Replacing 2020 i9 iMac with Mac Studio. Buy now or wait?

[whitby]

My trusty 2020 i9 27" iMac is beginning to show its age (getting slow on some tasks and occasional glitches). I have it connected to an LG 5K monitor with 128GB RAM (care of OWC), 4 TB SSD and attached RAID array with 25 TB and a 10 TB Time Machine drive. I also have a NAS with about 80TB of storage. It has been a very reliable work horse for the nearly 4 years that I have had it.

I am a heavy Lightroom Classic and Photoshop user (my main camera is a Sony A7RV with a 61 Mp sensor so the files are large) and I do a lot of CAD work for my clock hobby (wooden) along with music production using Logic Pro and some Final Cut Pro work for my occasional videos. I stopped software programming (C, Visual Studio C, SQL etc) and using large Excel models a long time ago as I am retired, but I do get a lot of use out of my machine.

My dilemma is simple. Should I buy a Mac Studio now with the M2 Max (I do not think I need the M2 Ultra) or wait for some indeterminant period for the M4 variants. I do not have an infinite budget, but I can spend up to around $4k/$4.5K on a Mac Studio. The future upgrade to the Mac Studio has not been well documented and Apple is focused, as usual, on their laptops and iPhone. And as of now, when the Mac Studio will be updated seems to be up in the air. If my current iMac dies, then it will be a no brainer, I will just buy a Mac Studio with the M2 Max (I have on order the Mac Studio display which is currently discounted by $299 on Amazon and is unlikely to change for a good few years as monitors are much more stable). But it has not reached that point yet and I am at the point where it might make sense to upgrade while my iMac is functional and I am not in the mad disaster recovery mode.

Thoughts on wait for M4 based Mac Studio or go ahead and buy the current M2 based model, given the lack of information (24 August 2024) on when or if a new model will appear?

BTW the rumors of a small M4 based mini are unlikely to work since it may not have the ports or RAM capability I need but I can decide when we get to see it. If the rumored M4 Pro processor in a small Mini body are faster than an M2 Max based Mac Studio it may be worth considering but unless the RAM can accommodate >= 64GB then I am not likely to be interested (processing Photo and Video files using the tools I have require a reasonably large amount of RAM).

Any thoughts, comments would be welcome from those that know more of Apple's intentions than I do.

 

[vladi]

If you crave RAM and HDD space then you will need to go with M2 Ultra. Comparable MS to your i9 iMac would run you $6k with tax. Maybe look for some used MS option.

 

[theolderoldcoot]

I'd wait until you could upgrade to a M4.

 

[whitby]

I'd wait until you could upgrade to a M4.

I am with you on this but if I have to wait for a year, I am not sure I can wait that long. If it is Jan/Feb 2025 next I can wait. I was wondering whether anyone had any more insight into Apple’s schedule for the M4 Max and M4 Ultra ( if that is what they are calling them).

 

[russell_314]

I am with you on this but if I have to wait for a year, I am not sure I can wait that long.

If you actually need it now, and your current computer is incapable of doing what you need then buy it. Go with Apple refurbished to save a few dollars.


No one knows Apple’s schedule, but Apple. People can guess based on previous releases, but that’s just a guess.

 

[Fishrrman]

I say, "wait!"

IF you buy now, I predict that by June next year you are going to be VERY disappointed.

The only reason to buy a new Studio "now", is if your current Mac breaks on you, and there's no other choice.

 

[whitby]

I say, "wait!"

IF you buy now, I predict that by June next year you are going to be VERY disappointed.

The only reason to buy a new Studio "now", is if your current Mac breaks on you, and there's no other choice.

