2020 iMac Buyer's Guide - DON'T Make these 8 Mistakes!

[@MaxTechOfficial]

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[@LouisLuzuka]

leaning towards base 8 core and then gonna upgrade the ram! can you please edit R5 footage with it!?

[@MichaelSidneyTimpson]

Is there any reason someone should get the iMac Pro?

[@Kuhfladensammler]

Thanks!

[@doge7831]

I will use a Mac for gaming and roblox studio.

[@KingNeu]

What would you recommend for someone who wants to console stream/record off an elgato hd60s with streamlabs obs or obs? I'm in the market for either this or the 16" MBP and I'm stuck once again lol. I do simple 1080p/4k editing but im willing to future proof myself so i'll start with the last model iMac if I go with it an iMac.

[@kedrone3193]

I love how you mention the recommended configuration for varieties of users.

[@remywebber5330]

These are the best buyers guides hands down

[@MaxTechOfficial]

Thank you for the compliment! :)

[@Hiiipowerdanni]

Remy Webber i totally agree!

[@WarriorsPhoto]

I agree.

[@RyanLennoxBradley]

100%

[@kinginsight6674]

Absolutely, I just loved the way in explaining who needs what. I’m very much clear now 👏🏼

[@michaeld3504]

I’m honestly impressed at how good this is presented. No bullshit.

[@mahinperwaiz]

this is what we always wanted to watch on youtube, not just unboxings etc etc. great content man!!! keep it up. Slowly but surely you will be in top tier tech channels. lol-lots of love hahhaa....

[@jondk]

Was about to buy yesterday, but waited. Watching this today saved me from making three mistakes! Thnx💝

[@revonalpitch7599]

it saved me today. Which three for you?

[@jondk]

@@revonalpitch7599 Did not get overpriced RAM (getting 64Gigs from Amazon). Did not get the expensive screen surface (I'm in a basement, no daylight on the screen). Did not get the 10 Core, as it's 100% overkill for live-streaming and simple video editing. Did not buy a larger disk, but I have 4 external drives lying around. I've had it for two weeks and love it.

[@FredQuijada]

You guys are the best technical advisors for consumer computing, bar none. I'm not even in the market for one of these machines (I just bought a 4-port MacBook Pro, which I am loving, thanks to your advice), and I love the massive expertise you guys drop in each one of your videos. I'm both a graduate student and power business user, and you guys have yet to steer me wrong. Keep up the good work!

[@MaxTechOfficial]

Thanks for your support!

[@cppguy16]

I'm a machine learning / PDF engineer developing large projects. I'm also a video and photo editor, and professional Max Tech viewer, and I agree with your assessment. I'm staying with my last-year model that I bought using your link, and upgrading the RAM is so easy you don't need to know anything about computers. I may or may not buy the very last Intel MBP, I'm going to need Windows in a VM for my type of work for years to come.

[@Piketom1]

These buyers guides are excellent. You do a great job walking us through how to spec a balanced system that is still reasonable value.

[@danromero]

Even though I can't afford newer Mac products, I always come here to see what I should do if I ever had the chance.

[@emelylopez23]

I feel the same that’s why I’m here

[@wolverine3344]

Best buyers advice I’ve seen!! , esp 10 GB Ethernet I did not account for NAS. Appreciate specific use cases, like Logic Pro X and light video editing. The time and effort you invest into your video production definitely is most noticeable and increasingly valuable to your subscribers here.

[@TeenyPort]

Every Apple Store employee should be trained with your videos

[@Climberfx]

So I bought an 2021 iMac 27" with 8 cores 10700k, 64gb ram off Apple, Radeon Pro 5700 XT with 16GB and 2 Terabyte M.2. The old one was an 2011 iMac, 27", quad core 2500S, 32 GB ram, 500GB ssd x2 plus 1 tera of original disc I maintain inside for Time Machine, and Radeon HD 6970 with 2 gb. That was a super fast upgrade. Thank you about your learning videos.

[@trending24hours]

The most honest buyer’s guide. Thanks Max Tech.

[@leonthesleepy]

iJustine: GET THE NANO GLASS! Max Tech: THE FIRST MISTAKE YOU SHOULD AVOID IS GETTING THE NANO GLASS!

[@MaxTechOfficial]

When you have an unlimited supply of cash for your KZbin video-making budget... and Apple sends you an iMac, you can get the nano glass :) for everyone else, I’d rather spend the cash on the 5700 xt

[@leonthesleepy]

@@MaxTechOfficial well said haha

[@ritardstrength5169]

Max Tech savage and accurate

[@emanuelrivera5666]

Hahahaha

[@regyearsley]

@@ritardstrength5169 j

[@asfanebi567]

buyer guide video like this what makes me love this channel even more!

