iMac min M4 Pro from 2020 Intel i9 - how big a difference will I see?

[mindquest]

Looking to upgrade my 2020 iMac to a Mac Mini M4 Pro. Just wondering how big a difference will I see. Mostly data analysis for my job and tons of web crawling. Some video work but maybe only 10% of my work.

It feels like the M4 Pro will be a very big step up but wanted to hear form other Intel hold overs what it was like going to M?


2020 27" iMac
64GB
4TB
3.6 GHz i9
Radeon Pro 5700 XT 16GB

 

[mindquest]

Also

Looking to upgrade my 2020 iMac to a Mac Mini M4 Pro. Just wondering how big a difference will I see. Mostly data analysis for my job and tons of web crawling. Some video work but maybe only 10% of my work.

It feels like the M4 Pro will be a very big step up but wanted to hear form other Intel hold overs what it was like going to M?


2020 27" iMac
64GB
4TB
3.6 GHz i9
Radeon Pro 5700 XT 16GB

does the amount of ram in an Intel need to be the one you order in the M model?

 

[mcnallym]

Also

does the amount of ram in an Intel need to be the one you order in the M model?

In ALL of the Mx Series you need to order from Apple the amount kf Memory you want.

RAM is fixed at order time and cannot be upgraded.


so if need 64Gb RAM then you need to order the mini with 64Gb Memory.

easiest way to check is use activity monitor and see how much ram using.

check how much is used for caching as Mac OS will use “spare“ RAM to cache,

if your workflow requires 64Gb on Intel Mac you will need 64Gb on Apple Silicon Mac.

 

[mindquest]

In ALL of the Mx Series you need to order from Apple the amount kf Memory you want.

RAM is fixed at order time and cannot be upgraded.


so if need 64Gb RAM then you need to order the mini with 64Gb Memory.

easiest way to check is use activity monitor and see how much ram using.

check how much is used for caching as Mac OS will use “spare“ RAM to cache,

if your workflow requires 64Gb on Intel Mac you will need 64Gb on Apple Silicon Mac.

So are you saying ram from Intel to a M chip is a one to one as far as what to order? I thought I read somewhere on here where it wasn’t and that the video card ram from the Intel config played into the sizing?

 

[mcnallym]

So are you saying ram from Intel to a M chip is a one to one as far as what to order? I thought I read somewhere on here where it wasn’t and that the video card ram from the Intel config played into the sizing?

I am saying that if your Intel Mac needed 64Gb of RAM then your M Series Box will need that much as well.
You don’t have to add the VRAM into the figure as M Series uses Unified Memory so no need to copy to seperare VRAM for the Graphics part.

 

[dcpmark]

Apple Silicon Unified Memory: How Much Mac RAM Do You Need?

When choosing a new Mac, one of the most important decisions you'll make is how much memory to configure. This guide helps you to work out how...

www.macrumors.com

 

[Fishrrman]

If you are indeed "using" all of that 64gb RIGHT NOW, then by all means get 64gb (or more) on the m-series Mac you buy.

Otherwise... you may find yourself disappointed.