It seems that most people would counsel me to wait unless my current machine dies and not be proactive and buy a machine that could be obsolete within the next year. This is logical and my gut feeling tells me it is correct. However if that 1 year wait for an updated Mac Studio turns into 18 months or 2 years ( and no one knows at this point) then I could avoid the problem caused by my current machine expiring by replacing it now. I usually upgrade my machines when a new one comes out and it provides better performance and support for current software. I have never had to deal with a machine that expired and had to be replaced. And I have a feeling my current machine may do just that In the next 3 to 9 months, hence my seeking counsel on whether a new Mac Studio is really imminent or a year or more away.

Thanks to those of you that responded, I appreciate your input.

 

[tstafford]

I'll say this - I have the most basic, original Mac Studio M1M and love it. Doesn't matter to me if they come out with an M4. The thing just works. Poss the best computer I've ever owned.

 

[wordsworth]

The Mac Studio didn’t get an M3 refresh so it seems likely that M4 will come its way and, I would venture, sooner rather than later. Maybe wait and see what Macs are released later this year?

I’m in the market for a new laptop but I can currently work on my i5 MacBook Air without any problems, though my wife is using it at the moment while I try to bring her 2012 MacBook Pro back to life! (I have a Mac Mini M2 Pro on my desk.)

I keep looking at all the price reductions and the M3 Air (which would be more than adequate for my work), and M3 Pro MacBook Pro base configuration, both caught my attention yet I’ll keep waiting until something definitively compelling happens – M4s that knock my socks off so much that ‘I just have to have one' or a much lower price I really can't pass up in respect of the M3s. But being patient isn’t easy!

MacRumors’ own buying guide suggests waiting.

 

[whitby]

Yes the MacRumors guide does not seem to match it being a year before a new one arrives. Usually a ‘do not buy’ means a new one within a month or two. So I am confused as the rumours from the usual sources point to no update this year and not until mid next year which is almost a year away. That would put the M2 studio at the mid point of its current cycle. So it should have a ‘neutral’ guide designation. This was what triggered my question in the first place. Is it really that close to release and are the other prognosticators wrong?

 

[splifingate]

If you actually need it now, and your current computer is incapable of doing what you need then buy it. Go with Apple refurbished to save a few dollars.

This.

 

[AZhappyjack]

Buy what you need when you need it. If you don't "need" it, wait. But realize that no matter how long you wait, there's always a new model coming just around the corner.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

If you crave RAM and HDD space then you will need to go with M2 Ultra. Comparable MS to your i9 iMac would run you $6k with tax. Maybe look for some used MS option.

I disagree; an M2 Ultra is a poor choice. 1) 96 GB RAM in an M2 Studio is likely very good for the OP; 2) There are no HDD but internal SSD capacities are fine because an external SSD is easy; 3) IMO Ultra is overpriced for the value.

I suggest wait for M4 if feasible, but do not fear any lack of competence of an M2 Studio Max. I have an M2 MBP with 96 GB RAM [power equal to an M2 Studio] and consider it superb.

That said I suggest waiting if possible. M4 like M3 will have additional competence in the areas of 3D and similar that future CAD apps will probably appreciate over an M2. And M4 will allow more RAM, at least 128 GB strongly recommended.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

I am with you on this but if I have to wait for a year, I am not sure I can wait that long. If it is Jan/Feb 2025 next I can wait. I was wondering whether anyone had any more insight into Apple’s schedule for the M4 Max and M4 Ultra ( if that is what they are calling them).

I had exactly the same problem wanting to buy an M2 Studio, and they were delayed so long I finally bought a maximum Macbook Pro instead. No one not under NDA knows Apple's Studio release plans.

 

[wonderings]

Why not just give your iMac a reinstall of the OS and carry on? I was using a 2014 5K iMac in a graphics and print production environment 2 years ago still, and would have still been using it had they not switched us to Windows. I have trouble believing a 2019 iMac is starting to break down to anywhere near the point that it needs upgrading. If you really want to spend your money, Apple is announcing new products in September I believe, I would certainly wait till then, if anything it brings down the price of used equipment for everyone who upgrades.

