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Ordering 2020 iMac 27”, advice on RAM


Jeff Prince

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I’m ordering this computer and buying 3rd party RAM to save some cash.

 

My thought is to purchase 2x32GB so I have available slots for future upgrade if needed.  Is there a downside to this approach?  Is it better to just get 4x16 right now and order completely new ram in the future, if I actually need it?  In all honesty, I imagine 64GB will last until I’m ready to upgrade again.

 

reason I ask... It’s been over a decade since I had to fool with such things, but I remember having problems with RAM of different vintages not playing well with each other even though they were of  identical spec and mfg.


thanks for any advice.

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@bob cleaver thanks!  I originally was going to pop for the iMac Pro, but it looks like the newly released 27” iMac is the sweet spot.  I spec’d a $3800 machine after watching some reviews and looks like I will be a test mule for the community.

going with the 3.8 GHz 8 core, Radeon Pro 5700 XT 16GB, 2 TB SSD, 10 Gigabit ethernet, and 64 GB of aftermarket ram.  I’m interested to see how that machine will assist with image and video editing, my laptop has been doing pretty good on the VWX front.

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8 hours ago, jeff prince said:

going with the 3.8 GHz 8 core, Radeon Pro 5700 XT 16GB, 2 TB SSD, 10 Gigabit ethernet, and 64 GB of aftermarket ram.

 

 

Would be also my configuration.

Except for the CPU, I would go for the 10 core i9 because doing CPU Rendering.

 

But first we have to see if it will be really faster than the 8 core,

because of cooling issues when rendering more than 5 minutes.

On a PC that i9 should have about 6200 points in CB R20.

Maybe it is undervolted or restricted in the iMac.

 

Second it is a pity that 6000+ CB points at best is still a lot slower than about

9000 CB points of my Ryzen 3950X PC, which may still consume less energy.

 

But if I wanted to top my consumer Ryzen box with a Mac I would need

to go with the 28 core Mac Pro option.

😢

 

 

I think the 8 core should be the sweet spot for VW usage now and for coming years.

(10 Gbit LAN, 16 GB VRAM, ....)

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BTW

is anybody interested in the anti glare option ?

 

I wouldn't mind if the screen is non-glossy,

don't mind when glossy either.

But I would not like if I am not allowed to clean it.

I have such nano(?) etching on my 27" Wacom Cintiq and I am used

to clean it whenever I want with whatever available.

Towels, Kleenex, Water, Dish Washer, Elbows, Dust Wiper,  ....

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@zoomer If I was buying this with personal money and keeping it at home, I would have popped for the fancy glass just to experience it.  The glossy screen on my last mac was gorgeous and I imagine this new glass would exceed my expectations.  It just seemed to be an unneeded expense at a new office as I was specing everything and watching the price climb upward.  Additionally, I see the etched glass as a major liability for me in an office environment.  I would likely be haul off to jail shortly after amputating the hand of the first person to touched my screen 🙂

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On 8/15/2020 at 12:56 PM, zoomer said:

On a PC that i9 should have about 6200 points in CB R20.

Maybe it is undervolted or restricted in the iMac.

 

It is only 5573 points in an 2020 iMac

https://barefeats.com/2020-iMac-5K-8core-versus-2017-iMac-Pro-8core.html

But basically in line with the standard 8 core and 3.6 vs 3.8 GHz.

+15% for 480 €

I'm not sure if that really makes sense.

(My Ryzen 3950X will be still 60+% faster)

 

610 € upgrade for 5700XT to match my, at that time, 550 € RTX 2070 ?

OK, 16 GB VRAM.

 

 

At least 64 GB of good Kingston X RAM + 2 empty slots is 280 €

vs 1220 € from Apple.

Edited by zoomer
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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 year later...

Almost 2 years later, I find myself in a position to buy yet another computer.

I was using a nice iMac in Maine, but had to head back to Phoenix and left it behind.

The Mac studio and monitor I spec’d won’t ship til October 😞

Loaded MacBook Pro won’t ship till mid August 😞

Apple is too proud of their refurb units…

I couldn’t find an acceptable rental unit and really didn’t want to buy a PC.

 

So, I managed to order the last of the new-old stock i7 3.8 ghz 8 core machines.

That and 2x32 GB aftermarket Ram came in at $2320 taxed and shipped

with a $250 discount from Costco and a RAM deal from OWC for July 4th.

I guess that will hold me over till a fancy new machine arrives, a nice hand-me-down in the near future.

Just mentioning it in case anyone else is looking for deals due to the lead times with the new machines.

 

Edited by jeff prince
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