(Slightly) new iMac

[Lawrence]

https://www.apple.com/imac/

Apple seems to have slipped another Intel iMac in under the radar-sort of weird. Maybe this is an old story, but it’s the first time I’ve seen it. Mine was the fastest at 3.6ghz i9/8 cores/64 GB RAM capable (which turned out to be 128.) New one-3.8 ghz i9/10 core/128 GB capable. Still Intel.

Not such a bad price for Apple either. I wonder if it will be 256 GB capable in actuality.

[Mike Marino]

If it ends up being 256gb ram capable I'd likely pull the trigger and upgrade from my late 2013 iMac.

What I don't understand is that if/when Apple releases an ARM iMac why that would make the intel iMacs obsolete. At least that's the word on the street.

[kpc]

Having been around long enough to have gone through the Motorola 68XXX to PowerPC chips, then the PowerPC Chips to Intel (And hopefully from Intel to Apple SI) I can comfortably say that the switch won't make the intel models obsolete. If history is an indication, the intel chips will still be supported for at least another OS update. I ran Photoshop in Rosetta for many years without any issues. Sure it wasn't as fast as the native version. But it worked. And it wasn't that noticeable difference.

If I were in a spot where I needed to upgrade my Mac, I wouldn't hesitate because an Apple SI version may come out next year. The Intel chips will still be supported for some time. Just my guess.

I'm using a 2012 MacPro, basically stock other than RAM and Hard drives. Yes, I am still on High Sierra, but everything works. I can still get my work done. I am feeling a bit of pull towards Logic 10.5 - but that is just distraction really. There isn't anything in LPX 10.5 that I can't do in LPX 10.4 on High Sierra. So, I would think the same will be for today's Macs.

[Mike Marino]

Thanks for the insight, Kale. The claim of them becoming obsolete didn't make sense to me either. My machine is starting to show its age so this will be something for me to consider over the next year.

[Ashermusic]

One downside apparently is that unlike the chassis of the last model, this one is designed so that you cannot really do a RAM upgrade on your own.

[Mike Marino]

One downside apparently is that unlike the chassis of the last model, this one is designed so that you cannot really do a RAM upgrade on your own.

You still can, at least on the 27". From the technical specs page: 8GB (two 4GB) of 2666MHz DDR4 memory; four SO-DIMM slots, user accessible
Configurable to 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB

[kpc]

Yeah, it’s the iMac Pro (oddly enough) that can’t be upgraded down the road.

[Lawrence]

My 2019 iMac was user upgradeable and was 128 Gb capable while Apple only claims 64. It’s just weird.

[Luciano Storti]

My 2019 iMac was user upgradeable and was 128 Gb capable while Apple only claims 64. It’s just weird.

They’ve done that for years with many models. My MacPro officially goes to 64, but in reality twice that. I’m not clear on why they do it.

[Lawrence]

Come to think of it, I think my old 2008 Mac Pro was listed at 32gb max, and it’s 128 Gb capable!