Should You Buy a 2020 27" 5K iMac Right Now?

[@Technocrat.]

Have it, bought it when Mac studio came out, ordered the Mac Studio Mac 32 core and studio display, but cancelled and ordered Apple refurb 2020 iMac 27" 8 core, 5700xt. Love it.

[@craigneidel]

Yes, the 2020's are get systems and one of my favorite for sure.

[@craigneidel]

Important Note: The 2020 27" iMacs you can boot off an external SSD if you want to upgrade storage. I do this on my 2017 and it works great. If you want to add an SSD internally you will need to get the 2019 27" iMac which is very similar but note the difference in dates. A viewer reminded me of this and it's something I wanted to note. Booting off external SSDs is the best option for the 2020 if you need to upgrade your bootable storage (not just add an external ssd). Thank you.✔

[@deadline7610]

Nicely Done and thanks for clarifying (2019iMac upgrade ssd). Can you explain "Booting off external SSDs is the best option for the 2020 if you need to upgrade your bootable storage (not just add an external ssd) Thanks

[@FranckMichaud-j3d]

My iMac is late 2013, works perfect but due to electricity that erased my internal hd (lots all my years of work) I didn’t want to open and send the hdd for repair I bought external SSD and it made the job! While 5k imac have nice price now, the new imac is first lightweight compared to intel and then should be faster.

[@jobichan1429]

writing this with 2019 27 inches iMac, you are right there I just put more ssd and I can't feel that its a 2019 iMac.

[@michaeltsatsuaxolu7774]

@@deadline7610 @craigneidel Do a youtube video on this if you can

[@thomas_xsg]

I was lucky enough to get a 2020 model i5 for free from my employer who was swapping these out. I love it! Upgraded the RAM and it replaced my M1 Mac mini. I do a lot of graphics work in PS and this machine flies through it without breaking a sweat. This machine, with the gorgeous display, is a powerhouse to get some serious work done.

[@craigneidel]

Yes, the 2020's still work great and they are very nice machines. Good luck with everything.

[@Absorbing146]

I bought a 27" 2020 in late 2020 and glad I did. Its running like a champ and will last me another 2 maybe 3 years

[@craigneidel]

Yes for sure. If you need up ram it should last another 5 years no problem. Thanks for watching.

[@Absorbing146]

@@craigneidel you're welcome.. Its running 32 gigs of ram now , so it gets it done.

[@craigneidel]

That is plenty and good luck with everything.

[@plutotech]

it should last waay longer then that.

[@grumpythings128]

I put 64 gig on my 2020 when I unboxed it last week and this thing smokes it.

[@don.newlon]

What a great video. I've "complained" a bit that Apple has abandoned the larger iMac, but you're absolutely right about the 2020 27" iMac. It holds up. Mine is a core i7 with 40GB ram, 1TB SSD with the Radeon 5500. I just use it for everyday home office and light business work. The screen is a gem. I've considered going to an Apple silicon Mac mini with a 32" Benq screen, but even that screen doesn't have the pixel density of the retina 5K iMac, and the cost for a two box solution starts going up dramatically if you want a comparable quality screen at 27" or larger. Truthfully I'd much rather have an elegant one box solution for my home office desk. I appreciate the encouragement to hang on to it for a few more years.

[@craigneidel]

Yes the 27 inch is still totally useable. Thanks for feedback and for watching.

[@iowa_don]

I did this exact thing just over a year ago. iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020), 3.6 GHz 10-Core Intel Core i9, 64 GB 2667 MHz DDR4. But it only has a 500 GB internal drive so I run it from a 4TB LaCie external SSD. It replaced my late 2014 27-inch iMac. So far, I am quite happy with the setup. I understand Apple has said no new 27-inch iMac is coming BUT maybe, just maybe, something BIGGER than 27-inches. I have my fingers crossed on that.

[@craigneidel]

Nice, yes they are nice systems and I hope for a 32 inch one day.

[@kathykonkle1097]

I'm so angry I'm seroiusly considering switching to a PC.

[@apawstate]

I just bought a 2020 i7 iMac with the RX 5700XT with 16GB. I wanted the best iMac that supported Bootcamp, and I'm really happy with it. I chose the i7 over the i9 since most games use singe-core. I mostly run it in Windows, so I lose a few unsupported features like the True Tone, but overall I'm really happy with it. I can play almost any game out there at 1440p 60fps, and I can still boot into MacOS.

[@craigneidel]

Nice and the 2020 iMacs are very nice systems. Thanks for watching and for your post. You can find some great sales now.

[@ryanbw]

Just got a used 2020 27" i9 5700xt for the same price and it is a beast! Installed Windows (Bootcamp) in less than 10 minutes and can play Fortnite at 1440p 60fps with DirectX 12 and all graphics settings on "Epic." I wish Apple/AMD would update the drivers more frequently than last October, but no other complaints: it is wicked fast!

[@craigneidel]

Yes, the 2020s are great iMacs for sure. They hold their own and I still edit videos on mine.

[@BennyHarassi]

I'm still using my imac 2013 i7 quad core looking into the 2020 (the last good imac) They stopped official updates for my 2013 but there are youtube videos on how to update to newer OS's which I did and it works for what I need it for

[@craigneidel]

Yes you can try Open Core to put a newer OS on it.

