Any word yet on whether the new M1 iMac will allow consumer upgradable features such as RAM? I’m thinking knowing Apple probably not. But for me, this is the most important question that hasn’t even been brought up yet.
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Upgradable RAM on new M1 iMac?
- Thread starter foxo512
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No.
The M1 SoC uses on-package memory which is soldered in. So you must decide on 8GB or 16GB at purchase.
The M1 SoC uses on-package memory which is soldered in. So you must decide on 8GB or 16GB at purchase.
The other key point is that the M1 is really a paradigm shift in how the CPU will operate, and the need for additional RAM to handle more demanding programs is fundamentally different.
So far Apple is only offering up to 16GB RAM in the various M1 models, even the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1. We'll see if future higher-end models (16-inch MacBook Pro, 27-inch iMac replacement) with M1 (or M2) will offer more than the 16GB. I'm expecting perhaps 32GB at the most.
But the days of needing the capability to upgrade to very large amounts of RAM (as in the current 27-inch iMac which can be loaded up with 128GB RAM) are certainly behind us. It is eventually going to be understood as one of the significant advancements of this shift to Apple's own chips.
So far Apple is only offering up to 16GB RAM in the various M1 models, even the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1. We'll see if future higher-end models (16-inch MacBook Pro, 27-inch iMac replacement) with M1 (or M2) will offer more than the 16GB. I'm expecting perhaps 32GB at the most.
But the days of needing the capability to upgrade to very large amounts of RAM (as in the current 27-inch iMac which can be loaded up with 128GB RAM) are certainly behind us. It is eventually going to be understood as one of the significant advancements of this shift to Apple's own chips.
Respectfully, absolutely none of that is true.
As far as I can tell there is absolutely nothing on the new iMacs that is upgradable after purchase. Even the stand is permanent.
Well then how about explaining what you think IS true?
What? The claim that you won't need as much RAM anymore just because of the different CPU architecture is nonsense. Bunch of marketing hype at best. The biggest reasons people use a lot of RAM today are:
1. Virtual machines. With those, you literally have an OS running on top of the main OS, and it works best if you can dedicate a similar amount of RAM to each VM as the physical machine would normally have running it on its own. So an 8GB RAM equipped iMac might really only be able to run 1 VM at a time before RAM was the limit.
2. Video editing. You're working with high resolution images in long streams. No matter how little RAM the OS itself needs, you'll want as much of this image content loaded into RAM as possible of a project you're editing for the fastest results.
3. Large databases. (And let's not forget; many of today's video games are essentially big databases in the background, keeping track of what items your character has found, which ones are still available in each part of a map, etc.)
Things like keeping web browsers running with multiple tabs open also use a lot of RAM.
And this is just stuff off the top of my head... I really would want 16GB minimum for any computer I'd seriously use today, and 32GB is preferable. Yeah, you won't need something like 64-128GB for most situations ... but nobody ever complained they had too much RAM either.
1. Virtual machines. With those, you literally have an OS running on top of the main OS, and it works best if you can dedicate a similar amount of RAM to each VM as the physical machine would normally have running it on its own. So an 8GB RAM equipped iMac might really only be able to run 1 VM at a time before RAM was the limit.
2. Video editing. You're working with high resolution images in long streams. No matter how little RAM the OS itself needs, you'll want as much of this image content loaded into RAM as possible of a project you're editing for the fastest results.
3. Large databases. (And let's not forget; many of today's video games are essentially big databases in the background, keeping track of what items your character has found, which ones are still available in each part of a map, etc.)
Things like keeping web browsers running with multiple tabs open also use a lot of RAM.
And this is just stuff off the top of my head... I really would want 16GB minimum for any computer I'd seriously use today, and 32GB is preferable. Yeah, you won't need something like 64-128GB for most situations ... but nobody ever complained they had too much RAM either.
The answer is No.
In fact, I don't think we're going to see "upgradeable RAM" on ANY new Mac from now on, with the possible exception of an eventual m-series Mac Pro (and even that's doubtful).
