Which specs we expecting on the 20th?

-BigMac-

-BigMac-

macrumors 68030
Hi guys,

What general specs we expecting for the new iMacs?

Mainly, processors and GPUs.

Particularly interested in the highest-end GPU šŸ˜ƒ

Thanks :)
 
chabig said:
I'm expecting a new M-series chip with 16 performance cores, 16 efficiency cores, and a 64 core GPU. It will contain approximately 43 billion transistors. Apple will sell a version with just 63 GPU cores for $100 less.
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M1 chip or M1X chip?
appleinsider.com

Early 2021 Apple Silicon iMac said to have 'A14T' processor | AppleInsider

Supply chain sources claim that Apple is to make a new desktop processor, the "A14T," plus its own GPU, for forthcoming Apple Silicon Macs, both of which are to be 5nm processors.
appleinsider.com appleinsider.com
What about that custom GPU Apple was working on? Will the graphics be integrated or will we see a dedicated GPU from a company like AMD?
 
If we do get an iMac on the 20th, Iā€™m expecting it to be the 24ā€ version with a more powerful 32ā€ iMac Pro showing up later in the year along with the new Mac Pro.

Spec wise Iā€™m going to guess:

M1-X with 12 cores (8 power cores and 4 efficiency cores), 16 GPU cores and 16gb of RAM standard (upgradable to 64gb). These would be the specs for the base model.

Iā€™m going to go out on a limb and say maybe, just maybe Apple will offer an in-house developed discrete GPU option with its own 6-8gb of VRAM and some ability to do real time ray tracing in order to keep up with AMD and Nvidiaā€™s offerings.

Iā€™d also guess we could see a low cost budget model with the standard M1.

The M1 already offers very good single core performance. The M1-X will most likely focus on multi-core and graphics.
 
I also think weā€™ll just see the 24ā€ but I think itā€™ll have the current M1 and the 27ā€ will be replaced later on with a 32ā€ iMac Pro at the same time as the 14ā€ 4-port, 16ā€ and top-config mini become available. I think those computers will all have the same, next-gen M1X chip.

I donā€™t think there will be another ā€œbigā€ iMac after the current one. The iMac will only come in the 24ā€ size and the big one will be an iMac Pro going forward.
 
Last edited:
I'm expecting two 24" iMacs: an entry level M1 and a top-end M1X (or possibly M2).

The M1 model will be a cross between a Macbook Air and a Mac Mini in ports and performance. It will probably be 4K since the Air is now also retina... or maybe not.

The M1X will be 4K, have 8GB RAM standard (upgradable to 32GB), support two external displays up to 6K, and have about the same ports as the 2019 Intel models did, except with USB4 support. 12 CPU cores (8 power, 4 efficiency) with 16GPU cores seems like a good guess.

A 6K 32" iMac with the M1X that replaces the entry and mid 5K Radeon Pro 5300 models is plausible but unlikely. The i7/i9 Intel 5K iMac will certainly continue to be the top-end until late 2021 when apple will announce an M2/M2X chipset.
 
-BigMac- said:
Hi guys,

What general specs we expecting for the new iMacs?

Mainly, processors and GPUs.

Particularly interested in the highest-end GPU šŸ˜ƒ

Thanks :)
Click to expand...
-24" imac 4k+ display 256 ssd, 8 gb Ram, M1 starting from 1299$ 2 usb4 ports (limited by the M1 and the motherboard J456)
-24" imac 4k+ display 256 ssd, 8 gb ram, M1x starting from 1599$ 4 usb4 ports different A21 motherboard J457 than the M1 imac
 
Iā€™m hoping for a more 16:10 ratio rather than 16:9 display although I donā€™t know if that is possible with a 4K or 5k display.

All I know is i like my current old Dell 2412 which is more squarish than horizontal. Iā€™m sure editors prefer 16:9.
 
Very interesting seeing a lot of you predicting that it will just have the M1. For some reason Iā€™m thinking the new iMac will be our first look at the M1-X. I do think thereā€™s a possibility of a low cost M1 version but I think that will be treated the same way Tesla treats the Model 3 standard range.

In other words the retail stores will carry the M1-X version and Apple will dedicate all marketing towards the M1-X version. The M1 version will be the ghost option.
 
padams35 said:
I'm expecting two 24" iMacs: an entry level M1 and a top-end M1X (or possibly M2).

The M1 model will be a cross between a Macbook Air and a Mac Mini in ports and performance. It will probably be 4K since the Air is now also retina... or maybe not.

The M1X will be 4K, have 8GB RAM standard (upgradable to 32GB), support two external displays up to 6K, and have about the same ports as the 2019 Intel models did, except with USB4 support. 12 CPU cores (8 power, 4 efficiency) with 16GPU cores seems like a good guess.