 

[whitby]

Why not just give your iMac a reinstall of the OS and carry on? I was using a 2014 5K iMac in a graphics and print production environment 2 years ago still, and would have still been using it had they not switched us to Windows. I have trouble believing a 2019 iMac is starting to break down to anywhere near the point that it needs upgrading. If you really want to spend your money, Apple is announcing new products in September I believe, I would certainly wait till then, if anything it brings down the price of used equipment for everyone who upgrades.

I have reinstalled the OS twice, but it makes little to no difference. I have owned several iMacs over the years and they generally have been reasonably reliable, although my 2015 required 2 new motherboards during its tenure with me. I still have a 2017 which is a backup machine. I generally buy the top spec at the time they are released. This 2020 model is OK but now has problems with BT connections and one of the TB ports is unreliable. I initially thought the software glitches were due to the 3rd party memory, so I removed them and used Apple memory and nothing changed. The machine is still functioning reasonably well, but it is slow when compared to my 16” M1 Max 64 GB 4 TB MacBook Pro. I had considered using the MBPro as my desktop and have an OWC dock, but I like to have it available as a laptop and prefer to have a dedicated desktop machine where I am not plugging and unplugging peripherals all the time.

i think I am predisposed to waiting to see what happens in September and if there are no further hints about the availability of an M4 based Mac Studio, I will just wait for a suitable M2 Max or Ultra to become available in the reconditioned section in Apple’s store. Currently they only have M1 Ultras with SSDs of sufficient size and memory => 64GB.

i appreciate you sharing your perspective.

 

[vladi]

I disagree; an M2 Ultra is a poor choice. 1) 96 GB RAM in an M2 Studio is likely very good for the OP; 2) There are no HDD but internal SSD capacities are fine because an external SSD is easy; 3) IMO Ultra is overpriced for the value.

I suggest wait for M4 if feasible, but do not fear any lack of competence of an M2 Studio Max. I have an M2 MBP with 96 GB RAM [power equal to an M2 Studio] and consider it superb.

That said I suggest waiting if possible. M4 like M3 will have additional competence in the areas of 3D and similar that future CAD apps will probably appreciate over an M2. And M4 will allow more RAM, at least 128 GB strongly recommended.

Currently he has 128GB + dedicated video RAM. If 96GB is enough that's something olny he would know. Also, external disk storage is nowhere near fast as soldered storage. The more you got soldered storage the better esepcially if you are into video, audio or rendering.

 

[ChrisA]

...Should I buy a Mac Studio now with the M2 Max (I do not think I need the M2 Ultra) or wait for some indeterminant period for the M4 variants.
Any thoughts, comments would be welcome from those that know more of Apple's intentions than I do.

The usual advice is to wait until you need a new computer to buy a new computer. Then buy whatever is best for your needs. It seems you are doing fine with what you have. But if it fails, buy the M2 or the M4, whichever is available use next-day delivery and you will not even have much downtime.

 

[HDFan]

If my current iMac dies, then it will be a no brainer,

Yes.

If it is Jan/Feb 2025 next I can wait.

However if that 1 year wait for an updated Mac Studio turns into 18 months or 2 years ( and no one knows at this point)

No one knows but most predictions seem to be around June 2025.

The Mac Studio didn’t get an M3 refresh so it seems likely that M4 will come its way and, I would venture, sooner rather than later.

Which also supports a June 2025 ETA. Apple needs to get all of the other M4 updates in place before then.

 

[whitby]

No one knows but most predictions seem to be around June 2025.

Which also supports a June 2025 ETA. Apple needs to get all of the other M4 updates in place before then.

This would seem to be true and, if true, very disappointing. Two year cycles for machines that are iterating this fast does not seem very attentive to this market. Apple will spend their time on the largest revenue products (Services, iPhones and Laptops) and, unfortunately, high end desktops are a very marginal business for Apple by the look of it, so get the least attention. This does worry me somewhat in the longterm and this lack of up to date iterations for high end professional desktop users may signify that Apple really are giving this up and ceding the market to Windows.

