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iMac 2020 Reviews And Benchmarks - The Last Intel iMac

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The Surface Studio is a joke power-wise.

I always find it interesting when people pop up with the lol-omg-I-can-get-a-windows-laptop for 400 quid that's the same. Invariably they compare a crappy 12w i7 with a 45w i7 thinking they're the same.

The Surface Book 2 was utter comedy in that respect. To demonstrate it once I did a handbrake video conversion on the SB2 while converting the same video on my MBP in MacOS *and at the same time* in Windows in Parallels.....and the MBP finished both quicker.

Derp. The SS2 looks interesting tbh, but it is woefully underpowered.
 
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MacRS4 said:
The Surface Studio is a joke power-wise.

I always find it interesting when people pop up with the lol-omg-I-can-get-a-windows-laptop for 400 quid that's the same. Invariably they compare a crappy 12w i7 with a 45w i7 thinking they're the same.

The Surface Book 2 was utter comedy in that respect. To demonstrate it once I did a handbrake video conversion on the SB2 while converting the same video on my MBP in MacOS *and at the same time* in Windows in Parallels.....and the MBP finished both quicker.

Derp. The SS2 looks interesting tbh, but it is woefully underpowered.
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It's a brilliant concept let down by underpowered components which makes it pricey. A bit like what the iMac has been at times over the years.

It's taken the iMac some time to reach its current performance perch.

With the move to AS, I'm hoping that Apple now gets braver with Mac products that take 'some' of the Surface Studio's design lead.

Design wise, it blows the current iMac out the water.

And I'd sure like to use me an Apple Pencil on an easel iMac.

Azrael.
 
fathergll said:
Amazing how PC manufactures still cannot release a proper all-in-one to this day though they are far better than before. i guess there is not much of a market for them. Surface Studio 2 is expensive as heck and it got released with an old Intel CPU. HP Envy on paper was amazing then the achilles heel of HP outfitting it with an underpowered power supply causing issues for the top GPU came to light.
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The envy isn't bad. It's decent value.

But they got schooled by Apple with the current iMac.

Azrael.
 
John90976 said:
Well here is Red Dead 2, at 4K with .5 resolution scaling and Ultra texture quality. It’s running 5ps lower on the minimum FPS than my initial report (I was running native 4K with high textures instead of using scaling) but averages the same 59 FPS. In my quick research I saw that a 2080 TI got 57fps on high. They probably could’ve optimized their tests better and beaten this 5700XT PRO 16GB, but I don’t care to go test that. I have this new card that plays 4K ~60 and here is the proof. Even better, you can go get it and find out if you’re so in disbelief. I do not deny any of the facts about this card, actually, they are against it, and the power envelope is ridiculously small, and yet here are my results. Read ‘em and weep. And enjoy the iPhone shots, I hate windows and I’m not gonna go hunting around the horrid interface to simulate a windows+prntscrn key so I can take a screenshot for a forum post. This is as good as it gets.
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Keep the benches coming John90976. Glad you're enjoying you gpu abundance.

Check out the YouTube video above. Clearly, even on the PC platform the 5700XT is all over the Ti like a rash.

They're both playable. To say the Ti is only 25% better in the video for 3 x the cost at £1200 makes the 5700XT a great bargain in value performance.

This IS as good as it gets. XT buries HD and 2440p on the iMac. And 4k is probably quite playable if one manages settings. Uber fish.

I HATE windows too. I've set up Windows for my dual platform workflow. Can't say I'm looking forward to it.

Azrael.
 
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JacobHarvey said:
Thanks for running the benchmark and showing your settings, which make sense!

You've rightly set textures to ultra as you've got plenty of VRAM, set the lighting and reflection details to high, kept all the other graphics settings to Medium/Low/Off, and used half resolution scaling to reach around 60fps at 4K.

I think the half resolution scaling setting is probably the key to reaching that almost 60fps framerate on the iMac (renders the game at half resolution then upscales it to 4K), with the mix of High/Medium/Low settings also helping. The game should still look great at 4K ~60fps with that mix of settings.

I do think your friend should have a closer look at their GPU and game settings as a RTX 2070 Super should easily be able to perform similarly with the optimised mix of settings you use at 4K to hit 60fps.
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It seems more efficient to do it that way.

And Apple seems to be doing their own throughput efficiency idea for the AS GPUs.