[@bryans8656]

Thanks for the review Craig. I transitioned from Windows to Mac hardware several years ago, and because I already had good peripherals when I made the move I could never justify (budget-wise) getting an iMac. Which was a shame in a way because I've wanted the iMac you just reviewed ever since it released.

[@craigneidel]

Yes, there is something about the 27" iMacs that were great. The screen is perfect and I use my 27" for about 90% of all my computer use to be honest. Can't give it up just yet.

[@wazitSomethingISaid]

YES i got one...... and i got the BASE model for 600 and then upgraded the ram to 128gb for 300 Sooo cheap an its a brilliant machine

[@craigneidel]

Wow 600 is a great price for sure.

[@wazitSomethingISaid]

@@craigneidel it was used but in perfect condition

[@craigneidel]

Nice pickup.

[@williameverets2736]

Please note that the 2280 SSD slot on the mother board has been removed on a 2020 iMac 27". The last one were you can install a 2280 SSD is the 2019 iMac 27". Great Info Thank You

[@craigneidel]

Thanks, yes you are correct. There are ways to get one in there but on the 2020 you most likely are better off Booting off the external SSD which is very easy and what I do on my 2017. The 2019 which is very similar to the 2020 is easy for the SSD upgrade. On the 2020 the external boot is the best option and thanks for that info William.

[@williameverets2736]

For me I like that extra spot but if not then the 2020 is the Best. once again Thank You Craig. @@craigneidel

[@craigneidel]

Welcome.

[@GenkaiLN]

Hi Craig. Thanks for the video. Today, I was able to score a brand new 2020 iMac (27 inch) from my nearest MicroCenter store for $999!! An awesome deal for what it is worth.

[@craigneidel]

Yes microcenter is great and that's a great system.

[@darrenhunt7838]

I have the base model 2020 27” and I upgraded the memory to 24 gig. I didn’t like it for a long time because it seemed to struggle if I had more than 2 windows open. I found out that safari was the cause so I started using Firefox and now it’s a beast of a machine. It’s relatively fast and no longer crashes after 10 minutes. I recommend one for anyone wanting a budget machine with a 5k screen.

[@davea.2148]

Maybe the 24Gigs are the reason, if i know right the iMac only support Ram in Steps like 8,16,32 or 64Gigs the i9 also support 128GB

[@tweenerlob5587]

My iMac 2017 5k 27 inches, 40Gb Ram and 512 SSD. It still works very well till now.

[@darrenhunt7838]

It was doing it before I added the extra ram. I added it thinking it would fix the issue but it didn’t.

[@craigneidel]

Yes, I don't think it is the ram since I have 24 GB in my 2017 imac and have not seen this before. I also don't have any issues with Safari so not sure on this one.

[@VFX_Hunter]

Larry O'Connor of OWC instructs to only use RAM Sticks of the same denomination as the MAC will recognize ALL Ram Stics as the Amount of the Smaller Sticks. So Your 24GB / 2 - 4's & 2 - 8's are recognized as 4 - Sticks of 4 equalling 16 GB's. I've heard O'Connor say this on more than one occasion. Also, the difference in Ram denomination restricts a process called INTERLEAVING.

[@grumpythings128]

I bought the last 2020 iMac in 2021 and kept it boxed. Recently retired my 2017 and set it up, boosting the ram to 64 Gig. Won't part with my iMacs until I have to. The 2017 went into storage for a backup.

[@craigneidel]

Yes, the 2020 is a great machine especially with the ram upgrades.

[@SimStudio3D]

Was almost on the verge to sell my 2020 i7 10700k, 5500 XT, 16gb ram and 1 TB SSD, but most shops give 560 - 740 bucks for it. Only reason i was thinking about it, is because im not sure that Affinity Desinger will be updated if Apple drops OS support for it. It's my only concern about it, for the rest i don't use my Imac at all. Pure for graphic design, because i'm spoiled with that 5k screen.

[@craigneidel]

Yes, those are great systems for sure. The aging support is the only downside to these and you nailed that on the head. If you can use something like Open Core to update the OS to the newer version that might work. But in any case good luck with everything and thanks for the post.

[@DICARLOPRODUCTIONS]

I have a 2020, 27" iMac 3,6 GHz 10-Core Intel Core i9, 40 GB RAM 2667 MHz DDR4, AMD Radeon Pro 5700 8 GB, with 1 TB of storage. It´s a killer machine, and the screen is amazing. I do audio mixing, and mastering for a living, and haven´t had any limitations with it so far. My 2011 MacBook Pro just died, is giving me a White Screen, so I´m not sure if it can be repaired, though I just had the motherboard, and battery replaced 2 years again. I´m thinking of buying a refurbished M1 Pro, 10 Core, 16 GB, 1TB to replace it, because I´ve heard from many people the M1 Pro is actually better than the M3 Pro for audio applications, and that the M3´s are built more for graphic, and video applications. I´m living in Germany, and everything seems to be more expensive here, especially computer gear. My 2020 27" iMac was close to 4000€, but I had a girlfriend working for Apple at the time, and only paid 3200€. My plan is eventually to buy a Mac Mini Studio at some point, and just use the screen. I´m still running Catalina, but am starting to have problems with updates from Native Instruments, etc., since Apple no longer supports Catalina. I`m currently in the middle of producing an album, but when that´s finished I´ll probably upgrade to Ventura, which is the latest OS I think it will still run optimal on. Anyway, I really enjoy your videos. I´ve watched several, and have become a subscriber. :)

[@craigneidel]

The M1 Pro is still a great system and I don't think you will regret that decision. Yes, it's quite a bit more in Germany. I go there quite a bit and have been there about 9 times now. I love the Munich area. Funny, right now in USA you can get a 2020 27" iMac for about $900 US so the pricing is quite a bit different although I know you got that when new. Anyhow thanks for watching and the nice words. Appreciate that.