A 6K 32" iMac with the M1X that replaces the entry and mid 5K Radeon Pro 5300 models is plausible but unlikely. The i7/i9 Intel 5K iMac will certainly continue to be the top-end until late 2021 when apple will announce an M2/M2X chipset.
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I really donā€™t like the idea of a 24ā€ for my needs, but if it can drive 2 UltraFine 5Ks Iā€™ll bite. The size difference will drive me nuts for a while, but Iā€™ll learn to live with it. And 32ā€ is too big to pair with them, so Iā€™d have to go single UltraFine with that (if I decide to replace my 16ā€ MBP with an iMac)
 
EmotionalSnow said:
I have the feeling that if we are going to see an iMac then only the baseline model with a more powerful one coming later.
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Maybe it's just me, but that doesn't seem right (I can't put my finger on it). I agree with the concept image shown above. Maybe with the rumored Apple GPU?
SecuritySteve said:
16 GB memory is too low for an iMac with a superior processor to a mini computer. There would be at least a 32 GB option, at minimum.
Click to expand...
32GB is too much for a minimum. I think 16GB is more realistic if we're talking about Apple and non-upgradable RAM.
neuralengine said:
I dunno. I just donā€™t see an M1X announcement lumped in with other stuff. WWDC - maybe.
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Right after an April event? I don't know, it just doesn't make any sense to me.
TheBigApple2006 said:
What's the source for this? Is it mockup?
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Luke Miani took credit for it in his latest video.
satchmo said:
I hope no rounded corners for the actual display.
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Yeah, same. I want a perfect 16:9 aspect ratio for watching YouTube videos on that gorgeous 4K display. My MacBook Pro only has a 2K display.
fishkorp said:
I really donā€™t like the idea of a 24ā€ for my needs, but if it can drive 2 UltraFine 5Ks Iā€™ll bite. The size difference will drive me nuts for a while, but Iā€™ll learn to live with it. And 32ā€ is too big to pair with them, so Iā€™d have to go single UltraFine with that (if I decide to replace my 16ā€ MBP with an iMac)
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I love the 24" size and can easily live with it coming from a MacBook Pro.
terminator-jq said:
Very interesting seeing a lot of you predicting that it will just have the M1. For some reason Iā€™m thinking the new iMac will be our first look at the M1-X. I do think thereā€™s a possibility of a low cost M1 version but I think that will be treated the same way Tesla treats the Model 3 standard range.

In other words the retail stores will carry the M1-X version and Apple will dedicate all marketing towards the M1-X version. The M1 version will be the ghost option.
Click to expand...
Good point. I'm thinking the same thing. We will have to just wait and see what happens on Tuesday! ;)
1618792699267.png
 
Any chance of something like Target Display Mode coming back? I want to take the dive into a new iMac but it would need to double as an external monitor for my work laptop. Seems like work from home life is here permanently.
 
bschwartz said:
Any chance of something like Target Display Mode coming back? I want to take the dive into a new iMac but it would need to double as an external monitor for my work laptop. Seems like work from home life is here permanently.
Click to expand...
I don't think so. Bootcamp coming back seems more likely if Microsoft gives Apple access to Windows 10 on ARM ISO files.
 
I'm expecting an M1 CPU with the new 24" iMac at launch as well. The 21.5" model was never the basis of a powerhouse configuration. For comparison sake, the tech specs for a 2019 16" MacBook Pro base CPU is a 6-core i7, with CTO up to 8-core i9. The 2019 21.5" iMac base is a 4-core i3, with CTO up to 6-core i7. Apple has never breathed fire into the smaller model. The M1 has already shown itself to be a very capable performer. Certainly enough for the market that the 21.5"/24" iMac is targeted at.

If the 24" model does get an M1X CTO option, I wouldn't expect that to be added until the larger iMac comes out. But again, I don't see that happening.
 
riggles said:
I'm expecting an M1 CPU with the new 24" iMac at launch as well. The 21.5" model was never the basis of a powerhouse configuration. For comparison sake, the tech specs for a 2019 16" MacBook Pro base CPU is a 6-core i7, with CTO up to 8-core i9. The 2019 21.5" iMac base is a 4-core i3, with CTO up to 6-core i7. Apple has never breathed fire into the smaller model. The M1 has already shown itself to be a very capable performer. Certainly enough for the market that the 21.5"/24" iMac is targeted at.

If the 24" model does get an M1X CTO option, I wouldn't expect that to be added until the larger iMac comes out. But again, I don't see that happening.
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Do you think that all three base model configurations of the 21.5" iMac will be refreshed?
 
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