[@billstv4228]

This is probably the best iMac buyers guide available in the internet

[@MaxTechOfficial]

Thank you!

[@shirleyhdez]

I just bought my 27 imac. Thank you for this video!

[@matt4four948]

The hero that we needed. Thanks a lot for recommendations, without it I would have spent money on useless things. Respect for this legend!

[@songsbystvn]

Thank you for including us music producers / logic pro users in your buyer's guide! Most only focus on Photo/Video editing!

[@barbedwireboys]

I agree, this you are one of the few that address this, wondering if you have or may do a Logic Pro focus. Bravo job on your presentation BTW

[@SunlightOfTheSpirit]

@@jessiethijs3230 hey, what software are you using and how is the i5 holding up? This is a great video but he mentions 128 Gb for audio use which I don’t really get or wasn’t expecting. How is your iMac coping?

[@SunlightOfTheSpirit]

@@jessiethijs3230 thanks for quick reply, so iMac has gone and Mac mini in? Sounds like good value. I had the last upgradable MacMini a few years back but sold on. I’ll check it out.

[@SunlightOfTheSpirit]

Just 16Gbs RAM? Like yourself, I don’t have lots of tracks going but VST’s are getting more resource hungry as they start to sound more realistic.

[@SunlightOfTheSpirit]

@@jessiethijs3230 the more I look into this the more I like the sound of it. However, the monitor selection is a whole weeks worth of searching for compatibility. What is your model number, there are so many in that price bracket. And does it support PS4 or 5?

[@Liv_23000]

Thank you SO MUCH for breaking the video up using timecodes... I wish every tech channel did this.

[@409raul]

This guy is the real MVP when it comes to reviewing Apple products.

[@Blvckmoses916]

You legit just saved me at least $500!!! Thank you for this amazing buyers guide!

[@dak2000052]

Hands down, the best breakdown of real world user scenarios and configurations. This is the kind of content I look for.

[@MaxTechOfficial]

Glad we could help!

[@bilalyusuf2783]

Wow! Wow! WOW!. This channel deserves more subscribers than it already has. This is such good content❤️

[@rootsscholars561]

I just upgraded my RAM per your video instructions. As stated, it was easy to order from amazon and installation was simple. Your video was thorough and made this a smooth non-intimidating process. You have to restart the computer to see the memory upgrade in the computer information. This was so amazing. Thank you.

[@peeyushsharma8408]

This channel is gold. Period. Amazing guide. Nailed it totally.

[@TeAngaNathan]

Kia ora , I went down the 64GB route via Amazon and saved $1292. I followed your recommendations for everything else. Thanks for sharing your expertise. Mauri Ora.

[@ericmovie]

10gbe is a good choice, most tb3 10gbe adapters are more than $100. I regret not getting the 10gbe for my Mac mini.

[@MaxTechOfficial]

Thanks for the input!

[@SeekCommunityPodcast]

THE BEST BUYER GUIDE FOR TECH ON THE PLANET!

[@sanjeevtyagi8819]

It's good to see that you have started considering programming requirements too

[@joshuasarabjit]

I binged watched as many of your iMac/MacBook Pro videos and finally got the right iMac. Thanks so much!!! Saved me a ton of headaches and money

[@ilikeiek]

It’s very best Guide for iMac customer! Amazing!! Thank you!!

[@mydaydreamrecords]

Just discovered you guys...immediate subscribe! This video helped me out SO much and saved me like $600 on a 2020 iMac. I cancelled an order and then reordered with different specs I feel WAY better about. I’ll definitely be buying a hoodie and t-shirt. Thanks so much!

[@MaxTechOfficial]

Glad we can help :)

[@senngabriel]

So glad I watched this before buying! Thank you for the great detailed review.

[@michaelpritsky9620]

You dont quite understand how much you helped me, as a programmer I was gonna upgrade graphics and 8t storage and get my 128g of ram. You saved me 6000$ I plan on getting two 5k imacs.

[@maxdiaz7609]

Apple should be paying you guys with free iMacs. You're just killing it with these videos.

[@MaxTechOfficial]

Thank you! All we want from Apple is an invitation to their future events or maybe an early look at their new iPhones!

