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Help, 2021 Silicon iMac or current 27" iMac?

J

Jinnnnnnn

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 8, 2019
7
1
2021 Silicon iMac or current 27" iMac?
Currently I am using my mid-2014 MacBook Pro retina, and it is getting really slow in terms of browsing website and photoshopping. I kinda of use it for all, work, gaming and photoshopping. I think it is time to upgrade my computer, but I am concerning if the upgrade of a silicon chip can really offset the lost of boot camp. I still want to play games though, like PUBG and overwatch.
 
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There are plenty of YouTube video reviews on the M1 Macs. What do you want is the question you need top be asking. Don't let other people make decisions that only you yourself should make. Good luck.
 
To the OP: Be honest with yourself. Can you live without Boot Camp right away or do you need more time? Rosetta 2 appears to be working fine on the M1 Macs and Apple silicon is the future. Are you ready to jump in the pool? If you don't do it with the computer you're buying now, you will the next time around (you'll have no choice). Or you'll just switch to Windows - which may have its own silicon by then anyway.

Personally, I bought a 2019 iMac just before the announcement by Apple about the switch to its own chips. It's working just fine. But if I realized the switch was coming this soon, I would have waited. The Apple silicon Macs are very exciting. But, then again, I don't rely on anything Windows.
 
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If you want and NEED bootcamp, get an Intel-based iMac. You can't use bootcamp with the m1 Macs (known), and it remains UNknown if this is going to be possible going into the future.

If you DON'T need bootcamp, waiting for the 2021 iMac might be the better choice.

The third way:
Wait until the 2021 iMacs are introduced.
Then, you can either buy a 2021, or... pick up a closeout 2020 (or buy Apple-refurbished).
 
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Mark Gurman tweeted a short video discussing all the new products coming this year. I thought when he mentioned the AS iMac, he said it'll arrive "late in the year". Not sure if that makes you decision easier or not.
 
The Intel Macs are a more mature product, but over time more and more developers will develop native Apple Silicon versions of their apps, and then eventually they will begin stopping making new versions of software for Intel Macs.

If you need to run an old version of Mac OS in a VM to run 32-bit Mac apps that would be another reason to go with an Intel machine.

Another option is to get a HP/Dell to run Windows and an Apple Silicon Mac. Or if you really want to get an Intel Mac Mini for running Windows and an Apple Silicon iMac.

There are plenty of choices.

I'm considering getting new iMacs to run Windows to replace ageing ones from 2011, but my preferred size is the 21.5" and the hardware in that is quite old now unlike the 27".
 
I bought two 27" iMac's, one with the 3.3 Ghz i5 processor and the other with an 8 core 3.8 Ghz i7 processor - I mainly wanted the 5K screen, not the performance ... but have been surprised by how good they are.

I also have two M1 Macbooks and for what I do notice no difference in performance with the M1's and the 3.3 i5 iMac. The 3.8 i7 iMac does seem quicker for what I do (Editing photographs)

I bought the iMac mainly for the screen and the 3.3Ghz i5 is almost as quick as the M1 in Geekbench scores for multicore once you unleash it a bit with 64 Gb Ram. The multi core score was 6900 as opposed to the 7600 of the M1. The 3.8 Ghz i7 with 64 Gb Ram scores 8900=9000 on Geekbench so exceeds the M1 in multicore.

The 3.8 i7 fan seems noisier than the 3.3 i5 but there is more performance in tap.

I cba to wait for an M1 or whatever Silicon iMac ... and I am very happy. I am sure when it comes out the M1 iMac will murder the intel offerings ... but I need no more than I have and they both run without issue. I also happen to love the design which though it has been around for years is just great.

If you want a 5K screen that is 27" then the existing 2020 models are fine. If you crave performance and are happy to wait for the unknown release it the new iMac then do wait. All I can say is the 2020 model is truly superb !
 
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look at iMac Pro
or MacBook Pro with Lg5 it's a nice combo too
stay away for iMac with 5700xt it seems to have some issues had logic board replace twice because of graphical and display issues
 
I would just speculate that Microsoft is developing an ARM compatible Windows version in the mean time.
There is no reason why they shouldn't.
Future Macs will run Windows just fine.
There's nothing to worry about.
OP can just buy the intel-CPU iMac now, or wait for the upcoming ARM iMac.
 
SO8 said:
I bought two 27" iMac's, one with the 3.3 Ghz i5 processor and the other with an 8 core 3.8 Ghz i7 processor - I mainly wanted the 5K screen, not the performance ... but have been surprised by how good they are.

I also have two M1 Macbooks and for what I do notice no difference in performance with the M1's and the 3.3 i5 iMac. The 3.8 i7 iMac does seem quicker for what I do (Editing photographs)

I bought the iMac mainly for the screen and the 3.3Ghz i5 is almost as quick as the M1 in Geekbench scores for multicore once you unleash it a bit with 64 Gb Ram. The multi core score was 6900 as opposed to the 7600 of the M1. The 3.8 Ghz i7 with 64 Gb Ram scores 8900=9000 on Geekbench so exceeds the M1 in multicore.

The 3.8 i7 fan seems noisier than the 3.3 i5 but there is more performance in tap.

I cba to wait for an M1 or whatever Silicon iMac ... and I am very happy. I am sure when it comes out the M1 iMac will murder the intel offerings ... but I need no more than I have and they both run without issue. I also happen to love the design which though it has been around for years is just great.

If you want a 5K screen that is 27" then the existing 2020 models are fine. If you crave performance and are happy to wait for the unknown release it the new iMac then do wait. All I can say is the 2020 model is truly superb !
Click to expand...
Yes I also have a 2020 iMac and yes it is truly truly superb!!!!! Don't wait. And I really really really like the nano screen:)
 
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My proposal is to wait.

First, the current iMac design is really outdated - huge bezels, big chin. Inherently it looks fine, but if you buy one now and a completely revamped model appears later in the year, you might be disappointed you spent big bucks for an old design, as with the same money you'd likely be able to purchase a design more in line of the 2020s.

Apple Silicon is way superior to the intel offerings. I would wager they will also shine in the iMac, likely resulting in snappier performance in day-to-day use and most importantly: reduced fan noise (hopefully completely eliminated in light tasks).

There might also be display improvements as the screen sizes are bound to change physically. The larger iMac could feature a display close to the Pro Display XDR.

This year is likely for the biggest changes to iMacs in years, and 2020 model is going to be the last of its kind. I'd hop on the next train.
 
2017 27" 580m with an SSD from eBay is a GREAT machine and will hold its resale if you do want to go M1 later on. M1 wont have bootcamp so thats going to be a massive sticking point for alot of us that only have room for a single computer. Just make sure you spec 1tb SSD so boot camp has room to breath.
 
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