I will review what is said at the Sept 9 presentation and see if there are any clues, but, as I posted earlier, I will probably end up waiting for an M2 Max or M2 Ultra to become available in the Apple refurbished store so I can possibly save 15% or so unless I abandon Apple all together and move back to Windows (I moved to Apple in 2002 after being a Microsoft user since MS DOS days).

I will be sad to leave my iMac, they have been faithful machines for many years, but Apple have seen fit to abandon them and pushed us to the Mac Studio which is a much more expensive machine than even the highest spec iMac in 2020.

One other possibility was suggested by a friend of mine and that was to move back to Windows for my high end desktop. I have a reasonably well equipped Windows and Linux machine machine (12th gen Intel i9, 256 GB memory, 8 TB SSD and built in 15 TB of hard disks with a decent NVIDIA card) that is also very fast but cost a lot less than the Mac Studio to build (I have built many, many PCs over the years). I have resisted moving back to Windows but this might be the time as Windows has come a long way with Windows 11 and is a lot more reliable. Unfortunately I will have to abandon FCP and Logic Pro and move to Windows compatible products (I already use LR and PS which are also Windows compatible). But I am very familiar with Adobe Premier for movies and Avid Pro and Ableton for sound. And my CAD software is both Windows and Mac compatible. This would not be without some pain, but if I moved back to Windows I would not be moving back to Apple anytime soon.

Again I appreciate the input and views on this conundrum.

 

[Alameda]

It seems that most people would counsel me to wait unless my current machine dies and not be proactive and buy a machine that could be obsolete within the next year. This is logical and my gut feeling tells me it is correct. However if that 1 year wait for an updated Mac Studio turns into 18 months or 2 years ( and no one knows at this point) then I could avoid the problem caused by my current machine expiring by replacing it now. I usually upgrade my machines when a new one comes out and it provides better performance and support for current software. I have never had to deal with a machine that expired and had to be replaced. And I have a feeling my current machine may do just that In the next 3 to 9 months, hence my seeking counsel on whether a new Mac Studio is really imminent or a year or more away.

Thanks to those of you that responded, I appreciate your input.

Sorry, but that’s just silly. A brand new Mac won’t be obsolete in a year. They may have a faster model, but that doesn’t make the computer you buy today stop working.

But Apple’s website says they have an announcement coming September 9, but it’s purportedly an iPhone announcement. The M4 Mac Studio probably won’t ship for another year, which is a pretty long wait.

 

[whitby]

Sorry, but that’s just silly. A brand new Mac won’t be obsolete in a year. They may have a faster model, but that doesn’t make the computer you buy today stop working.

But Apple’s website says they have an announcement coming September 9, but it’s purportedly an iPhone announcement. The M4 Mac Studio probably won’t ship for another year, which is a pretty long wait.

If the model of machine you have is replaced by a new model, then the one you have is obsolete. You are obviously correct in saying it will not stop working, but that is not what I was trying to say. What I am trying to say is that if a new model comes out just after I buy a new machine, then it is not ideal and I should have waited for the newer model. However if the newer model is over a year away then there is no reason not to buy the current model with the caveats mentioned below.

The Mac Studio may now be on a 2 year cadence, in which case a new model will not appear until mid 2025 (as seems to be the majority opinion here), but MacRumors says do not buy which may be based on how quickly they updated from M1 to M2 and is not indicative of a 2 year cadence. The wild cards are the M4 processor which just appeared and the fact that an M3 processor version of the Mac Studio has never been released (they did upgrade from M1 to M2 in a year). If the M4 is as significant as people think, then an M2 to M4 upgrade for the Mac Studio will be very significant and I would prefer to wait for it, but my ailing iMac may not allow that. Hence my dilemma.

