Should I (re)order iMac 2020 27" with 5700XT?

[superpanjy]

I said reorder because my first order arrived last week. Two critical issues are:

• 5700XT glitch - random horizontal lines (annoying, but ok)
• Random kernel panic issue (piss me off a lot)

To be fair, I dont see those two issues in Boot camp win 10 system.
I still have 7 days left to return this iMac. Should I ? Over the years, I use MBP primarily (from work). I want iMac just for personal use at home.
If I return, should I reorder another one?

Here the config I ordered:

• 3.6GHz 10-core 10th-generation Intel Core i9 processor, Turbo Boost up to 5.0GHz
• 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory ( I upgraded to OWC 128GB)
• 1TB SSD storage
• Radeon Pro 5700 XT with 16GB of GDDR6 memory
• 10 Gigabit Ethernet

 

[pldelisle]

I want iMac just for personal use at home

( I upgraded to OWC 128GB)

Damn. That's a massive "personal use" my friend.

Kernel panic is weird. Does it do the same with stock RAM ? What are the error codes ?

 

[superpanjy]

Damn. That's a massive "personal use" my friend.

Kernel panic is weird. Does it do the same with stock RAM ? What are the error codes ?

I will upload a report here when I get home.
YES, the same issue happened with original OEM RAM as well.

 

[Freida]

What do you do at home that you need such specs? Personal use at home with 10core and 128gb seems like an overkill to me so I wonder what is the home use?



If you don't see the issue in bootcamp then its probably just software glitch and will be patch. If its not then Apple has bigger problem on their hand.
I would probably start returning the ram and maybe order the 8 core unless the home usage is really as crazy as the machine

I said reorder because my first order arrived last week. Two critical issues are:

• 5700XT glitch - random horizontal lines (annoying, but ok)
• Random kernel panic issue (piss me off a lot)

To be fair, I dont see those two issues in Boot camp win 10 system.
I still have 7 days left to return this iMac. Should I ? Over the years, I use MBP primarily (from work). I want iMac just for personal use at home.
If I return, should I reorder another one?

Here the config I ordered:

• 3.6GHz 10-core 10th-generation Intel Core i9 processor, Turbo Boost up to 5.0GHz
• 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory ( I upgraded to OWC 128GB)
• 1TB SSD storage
• Radeon Pro 5700 XT with 16GB of GDDR6 memory
• 10 Gigabit Ethernet

 

[superpanjy]

What do you do at home that you need such specs? Personal use at home with 10core and 128gb seems like an overkill to me so I wonder what is the home use?



If you don't see the issue in bootcamp then its probably just software glitch and will be patch. If its not then Apple has bigger problem on their hand.
I would probably start returning the ram and maybe order the 8 core unless the home usage is really as crazy as the machine

I build 3D simulation model for manufacturing company as my side job. 128 is over kill for sure, 64GB is good. I bought 4 X32GB together, just want to make sure the exact same spec.

I also transcode a lot videos. I may also want to use it as Plex server.

 

[pldelisle]

I see. Seems legit then.

Did you migrate from old Mac or started it as brand new ?

 

[superpanjy]

I see. Seems legit then.

Did you migrate from old Mac or started it as brand new ?

Brand new setup.
The 1st kernel panic happened right after I completed the initial setup (with OEM RAM).
After I installed 128GB OWC ram, kernel panic again. Then I contacted Apple support. I was on the iMessage with them for 3 hours, installed macOS twice, till 3 AM. As soon as they close the case, kernel panic again.
I returned OWC, installed Crucial (4X32GB) yesterday, again and again.

When the machine works, everything is so smooth, the 10 core CUP helps a lot on my multiple scenarios simulation.
But, when kernel panic happens, I just want to go back to my Lenovo P52.

Oh I also want to mention kernel panic issue happens on both Catalina and Big sur Beta

 

[pldelisle]

Brand new setup.
The 1st kernel panic happened right after I completed the initial setup (with OEM RAM).
After I installed 128GB OWC ram, kernel panic again. Then I contacted Apple support. I was on the iMessage with them for 3 hours, installed macOS twice, till 3 AM. As soon as they close the case, kernel panic again.
I returned OWC, installed Crucial (4X32GB) yesterday, again and again.

When the machine works, everything is so smooth, the 10 core CUP helps a lot on my multiple scenarios simulation.
But, when kernel panic happens, I just want to go back to my Lenovo P52.

Oh I also want to mention kernel panic issue happens on both Catalina and Big sur Beta

And you don't have the log ?

 

[Freida]

Cool, busy bee then
Yeah,64gb is probably enough but in your case 128 might be useful on occasions so why not

I build 3D simulation model for manufacturing company as my side job. 128 is over kill for sure, 64GB is good. I bought 4 X32GB together, just want to make sure the exact same spec.

