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New iMac?
- Thread starter gbf
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Unlikely, IMO.
I expect the iMac with the M-series SoC to be launched in 1H 2021 (perhaps at WWDC).
I expect the iMac with the M-series SoC to be launched in 1H 2021 (perhaps at WWDC).
If you need one now, buy one.
I don't, so I am waiting as I expect the M-series iMacs to handily outperform the current Intel ones.
I don't, so I am waiting as I expect the M-series iMacs to handily outperform the current Intel ones.
Buy what now? An Intel-based iMac now? An Apple Silicon iMac now if they announce that tomorrow (which I also doubt they'll be announcing)?
Nobody here know what's being announced tomorrow, so we can't tell you whether to buy it or wait.
IF they announced an Apple Silicon-based iMac tomorrow, we still don't know its configuration today. Would it have the same M1 SOCs with integrated graphics that are being used in the MBAs, MBPs, and mini, or might it have a different M-series processor with more cores, and discrete graphics? Without knowing that, and without knowing what your specific needs are, how can anyone make a recommendation?
From my viewpoint, if an Apple Silicon iMac was announced tomorrow and it had typical mid-range iMac specifications, I would likely get it now rather than wait for the next generation of iMac with Apple Silicon - I have a 27-inch late 2013 with an i5, 16 GB RAM, and Fusion Drive. It's still enough for my needs, but I'd like to replace it within the next year. Give me an iMac with a 5K display, all-Flash storage, and one of the current-generation M1 SOCs and I'd be fine.
But different people have different needs.
The current M1 is beating pretty much every Intel CPU in production right now per benchmarks (synthetic and actual workflow). The iMac will be using an even better version of the M1 so it will be even faster. The M1 GPU is also better than every Intel integrated GPU and a number of discrete GPUs that are in recent Macs. And Apple is developing their own GPU to pair with the M1 so those will probably equal the Mac discrete GPUs, at least. And even if they do not, none of my workflow is GPU-centric so I don't need the fastest GPU.
I would expect not.
So it comes down to how quickly you need to buy her the iMac. If it is in the next six months, then you're probably going to have to get one of the current Intel models. If not, then the M1 model will probably be available.
So it comes down to how quickly you need to buy her the iMac. If it is in the next six months, then you're probably going to have to get one of the current Intel models. If not, then the M1 model will probably be available.