 

[Alameda]

If the model of machine you have is replaced by a new model, then the one you have is obsolete. You are obviously correct in saying it will not stop working, but that is not what I was trying to say. What I am trying to say is that if a new model comes out just after I buy a new machine, then it is not ideal and I should have waited for the newer model. However if the newer model is over a year away then there is no reason not to buy the current model with the caveats mentioned below.

The Mac Studio may now be on a 2 year cadence, in which case a new model will not appear until mid 2025 (as seems to be the majority opinion here), but MacRumors says do not buy which may be based on how quickly they updated from M1 to M2 and is not indicative of a 2 year cadence. The wild cards are the M4 processor which just appeared and the fact that an M3 processor version of the Mac Studio has never been released (they did upgrade from M1 to M2 in a year). If the M4 is as significant as people think, then an M2 to M4 upgrade for the Mac Studio will be very significant and I would prefer to wait for it, but my ailing iMac may not allow that. Hence my dilemma.

Sorry, but I don’t think that makes any sense. My computer is obsolete when it can no longer do what I need it to do.

My car is ten years old. I maintain it perfectly; it is immaculate, because putting $1,500 or so into annual maintenance is cheaper than making car payments on a new car, and I love the car I have. There will always be some shiny new thing that people come up with, and that’s great, but it doesn’t mean you have to buy it.

I’m a photographer and three years ago, I upgraded to a 45 megapixel camera. That triggered a lot of computer upgrades, mostly the M1 MacBook Pro, a lot of storage, and new software. But now my workflow is very solid, and unless some AI-powered image editor comes out which I want and which runs too slowly on the M1, there’s absolutely nothing that a faster Mac can do for me.

For my part, I use DxO PhotoLab and not Lightroom. I heard that Lightroom is coming out with AI editing tools that will need a faster CPU, but Adobe hasn’t published requirements. Performance-wise, with my M1 MBP and 16 GB RAM, all operations are real time (white balance sliders, etc.), except that export to JPEG takes a while depending on the noise reduction I use… maybe 15 seconds, but it doesn’t really slow me down.

With 61 megapixels, I can see why you might want more performance than my M1, but the move to any Mac Studio should be a dramatic improvement compared to your Intel Mac.

I did run into a guy online who “needed” massive amounts of RAM for his photo editing because he “needs” to store 10,000 images in a single folder and browse the thumbnails without any hesitation. I just keep my photos organized into folders of about 500 images max; it’s not very difficult to do because I don’t “need” to scroll through 10,000 images at once.

 

[whitby]

Sorry, but I don’t think that makes any sense. My computer is obsolete when it can no longer do what I need it to do.

My car is ten years old. I maintain it perfectly; it is immaculate, because putting $1,500 or so into annual maintenance is cheaper than making car payments on a new car, and I love the car I have. There will always be some shiny new thing that people come up with, and that’s great, but it doesn’t mean you have to buy it.

I’m a photographer and three years ago, I upgraded to a 45 megapixel camera. That triggered a lot of computer upgrades, mostly the M1 MacBook Pro, a lot of storage, and new software. But now my workflow is very solid, and unless some AI-powered image editor comes out which I want and which runs too slowly on the M1, there’s absolutely nothing that a faster Mac can do for me.

For my part, I use DxO PhotoLab and not Lightroom. I heard that Lightroom is coming out with AI editing tools that will need a faster CPU, but Adobe hasn’t published requirements. Performance-wise, with my M1 MBP and 16 GB RAM, all operations are real time (white balance sliders, etc.), except that export to JPEG takes a while depending on the noise reduction I use… maybe 15 seconds, but it doesn’t really slow me down.

With 61 megapixels, I can see why you might want more performance than my M1, but the move to any Mac Studio should be a dramatic improvement compared to your Intel Mac.