[@DICARLOPRODUCTIONS]

@@craigneidel The MacBook Pro M1 Pro 10 Core, 16GB, 1TB refurbished goes for around 1600€. There´s a sale on the MacBook Pro M3 Pro, 11 Core, 18GB, 512GB Space Black for 2100 at the moment. These things lose their worth so quickly, I was thinking about going for the new M3 Space Black for resale value, in case I new, better model for my needs comes out in the future. But, according to most music producers, the M1 Pro is actually better for music, because of the performance cores. The reason being the M3 has these efficiency cores that Logic Pro, and other music DAWs can´t read. Logic Pro X needs performance cores to run on. The efficiency cores are for graphics, and video. You can actually run several more audio tracks in Logic Pro X on the M1 Pro, than you can on the M3 Pro. I was only looking at the new M3 Pro Space Black for the resale value. As I said,, my iMac 2020 27" top of the line was about 4000€, and I got it for 3200€ due to a girlfriend that worked at Apple. Now, you say it´s worth $900. That means it´s lost it´s value by over $2000 in just 3 years. That´s insane!!! It´s robbery!!! LOL I live in Berlin, which is a great place to live, and a LOT cheaper than Munich. But, electronics and computers have always been less expensive in the U.S. than in Germany. But, as far as the cost of living, food, housing, etc., Germany is a lot cheaper. I have a huge 76 qm apartment in Berlin that I could never afford in NYC. And I have a 25 qm studio in it, and no problems with the neighbors. I could never find that in NYC. Anyway, thanks again for the great videos.

[@craigneidel]

Thanks for the info. I do think the M1 would be fine then and that would be a good choice. Resale value is important but I think if you can get that for a good price it should hold it's value. I have not been to Berlin but to a ton of other cities although mostly in Bavaria. Yes, food, housing, and just about everything else is much less expensive then where I live in Chicago. Me and my wife may spend about 90 to 120 days (per year) in Bavaria in the coming years and just rent a place while we are there. There are pros and cons to both locations but at the end of the day we love the Munich and that is where we will most likely spend most of our time and then travel around Europe. Thanks for watching again.

[@DICARLOPRODUCTIONS]

@@craigneidel I agree, Bavaria is beautiful!!! :) You also get the best German style food, cakes, and beer there. :) Though, I wouldn´t change living in Berlin, in a house from 1911 that looks like a castle, in my 76 qm apartment with a recording studio in it. :) At least not at the moment anyway. Oh, by the way, I found this very interesting video on how to make my 2020 iMac 27"Intel into a 2020 iMac 27" M1. :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4eVapiHnt2jfdk

[@DICARLOPRODUCTIONS]

Or into a 2020 iMac 27" M2. :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/envaeHymadOJo6c

[@junecampbell771]

I bought one from a private party, barely used, to replace my 2013 iMac. I love the 2020 model. So happy I did this. The 24 inch screen is not big enough for my needs.

[@craigneidel]

Yes, the 2020's are still very nice for the money.

[@RobloxianX]

The 2020 27 Inch iMac has been tested, and its maxed out configuration is faster than the maxed out iMac Pro configuration for 3D stuff like gaming, 3d rendering, video rendering, photo rendering. So its basically just the fastest iMac out there. However, there are reports that the M3 iMac with 24B of ram is faster than the 2020 iMac with the i9, 5700XT, and the 128GB of ram which I heavily doubt. However if that is the case, it would be insane to see that the M3 iMac is shockingly the fastest iMac apple has ever made! Not in raw power of course but in real world performance.

[@craigneidel]

Yes, I'll need to see if I can do a comparison of those iMacs. The 2020 27" though is still one of my favorites because of that screen.

[@garrykanter5773]

I have a 2017 and two 2019s. Added 32gb to each of them. Bought them all used, and plan to use them 'til I can't.

[@craigneidel]

Yes, those systems just keep going and going. I have my 2017 for 5 years and about 600 videos and still working great.

[@dave928]

i bought a refurb 2020 27" i9 10 core imac in 2021. due to covid i didn't need it right after i got it. i just took it out of the box last week. bumped it to 64GB ram. sweet.

[@craigneidel]

Yes, those are very nice. So you kept it for all that time wow. They are great machines and enjoy.

[@kathykonkle1097]

Same thing happened to me except mine didn't work. It's at Apple now hoping to have it repaired. OWC Ram probably to blame. Stupd of be to let B&H Photo sell me 128 4x32 full bank of crap OWC ram. Due to me only being able t starting using is last week nothing is returnable. If I can get it running I'm selling the damn thing. 2 or 3 years use before no more security updates is a deal breaker for me. I'm very disappointed with B&H Photo and will never recommend them to anyone again.

