I agree with you about not wanting a first-generation AS model. I had the first-ever model 12" Powerbook and it had more problems and logic board failures than any other computer I've owned, Mac or otherwise. I haven't owned a first Apple anything since then.
Although the 21" iMac is clearly going to be replaced with an AS model sooner rather than later, it seems likely to be around a year or so for the 27" to be replaced. I don't want the first one, so that means waiting yet another year or so for the second one. This might even be an optimistic timeline; you could be right that it's more like three years than two. I don't think I want to keep my 2013 for even two more years, let alone three or more.
It also seems that the writing is on the wall for this to be the last iMac with user-accessible RAM. Hopefully by the time I'm ready to buy a AS model, the standard RAM will be more than 8GB and upgrading to a useful amount won't be a complete ripoff.
This won't apply to everyone, but I'm going to need some more tax deductions before the end of the year. I usually have a lot of deductions for car expenses, business meals/entertainment, event sponsorships, conferences/travel, etc, but due to COVID-19, I've spent virtually NOTHING on any of those things this year. So I think I'm okay with dropping money on one of these, taking the write-off, upgrading the RAM myself, and having a nice reliable computer for the next 2-3 years so that I can afford to "wait and see" regarding AS models, any issues, software and developers' responses, etc. I know I won't keep it for seven years like my current one, but that's okay. Maybe I'll need another tax deduction around 2022-2023 when the second AS large-screen iMac is out. Admittedly, we don't know exactly how much the AS transition will affect resale values of Intel models, but a 2020 iMac will still be worth something; it won't be a door stop in two years.
Penny pinching at its finest. Classic Apple under Cook. Give with one hand, take away (more) with the other.
Going to a be an increasingly small market for this “final edition” of the Intel iMac, and deservedly so.
Going to a be an increasingly small market for this “final edition” of the Intel iMac, and deservedly so.
Still rocking a late 2012 27 inch 2.9 i5 with 1TB fusion - still works perfectly and has always been silent even when encoding videos.
Have ordered an 8 core i7 512SSD to replace it. Should be a little quicker.
Have ordered an 8 core i7 512SSD to replace it. Should be a little quicker.
There are apparently some poor souls on here that can't read or have very poor comprehension skills. NONE of the new 27" configurations are upgradable.
It is still refreshing to see all the people on here that that think they can run Apple better than the folks that are.
It is still refreshing to see all the people on here that that think they can run Apple better than the folks that are.
Upgrades Apple officially supports ≠ upgrades that are physically possible
We disagree on “relatively simple”.
I've done it several times. The only vaguely tricky part is getting the new tape lined up once you're putting it back together, and that isn't actually hard.
If you've never done it, I can see how you'd think it is scary or whatever. But once you actually get a modicum of nerve to do it, you'll realize it's pretty much a breeze.
Macs altogether I think sell about 8-10 million a year, 80% of those are mobile. So, it’s a small market anyway.
I ONLY have a problem with “relatively simple”. Now, I haven’t been around all that long, but of all the machines I’ve worked on AND talked other folks through working on, none of them required, as a step, that you get the new tape lined up when you put it back together. The majority of them required no tape at all. Some were relatively easier in that the drive’s easier to get to/requires no tools other than your fingers, OR relatively harder because it requires 6 or more special screws or some special tool that you don’t normally have lying around.
Maybe it’s relatively easy among current iMacs or relatively easier compared to shucking a clam, and if that‘s what you mean, then I follow.
I haven’t been following very closely, has Apple confirmed they’re using LPDDR4/X or LPDDR5 RAM, or that’s just assumed at this point?
No, nothing confirmed. The Dev Transition Kit “About this Mac” box, which only says 16GB DRAM, nothing denoting the type of DRAM. I suspect LPDDR5 is the most likely candidate, but who knows.
Y'all are putting a lot of stock in the Apple silicon devices that have not even been produced yet. Apple has a long track record (IMO) of let downs when it comes to desktops, and computer hardware in general. What makes everyone think the ARM machines are the second coming? Heck, if Apple wants to drive all apps through the app store with a 30% cut of sales, it may limit the software availability of what is already a diminished selection vs Windows anyway.The ARM system will tighten the stranglehold even more with hardware.
I hope to eat crow, but these new, mature iMacs look like a great purchase for now. Since I readily see Apple's dark side, I wonder how these future ARM system will really turn out vs what everyone is hoping they turn out to be. I don't share the confidence of many here.
I'm reading nothing but unicorns and rainbows for Apple silicon vs the current Intel based devices from folks on various forums. I hope it works out, but I am suspicious about Apple's desire to really move forward in computer technology vs further increase in the walled garden and the associated profit margin.
I hope to eat crow, but these new, mature iMacs look like a great purchase for now. Since I readily see Apple's dark side, I wonder how these future ARM system will really turn out vs what everyone is hoping they turn out to be. I don't share the confidence of many here.
I'm reading nothing but unicorns and rainbows for Apple silicon vs the current Intel based devices from folks on various forums. I hope it works out, but I am suspicious about Apple's desire to really move forward in computer technology vs further increase in the walled garden and the associated profit margin.
Well if applying tape to something is a challenging task in your world I’m guessing we will just have to agree to disagree.
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Because we want to be certain that everything we are currently using will continue to work seamlessly. Including some older software. Me, I still have some bits and pieces in Windows VMs (so will obviously not move my primary computer to AS quite yet). This is a machine to run for the next few years and I'll dip my toe into the AS world if they release something tiny and powerful that is suitable to replace my Macbook, maybe in the next year or so.
My 2017 i7 iMac 21.5" regularly ramps up the fan when I'm using Apple ...
... Numbers.
I have a spreadsheet where it takes about a minute to add a row. Every month I add about 15 rows.
I speak as someone who recently just edited a video via LumaFusion on his iPad Pro because for some reason, simply pinching to zoom in iMovie on my 2017 5k iMac was proving to be a laggy affair. Everything was just silky smooth on my iPad Pro.
If Apple can produce such performance on a mobile device which is heat and power constrained, I am excited to see what they can do on a desktop where these limitations are less of a concern.
So rather than speculate on how much better ARM on Macs will be, I am certain that in the very least, performance can’t be any worse. Else, Apple wouldn’t make the switch.
Intel had its chance.
I expect to be able to use my 2017 5k iMac for another couple of years. By then, ARM Macs should have matured and I hope to be able to time my next iMac upgrade just right.
It’s probably a little bit of both.
Same here, I also have a Mac Pro (Late 2013) "trashcan" and I really love it (I don´t know why so many people hate it?), it is a beautiful computer (a piece of art) and the processor, the RAM and SSD can be upgraded !!! The machine is also fast and always silent. The only downsize are the graphics cards (mine are the D500s) which can´t be upgraded so I am keeping it as long as possible due I can´t afford the new 2019 model !!!
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