[@brandonhaworth2887]

This video was perfect. I’m a “hobby photographer” who was miserable trying to edit photos on a underpowered 2017 IMac. Was very hesitant to invest in another Mac after that experience. Other videos on this topic were lacking details. This video gave me the confidence to pull the trigger on the iMac that you recommended for hobby photographers. I got the 8 gig ram model and purchased the 32 gig ram from the links provided (hopefully you get compensated). I could not be happier! A night and day difference. So Thank You!

[@anikethbandlamudi3215]

The best buyers guide out there!

[@journeywjojo]

Best buyer’s guide, especially mentioning causal users and video editors, thank you. I ordered the third iMac but the only upgrade is 1 TB storage for video editing and school work.

[@ClassicCyclingCC]

So out of 8 mistakes to avoid, I made only 2, which I knew about but simply couldn’t help myself. Just had to have that 10 Core CPU along with the 16GB Graphic card.

[@ironsights4568]

I just bought one after watching this video. The advice was just want I needed to hear before buying one. The ram upgrade to add 64gb was the most amazing point. It was about $250. Thanks for saving me money.

[@valenciamaribel]

This was extremely helpful! Thank you ! Money and time saving

[@myopicshah]

Wow this is the BEST buyers guide on KZbin!! Thank you. This video deserve 10M views!

[@307skylake7]

I really love the buyers guide Vadim! They’re very useful, so Thanks! :D

[@samsturm5975]

A 10-core iMac for under $2500 (on the education store) is super tempting. That bad boy could rip through regressions on some CHONKY data. Great guide!

I’m taking your advice, I’m gonna wait for the new iMac with apple silicon, I’m hyped to see how they do.

[@bommaritohawaii]

Yes but it doesn't seem to be coming in the Fall. Probably next Summer?

[@NuJB8]

I just wanna say thank you. Omg I don’t need anyone else to help me figure things out. You made my life easier. Your VDO is value to me and I’m sure others as well. Thx a lot.

[@meetchoudhary1]

I really want this merch to get shipped to India Great video Vadim You are my first preferred source on you tube

[@wolverineiscool7161]

ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST VALUABLE VIDEOS I have come across, THANK YOU SO MUCH, you cleared my head and helped me make a decision.

[@johnmoody1642]

Really appreciate the growing diversity of the use cases looked at

[@kensawworldventure]

The best buyer guide that i have ever seen!! Detail to the point of profession! Thank you!!

[@Ellexis]

Who in their right mind would NOT 👍Like this video? 🤔 I LOVE THIS VIDEO and for the suggestions on the best configuration! 💕🥰💕

[@WarriorsPhoto]

Vadim does good work for sure. (:

[@Comedianlavluv]

I just wanna say this was the most comprehensive break down I have watched and I watched several! I feel like I waisted my time after watching yours! It was simple to the point and no fluff! But had tons of informations all of which had value! Thanks gonna subscribe for sure!

[@FiBunnyCci]

You rock Vladim! Grande

[@krzysztofmarciniak5611]

Thanks, it was very hopeful in my case, I was about to make all those mistakes , starting with 21" model, thanks again

[@ericallnight]

this is so helpful and on point as always!

[@godz2928]

Best buyers guide ever...ive watched tons of these kinds of videos yet they dont help that much...so thanks!

[@ronmac1832]

So my dilemma is ... do I upgrade my 2019 i5? Looking forward to the benchmarks Max!

[@MaxTechOfficial]

Gonna be testing soon :)

[@meshica7]

Great advice..just don't mix RAM brands! The 2020 iMac 27" does not play well if you mix RAM manufacturers. Remove the Apple installed RAM. I installed 2 16 GB DIMMS by OWC alongside the Apple RAM and started experience issues with speed and my screen going black at random times. I contacted OWC suspecting their RAM may be iffy and they informed me that removing the Apple RAM is highly recommended when adding a 3rd part RAM.

[@StrikerXL_BE]

I went for the second 2020 base model 27" for 2300 euro (incl. tax) and now ordered directly from OWC 32GB RAM for about 139 euro (incl. tac). Thanks for the nice video!

[@Sarah-jb8vh]

Great video! What CPU/GPU combination would you recommend for someone looking to learn After Effects video editing that already handles a heavy workflow? (Photoshop, InDesign, FCPX, etc.) Want to make sure this iMac lasts a good 4-5 years and do a little future-proofing!

[@ziketon]

Me too. I'm struggling with my current iMac since its a pretty basic model from 2014 and I just can't do anything with after effects anymore. I wasn't sure about buying a new one until the next redesign, but right now it takes like 10 minutes only to open After effects or Premiere, and I can't afford (literally) to waste so much time.