[@kathykonkle1097]

Oh and Mine was NEW and NOT refurbished unless B&H Photo LIED.

[@dave928]

@@kathykonkle1097 your first mistake was trusting a NYC camera store. sorry yours isn't working. maybe you got some bad RAM. i put OWC in mine. I've always used OWC. works perfect.

[@gogrape9716]

I bought mine in January 2022. 5K, 27 inch. It was refurbished from Apple... Its no longer available now...

[@craigneidel]

Nice, I still love the 5k iMacs.

[@libbymorrow-gabriel3018]

I have been watching your videos and I was almost ready to buy a refurbished 2020 IMAC from OWC, but then I read something about it not being supported for much longer. What does that mean? I would only be using it for photo editing as a hobbyist. I would go with the newer 24" IMAC, but I love the size and screen display of the 27inch.

[@craigneidel]

Thank you. The OS won't be upgradable for too much longer but for the 2020 iMacs it could be a year or two more and then a year or two of security updates. So you should be good for a few years and then it just means you won't continue to get the newest and greatest OS updates. If you are looking to use this about 4 years I think you should be fine and then you can sell it for about 50% it's cost. You can look up info on this on Google. Thanks again for supporting the channel. Appreciate that for sure.

[@libbymorrow-gabriel3018]

hey, much appreciated. that saves a ton of money! thanks for the great videos. @@craigneidel

[@craigneidel]

Thanks again for watching the channel.

[@blackvulcan3]

I have the 2019 running on an external NVME drive using the fusion for other documents. I expended the RAM to 16GB. Its great & very responsive for day to day tasks, but I dont do video editing. It has a 3.1GHz 6 core i5 and Radeon Pro 575X 4GB.

[@craigneidel]

That is a nice machine. That should be able to handle the video editing for sure. They are great systems and the 575X is not bad.

[@ghpatriot]

Just bought mine and it will be here tomorrow!

[@craigneidel]

Good luck with everything

[@rafaelacash7]

My dad bought this iMac December of 2022 for my sister to use for school/homework, I don’t know the specific specs when he bought it but it’s our first ever Apple computer (we all use iPhones) and it’s beautiful, the screen and volume/speakers. We had to buy something quick since our old 2015 AIO Samsung HDD failed and was something completely unexpected, I should’ve been more aware about that but it caught me by surprise when it would just be stuck on a “bootloop” windows 10 blue screen loop head ahhh 🤦💀 Now looking back we should’ve just bought an M1 iMac instead… oh well Am interested in a 16” MacBook Pro M1 Pro so we’ll see if I can even find one at a good price…

[@craigneidel]

Yes, the M1 or M3 imacs are very nice machines and the screens are incredible. The 16" M1 MacBook pro is still a great machine if you can get it for the right price. Thanks for watching.

[@matoatlantis]

Last year I was upgrading my late 2012 27'' (had custom disk/full 32GB ram). I found a very good offer on 2020 27'' model (1450EUR for i7 3.8GHz, 1TB disk, Radeon Pro 5500 XT 8GB with 64GB ram). I bought additional 64gb ram to max it out and enclosure for my 4TB nvme stick. It's perfect for my workload. I had to stay with x86 as I need VMware Fusion/qemu for my work. That display is really, really awesome. I would not imagine how nice can font in iTerm2 look like :) The only (long term) problem with Apple is its politics. The UEFI firmware being stored on raid0/chips is biggest middle finger to customers yet. For that reason even my ~ is on external disk to minimize writes to that disk. It's a pity this model doesn't come with more TB ports too. One could argue that it's a bit louder too. When workload increases that fan is spinning like crazy. Sometimes even during YT videos (though less crazy then).

[@craigneidel]

Yes, they have some issues for sure and I do wish they would change a few things. I don't think they will any time soon but I still use them and prefer over the Win PC.

[@Hal09i]

Great vid! I am going through this right now. I'm not a power user. Internet, KZbin, watching movies, a little editing and photo work. My 10 year old 27" IMAC is getting a little long in the tooth and it's time to upgrade. But to what? I don't like the idea of a screen size down grade with the 24" IMAC. Mac Mini? but then I have to give up the 5K Apple screen. I wouldn't mind the M2 chip but do I really need it for what I do? I decided I'd be happier with a 2020 27" IMAC. It's a big upgrade from my current model anyway. I was pretty convinced but still researching. Your vid helped me to decide. I figure I'll get at least 4 years out of the 2020 IMAC.

[@craigneidel]

For sure, put about 48 GB or ram in it and use for another 4 years and then sell for about $450. With the ram and an SSD it will fly and I still do my 4K videos on my 2017 iMac with 48 GB ram. Thanks for watching.

[@Hal09i]

@@craigneidel Just a quick update if anyone cares: picked up a 2020 IMAC 5K with i7 3.8 GHz 8 core CPU, Radeon Pro 5500 XT 8GB, 8 GB RAM, and 1TB ssd for $999. Grade A condition. Picked up 64gb of RAM for $140./ Also added a small hub with SSD slot for another 4TB of storage. Not the latest and greatest but it blows my 2014 IMAC completely out of the water on specs. This (old) new model will do me just fine for the next 4 or 5 years. Thx again for the info and insight.

