iMac20,1 and iMac20,2 - what's the difference?

[Brookzy]

Unusually this year there are two model identifiers for the 27" iMac.

Previously the ,1 and ,2 distinction has referenced the 21.5" vs. the 27" model, for example.

Anyone know what the difference is this year? I have the high-end stock model and it's a 20,1.

 

[KrazyKanuck]

Unusually this year there are two model identifiers for the 27" iMac.

Previously the ,1 and ,2 distinction has referenced the 21.5" vs. the 27" model, for example.

Anyone know what the difference is this year? I have the high-end stock model and it's a 20,1.

I have a feeling that it may be distinguish between those models with additional SSD storage boards and those without. But this is a wild guess.

EDIT: Thinking about this more though, it doesn't make much sense. There was only one model number for previous models that either had an SSD and HDD (fusion) or just an SSD. So scratch my idea.

 

[Brookzy]

I have a feeling that it may be distinguish between those models with additional SSD storage boards and those without. But this is a wild guess.

EDIT: Thinking about this more though, it doesn't make much sense. There was only one model number for previous models that either had an SSD and HDD (fusion) or just an SSD. So scratch my idea.

I thought you were onto something until I found "20,2" Geekbench benchmark results with 512GB claimed storage.

 

[KrazyKanuck]

I thought you were onto something until I found "20,2" Geekbench benchmark results with 512GB claimed storage.

Interesting. Say, where do you find the storage on the Geekbench results? I'm new to the platform.

 

[Brookzy]

Looking through Geekbench it looks like the "20,2" models all have 5700 and 5700 XT graphics.

Assuming that is the distinction, I wonder why that makes a difference.

Different power supply?
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Interesting. Say, where do you find the storage on the Geekbench results? I'm new to the platform.

It's not listed on most results, but there are some results where the user has manually added additional notes, and it mentions 512GB in there.

 

[KrazyKanuck]

Looking through Geekbench it looks like the "20,2" models all have 5700 and 5700 XT graphics.

Assuming that is the distinction, I wonder why that makes a difference.

Different power supply?
[automerge]1597612684[/automerge]

It's not listed on most results, but there are some results where the user has manually added additional notes, and it mentions 512GB in there.

Ah, neat! Thanks! Could this suggest a markedly different internal arrangement than the 5300 and 5500 XT versions? Two fans, different power supply, separate graphics module, larger heatsink, considerably different motherboard? Somebody with one, tear off your screen!

 

[cnb71]

Could it be that the difference is the nanostructure glass?

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Looking through Geekbench it looks like the "20,2" models all have 5700 and 5700 XT graphics.

Assuming that is the distinction, I wonder why that makes a difference.

Different power supply?

I wonder if it’s related to the 5700/XT cards being able to drive more high resolution displays?

From Apple’s site:

Two 6016-by-3384 (6K) external displays at 60Hz with support for 1 billion colors (requires Radeon Pro 5700 or Radeon Pro 5700 XT)

 

[KrazyKanuck]

Could it be that the difference is the nanostructure glass?

Good idea, but I don't think it's the nano glass. The 20,2s are all 8 or 10 cores, and appear to have either the 5700 or 5700 XT. So the going hypothesis is that there is something different enough about the graphics configurations to warrant a different model identifiers. What we really need is for iFixit to x-ray a 20,2 to see if there are any substantial differences. Short of that, maybe we'll have to wait until somebody drops theirs on the floor.

 

[triangletechie]

I have the base $1999 model (i5/8/512) and mine is iMac20,1

 

[KrazyKanuck]

I have the base $1999 model (i5/8/512) and mine is iMac20,1

That makes sense. My base tier-3 i7 was also 20,1. I think only those that have been upgraded to the 5700 or 5700 XT are 20,2.

 

[Darajavahus]

I wonder if it’s related to the 5700/XT cards being able to drive more high resolution displays?

From Apple’s site:

Two 6016-by-3384 (6K) external displays at 60Hz with support for 1 billion colors (requires Radeon Pro 5700 or Radeon Pro 5700 XT)

I wonder if those also have two thunderbolt controllers.

 

[Brookzy]

I wonder if those also have two thunderbolt controllers.

I think you're right.

 

[CWallace]

The 5300 and 5500 are Navi 14 parts while the 5700 is a Navi 10 part. The 5700 likely has a larger GPU die so it would have a different systemboard than the 5300/5500. If the 5700 systemboards also have a second TB3 controller, as well. So that is probably the differentiation - what systemboard is installed.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

The 5300 and 5500 are Navi 14 parts while the 5700 is a Navi 10 part. The 5700 likely has a larger GPU die so it would have a different systemboard than the 5300/5500 so that is probably the differentiation - what systemboard is installed.

Looking at the tech specs on Apple’s site, only the $2,299 model can upgrade the GPU to the 5700/XT level.

 

[CWallace]

Looking at the tech specs on Apple’s site, only the $2,299 model can upgrade the GPU to the 5700/XT level.

Which would also explain why every 20,2 has an i7 or i9 since the i7 is only available on the $2299 configuration.

 

[CheesePuff]

EveryMac does show only the 5700 XT as using the 20,2 identifier: https://everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?search_keywords=iMac20,2