SSD speed difference between $1,799 & $1,999 2020 iMac 27"

[Hexley]

This video of the $1799 iMac 27" shows the SSD speed of 1GB/s write & 1.4GB/s read.

While on the iMac webpage Apple claims read/writes of 3.4GB/s. I assume this applies to SSDs sized 512GB & larger.

Something to consider when choosing which iMac 27" to buy.

Personally I'd buy the $2299 iMac Core i7 from Expercom as they sell them $142 off at $2,157.60

*Price with coupon code appleinsider when used with the pricing links above.

 

[garethjs]

assume this applies to SSDs sized 512GB & larger.

they used the 8TB in that speedtest of 3.4GB/sec but I would assume the same in the 1tb/sec or faster

but I have a mate who bought the 512gb and he’s getting 2.4GB/sec. so that’s close to double the speed of 256

IMO the best bang for the buck would Be the middle tier option. Small price increase for the 3.3ghz and faster 512gb

 

[Hexley]

Apple should do a better job at giving disclosures. But then again would I spend $2,600 for 8TB SSD? Hell, no!

but I have a mate who bought the 512gb and he’s getting 2.4GB/sec. so that’s close to double the speed of 256

 

[PieTunes]

Apple should do a better job at giving disclosures. But then again would I spend $2,600 for 8TB SSD? Hell, no!

Though they did give the proper disclosure, the footnote for the stated transfer speed says it’s for the 8TB SSD. Typical marketing though, use the max possible specs and say “up to” for everything LOL

 

[Fishrrman]

Usually, reads/writes are faster on larger SSDs than they are on smaller-sized ones.

I'm going to take a GUESS that between the base and midrange 2020 iMacs, the read/write speeds of same-sized SSDs will be close (because Apple is probably using the same drives/chips in both of them).

 

[garethjs]

Fishrrman, the 256gb SSD is similar to that of the MacBook Air. (700/1300). The 512gb roughly 2300 for both

So no not similar

 

[mbosse]

Usually, reads/writes are faster on larger SSDs than they are on smaller-sized ones.

I'm going to take a GUESS that between the base and midrange 2020 iMacs, the read/write speeds of same-sized SSDs will be close (because Apple is probably using the same drives/chips in both of them).

I think this is due to the channels of the controller and the size if the individual flash modules. If they use large flash modules one or two suffice for small SSDs, and since each occupies one controller channel little parallel data shuffling takes place*.

Has been like that with SSDs since the beginning - the smaller capacities are usually a tad or more slower than their larger siblings.

Magnus
________
*) disclaimer: I don't know whether this applies also to Apple's T2 chip-controlled SSDs.

 

[Mattyman]

Fishrrman, the 256gb SSD is similar to that of the MacBook Air. (700/1300). The 512gb roughly 2300 for both

So no not similar

thanks - has this been seen from a review or fist hand experience?

 

[czacha]

Not sure how it is in current models but in 2017 when you got 1TB there were 2x 512GB in SATA mode.. this is main reason of great benchmarks

 

[mbosse]

Not sure how it is in current models but in 2017 when you got 1TB there were 2x 512GB in SATA mode.. this is main reason of great benchmarks

That’s for sure not applicable to the standard iMac, only for the iMac Pro.

 

[czacha]

That’s for sure not applicable to the standard iMac, only for the iMac Pro.

Nope, that was the solution for iMac 27’’ 5K.

 

[garethjs]

thanks - has this been seen from a review or fist hand experience?

reviews

 

[mbosse]

Nope, that was the solution for iMac 27’’ 5K.

That's wrong, the 5K iMac had dedicated 1 TB and 2 TB modules, and also only one SSD port. So it’s impossible to put in two blades.

This is the single blade slot essentially for any 2012 to 2019 27" iMac:

... and this the dual slots for the 27" iMac Pro:

Source: iFixit.

Best,
Magnus

 

[Fishrrman]

garrethjs wrote:
"Fishrrman, the 256gb SSD is similar to that of the MacBook Air. (700/1300). The 512gb roughly 2300 for both
So no not similar"

What you posted seems to VERIFY my original post.
That being, that the same-sized drive in the base and midrange models yields roughly the same speeds.
Isn't that what you said in the second sentence above...?

We are not comparing iMac to MacBook Air.
We ARE comparing base model iMac to midrange model iMac.

 

[AAPLGeek]

Sequential write speeds have little effect on real world performance unless all you’re doing is moving large files around.

 

[garethjs]

That being, that the same-sized drive in the base and midrange models yields roughly the same speeds.
Isn't that what you said in the second sentence above...?

The base comes with a 256gb, the mid range comes with a 512gb so the drive in the first place isn't even similar.

Performance wise the 256gb is roughly half the speed as the 512gb.

If what u are trying to say is if the 512gb in the mid range and the top range (excluding BTOs) is similar then yes they are.

Secondly the read/write speeds of the 256gb in the iMac 2020 is similar to the read/write speeds of my 2020 MacBook which is also a 256gb model

Not comparing machines, just comparing SSD performance