[@eduardowatkinz]

Here is my take, IMHO. I recently purchased 2 used 2015 27" iMac's with 32GB RAM, 2GB GPU, internal TB SSD's (1TB and 2TB upgraded) , both for a total of $550 (in near new condition). Where else can you get 2 5K screens for that price. Granted, they are not as powerful as my Mac Studio M1 Max or my Mac Mini M1, but the video editing/photo editing I do, probably in line with 90% of most people don't require that much power from the newer M1/M2 systems. I recently rendered a pretty decent size video, the Mac Studio only rendered the 1080p video 5:35 minutes faster than the iMac. Let's see, Mac Studio M1 Max $1700 (Approx), Apple Studio Display (Approx) $1499 equal $3298, iMac $250, and what did it get me? A whole 5:35 faster render time. This is not rocket science, according to my calculations; it cost me $513 per minute (equipment performance) for the faster 5:35 render time? The older iMacs are worth it and more, IMHO. Oh, I forgot to mention that I used Open Core and upgraded both systems to Sonoma, and they run and perform with no problems at all. As mentioned earlier, they are not at the same performance level as the newer M1/M2 systems; however, they can do 90% or more of the work most use their systems for, it may take a few more minutes to render/photo edit. But what the heck, I'm sure the huge majority of users are not even close to using their systems in a professional way? Excellent video BTW.

[@craigneidel]

Nice post Eduardo. Yes, it comes down to the cost for sure. If you can get a 2020 iMac with a 5K screen for 1K it's a steal. You can upgrade the ram and then do 4K edits with no issues. I also use older iMacs (even a 2013) and those work great with 1080P edits for sure. So in the end most people can wait 5 minutes every week for a video to edit and should save the 3K. It's a no brainer but most channels tell people they need only the 3K machines but it's simply not true. If you can wait a few minutes these are great and the screen is the key.

[@eduardowatkinz]

If you listen to a lot of channels; they make bold statements that you need a new a M1 just to look at emails/web browsing (lol). Buncha misinformation and plain out tying to make themselves look important to the less informed, IMO.

[@craigneidel]

Yes, most youtubers moved on from the M1 but in reality it's all most people need.

[@digitalmarketinghumans]

Great video, would love to see more 2020 27" iMac content since I believe this was the last Intel iMac and since the transition to Apple Silicon, has became an under rated beast of a machine. For context, I have a M1 Pro 14" with 16gb ram and 1tb and I also use the 2020 iMac 5700xt with 64gb 1tb storage. I don't notice that much of a difference, really. The M1 Pro is a bit snappier but other than that, the Intel 2020 iMac I use seems be a great deal considering it's all in one. I do gaming, video editing, browsing, and light 3d model/photo editing and I can tell you, I don't notice night and day differences. The thing I do notice a big difference is that I can run more programs on the iMac considering I have 64gb of ram versus 16gb. I feel the M1 Max can go head to head against the fully spec iMac 2020 or beat it. The M1 pro is not noticeable..actually because of the 5700xt, I feel the iMac wins most of the time in rendering and gaming. I do have to say though, my iMac gets hot often. You can hear the fans good amount. M1 Pro base + Studio display will be more expensive than the base iMac 2020. So the iMac is still a good deal but the issue is the support later down the road.

[@craigneidel]

Thanks for all that info. Yes, those are nice systems for sure and it comes down to what you can by these for now. Yes, they might be slightly behind the M1 or M2 slightly with comparable ram etc., but in the end if you can pick these up for 1K now that makes a huge difference especially when you get the 5K screen for free. Thanks again for the post and info.

[@ThunderMorant]

What do u think this two, mac mini M2 vs iMac i7 16gb ram 2020 ? 🧐 which is better can’t decide 🤦🏻‍♂️ how long support ios updated 2020 imac i7 ?

[@craigneidel]

I might go with the M2 just because of support and compatibility with things like Apple Intelligence. Plus the speed will be better. But, I would recommend 16 GB of ram if you can get it.

[@transitengineer]

Thank you, for this excellent and timely post. Noticed last week, that Apple had removed all of their refurbished space gray 27-inch iMac Pro models. This is an outstanding deal if, you buy from Apple and add Apple Care. Just in case something needs to be repaired, you will be covered with a warranty until almost the year 2027 (smile...smile).

[@craigneidel]

Thanks again for watching. Yes, I love this thing especially the upgradeable ram. That is key.

[@mb-od7ph]

just got it for $350. i am loving it, more than my M1 imac

[@craigneidel]

The 5k screens are really good.

[@nedotraxxxx]

Thanks for the honest review, Craig. I completely agree as I've bought the same model just a month ago.

[@craigneidel]

Nice, yes I love this model and think it would last a few more years for sure.

[@furryz666]

I bought the 2020 27” 5k maxed back when the unproven m1 was just released 10 core, i9 3.6 with turbo 2 tb ssd internal, 128 gb Running an audio Protools studio with no issues Big Sur OS since Protools and plug-in devs are slow to catch up But wondering when to jump up This thing cost me just under $5000 in 2020 Any thoughts when I might need to go silicone? The specs for studio and m2 ultra are intimidating

[@craigneidel]

If you spent 5K on this I would hold onto as long as you can. As long as it can handle your workload. It's hard to replace that 5K screen and I have found that I can take a little performance hit if I have that great 5K screen when working. But, it's hard to say for sure and you will need to determine when you hit any roadblocks on the Intel mac.

