iMac With 10-Core M4 Chip Supports 8K Display at 60Hz [Updated]

[MacRumors]

Update: Hours after this story was published, Apple updated the tech specs for the new iMac to indicate that configurations with the 10-core M4 chip support one external display with up to 8K resolution at 60Hz, not 120Hz. It appears that the original 8K at 120Hz specification in Apple's tech specs was an error. Apple still mentions 8K at 120Hz on its international websites, but those will likely be corrected soon as well.

Original story follows.


When configured with a 10-core M4 chip, the new iMac announced today supports up to an 8K external display at 120Hz, or up to two 6K displays at 60Hz each. The impressive feat was noted by Vadim Yuryev, co-host of the YouTube channel Max Tech.

This means the latest iMac is the first-ever Mac to support an 8K display at 120Hz, beating out higher-end models like the MacBook Pro, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. Apple is expected to announce new MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips as early as tomorrow, however, so support for an 8K display at 120Hz could be expanded soon.

Apple doesn't even offer an 8K display with a 120Hz refresh rate — at least not yet. Apple's higher-end Pro Display XDR monitor has a 6K resolution at 60Hz, while its lower-end Studio Display monitor has a 5K resolution at 60Hz.

Does the iMac's external display support hint at future 120Hz versions of the Pro Display XDR or Studio Display? There are no concrete rumors yet.

The previous iMac with the M3 chip supports one external display at up to 6K/60Hz, and this remains true for the latest base model with the 8-core M4 chip.

For more details about the new iMac, read our earlier coverage of Apple's announcement.

In the U.S., pricing for the iMac with a 10-core M4 chip starts at $1,499.

Article Link: iMac With 10-Core M4 Chip Supports 8K Display at 60Hz [Updated]

 

[omenatarhuri]

Hope for display refresh is back on the menu boys!

 

[TMRJIJ]

The Pro Display XDR is long due for an update.

 

[wurban]

There is still now way I am downsizing from my 27 inch display. I can not believe that they think only offering a computer that is 3 inches smaller is not a problem.

 

[ignatius345]

There is still now way I am downsizing from my 27 inch display. I can not believe that they think only offering a computer that is 3 inches smaller is not a problem.

Studio Display

The 27-inch 5K Retina Studio Display is the perfect Mac creative partner — with 12MP Center Stage camera, three studio-quality mics, and six speakers

www.apple.com

 

[gpat]

Also 2x external monitor support for the M4.
Why isn't anybody talking about it?

 

[Bustycat]

Only DisplayPort 2.0+ (now 2.1a), with UBHR20 and DSC, can support such spec.

 

[Zdigital2015]

Also 2x external monitor support for the M4.
Why isn't anybody talking about it?

Because everyone wants to gripe and not look at the positives in this upgrade for the iMac. So many people here griping that I wonder what percentage actually own a Mac and what percentage just enjoy griping about Apple and a using Windows or Linux.

 

[russell_314]

Exactly what monitors support this and how much $$$$

The king of Apple clickbait YouTube gets a whole article written about him… I bet his head is exploding 😂

 

[gpat]

Because everyone wants to gripe and not look at the positives in this upgrade for the iMac. So many people here gripping that I wonder what percentage actually own a Mac and what percentage just enjoy griping about Apple and a using Windows or Linux.

The iMac largely remains a flawed product for my standards.
I'm enthusiastic because I'll be able to drive 2 portable monitors with a 13" Air.

 

[poematik13]

I've never even heard of an 8K 120hz display existing, maybe one of those $20,000 samsung 100" ones that need to be installed by a contractor? lol

I only know the Dell 8K monitor that's been around for a few years.

Regardless, if this is a hint that there's a new Pro Display XDR coming with that spec, would be awesome. Awesomely expensive

 

[tgwaste]

Man those things are so ugly.

 

[Astuces iOS]

Wait and Mac Pro?

 

[DaveEcc]

Found it. https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/samsung/odyssey-neo-g9-g95nc-s57cg95 , though it's not true 8K either.

 

[sw1tcher]

When configured with a 10-core M4 chip, the new iMac announced today supports up to an 8K external display at 120Hz, or up to two 6K displays at 60Hz each. The impressive feat was noted by Vadim Yuryev, co-host of the YouTube channel Max Tech.

What would really be impressive is if we can run the iMac in target display mode again.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Who cares? Up the Cores and BTO Ram options beyond 32 GB. I routinely peg that on my M2 Pro with 32GB Mac mini.

 

[ralph_sws]

How is that possible? Thunderbolt 4 has a maximum speed of 40gb/s. 8K 120hz needs close to 120gb/s.
hdmi 2.1 only supports 48gb/s and that's enough for 8k 60hz.
maybe through 2 or 3 cables

 

[Jamie0003]

Because everyone wants to gripe and not look at the positives in this upgrade for the iMac. So many people here griping that I wonder what percentage actually own a Mac and what percentage just enjoy griping about Apple and a using Windows or Linux.

Erm….you do realise the hypocrisy in that statement right?

 

[Bustycat]

Found it. https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/samsung/odyssey-neo-g9-g95nc-s57cg95 , though it's not true 8K either.

Half the resolution but twice the refresh rate, exactly the same data usage.

 

[Jamie0003]

This is great but….how come iPad Pro, same chip, doesn’t even support more than one external display? How come nobody is complaining about this?

 

[cocoua]

8k @120hz is a super big news, it would make working with 3 5k @120hz less intensive task for the gpu

Some renders with heavy GPU effects makes the computer lag, and using standard resolution makes a difference

 

[sw1tcher]

I've never even heard of an 8K 120hz display existing, maybe one of those $20,000 samsung 100" ones that need to be installed by a contractor? lol

TCL introduced a couple last year

TCL unveils 27-inch 8K, 65-inch 8K 120Hz OLED, and 57-inch 8K 240Hz mega PC gaming monitor

TCL teases a bunch of new gaming monitors, including a 27-inch 8K panel, 65-inch 8K OLED, and a monster 57-inch 8K 240Hz Mini-LED gaming monitor.

www.tweaktown.com

 

[ignatius345]

What would really be impressive is if we can run the iMac in target display mode again.

People overuse the term "game changer" a lot... but this would be a proper game changer!

 

[apull]

Also 2x external monitor support for the M4.
Why isn't anybody talking about it?

My theory is that the M4 Pro is never going to happen, because it got turned into a 10-core M4 upgrade. There has been support for 2x external monitors before with the "Pro" chip, which was also the only way you got 4 Usb-c/thunderbolt ports.

Now, the 10-core M4 keeps the same name as the 8-core, but gets you 4 usb-c ports. The listed criteria for the third display is 4 ports (the two-port M4 still only supports one external display).

At least now we can stop talking about M4 Pro MacBook Pros, or MacBook Pro M4 Pros.

There's probably still going to be a bunch of confused people buying the base-level iMac, surprised to find out that they're not just short on ports, they're also short on monitor support.

 

[ignatius345]

This is great but….how come iPad Pro, same chip, doesn’t even support more than one external display? How come nobody is complaining about this?

Heat dissipation. The iPad Pro is paper thin and has passive cooling. The iMac has proper fans in it and a whole area around the bottom that can radiate out heat. Push an iPad that hard and it's just going to throttle so bad it won't be usable.

Also, is this really the use case for an iPad?