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Also, I like how the 2019 model doesn't have a T2 chip.

Maybe the Vega 48 runs cooler and having that is an advantage too. Does anyone know if the Vega 48 in the 2019 iMac runs a lot cooler than any of the 2020 GPUs?

Agreed. The lack of a T2 chip is also an advantage. But the biggest reason I don't like the thing is that it prevents the ssd from being replaced/upgraded.

Every. Single. Mac ... that I have bought in the past 20 years (and there have been a ton - all the way from the g3 tower and white macbooks to the 2019 iMac and the 2015 15 and 13 inch macbook pros I have) on every single one of them I have upgraded the storage drive at some point.

In the case of the 2019 iMac, I did that a week after I bought it. (just used it enough to make sure there were no obvious issues that would require a return or warranty repair).

So yea, for me the T2 is poison. I keep my macs for a long time and not having that storage upgrade path is an absolute deal killer.
 
Am I the only one who is hugely worried about the on Logic Board non replaceable or upgradable SSD? Surely this is part of the Apple (read Tim Cook) Monopolisation of the entire Computer Production (Manufacture, Production, Upgrade, Service, Repair) Im starting to realise the end of me being able to adjust and repair my items is being rail-roaded into Boardroom Directives. Anyways the machine is a decent upgrade and I wouldn't mind if they did provide main drive onto board but no NVMe slot to add is pure control really sad times
 
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Am I the only one who is hugely worried about the on Logic Board non replaceable or upgradable SSD? Surely this is part of the Apple (read Tim Cook) Monopolisation of the entire Computer Production (Manufacture, Production, Upgrade, Service, Repair) Im starting to realise the end of me being able to adjust and repair my items is being rail-roaded into Boardroom Directives. Anyways the machine is a decent upgrade and I wouldn't mind if they did provide main drive onto board but no NVMe slot to add is pure control really sad times

In terms of self-repair and/or upgrade, not too concerned simply because of the T2. Even if it was socketed, can’t replace/upgrade yourself because the T2 won’t recognize it and boot especially since the T2 acts as the drive controller. Unless there is a way to bypass the T2 and a module with a built in controller is made compatible, the storage being soldered isn’t a big deal when it comes to that area.

What does concern me is repair costs. If the storage fails, I’m now looking at complete logic board replacement which is a lot more expensive.... Or if the GPU fries, now I’m looking at data loss too.
 
Am I the only one who is hugely worried about the on Logic Board non replaceable or upgradable SSD? Surely this is part of the Apple (read Tim Cook) Monopolisation of the entire Computer Production (Manufacture, Production, Upgrade, Service, Repair) Im starting to realise the end of me being able to adjust and repair my items is being rail-roaded into Boardroom Directives. Anyways the machine is a decent upgrade and I wouldn't mind if they did provide main drive onto board but no NVMe slot to add is pure control really sad times

For those that like to get into their machines the Mini and iMacs have taken backward steps from the models that Jobs intro'd.

That and pushing the Mac Pro upstream with customised 'modules' (Shareholder Profit Modules...)

These aren't insurmountable problems to those 'can does' but the car industry is the same.

It's no longer about fixing things yourself it's about throw it and get a new one (and that will cost...)

Lock it down...and price it up.

Azrael.
 
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My launch PS3 got a the yellow light of death a few years after launch. Was absolutely gutted at the time. Little me had saved up so much to spend £425 + games on that bad boy! Definitely ran on the toasty side... PS4's have been hit or miss with the heat and noise.

I think Sony did a decent enough job on the PS4. Not quite as ground breaking as the PS3.

But very respectable performer.

I bought one as a present for someone. I had a go on Destiny by Bungie.

Clearly, the PS5 is looking a stunner with consumer ray tracing in games to look forward to.

Azrael.
 
I am well aware of that, it's poorly optimised even for Windows. Yet it should run much better with throwing better compute, faster r/w rates and a beefier CPU at it.

All is software.

Badly optimised software can kill hardware no matter how beefy it is.

The Mac and Open GL and 2nd hand gaming ports over the last 20 years is testament to that.

Azrael.
 
What does concern me is repair costs. If the storage fails, I’m now looking at complete logic board replacement which is a lot more expensive.... Or if the GPU fries, now I’m looking at data loss too.