[@ziketon]

Delain124 thank you so much!

[@YashStan]

This is really good! Saved me from making stupid mistakes!

[@zero131056]

Uploaded: 7 minutes ago

[@melissablick779]

Love the buyer's guide, very informative One nitpick is that you might be recommending too much RAM. Buying a 16GB kit, for a total of 24GB should be fine except for the high end media editing. Even for running VM's, you rarely allocate more than 8GB memory per VM.

[@bibasik7]

2020 iMac Buyer's Guide: Wait for the 2021 iMac.

[@kenli8919]

My fav tech review channel

[@KhushbuDaniel]

Amazing video with great details. I love how you go straight to points and no marketing instead of unboxing and talking about irrelevant things. Great to have this buyer guide

[@TheBrownGent]

Might be the most helpful guide I've ever watched on KZbin! Thank you!

[@Postdisclosureworld]

Extremely thorough & concise. Well done!

[@ahmadhayat6314]

You guys are doing great work. You are always so detailed and comprehensive in reviewing ang giving valuable advice to users as per their individual use case scenario. Thank you very much🙏

[@j.echevarria8630]

I bought an extra 32gb of Ram for my 2020 iMac for a total of 40gb. It lowered my clock-speed from 2666mHz to 2133mHz. The only answer I could find is that Apple is very picky about mix matching brands. The brand I used was OWC by the way. So don't mix brands of Ram for best results.

[@tangchiprathomo819]

Great video, guys! More buyer's guide videos like this are extremely welcomed

[@jpmackin]

Best comparison vid on the web, thanks!

[@oDTRAINo]

Thank you sir! Very helpful. I actually just got my 2019 imac in the mail when this was announced (of course) so after this vid I'll be returning it and getting the upgrade

[@HydetheRapper]

Incredibly useful. Literally the only guide that talks about anything other than the 10 core CPU that I was pretty sure was overkill for me to run Logic. Thank you.

[@HydetheRapper]

Oh, and subscribed, of course.

[@MaxTechOfficial]

Watch the most recent i7 vs i9 comparison. Thank you!

[@HydetheRapper]

Max Tech Thank you! I will!

[@christophercrawford2736]

I think this video just helped me know exactly which iMac to buy my mom. Awesome

[@zinko1974]

Thanks you...this video is really important to me...if i didn't see your video i will be choice the wrong thing tomorrow 🤧 i really appreciate it

[@dinospumoni8860]

This video helped a lot. I like how you break it down for each user type where as a lot say just get these option cuz it will handle whatever you need to throw at it. Well that’s great and all but for what I need it for, photo editing, your opinion saves me over $1k.

[@lucdircks5775]

So, I am a video editor and graphic designer who uses a lot of 4k video and many effects. If you always use proxy or lower quality playbacks, and if you have some patience. Don't go for the graphics upgrade. Only do it if you're a rich person who makes the biggest blockbuster film every day.

[@erickbarron1220]

Thank you very much, you’re awesome! I’m a researcher and an amateur musician and I need a device for these tasks: -data analyze (using R or Python) -programming simple games for research on human behavior (maybe swift could work) -academia work (emails, keynotes, writing papers, meetings and lectures on google meet, etc.) -a science divulgation podcast (recording audio on garage band and making and editing a video of the episode on imovie) -recording and producing music (I’ve already used garage band on a 6th gen ipad and it works very well, but I’ve been thinking on Logic Pro) -simple things of life (watching netflix, facetime my family, etc.) Questions: Do you think a Mac could be useful to unify all my work without problems? What model should I buy? What would be the lifetime of the iMac with a regular daily use? Thank you for your time.

[@charlieb2b]

Love these videos, honest and straight to the point. THANK YOU!

[@johnkonstantine9115]

Thanks almost bought another 21.5 Imac (which i've been using since 2012) I do music production (amatuer) so the $2K model is fine.

[@dalekthump2590]

Just get a 1TB seagate on amazon for under $100 and store all your heavy files on it instead filling your SSD.

[@arvinsim]

Not buying an iMac but I still enjoy your buyer guide videos....yes, the 16" macbook pro buyer's guide helped me a lot :)

[@pinkdiscomosh2766]

Yup! You pretty much nailed it for programmer configurations. Good job.

[@randyk7699]

Thank you....I just ordered the 32 GB RAM today. Great advice! 2017 IMac.