[@furryz666]

@@craigneidel my only saving grace is that the machine is optimized and only used for protools studio duties I run a hybrid setup so most most used gear is outboard and self processed also my interfaces are Apollo which do Harbor their own dsp chips as does my guitar amp/cab emulator Axefx3 So tracking is no big deal Everything has sharc or keystone processors The mixing and mastering will be the challenge depending on track count, alot more in the box plugins , but I shall know in the following weeks as I’m just now reassembling the space with my outboard gear to establish the hybrid work flow Thanks for the reply

[@craigneidel]

Yes, the track count is much better on the M series chips but for 5K I would squeeze as much out of that machine as you can. Thanks again for sharing.

[@robertrea8829]

I have a 2020 imac 27 and it is awesome. I did buy the imac 24, but not the same experience at all, too small. I watch reviews of apple silicon machines and I like the longer battey life and less heat but as reg user, all the reviews seem to talk to video and film editors. I just dont care about exporting video 2 minutes faster or Final Cut Pro. LOL

[@craigneidel]

The 2020 is a great machine and if it works for you then no need to upgrade now. The M chips are pretty good if you create videos but overall the 2020 is still fast today.

[@donaldandmijung]

the imac 2020 27" you cannot upgrade the internal storage drive. so make sure get the drive size you want.

[@craigneidel]

You can boot off an external SSD instead if you wanted to.

[@oskarturcin243]

Hey Craig do you think its worth buying the IMac 5k 2017 model in 2024?

[@craigneidel]

The main issue is os updates. It can still perform well if you install ram and the screed is incredible but it's a tough call. I would try and find a 2020 first but if you can find a 2017 for like 500 it's still very good.

[@pattontheapplegamer5437]

I bought one when it first came out 72gb ram i7 512gb ssd and it is so slow now! So I have replaced it with a mac mini m2 base model and it is leaps and bounds faster so I'm selling my imac next month

[@craigneidel]

I'm not sure how it's slow now since I have a 2017 with 24 GB ram and it flys. Maybe try reloading the OS on that machine to see if something was wrong since it should be very responsive especially with that much ram.

[@davidhughes4489]

I now have a 24 m1 Mac,,,It replaced a 2019 intel imac which was my third 2019 Mac under warranty. 1 stopped working and the other 2 had screen issues with what appeared like dust in the display. So I wouldn't touch another. shame as I loved the machine when was fine.

[@craigneidel]

I'm on my 6th iMac and never had an issue. Are you buying them used etc. or new? I understand everybody's experience is different but in more cases I hear how iMacs last forever then break early.

[@davidhughes4489]

@@craigneidel From the apple shop, all new, no trouble with the m1 at all, really pleased with it.

[@craigneidel]

Yes, that is a good place to pick one up for sure.

[@JimenezBailey]

Great video! My all day everyday is a 13 inch M1 MacBook Pro. I wanted to get an older IMac to connect to and give me a larger screen. I just found a great deal on a 2020 iMac and may purchase after watching your video! May I ask if I connect my MacBook Pro to the 2020 iMac. Will I be able to use both at the same time, or the MacBook Pro operating system only? I’m a novice in the Apple world, so I really appreciate your advice. Thanks.

[@craigneidel]

Thanks. You can't really use the 2020 iMac as a second screen unless you use the process similar to this one here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2i7dWWGjM-Bo7s . Good luck with everything.

[@JimenezBailey]

Thank you very much for your help.

[@craigneidel]

Welcome.

[@iforgot3942]

I bought the fully loaded i9, 5700XT w/ 2TB storage in 2020 adding 64gb Ram from OWC right before M1 was released, and I’m still glad I did. I also own a 2022 M1 Max 16” with 64gb memory and 2TB. Both work great. The M1 MacBook is snappier but not enough of a big, big difference though between the two. I use my iMac all the time for everything music & video. macOS Catalina, Monterey, Ventura & Sonoma. I boot off 4TB external drives (thunderbolt4 enclosures). Great performance. Runs just as fast as the internal. I love the 5K display. I agree with you about getting these 2020 27” iMacs . They are still great. Heck, I still use a 2013 21.5” iMac only because by switching out the HHD with an SSD (with a kit from OWC) brought it back to life. No, OpenCoreLegacyPatcher yet. But It still works great for my music. The only thing that bothers me is this, Can I upgrade the internal storage on my 2020 27” iMac? No, right? I thought they were soldered in also now like the M-Mac’s? Even the 2019’s. Right? I wish I put in an internal 4TB or 8 at purchase but using the Thunderbolt4 external enclosure’s are just fine.

[@craigneidel]

I think you can upgrade the internal storage but need a kit since the glass is sealed on. You have 2 nice machines for sure. Yes, the 2020's are great for just about anything and I actually boot off an external Drive on my 2017 (external SSD) and it works perfect too. I have been using that system for 5 years now with over 500 4K video edits and no issues. So the 2020's are even better.

[@AD-nu4ef]

I bought a brand NEW iMac 2020, 512 GB from QVC during the 2023 Black Friday (typing on it) for a very good price❤. Love it so much!!