If someone had said to me you'd get 2070 Super perf' in an iMac I'd have taken it. To have it on the heels of the 2080 super or the Ti in some instances I'd be moon shot.

Azrael.
 
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xWhiplash said:
It also depends on Big Navi and the upcoming consoles and how they will treat VRAM. This is the first time consoles are getting brand new hardware before PC, because Big Navi is coming out for them first.
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I recall the previews of the PS3. I was blown away at the time. I'd forgotten all about PC gaming.

And certainly. PS5 levels of RDNA2 performance at £399 instead of buying the £1200 2080 Ti pretender...

Azrael.
 
xWhiplash said:
If it takes a full 2 years to transition the top of the line systems, does anyone think we will see another refresh on these iMacs for Big Navi coming out soon? AMD really shocked the world with Ryzen, I am hoping they do the same with Big Navi and get to at least be on par with NVIDIA if not give them a good shakeup.
Click to expand...

Navi on PC? November? iMac Pro fans might be lucky to see a bump for the RDNA2. Clearly Apple can't offer something before its ready. I WOULD have liked an RDNA2 in this iMac as BTO. That 50% efficiency...

AMD will start chasing NV for the gpu performance crown. In value they currently smash them.

But Apple may move on to their own GPUs real soon. It's going to get interesting on the consumer AS Macs to start with.

Actual capable consumer gpu perf in Macs...

Azrael.
 
John90976 said:
This under clocked 5700 XT with 16GB of RAM outperforms its higher clocked PC counterpart in 4K gaming for what I play, and RDR2 is no walk in the park, so if that isn't the RAM compensating to the point of outperforming a 2080TI (by 2fps) as well, then I have no clue. This card is the best available and the 5700 isn't that far behind based on numbers or price, if you need it you probably know, and this VRAM is massive future proofing for this iMac hands down. Again, it outperforms the PC market equivalent and leader in performance and price. This iMac is one of the better deals in high end gaming until RDNA 2 and Ampere.
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Performance and price?

It DESTROYS the pretender, the 2080Ti.

Azrael.
 
ErikGrim said:
Can someone comment on "dual-channel mode" for RAM? Am I mean to put the matching pairs in 1-3 and 2-4 or a match in 1-2 and then 2-4?
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You have two options. Buy the same ram for all four sticks which is what I did and it works, I used OWC. Or. You can send it to Mike H who will have you up and running in a jiff no matter the issue.
 
Azrael9 said:
The envy isn't bad. It's decent value.

But they got schooled by Apple with the current iMac.

Azrael.
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I agree....the Envy has a lot going for it but if you read the reviews from HP's own website the 8GB RTX model has 2.5 stars out of 5. It's pledged with issues because they didn't outfit it with a proper power supply. But thats sort of my point...Windows AIOs always have some kind of major issue with them. iMacs while not perfect really are well designed. They don't have major achilles heels.
 
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Azrael9 said:
Performance and price?

It DESTROYS the pretender, the 2080Ti.

Azrael.
Click to expand...
But John90976 showed in his images he wasn't running the game in 4K. It was running 4K with 0.5 resolution scale. That's equal to 1152p and 2K. As he wrote you may not see a visual difference but it certainly would affect the performance.
[automerge]1597771552[/automerge]
10-core 5700XT

www.macworld.com

27-inch iMac 2020 review: The latest Intel iMac leaves a lasting impression

The 2020 27-inch iMac is built to be a top performer, with a processing boost, SSD storage, and updated graphics. It has other features to take into consideration, but the emphasis is on speed.
www.macworld.com www.macworld.com

www.macworld.com

27-inch iMac 2020 review: The latest Intel iMac leaves a lasting impression

The 2020 27-inch iMac is built to be a top performer, with a processing boost, SSD storage, and updated graphics. It has other features to take into consideration, but the emphasis is on speed.
www.macworld.com www.macworld.com
 
Last edited:
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For those thinking iMac 10-core 5700 XT couldn't beat iMac Pro 10-core Vega 64, iMac 2020 beats iMac Pro or matches in almost everything from Final Cut Pro X to BruceX, Motion and specially After Effects and Premiere Pro. Only in DaVinci Resolve iMac Pro is clearaly faster:

www.fcp.co

Oliver Peters Tests Apple's Refreshed Mid-2020 27-inch 5K iMac

Oliver Peters puts the new 27 inch iMac though its paces. How does it compare to an iMac Pro and what was the benchmark test that it scored better on?
www.fcp.co www.fcp.co
 