[@ericchang966]

Thanks for the great guide. Prioritizing by use and order of upgrades is the strength of this review. I have one main pushback. I have a Late 2013 iMac. Need to upgrade as I am working on long 1080p video with 4k, however, my workflow will eventually move to 4k. If I keep this new one for 7+ years, the CPU & GPU age will show. Also, having moved to 5 houses and multiple locations in my homes, window glare is a real problem. Nano-glass is pricey, but basically makes this machine able to sit anywhere, any angle, and with older aging eyes, it's a huge help. Overall, a great review. I can easily adjust for my use-case, and you saved me a ton of time!

[@AdrianaTayy]

I like your style your style! Direct about the facts in a helpful way and a non bullshitter. thank you!

[@alejmc]

Yes! I’m not buying an iMac 2020 but I don’t want to make these mistakes anyways! Totally watching EDIT: and totally worth it, the rundown of what to get for each type of user and their respective use case is incredibly complete. What a helpful video.

[@dresdenkiller]

Best video I have seen on this topic. Kudos!

[@mallorydurrick]

I was hoping to see this today and I've been busy but glad to watch now. Thank you!

[@MaxTechOfficial]

Thanks for the support!

[@mallorydurrick]

@@MaxTechOfficial Thanks for an awesome video and guide! REALLY HELPFUL!!!!

[@josephchapman]

A few things you say cannot be upgraded actually can be, just not easily. The 27” iMacs are by far the easiest to upgrade and support a 7mm HD via SATA3 and small ‘blade’ SSD via PCIe. These are also the only ones that you can order the Radeon 5700 XT w/16GB and the 10G Ethernet. Video cards are NOT UPGRADEABLE so it makes sense to get the best you can at purchase since you can’t do it later. Same with the 10G Ethernet. Within a couple of years of use, you’ll regret not having done it. Memory can be easily upgraded. Go cheap and buy more later. HD / SSD can be upgraded but it is not for the faint of heart. If you don’t feel up to it, there are places that will do it for you (and it’s still cheaper than paying Apple prices.) The same with the CPU as it uses an LGA 1200 socket. So, bottom line is it is best to future proof your iMac at the time of purchase by maxing out things that are impossible to upgrade (because they’re soldered to the board, for example) and save some money and upgrading things you can when you need.

[@HarryJ-xe2hf]

Hi,I'm waiting for Apple silicon iMac. Love your videos.

[@MaxTechOfficial]

Thank you! Yes I can't wait either! But we will buy these iMacs for now :)

[@b9bot148]

I bought the 2020 8 core iMac for Windows gaming, got 64gigs of 3rd party ram, the 5700XT, and a 4TB SSD so I could divide 2tb for Mac and 2tb for Windows.

[@boss8rock]

I had clarity after watching very specific details in your breakdown , Much appreciated Max :) cheers :)

[@nunoborgesdias6332]

Absolutely super presentation. Your guidance is more than useful and helpful, is just perfect. Thanks a lot for all valuable advises.

[@lux-pro]

I think the 10-core would be worth it for anyone that makes money from their system, video work or otherwise. 17% is not insignificant. I’ll be curious how this thing compares to the iMac Pro in terms of thermals and noise. I bet the performance here is better, but my 2017 iMac sounds like it’s preparing for flight when doing something intensive. Thinking about the iMac Pro for that reason alone.

[@Intustarot]

Thank you! I was meant to watch this. Very helpful!!!

[@basilbcf]

This has been really helpful. I was torn on two things...whether the nano-glass is worth it for me and whether the i9 vs i7 is worth it for me. Based on my use cases (photo editing and some mid-level 1080P and 4k video editing), this video has helped my decide NOT to invest in the i9 but to save that $$ for more 3rd party memory. I've also decided that, since I've never really been bothered by glare where I use my current 2011 27" iMax, that $500 for the nano-glass would be better spent upgrading the graphices, which I have decided to just max out. I will pay the extra $100 for the 10G Ethernet for potential future NAS use. So as of now I think my configureation will be the i7 8-core (standard glass) with 5700XT (16GB) graphics, 8GB memory (upgrade to extra 64 with 3rd party), 1TB SSD, Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Track Pad 2 and then I'm also getting Final Cut PRo and Logic Pro.

[@MaxTechOfficial]

Great choice! Glad we could help you out :) Let us know how it works for your use-case!

[@mrplasma7094]

i would say that machine would be overkill i think buying the base $2300 model and just buy 32gigs of ram would be enough