Specs photography iMac 2020

[LadyNinja]

What dose the ppl recomend for a usage for Photoshop, lightrom and some gaming. Would like to try paralells with maybe rdd2.

 

[casperes1996]

So the specs that are ideal for photography work are not generally the same as ideal for gaming. At least not with the way Adobe's programs are written.

For photography just get a good amount of RAM (aftermarket is fine) and perhaps the 8-core i7 if you really want to be in the super high end. For games you want a really powerful GPU, so the 5700 XT would be ideal there, but it gives you very little if not nothing for photography in Adobe programs.

I don't know what rdd2 is; If you mean RDR2 though (Red Dead Redemption 2) you won't get good performance through Parallels almost no matter what computer you have. You'll want to boot Windows directly.

 

[filmak]

So the specs that are ideal for photography work are not generally the same as ideal for gaming. At least not with the way Adobe's programs are written.

For photography just get a good amount of RAM (aftermarket is fine) and perhaps the 8-core i7 if you really want to be in the super high end. For games you want a really powerful GPU, so the 5700 XT would be ideal there, but it gives you very little if not nothing for photography in Adobe programs.

I don't know what rdd2 is; If you mean RDR2 though (Red Dead Redemption 2) you won't get good performance through Parallels almost no matter what computer you have. You'll want to boot Windows directly.

I think that Lightroom takes advantage of the GPU, isn't in this case the more powerful the better?

 

[casperes1996]

I think that Lightroom takes advantage of the GPU, isn't in this case the more powerful the better?

I mean yes, but the hardware acceleration from the GPU that Adobe had in their photography programs last I checked did not fully utilise the GPU; So while it did use some of the GPU, it didn't use the whole chip so the gain from a bigger GPU would be minuscule, really - But I mean it might've changed since then

 

[Freida]

Doesn't Pixelmator uses Metal and therefore 5700XT would help too?

I mean yes, but the hardware acceleration from the GPU that Adobe had in their photography programs last I checked did not fully utilise the GPU; So while it did use some of the GPU, it didn't use the whole chip so the gain from a bigger GPU would be minuscule, really - But I mean it might've changed since then

 

[casperes1996]

Doesn't Pixelmator uses Metal and therefore 5700XT would help too?

Everything I've said relates to Adobe's software. Though using Metal can come in many forms. Adobe technically also uses Metal, but think of it like a single-threaded CPU task versus a multi-threaded CPU task.
In any case I have no idea about Pixelmator, but I can say that Affinity Photo uses the GPU more than Photoshop

 

[Freida]

I think with the switch to AS it would make sense that Adobe will update it for metal more and then the OP will benefit with better GPU. So to future proof I would go for better GPU unless he/she plans to sell in 1-2 years

Everything I've said relates to Adobe's software. Though using Metal can come in many forms. Adobe technically also uses Metal, but think of it like a single-threaded CPU task versus a multi-threaded CPU task.
In any case I have no idea about Pixelmator, but I can say that Affinity Photo uses the GPU more than Photoshop

 

[casperes1996]

It would've made sense for Adobe to do that all along. With Apple Silicon CPU performance will likely also be better, so I don't see them necessarily focusing their work on Metal. - In any case photo editing is really fast even with a 5300. A 5700 XT is a good choice for other tasks, but unless money really isn't an object I still wouldn't advice it for photo editing. If you have infinite cash, yes, it helps somewhat, but if money is limited, which it usually is, it's not the greatest help for photo editing.

I recommend Max Tech's videos on the topic with a lot of tests

I think with the switch to AS it would make sense that Adobe will update it for metal more and then the OP will benefit with better GPU. So to future proof I would go for better GPU unless he/she plans to sell in 1-2 years

 

[LadyNinja]

Thanks Chosed the i7 with 5700xt 16gb. Upgrade after to 64gb ram. If I understand it correctly the i9 would not be needed for most cases? Took it with the nano glass. Even with photography with large files, my 2012 is almost keeping up. It was when catalina came out it kinda slowed down. Most is that lightroom lags and uses high cpu with brush strokes etc. Dont find the same problem in PS. Also the 32gb gets all eaten up. I picked the highest gpu most for my daughter if/when gaming.

 

[casperes1996]

Thanks Chosed the i7 with 5700xt 16gb. Upgrade after to 64gb ram. If I understand it correctly the i9 would not be needed for most cases? Took it with the nano glass. Even with photography with large files, my 2012 is almost keeping up. It was when catalina came out it kinda slowed down. Most is that lightroom lags and uses high cpu with brush strokes etc. Dont find the same problem in PS. Also the 32gb gets all eaten up. I picked the highest gpu most for my daughter if/when gaming.

Yeah I don't think the i9 would be necessary for you. It is a faster chip, but unless you're bleeding money I wouldn't say it's necessarily worth it.
I ordered a very similar config myself, barring the nano texture glass. My iMac will be in a room with 100% controlled lighting anyway