Is it worth upgrading RAM on new 24” iMac?

[KeithJenner]

Upgrading RAM and storage has pushed my UK delivery back to end of June - early July! Yikes! Got me wondering if there will be any performance improvement on the 24 iMac compared to the Mac Mini? Any opinions? I may simply get the Mac Mini as a temporary measure if similar performance. Guess we won’t know until there are some real world tests!

Performance wise they should be very similar. Really the only difference will be cooling, so there could potentially be a difference if really pushing them for a period of time, but as far as we know there should be no difference other than that.

With the M1 macs it is really about the form factor. Get the one that fits your useage best based on that.

 

[zerofour]

Performance wise they should be very similar. Really the only difference will be cooling, so there could potentially be a difference if really pushing them for a period of time, but as far as we know there should be no difference other than that.

With the M1 macs it is really about the form factor. Get the one that fits your useage best based on that.

Thanks. Yes that's what I was expecting. I imagine there may be a slight improvement with the cooling for example with video editing. Really helpful cheers!

 

[Scontig]

I'm gonna go for the 16GB as my current iMac has lasted me over 7 years, so I think it's better to futureproof my new machine.

 

[QuiteGrumpy]

I'm gonna go for the 16GB as my current iMac has lasted me over 7 years, so I think it's better to futureproof my new machine.

I’ve also got 7 years out of my iMac 27 with 12 GB RAM. It still works pretty well, though not for editing 4K video from the iPhone 12 Pro. That makes the beach ball go into overdrive! So I’ve been using my iPad to put together videos for home or for work. Looking forward to a machine that can handle the simple video editing I do with ease. Also went for 16GB RAM to make sure it can do this for a few years (Another 7 maybe!)

 

[4sallypat]

Performance wise they should be very similar. Really the only difference will be cooling, so there could potentially be a difference if really pushing them for a period of time, but as far as we know there should be no difference other than that.

With the M1 macs it is really about the form factor. Get the one that fits your useage best based on that.

Yes, the M1 Mini will be the same as the M1 iMac.

I have the M1 Mini for 6 months now and love it - it's the coldest (never warms) Mac I have ever seen!

Fan never spins up and even with dual displays, 20+ tabs on 3 different browsers running, streaming video, 3 devices on BlueTooth, Soundblaster DAC USB, and external Superdrive DVD running - it remains snappy and no lag.

And the clincher: base M1 Mini model (8GB).

That's why I ordered the M1 iMac with 8GB (base model)......

 

[neilw]

Based on the unified nature of how the RAM, GPU memory and SSD all work together (and borrow resources as needed), if it came down to a choice between more RAM vs a bigger SSD, I think I'd opt for the bigger SSD (this is IF cost were a consideration). I did get the 16GB option but also the 2TB SSD, but if I had to choose one or the other, it would have been the bigger SSD. Don't think in terms of separate RAM sitting on it's own little boards. This integrated "unified" RAM and the ability of this M1 chip to use resources from the RAM, GPU and/or SSD seemlessley as need makes this a whole different animal.

Don’t Upgrade The RAM In Your New Apple iMac, Do This Instead

Skip the extra RAM and upgrade this one component immediately when you order your new 24" iMac.

www.forbes.com

There are arguments to be made in favor of SSD over RAM (which I do not agree with), but an any case I would not take my advice from the referenced article. Guy forfeited all credibility with this disastrous sentence:

The M1 chip combines the discrete CPU, GPU, RAM, and SSD components (pictured above) into a single piece of silicone that's soldered onto the logic board (pictured below.

 

[propower]

For ProAudio and light Video and Virtual Machine work I chose 16G Ram. For the same reasons I chose 512GB SSD. I have huge sample libraries and video output files that happily live on a 2TB T5 and 2TB T7 USB3.1 drives. Never an issue and no need to put big SSDs in the box. I also use a CalDigit TB3 hub to connect all this leaving one TB3 cable computer to Hub.