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Homy said:
But John90976 showed in his images he wasn't running the game in 4K. It was running 4K with 0.5 resolution scale. That's equal to 1152p and 2K. As he wrote you may not see a visual difference but it certainly would affect the performance.
[automerge]1597771552[/automerge]
10-core 5700XT

www.macworld.com

27-inch iMac 2020 review: The latest Intel iMac leaves a lasting impression

The 2020 27-inch iMac is built to be a top performer, with a processing boost, SSD storage, and updated graphics. It has other features to take into consideration, but the emphasis is on speed.
www.macworld.com www.macworld.com

www.macworld.com

27-inch iMac 2020 review: The latest Intel iMac leaves a lasting impression

The 2020 27-inch iMac is built to be a top performer, with a processing boost, SSD storage, and updated graphics. It has other features to take into consideration, but the emphasis is on speed.
www.macworld.com www.macworld.com
Click to expand...
I have tried running the test on 4K high in RDR2 several times now since being asked to provide results proving that it can achieve 59FPS on native 4K and the best I’ve been able to get was 52FPS average. I have no clue what my initial settings were short of 4K high before I embraced scaling+ultra textures but until I can prove it, yeah, it certainly does not perform at the level of a 2080TI, and if it does at any point thanks to its RAM overhead, it certainly could not for a very long period of time due to the power constraints. I knew that going in which is what led to such shock and excitement on my part. I know I was not mistaken when I saw the results of the benchmark now leading me to believe it must have been a fluke as I cannot replicate it. @rkuo is right that professionals are paid to do this correctly. I’m sorry to @rkuo for so ardently assuming I would be able to replicate my results, even knowing I am not mistaken in what I saw, I must acknowledge it must have been a fluke or that I am genuinely mistaken. However, this is the closest we’re gonna get for a while from Apple and I’m sorry if any of my overexcitement for its power oversold anyone on its abilities. Better than a 2070 Super we got in the house for our games but beyond that I’m not the one to quantify it.
 
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quagmire said:
DCS eats most of the 8 GB of my Vega 48. X-Plane 11 takes about 6-7 GB and that isn’t maxed out either on settings.

But you may be right about 2-3 years from now where the HP of the 5700 XT wont be enough instead of the VRAM.
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˙How well does X-Plane 11.50b17 do with the new 8 core iMac with the Radeon Pro 5700 XT 16 GB?
 
Part of me is glad that my 2019 Vega 48 iMac is still faster than the 2020 5300 and 5500 XT iMacs, but part of me wants to die a little bit because I want that 5700 XT. Even if I knew what was coming, I'm not sure I would have waited because I've really enjoyed using my 2019 iMac for the past year and wouldn't have wanted to be stuck working on my old MacBook with a tiny 15" screen all this time, but I really wish Apple provided an upgrade program. I may try to sell mine and get a 2020 at some point... I suspect I could get away with only paying $500-$700 to upgrade to equivalent specs plus 5700 XT, but having to re-install all of my dev tools and reconfigure everything and re-install and reconfigure Bootcamp Windows as well would take sooo long. Ugh... I used to enjoy that sort of thing, but now that I have a family and so many other things to do I dread it.
 
gtg465x said:
Part of me is glad that my 2019 Vega 48 iMac is still faster than the 2020 5300 and 5500 XT iMacs, but part of me wants to die a little bit because I want that 5700 XT. Even if I knew what was coming, I'm not sure I would have waited because I've really enjoyed using my 2019 iMac for the past year and wouldn't have wanted to be stuck working on my old MacBook with a tiny 15" screen all this time, but I really wish Apple provided an upgrade program. I may try to sell mine and get a 2020 at some point... I suspect I could get away with only paying $500-$700 to upgrade to equivalent specs plus 5700 XT, but having to re-install all of my dev tools and reconfigure everything and re-install and reconfigure Bootcamp Windows as well would take sooo long. Ugh... I used to enjoy that sort of thing, but now that I have a family and so many other things to do I dread it.
Click to expand...

Yea I hear that. I only got the 5500xt because I wanted it right away seems to run everything I need it for even my favorite paradox game in parallels VM at 5k no less.
 
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