New iMac RAM 32 vs 64 gig

[jigzaw]

I know most here do the aftermarket RAM, but leaving that aside, the $800 difference between going with 32 and 64 gigs for RAM is startling. I'm planning on maxing out the GPU and the i7, but wondering if for my needs, 64 would be overkill.

I'm a TV editor (we use old Mac Pro towers at work) and plan on using Avid Media Composer and eventually Adobe for editing indie films at home on my new iMac (it'll be my first personal Apple desktop), often from 4K sources (though I tend to transcode down to lower rez for editing).

I'm not a heavy graphics guy, but I would love to learn color correction and try my hand at After Effects.

Is there any reason, if I'm not a hardcore gamer or CGI artist, to go for 64 gig RAM?

I'm assuming, also, that a 32-gig iMac can be expanded to 64. However, do we know yet whether an iMac ordered with 16 also will come with enough slots to upgrade up to 64 gigs? I appreciate any responses!

 

[dlewis23]

I would get the new iMac with just the standard 8GB of ram then order 32GB of ram after. I got 32GB in 2 16GB dimm off Amazon for $190.

 

[jigzaw]

I would get the new iMac with just the standard 8GB of ram then order 32GB of ram after. I got 32GB in 2 16GB dimm off Amazon for $190.

Do we know for sure that the 8GB model will come with enough slots to upgrade all the way up to 64? I'm sure this is a newb question, but I've never owned an iMac or opened up the back of one.

 

[dlewis23]

Do we know for sure that the 8GB model will come with enough slots to upgrade all the way up to 64? I'm sure this is a newb question, but I've never owned an iMac or opened up the back of one.

It's the same with every other 27" iMac. There are 4 dimm slots and it comes with 2 4GB sicks of ram.

 

[trsblader]

I'm assuming, also, that a 32-gig iMac can be expanded to 64. However, do we know yet whether an iMac ordered with 16 also will come with enough slots to upgrade up to 64 gigs? I appreciate any responses!

The 27" iMacs all come with 4 slots for ram regardless of which config you have initially. I would do what the above poster did and buy a 32gb bundle somewhere that is made up of 2x16, put them in with the factory 8gb, for 40gb total and never look back.

 

[epca12]

What I always suggest is always getting 8GB and upgrading it after, avoiding Apples high charges

 

[mpe]

You should be fine with 32GB.

As others suggest - order 8GB and upgrade later.