Going to purchase my first iMac, but so CONFUSED.

[legionsunited]

Hello everyone, hope you're doing great and as the title suggests I'm going to purchase my first ever iMac. The thing I'm most concerned about and having doubts about is to go with 7core GPU or 8core GPU according to my use case.

First things first, I really wanna future-proof my device. I'm planning to use my iMac or at least 8 - 10 years. So, I don't want to save $200 right now, but regret later in the second half of the age of the iMac like 5 - 7 years down the line from now.

Few Points regarding my use case -

1) I will surely upgrade RAM to 16GB be it 7 core GPU or 8core GPU I go w/.

2) I'm not concerned w/ TouchID, Ethernet port and extra ports on higher tier models.

3) I'm not gonna play any games on it like ever.

4) I might use Light video editing (up to 4K) using FCP and photo editing using Lightroom etc in the distant future.

5) I would simply use this machine to watch downloaded videos in VLC, use Safari for web browsing, Preview for PDFs and Microsoft Word.

It'll be a simple home computer, but like I said I wanna future-proof it and from what I have gathered over the internet that 7core GPU will give like 10% less performance compared to 8 core GPU and it'll really show in later years.

Now, I don't know where this 10% less performance will reflect in it, like CPU processing power or graphic intensive work?

Also, there's a thought in the back of my head, that if I go w/ 7 core GPU then I'm just buying an M1 Macbook Air which is always kinda entry level when compared to Macbook Pro.

Please someone pitch in their thoughts and help me purchase my first iMac.

 

[Absrnd]

With buying an iMac to use several years, the rule is:
Buy the best version you can afford at that moment

Between the 7Core or 8Core, will YOU notice the difference ?, and the M1 is definitely not entry model, it is "the new kid on the block" model

 

[Mr.Blacky]

I would definitely go with the entry level iMac, if I were you.

 

[gnasher729]

When you decide which exact model to buy, set yourself a price, and buy the best you can get for that price.

There's a base model for $1299 / £1249. And there are plenty of additions for $200 / £200 each:

1. 8th GPU Core + 2 USB-C ports + TouchID + Gigabit Ethernet, plus choice of more colours.
2. 16 GB instead of 8 GB.
3. 512 GB SSD instead of 256 GB.
4. 1TB SSD instead of 512 GB SSD.

So for $1299 you get the base model.
For $1499 you get the base model with one extra. If you need more than 256GB, pick option 3, else option 2 (since you don't care for most of option 1).
For $1699 you get the base model with two extras. If you need more than 512GB, pick option 3+4, else option 3+2.

Also consider that you get an external 1TB SSD for not much more than £100, or 2TB SSD for not much more than £200, so you want to consider these as well. For just slightly more than $1699 you get 16GB + external 2TB SSD, which is fine for an iMac. (That would be a Samsung T5, not a T7 which is faster but more expensive). And you get some very good USB hub for maybe $60. But the principle is: Set your price, then pick what's best for the money. Personally I wouldn't care about the 8th GPU core. Not enough to spend $200, when I can get much more for $200 buying different things.

And what makes the iMac NOT "entry level" is the monitor. It's a 4.5k monitor. You can't buy them anywhere (only 4k or 5k); if you could you'd be lucky to find it for $700.

 

[Fishrrman]

You have to decide if you want the Intel processor inside, or if you want the m-series CPU.

If you want Intel, get the 2020 27" iMac. Get 8gb of RAM (you can add more easily with this one), and get the SSD size of your choice (I'd suggest 1tb or 512gb).

If you want m-series, be aware that you can't add RAM to them, so get 16gb of RAM. Again, get the SSD size you need.

I'd suggest getting the slightly more expensive iMac with FOUR ports on the back instead of two. You WILL want and need those extra ports in the future.

I'd suggest getting the power block with the ethernet connector. Ethernet is often "the better connection". You might want it someday. I think this comes standard with the 4-port iMac, anyway.

As for what color to get... that's your decision.