I also transcode a lot videos. I may also want to use it as Plex server.

 

[superpanjy]

And you don't have the log ?

Please see attachment

 

[jlocker]

But getting a more powerful machine also helps with the longevity of the computer. If you buy a too low of a model in a couple years you will start to feel the strain of the system trying to keep up with OS and Application changes. It is better to get a little larger machine so it keeps on humming to the day you upgrade. And when you upgrade you will get more value of the old machine with better specs.

 

[Freida]

Not really true especially now. Look at Intel's performance over the years. Very minimal improvements. The only thing is the GPU that really matters and not everyone can take advantage.
Ram can be expanded later or storage is personal preference as external hdd is always a solution.
In fact, even eGPU is solution too.

This old fashioned way of thinking to buy something you don't need just in case you might need it in the future is flawed from the very beginning.

I've worked in the Apple store when I studied and the amount of people that bought machines or iPhone/iPad storages that were absolute overkill for them was crazy. It was often some family member or a friend who told them to "future proof" it and yet all those people were wasting money that they could use later to buy something useful to them.
So many times I've saved money (even thousands) to people and they loved it. People's needs usually don't change and those that do usually know. (ie. a student that studies will probably have different needs after school than during) so that is important factor when deciding but on average, the needs usually stay the same unless one changes job, picks up a new hobby etc.

So I totally disagree with 'future' proofing for the sake of future proofing.
One should only do it when you know you might hit a limit to something you use now and you know it will change.
Games would be a good example as those things are so power hungry so 5700XT makes sense to gamers.
Otherwise, there really isn't much point as its only waste of money. In those few years when you need something faster its often much better to sell and get new thing that fits your needs better than spend money now on upgrades that often won't be enough anyway so its overall a massive compromise to start with. So yeah, no.

;-)

But getting a more powerful machine also helps with the longevity of the computer. If you buy a too low of a model in a couple years you will start to feel the strain of the system trying to keep up with OS and Application changes. It is better to get a little larger machine so it keeps on humming to the day you upgrade. And when you upgrade you will get more value of the old machine with better specs.

 

[superpanjy]

Cool, busy bee then
Yeah,64gb is probably enough but in your case 128 might be useful on occasions so why not

One thing to ask does it matter if iMac was made in China or Ireland?

 

[pldelisle]

Please see attachment

Seems like a GPU error to me. com.apple.iokit.IOAcceleratorFamily2, com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily, com.apple.driver.AppleIntelKBLGraphics,
@kext.AMDRadeonX6000 3.1.0
@kext.AMDRadeonServiceManager 3.1.0
Seems all related to something about graphics. But no application is mentioned. Very weird.

 

[Freida]

It shouldn't.

One thing to ask does it matter if iMac was made in China or Ireland?

 

[superpanjy]

Seems like a GPU error to me. com.apple.iokit.IOAcceleratorFamily2, com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily, com.apple.driver.AppleIntelKBLGraphics,
@kext.AMDRadeonX6000 3.1.0
@kext.AMDRadeonServiceManager 3.1.0
Seems all related to something about graphics. But no application is mentioned. Very weird.

This particular one happened when machine was idle. At that time, i did not even install any application on it.

 

[pldelisle]

This particular one happened when machine as idle. At that time, i did not even install any application on it.

Wow. Weird. Maybe hardware problem then.

 

[superpanjy]

Wow. Weird. Maybe hardware problem then.

There are several posts about this GPU model on iMac 2020. Any way to push Apple to look into this issue?

 

[superpanjy]

Wow. Weird. Maybe hardware problem then.

last night, I used BurninTest in Bootcamp Windows. no error. Is this hardware related? software related? i am confused.

 

[Freida]

If I were you, I would probably return it. It just seems that if you don't it will bother you and you will regret it. Whereas if you return it there is a chance you won't be having this issue but if you do then you know its not the computer but something else. Its a good elimination tactic.
I would return it just for the peace of mind.

Statistically it would be hard to get another machine with the same issue if the issue was hardware.
So, thats what I would do.

last night, I used BurninTest in Bootcamp Windows. no error. Is this hardware related? software related? i am confused.

 

[superpanjy]

If I were you, I would probably return it. It just seems that if you don't it will bother you and you will regret it. Whereas if you return it there is a chance you won't be having this issue but if you do then you know its not the computer but something else. Its a good elimination tactic.
I would return it just for the peace of mind.

Statistically it would be hard to get another machine with the same issue if the issue was hardware.
So, thats what I would do.