[@craigneidel]

Yes they are truly great machines. Let's hope 27 inch returns.

[@podridoo334]

Hi there Craig ! Thanks for your videos ! its almost June 2024 and i'm thinking of buying an Intel i5 imac of 27 inches 2020 3,3 for 1 thousand dolars here in Chile, (new). Im into music production , basically logic pro and reason and a lot of my work is on Photoshop. I'm thinking if i'm buying this machine upgrading Ram and SSD.. Is it a smart thing to do ? or just going for a m2 mac mini 16gb with 512 gb ? i have already a Samsung 4k M8 monitor but i don't consider a very good one (for its colour calibration) hope you can answer me and thanks again sorry my bad english

[@craigneidel]

Thanks for watching the channel. It's a touch call but I still edit my videos on my 2017 27" imac 5K with 48 GB Ram and SSD. I think you might be good with the 5K iMac for a few years (3 or so) and then can sell it for about 50% of it's value then and upgrade later. I think the screen itself is a huge part of the experience and 5K is incredible. But, the M2 should be slightly faster overall but maybe not if you can pack in some good ram into the 5K.

[@AlBeahn-ex5sm]

I dont see any of these on the apple store. Where else can we buy them?

[@craigneidel]

eshop.macsales.com/shop/Apple_Systems/Used/Macs_and_Tablets - here is a place also as I'm not sure the Apple store will see too many more but just do your research. Can find them on Ebay sometimes for great price.

[@technologistonthego2377]

Nice review except for the references to Opencore Legacy Patcher; I eschew recommending things I have not tested. "Ifs" cannot factor into an investment as they are literally unknown variables that "might/maybe" could be valuable. Now, if you had a video of upgrading & running Sonoma on the 2017 iMac and could speak to the installation process, functionality for the Universal Clipboard, boxcar, Universal keyboard & mouse, continuity camera, stage manager, it would be useful to factor that into this decision to get the 2020 model. Right now, there are only three intel-based iMacs that Sonoma supports as Apple has, in my opinion, rushed to orphan their intel product lines. So anyone wanting to get this model (myself included) must factor in viability, and that cannot be done sufficiently on an "if" regarding Opencore Legacy Patcher. I would like to know does running a current MacOS on unsupported hardware have all features available, or is it a limited build where the end-user should be happy just to run the current OS, but not enjoy the benefits it offers.

[@craigneidel]

Yes, but OpenCore is quite tested and works fine. I have used it a number of times in other builds. But I hear you and thanks for the post and for watching the channel. Appreciate that.

[@kuchesezik]

i doubt you'll need oclp for the last intel imac, the last macos that will support x86 will probably be made for that computer

[@craigneidel]

Thanks for the post

[@HausOfPain]

Ive been thinking about making the switch from Windows to Mac and I think this might be the route want to take...

[@craigneidel]

They are nice systems for sure and it comes down to price and if you can get a good deal.

[@pokiblue5870]

im wondering if i should buy a used imac 27” 5K , 2017 🤔

[@craigneidel]

It's a tough call but I love mine. They are just aging right now.

[@danycardenas1614]

Was 2666mhz ram the fastest you can use on these intel iMacs?

[@craigneidel]

I would check the specs but I think so at the time.

[@FoamandStuff]

What about the 2019 16 inch Intel MacBook Pro? The model right before the M1. Is it worth buying in 2023?

[@craigneidel]

Since you can't upgrade ram etc., I think I would just get the M1 Air with 16 GB ram or the M1 14" which you can get on sale now for sure. I have seen those for like $1,200 refurb and they will drop more with the M3. The iMac is better because of the dedicated graphics, 5K screen, and upgradable ram. Plus, it's unique at 27" right now.

[@jspohl]

Thank you!

[@craigneidel]

for sure....

[@Anne6621]

i am so confused , torn between a 27in 2017 , a 2020 27in , a 2018 mac mini and a 2023 mac mini , right now i am using this 2013 21.5 i got new and i never realized how old and slow it is , i have this 2011 21.5 iMac that i installed a SSD drive and it's like lightening fast so i can't image how even a 2017 27in - 2023 mac mini must be , like i said , confused

[@craigneidel]

It all comes down to the deal you get on each one. If you can find a steal on a 5K iMac then those can be worth it for sure.

[@miguelangelruiz.]

Great advice Graig. I have a question... we are in February 2024 right now, still a smart purchase for this 2020 27" iMac? I am looking for some options in Macofalltrades and Amazon because refurbished ones from Apple are a bit expensive, how reliable are these sites?

[@craigneidel]

That's a tough question but the value for this is still good depending on the price you can get it for. You need to get a really good deal. Considering it has the Studio Display built in that is a nice feature. I think if you can get this for under 1K it's still a good value. Of course an M Chip Mac is maybe a smarter choice but you don't get that incredible screen. I still use a 2017 iMac every day.

[@miguelangelruiz.]

Thanks Craig, your valuable answer helps a lot!

[@craigneidel]

Thank you.

[@KAOSKAMRYN]

Imma buy one this week pretty good deal for $600.

[@craigneidel]

Yes, if it has an SSD etc. and with the 5K screen a 2020 is a great deal for $600.

