Please help Which is better 2020 iMac for daw or Logic Pro recording

[dbright1]

2020 imac​

• 3.7GHz 10-Core Core i9 processor
• 128GB memory
• 1.0TB Solid-State Drive
• AMD Radeon Pro 5700 with 8GB VRAM
• Supports macOS 10.15.6 Catalina* and later including the latest macOS 15.x Sequoia
• or

Refurbished: iMac 27-inch (Retina 5K) 3.6GHZ 10-Core i9 (2020) MXWU2LL/A-BTO 128 GB RAM & 4 TB PCIe SSD 5120 x 2880 Apple Wireless Keyboard-Mouse Mac OS (Certified Good, 1 Yr Warranty)

• Color: Silver
• CPU Type: Intel Core i9 10th Gen
• CPU Name: 3.6GHz
• GPU/VGA Type: AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT
• Memory Capacity: 128GB DDR4
• SSD: 4 TB
• Option: With Monitor

 

[Nermal]

3.7GHz 10-Core Core i9 processor

Where are you seeing this? As far as I'm aware, Apple never sold a 2020 with this CPU configuration (there was a 3.6 GHz i9 and a 3.8 GHz i7, but I don't think there was a 3.7 GHz anything).

 

[dbright1]

Thanks ! Well that's what I thought as well, doesn't sound right, https://eshop.macsales.com OWC then go to Mac sales etc.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Both are towards "too old" now. It's basically OVER for Intel Macs. Support will rapidly drop off and some question if they will even get the very next macOS update, well under a year from now.

The general timeline for Macs is about 7 years. We're a month from being 5 years into that 7 years. Caveat Emptor!

Logic will likely get a bunch of new A.I. features in upcoming updates and those very likely will not (be permitted to) work with Intel Macs. You'll likely feel left behind very soon with either choice.

I suggest separates. Since you are after added power, maybe the new Mac Mini Pro with a nice third-party monitor. Or maybe an M3 MAX MBpro to eventually connect to a bigger third party monitor. If you can stall this purchase for a few months, wait for the new Mini to appear in the Rerfurb store... or seek the approx. same discount in the Edu store.

Load up the RAM as Logic will perform better with plenty of RAM.

I'd also suggest you pursue an ultra-wide monitor vs. the iMac/ASD-type squarish monitor. The added width will be very useful for audio track editing. I put the money that could have gone towards an ASD on the Dell 40" 5K2K ultra wide and could never step back to squarish monitor options. I do both video and audio editing and all that extra width is VERY useful.

But if your attraction to these old iMacs is driven by budget, maybe get a Mac Mini Pro now with a cheap 4K monitor and save up for a better monitor to replace it as soon as you can.

 

[dbright1]

Both are towards "too old" now. It's basically OVER for Intel Macs. Support will rapidly drop off and some question if they will even get the very next macOS update, well under a year from now.

The general timeline for Macs is about 7 years. We're a month from being 5 years into that 7 years. Caveat Emptor!

I suggest separates. Since you are after added power, maybe the new Mac Mini Pro with a nice third-party monitor. Or maybe an M3 MAX MBpro to eventually connect to a bigger third party monitor. If you can stall this purchase for a few months, wait for the new Mini to appear in the Rerfurb store... or seek the approx. same discount in the Edu store.

I'd also suggest you pursue an ultra-wide monitor vs. the iMac/ASD-type squarish monitor. The added width will be very useful for audio track editing. I put the money that could have gone towards an ASD on the Dell 40" 5K2K ultra wide and could never step back to squarish monitor options. I do both video and audio editing and all that extra width is VERY useful.

But if your attraction to these old iMacs is driven by budget, maybe get a Mac Mini Pro now with a cheap 4K monitor and save up for a better monitor to replace it as soon as you can.

Thanks so much for the advice!

 

[Fishrrman]

Take the money you would have spent on a 2020 iMac, and get a new m4pro Mini instead, with extra RAM and at least a 1tb SSD.

For a display, either get a 27" 4k (many out there at all price points), or if you have-to-have 5k, there are a few panels available other than the Apple Studio Display (which is overpriced for what you get).

 

[ADGrant]

Take the money you would have spent on a 2020 iMac, and get a new m4pro Mini instead, with extra RAM and at least a 1tb SSD.

For a display, either get a 27" 4k (many out there at all price points), or if you have-to-have 5k, there are a few panels available other than the Apple Studio Display (which is overpriced for what you get).

For a Mac I think 5k is essential. The ASD is overpriced but there aren't a lot of 5k alternatives and those alternatives do seem inferior(at least for build quality).

 

[Fishrrman]

"For a Mac I think 5k is essential"

Not for me.
4k is just fine.

I find a 27" 5k display to be difficult for my old eyes.
"Looks like 1440p" yields text (displayed at normal sizes) that's just too small for my taste.

I realize some screen "real estate" is lost at "looks like 1080p" (default for 4k), but for me, it's MUCH easier to see and read.

 

[ADGrant]

"For a Mac I think 5k is essential"

Not for me.
4k is just fine.

I find a 27" 5k display to be difficult for my old eyes.
"Looks like 1440p" yields text (displayed at normal sizes) that's just too small for my taste.

I realize some screen "real estate" is lost at "looks like 1080p" (default for 4k), but for me, it's MUCH easier to see and read.

I also have old eyes. I guess 4k is fine if you stick to retina mode and an integer pixel conversion. Makes for very large text on a 27" display though.