I did run into a guy online who “needed” massive amounts of RAM for his photo editing because he “needs” to store 10,000 images in a single folder and browse the thumbnails without any hesitation. I just keep my photos organized into folders of about 500 images max; it’s not very difficult to do because I don’t “need” to scroll through 10,000 images at once.

I think we are debating the meaning of 'obsolete' here. For me it is 'outmoded in design, style, or construction' and for you it means 'no longer fit for the purpose for which it was purchased'.

Using your definition I would not disagree with anything you say and is, in general, how I approach my purchase of new technologies. I drive a 4 year old BMW which is obsolete (my definition) in that it has been replaced by a newer model with new features etc. but my obsolete model works perfectly well for me. The computer world is slightly different in that performance is advancing very quickly and providing significantly better user experiences (usually) on a fairly short time scale. Thus it is easy to have your machine made obsolete (my definition).

For me the decision is not being made because I want something newer and 'better' but because my iMac is beginning to show signs of imminent failure and I am trying to decide whether to buy a new M2 based Mac Studio, wait for a new, possibly, M4 based Mac Studio or (and this was added after I posted originally) I switch to a Windows machine I have.

Again, summarizing what has been said, I think the general opinion is that it will not be until mid 2025 until a new M4 (or whatever version of the M series is current at the time) based Mac Studio arrives (despite the fact that the M1 to M2 upgrade happened within approximately a year) and Mac Rumors saying 'do not buy' which usually indicates that a replacement is imminent.

Believe you me, I am not one of those people who update/replace machines on a whim or FOMO. I am fairly pragmatic in my choice and purchase of new technology, with very occasional lapses due to GAS (want rather than need).

 

[Alameda]

My trusty 2020 i9 27" iMac is beginning to show its age (getting slow on some tasks and occasional glitches). I have it connected to an LG 5K monitor with 128GB RAM (care of OWC), 4 TB SSD and attached RAID array with 25 TB and a 10 TB Time Machine drive. I also have a NAS with about 80TB of storage. It has been a very reliable work horse for the nearly 4 years that I have had it.

I am a heavy Lightroom Classic and Photoshop user (my main camera is a Sony A7RV with a 61 Mp sensor so the files are large) and I do a lot of CAD work for my clock hobby (wooden) along with music production using Logic Pro and some Final Cut Pro work for my occasional videos. I stopped software programming (C, Visual Studio C, SQL etc) and using large Excel models a long time ago as I am retired, but I do get a lot of use out of my machine.

My dilemma is simple. Should I buy a Mac Studio now with the M2 Max (I do not think I need the M2 Ultra) or wait for some indeterminant period for the M4 variants. I do not have an infinite budget, but I can spend up to around $4k/$4.5K on a Mac Studio. The future upgrade to the Mac Studio has not been well documented and Apple is focused, as usual, on their laptops and iPhone. And as of now, when the Mac Studio will be updated seems to be up in the air. If my current iMac dies, then it will be a no brainer, I will just buy a Mac Studio with the M2 Max (I have on order the Mac Studio display which is currently discounted by $299 on Amazon and is unlikely to change for a good few years as monitors are much more stable). But it has not reached that point yet and I am at the point where it might make sense to upgrade while my iMac is functional and I am not in the mad disaster recovery mode.

Thoughts on wait for M4 based Mac Studio or go ahead and buy the current M2 based model, given the lack of information (24 August 2024) on when or if a new model will appear?

BTW the rumors of a small M4 based mini are unlikely to work since it may not have the ports or RAM capability I need but I can decide when we get to see it. If the rumored M4 Pro processor in a small Mini body are faster than an M2 Max based Mac Studio it may be worth considering but unless the RAM can accommodate >= 64GB then I am not likely to be interested (processing Photo and Video files using the tools I have require a reasonably large amount of RAM).

Any thoughts, comments would be welcome from those that know more of Apple's intentions than I do.

Today a new report came out which says Apple will announce M4 Mac Mini models at the September 9 event, so maybe wait a few weeks to decide what to buy?