 

[jahin17]

Well isn't this bloody great?! Ordered my iMac for 3rd June delivery and spoke to an agent today to try and add the Numeric keyboard. Was assured that my delivery slot wouldn't change and I triple checked with her. Go onto the website to see my order has been cancelled and a new delivery date of 15th-22nd June is now popping up. What the hell has she done???? Need to contact Apple tomorrow to try and fix this situation but this is just stupid. And to make matters worse, she hasn't even applied the Numeric keypad!

 

[BasilFawlty]

There are arguments to be made in favor of SSD over RAM (which I do not agree with), but an any case I would not take my advice from the referenced article. Guy forfeited all credibility with this disastrous sentence:

I'm not taking his advice - I ordered 16GB ram AND 2TB SSD. But I do have a question - you say he forfeited his credibility with this statement: "The M1 chip combines the discrete CPU, GPU, RAM, and SSD components (pictured above) into a single piece of silicone that's soldered onto the logic board."

Maybe I'm missing something but I thought this was a System on a Chip with everything on the chip (except the actual SSD itself)? From an article on MacRumors:

As a "System on a Chip," the M1 integrates several different components, including the CPU, GPU, unified memory architecture (RAM), Neural Engine, Secure Enclave, SSD controller, image signal processor, encode/decode engines, Thunderbolt controller with USB 4 support, and more, all of which power the different features in the Mac.

Granted he said "SSD components" rather than "SSD Controller," but the SSD control is a component of the SSD system, so I'm not sure where the problem is with his statement? The M1, according to everything I've read, is a "System on a Chip" (The actual SSD may be separate, but the SSD controller, GPU, CPU and unified memory are all on the M1 chip). Maybe I'm misreading it.

 

[consumeritis]

From my understanding the RAM on the M1 is not on the same piece of silicon as the processor.

The RAM is on the same 'package' - the M1 physical 'chip' has multiple pieces of silicon, one of which is the M1 itself containing the processors and all the controller logic. There are separate pieces of silicon for the RAM. The RAM is very close to the processor, on the same physical 'chip' when you look at the board, but it's not actually on 'a single piece of silicon'.

In a desktop machine where you can easily leave an external Thunderbolt drive plugged in, if absolutely forced to 'future proof' I would get more RAM rather than a bigger SSD. 256GiB does seem a bit small for a desktop computer, to me, but the RAM seems more important given that nothing is upgradeable - at least you can plug in external drives and/or use cloud storage.

IMO, and in purely analytical terms, anyway.

If you just want more storage to have more space then upping to 512/8 seems like a pretty capable baseline machine.

 

[neilw]

I'm not taking his advice - I ordered 16GB ram AND 2TB SSD. But I do have a question - you say he forfeited his credibility with this statement: "The M1 chip combines the discrete CPU, GPU, RAM, and SSD components (pictured above) into a single piece of silicone that's soldered onto the logic board."

Maybe I'm missing something but I thought this was a System on a Chip with everything on the chip (except the actual SSD itself)? From an article on MacRumors:

Consumeritis covered most of it. The components are *not* on the same chip, they are on the same package. Big difference.

The cherry on top was that he said "silicone", which was a facepalm moment for me.

I feel like Apple has done a poor job communicating the meaning and benefits of their "unified memory architecture", the specific effects of having the DRAM on the same package with the CPU, and to what extent the architecture allows them to function better with less DRAM. All these threads are rife with misunderstanding.

 

[BasilFawlty]

The components are *not* on the same chip, they are on the same package.

Point taken.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Advice: Buy as much storage and memory as you can afford. None of these new M1 machines are user upgradeable which means what you purchase is what you will have to live with.

Nowadays, 256GB storage is not enough nor is 8 GB of memory. Go for the 512GB and 16GB if you can afford it. And yes, you probably will have to wait a bit longer, but I think it's worth the wait.

Agreed. I would definitely go for as much RAM and storage as I could afford.

 

[memo90061]

So I’m buying the iMac just for general purposes to have a desktop computer at home. Main purpose would be for work, photoshop use, games such as FM 2021 and obviously streaming.