Yes, Plan to return it.
Another thing I forgot to mention: initially, I though panic was cause by RAM. So in order for me the figure out which one, I did some test.

iMac Ram Slot	Test 1 (OWC)	Test 2 (OWC)	Test 3 (OWC)	Test 4 (OWC)	Test 5 (OWC)	Test 6 (Crucial)
Slot 1 Ch. A DIMM1	-	RAM-A	RAM-C	-	RAM-C	32GB
Slot 2 Ch. A DIMM0	RAM-A	-	-	RAM-C	RAM-A	32GB
Slot 3 Ch. B DIMM1	-	RAM-B	RAM-D	-	RAM-D	32GB
Slot 4 Ch. B DIMM0	RAM-B	-	-	RAM-D	RAM-B	32GB
Resul	No issue	No issue	No issue	No issue	Crashed twice	Crashed twice

 

[ADGrant]

I have not seen a kernel panic. If you order another that won't address the glitch issue but it might address the kernel panic.

Not really true especially now. Look at Intel's performance over the years. Very minimal improvements. The only thing is the GPU that really matters and not everyone can take advantage.
Ram can be expanded later or storage is personal preference as external hdd is always a solution.
In fact, even eGPU is solution too.

This old fashioned way of thinking to buy something you don't need just in case you might need it in the future is flawed from the very beginning.

I've worked in the Apple store when I studied and the amount of people that bought machines or iPhone/iPad storages that were absolute overkill for them was crazy. It was often some family member or a friend who told them to "future proof" it and yet all those people were wasting money that they could use later to buy something useful to them.
So many times I've saved money (even thousands) to people and they loved it. People's needs usually don't change and those that do usually know. (ie. a student that studies will probably have different needs after school than during) so that is important factor when deciding but on average, the needs usually stay the same unless one changes job, picks up a new hobby etc.

So I totally disagree with 'future' proofing for the sake of future proofing.
One should only do it when you know you might hit a limit to something you use now and you know it will change.
Games would be a good example as those things are so power hungry so 5700XT makes sense to gamers.
Otherwise, there really isn't much point as its only waste of money. In those few years when you need something faster its often much better to sell and get new thing that fits your needs better than spend money now on upgrades that often won't be enough anyway so its overall a massive compromise to start with. So yeah, no.

;-)

Buying the high end model has always worked well for me and the lack of progress from Intel on CPU performance only makes the argument to buy a better GPU and bigger SSD stronger.

The iMac isn't really upgradable except for the RAM. Yes you can get an external SSD but larger SSDs are faster and you only have one Thunderbolt controller. Yes you can get an eGPU but if I wanted to do that I could have just bought a Mac mini. For my Macs, I always buy more than I think I will need because I can't predict what I will need in 5 years time. I just retired a 2009 quad core iMac and when I bought it the guy at the Apple store asked me why I was buying the most expensive version. I told him "because that's what I want". In the end I basically ran out of disk space and the GPU wasn't powerful enough for my daughter to run Minecraft so it had to go.

iPhones & iPads are different though. It's a bit easier to predict usage patterns. With the iPad I still always get the LTE modem.

 

[pldelisle]

I have not seen a kernel panic. If you order another that won't address the glitch issue but it might address the kernel panic.


Buying the high end model has always worked well for me and the lack of progress from Intel on CPU performance only makes the argument to buy a better GPU and bigger SSD stronger.

The iMac isn't really upgradable except for the RAM. Yes you can get an external SSD but larger SSDs are faster and you only have one Thunderbolt controller. Yes you can get an eGPU but if I wanted to do that I could have just bought a Mac mini. For my Macs, I always buy more than I think I will need because I can't predict what I will need in 5 years time. I just retired a 2009 quad core iMac and when I bought it the guy at the Apple store asked me why I was buying the most expensive version. I told him "because that's what I want". In the end I basically ran out of disk space and the GPU wasn't powerful enough for my daughter to run Minecraft so it had to go.

iPhones & iPads are different though. It's a bit easier to predict usage patterns. With the iPad I still always get the LTE modem.

I‘d say yes to this generally. But in this present case, the iMac in only 1 year will have nothing to do with the current iMac. Apple Silicon will clearly revolutionize everything we know from Apple. So knowing the context of Apple right now, I’d say “just go with what you need now and don’t worry about the future because anyway it will be clearly in another league in a very short period of time”.

 

[rkuo]

This particular one happened when machine was idle. At that time, i did not even install any application on it.

Yeah, I would exchange or return it immediately.

 

[Nicole1980]

What do you do at home that you need such specs? Personal use at home with 10core and 128gb seems like an overkill to me so I wonder what is the home use?

honestly, wtf does that have to do with his graphical glitch dude?
you’re not driving towards any solution with that question.

It’s like if someone said they have a 40 inch 4K tv that has a glitch and you ask them “why do you need a 40 inch 4K TV?”

who the frick cares why they want that piece of hardware. They’re asking about an issue that shouldn’t be present with that piece of hardware.