From here on and forever more, the RAM you buy with your Mac is "the RAM you'll live with" so long as you have that particular unit.
I could be wrong...
In fact, I don't think we're going to see "upgradeable RAM" on ANY new Mac from now on, with the possible exception of an eventual m-series Mac Pro (and even that's doubtful).
From here on and forever more, the RAM you buy with your Mac is "the RAM you'll live with" so long as you have that particular unit.
I could be wrong...
Fixed RAM, CPU, GPU and HD space hasn't hurt cellphone sales. This is where we are for consumer level electronics.
In my case, using Logic Pro requires me to have a lot of RAM to load various virtual instruments. I'm thinking at about the same time the various pro-audio software companies get their products Apple Silicon native that there will be a Mac released with a more capable chip. Even then I may not need to get one.
In my case, using Logic Pro requires me to have a lot of RAM to load various virtual instruments. I'm thinking at about the same time the various pro-audio software companies get their products Apple Silicon native that there will be a Mac released with a more capable chip. Even then I may not need to get one.
It's not a piece of junk. It is a very powerful computer that many people will enjoy using.
My only disappointment with the new iMac is the 8GB RAM limit. Not completely unexpected on a first generation model, but I had allowed myself to believe 16GB was a possibility.
I also didn't expect Apple to release both the 24" and 32" together. I've been using a Late-2010 iMac 27" for years but I believe the 24" would suit me just fine. Ima get me one!
I also didn't expect Apple to release both the 24" and 32" together. I've been using a Late-2010 iMac 27" for years but I believe the 24" would suit me just fine. Ima get me one!
They have a BTO 16GB option for $200My only disappointment with the new iMac is the 8GB RAM limit. Not completely unexpected on a first generation model, but I had allowed myself to believe 16GB was a possibility.
I also didn't expect Apple to release both the 24" and 32" together. I've been using a Late-2010 iMac 27" for years but I believe the 24" would suit me just fine. Ima get me one!
I didn't see that. Makes sense though. And THAT was my final objection!
Sorry, but a great looking and performing machine. If you don't like Apple product, get off the forum.
More RAM is better if you have workloads that need a lot of RAM. (e.g. VMs, Video editing, software development etc).
Apple is using very low-power high-speed RAM with the M1. These RAM modules aren't available anywhere as SODIMMs or any other user installable form factors. It is just a consequence of Apple trying to get the best performance for the lowest power (in the case of the iMac lowest heat). The RAM chips are installed on the same carrier as the M1 SoC making the distance from the CPU to RAM as short as possible helping latency. The LPDDR4X is very high-bandwidth. The M1 gets impressive performance results especially from its GPU because of this.
Apple will need to have a different design for future high end systems. Right now the LPDDR4X chips are at most 12 GB which means that 2 chips will max out at 24 GB. That isn't going to be a good replacement for 32 GB and 64 GB systems that they are already selling. It will be interesting to see how Apple solves this in the near future. Maybe having 4 RAM chips instead of 2 allowing 48 GB. That might be sufficient for users wanting more than 32 GB. Maybe the RAM manufacturers like Samsung will have 16 GB chips in the near future that Apple is planning on using allowing 64 GB with 4 chips.
There are also newer RAM designs like DDR5/GDDR5X that would also allow more RAM bandwidth. Stay tuned.
Apple will need to have a different design for future high end systems. Right now the LPDDR4X chips are at most 12 GB which means that 2 chips will max out at 24 GB. That isn't going to be a good replacement for 32 GB and 64 GB systems that they are already selling. It will be interesting to see how Apple solves this in the near future. Maybe having 4 RAM chips instead of 2 allowing 48 GB. That might be sufficient for users wanting more than 32 GB. Maybe the RAM manufacturers like Samsung will have 16 GB chips in the near future that Apple is planning on using allowing 64 GB with 4 chips.
There are also newer RAM designs like DDR5/GDDR5X that would also allow more RAM bandwidth. Stay tuned.