I can get student discount via UNiDAYS so the price of the 256gb version goes from 1,449 to 1,304.

with the price going lower, is it worth it to upgrade the ram as that’ll cost an extra 180. The 512gb version goes down to 1484 which is just 40 pounds more than the 256gb at RRP.

also, upgrading the RAM would mean a delayed delivery time if I’m correct?

How do you get the discount? I also have UNiDAYS.

 

[Eso]

If you embrace iCloud storage , you don’t need a max with a lot of storage. 256gb is just fine . I pay Apple only $3 per month for 200gb iCloud storage

So you pay a monthly fee for less storage than the minimum storage option which is already comically small? Storage space that you can’t even use to install apps? If you have an iPhone, can you navigate to “settings -> general -> about” and check available capacity out of curiosity?

 

[alfonsog]

For my brother's family I got the 16gb because they keep computers like years... replacing a 2013 base iMac.

 

[iDave]

So you pay a monthly fee for less storage than the minimum storage option which is already comically small? Storage space that you can’t even use to install apps? If you have an iPhone, can you navigate to “settings -> general -> about” and check available capacity out of curiosity?

Available capacity is shown in iPhone settings, iCloud. That kind of storage is very slow. I opted for the base level iMac SSD and bought separately an external Thunderbolt enclosure and 2 TB NVME drive; all for less than half what Apple charges and will end up with 2.25 TB total. I did pay the price for more RAM only for resale value. I figure five years from now an iMac with 16 GB will sell much better than one with eight.

 

[ade555]

You don’t need 16GB ram for general usage along with photoshop, I used m1 mini with base spec and never seen go over 5GB ram and no swaps, even 1080 video edit in davinci didn’t push over 6.5 GB but if you can afford it for resale value I would get one with 16GB ram and use external NVME lot more bang for buck compare to internal storage, I don’t think you would notice speed difference for photo or video editing. I used 1TB SSD over normal usb and was absolutely fine so.

 

[jahin17]

How do you get the discount? I also have UNiDAYS.

Go to the apple section and it’ll redirect you to their education site.

 

[4sallypat]

You don’t need 16GB ram for general usage along with photoshop, I used m1 mini with base spec and never seen go over 5GB ram and no swaps, even 1080 video edit in davinci didn’t push over 6.5 GB but if you can afford it for resale value I would get one with 16GB ram and use external NVME lot more bang for buck compare to internal storage, I don’t think you would notice speed difference for photo or video editing. I used 1TB SSD over normal usb and was absolutely fine so.

Ditto - my base M1 Mini runs photo editing without a hiccup.
Now for video editing, I have seen slower performance especially 4K video.
That was using Adobe CC.

For the iMac, I ordered the M1 iMac base (8GB) with optional $199 App Pro bundle which includes: FCP, LP, Motion, Compressor, and Mainstage.

Hoping the native Apple apps will run smoother and require less unified memory.

Keeping my fingers crossed !

 

[neilw]

That pro apps bundle is a heck of a deal for $199 I must say.

 

[4sallypat]

That pro apps bundle is a heck of a deal for $199 I must say.

Also EDU store convinced me even more to get the Pro Apps because of the $50 EDU savings and $50 Apple Card cash back.

So in my mind, it was $100 for the Pro Apps bundle...

 

[hans1972]

So you pay a monthly fee for less storage than the minimum storage option which is already comically small? Storage space that you can’t even use to install apps? If you have an iPhone, can you navigate to “settings -> general -> about” and check available capacity out of curiosity?

I have 407 Gb stored in iCloud of which Photos are using 123Gb.

I have a MacBook Air with 256Gb SSD and 58 Gb free.
I have an iPhone with 64Gb and with about 25 Gb free.

Using iCloud Drive and iCloud Photo Library allows you to have very little storage on your Mac and iPhone.

 

[rambo47]

With these new M1 Macs and their unified memory architecture you only get one chance to upgrade the RAM. That's at the BTO/order stage. That's why I ordered the 16GB option. For $200 it seemed like a no-brainer even if I don't need it. i kicked in another $200 for the 1TB SSD.

 

[mrcat]

16 GB Ram, go on treat yourself!