Yeah thats main concern Hard drive failure generally speaking has been the most common issue in my 15 year usage with Apple across many different products etc even non apple Hard Drive failure represents about 75% of all the issues with PC ownership going on 28 years now lol
 
Yeah thats main concern Hard drive failure generally speaking has been the most common issue in my 15 year usage with Apple across many different products etc even non apple Hard Drive failure represents about 75% of all the issues with PC ownership going on 28 years now lol

Same, but all storage failures have been the spinning types..... My experience with SSD's have been good so far.
 
Same, but all storage failures have been the spinning types..... My experience with SSD's have been good so far.

Same here.

I had two spinning Hard Drive failures on the 24 inch iMac I had.

Both had to be replaced.

Azrael.
 
Same here.

I had two spinning Hard Drive failures on the 24 inch iMac I had.

Both had to be replaced.

Azrael.

I’ve got a box with many failed HDDs and also a few SSDs in the attic waiting for the crusher someday. They both can fail and also both wear out. But with no moving parts SSDs are much better fit for mobile tech IMHO and also have overall lower fail rates, although that seems to increase over time as they wear out. Some good reference sites are out there on this with data. That’s what worries me about Apple soldering the SSD storage on now, they know it wears out over time even with over-provision and seem to treat the whole device as a consumable over not that many years.
 
Am I the only one who is hugely worried about the on Logic Board non replaceable or upgradable SSD? Surely this is part of the Apple (read Tim Cook) Monopolisation of the entire Computer Production (Manufacture, Production, Upgrade, Service, Repair) Im starting to realise the end of me being able to adjust and repair my items is being rail-roaded into Boardroom Directives. Anyways the machine is a decent upgrade and I wouldn't mind if they did provide main drive onto board but no NVMe slot to add is pure control really sad times
It's monoplisation of the worst kind and it's un-American.
 
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Agreed. The lack of a T2 chip is also an advantage. But the biggest reason I don't like the thing is that it prevents the ssd from being replaced/upgraded.

Every. Single. Mac ... that I have bought in the past 20 years (and there have been a ton - all the way from the g3 tower and white macbooks to the 2019 iMac and the 2015 15 and 13 inch macbook pros I have) on every single one of them I have upgraded the storage drive at some point.

In the case of the 2019 iMac, I did that a week after I bought it. (just used it enough to make sure there were no obvious issues that would require a return or warranty repair).

So yea, for me the T2 is poison. I keep my macs for a long time and not having that storage upgrade path is an absolute deal killer.

So are you done with Macs then?
 
View attachment 942420

Left: 2020 model
  • 3.8 GHz 8-Core i7
  • 40 GB RAM (self-install)
  • Radeon Pro 5500 XT
  • 512 GB SSD.

Right: 2019 model
  • 3.6 GHz 8-core i9
  • 40 GB RAM (self-install)
  • Radeon Pro Vega 48
  • 512 GB SSD.

The 2020's i7 performance is impressive, equalising the single core performance of the i9, and beating it by 10% on multi core on Geekbench

The 5500 XT's performance is less impressive, performing 20% worse in synthetic benchmarks than the Vega 48. I was hoping it would be a closer match considering it is built on a new process. Of course, the 5700 XT will comfortably outperform the Vega 48, but at a steep price.

Real world performance is another matter though. You won't see a difference in performance on GTA V, for instance, regardless of settings. Not that these are machines for gaming anyway - and the Windows drivers are still poor.

In stock configs the 2020 iMac offers good value for money, performing as good as a specced out 2019 model for 2/3rds the price.

Now, roll on ARM and a new design please Apple.

The Vega 48 cost almost as much as thew 5700 XT.
 
iMac 3.3 5300. The CPU runs hot at full boost and stays near 100 degrees C.


Skärmavbild 2020-08-12 kl. 02.51.53.png

Skärmavbild 2020-08-12 kl. 02.50.45.png
 
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So are you done with Macs then?

Good question.

The current course of apple computer hardware has certainly given me great pause. As far as potentially upgradable macs we’re down to the Mac Pro, which is in the chilly stratosphere as far as price goes, as we all know.

So I’m certainly facing a crossroads. As it stands, for now I will continue to use and enjoy (and perhaps further upgrade) the macs I have now and procrastinate on making that cold, hard (and possible very sad) decision on what to do when it comes time to get my next generation of computer hardware.
 
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