Intel iMac buying guide needed

[Nclee]

Found a brand new intel iMac 5k (2020) 3.6GHz 10-Core / 1TB SSD / Radeon Pro 5700XT/ for about 1480USD. Is this still a good buy?

 

[tstafford]

Depends on what you value.
Pro: Screen is great
Pro: Price is good vs. a Mac mini plus a 27" display (esp. 5K)
Pro: Good SSD size
Con: Intel vs. Apple Silicon
Con: Display can't easily be used in target mode so when the computer is done, so is the display
Con: Will lose Apple software updates sooner than Apple silicon machines

If it wasn't for the limitation on the screen being used in target mode, I'd say buy it for sure. But it might just make more sense to spring for a refurb apple silicon mini and 4K monitor. That's probably what I would do although I'd dig deeper and get a refurb ASD and be super happy.

 

[MBAir2010]

I would not buy anything intel with the  logo on that unless the item is a great deal.
seems to me that Apple will stop supporting these computers in the future.
Getting a patch can be annoying every year and now BigSur will get the boot in 2023.

just my 2 cents

 

[HDFan]

Found a brand new intel iMac 5k (2020) 3.6GHz 10-Core / 1TB SSD / Radeon Pro 5700XT/ for about 1480USD. Is this still a good buy?

All of the things above plus, even more importantly, who is the seller? Is there a return policy?

What will you using it for? Maybe not a great value in terms of $ vs performance/power and support life but it depends upon your intended use.

iMac (27-inch Retina Mid 2020) Benchmarks - Geekbench

browser.geekbench.com

Geekbench Search - Geekbench

browser.geekbench.com

 

[Nclee]

All of the things above plus, even more importantly, who is the seller? Is there a return policy?

What will you using it for? Maybe not a great value in terms of $ vs performance/power and support life but it depends upon your intended use.

iMac (27-inch Retina Mid 2020) Benchmarks - Geekbench

browser.geekbench.com

Geekbench Search - Geekbench

browser.geekbench.com

Brand new unit with 1 year standard apple warranty

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

You still haven't said what you will be using it for, which is of course the essential information here and not the price

 

[Fishrrman]

If you need an Intel processor for things like Windows emulation (or bootcamp), or for Mac software that has no equivalent for the m-series CPU, then YES, it IS a good buy.

But realize right up-front that it's NOT an m-series Mac, for whatever that's worth (to you).