[@KAOSKAMRYN]

@@craigneidel yes all of that the big screen and everything you be surprised find you can find in a pawnshop. The only problem with it it doesn’t have the Apple mouse. It comes with the basic mouse, an apple keyboard also comes with the computer. 🖥️

[@craigneidel]

@@KAOSKAMRYN I don't even use an apple mouse so that's not an issue.

[@chriscross5404]

Per your advise, I have been looking to replace my late 2015 iMac with a 2020 for security purposes. Came across a 2019 3.6 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i9 for $500 which I thought was a pretty good deal. It's running great but should I have hung out for a 2020, would it have made any difference?

[@craigneidel]

There are not huge differences and I assume it's a 27" inch. As long as you have an SSD in that (not fusion) then it should be running pretty quick and just add as much ram as you can (like 48 or 64 GB) as it is super cheap to do. Then it will handle everything you throw at it.

[@chriscross5404]

Thank you! Yes, 27" with 32GB. To be sure, can I mix ram modules say 2 32GB's to go along with the current twin 16GB's? Or should they all be matching? @craigneidel

[@craigneidel]

@@chriscross5404 I think you can mix but apple has a page on Google and there are a ton of websites with good info on adding the ram

[@jackroberts8432]

2020 Imac 27" have soldered ssd's and are not upgradable. From Everymac- "This model has a 256 GB SSD. It is not upgradeable at the time of purchase or later."

[@craigneidel]

There's a way plus you can also boot off external SSD like with my 2017 iMac. That works great and is super responsive. Thanks for watching.

[@kathykonkle1097]

I need to call B&H Photo tomorrow and make sure they didn't also sell me a crap 2TB harddrive when they stuck me with the crap 128 OWC ram. My "souped up" new out of the box 2020 iMac cant even keep itself from restarting. LEMON.

[@craigneidel]

I have never heard of that before and used them quite a bit and they have some of the highest reviews. They are usually very good but I'm not sure about the individual cases as it sounds like you had an issue. Thanks for sharing.

[@RT-qz5ci]

Does anyone know if this imac can be wall mounted? This is going in a living room and my dogs knock my tables and desks constantly. It’s got to be wall mounted. I can’t believe that isnt a standard on all imacs at this point

[@craigneidel]

Not easily. If you look up this model you can find third party parts but not the best for wall mounting in this version.

[@justgivemethetruth]

What is Open Core? How can I find out more? I have a iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015) almost 10 years old and unsupported, and am running El Capitan ... lots of problems getting new or upgraded Apps? Is there a solution that lets me upgrade to the latest OS? I have 32 GB so I am thinking this might work OK on a new OS?

[@craigneidel]

Open Core Patcher will allow you to install the newest OS on your older Macs. But I think you need to wipe them. I would do a search for this on Google and KZbin and there is a ton of info on it up there.

[@justgivemethetruth]

@@craigneidel Thanks.

[@craigneidel]

Welcome

[@bethlynne1937]

My 2015 27” iMac recently died/would not start so after I copied most of my data to an external drive, I found the 27” iMacs were no longer being produced, and I didn’t think I would be able to downsize to the 24” models. I decided to find the most recent 27” produced and found out that was the 2020 model. I just ordered an open box version on EBay which will arrive soon, and I happened upon this page which helped me feel better about my decision. Do you think the RAM from my 2015 can be added to the 2020 to expand the included 8GB RAM? My 2020 is iMac 3.3 GHz Intel Core i5 8GB RAM 512GB SSD. Did I read that all RAM should be the same size? All 4gb, or all 8GB added etc? I have an external 2T hd with all my saved data that I can access, and it sounds like there would be benefits from starting my iMac with this external? Thanks for all the info.

[@craigneidel]

Thanks for watching. I would just get the ram at OWC and it's like 70 bucks for 32 GB. It will make a massive difference or you can just pick up on Amazon. But I would look up ram and I'm sure the 2020 takes slightly faster ram. Good luck.

[@jaster6056]

I have a 12 year old iMac 27" that's been flawless all these years - now I can't update the OS, so I've been looking at all the options. I wanted to get another iMac 27" but disappointed the new ones offered are just 24". I really appreciate your video saying it's still worth getting the 2020 27" because after days of trying to wrap my head around which mac mini, which monitor, an external cd drive, and external storage drive, etc my head is spinning. My question is: Over time I have upgraded my current iMac 27" with a 2 Tb drive and upped to 8 gb RAM (installed myself). Are those compatible with the 2020 27"? I.E. can I take it to my computer guru and have them swapped into a 2020 27" if I go that route? Thanks so much!!

[@craigneidel]

I think the ram is a bit faster on the 2020 so you may want to go with faster ram. It's not expensive if all you want is 16 GB. It's like $35 bucks. Also, if you do go with the 2020 you might run into OS issues in a couple of years so just another thing to consider. But, the software should be fine for a good amount of time and so should security updates.

[@jaster6056]

@@craigneidel Thanks so much Craig!

[@craigneidel]

@@jaster6056 welcome

[@nattygains2955]

Where can I buy it now

[@craigneidel]

You will need to do a search for the best pricing.

[@wesdizzle333]

Has anyone considered one of these for their kids education? I’m thinking Minecraft for education in particular. I know you said it’s not a gaming machine

[@craigneidel]

Just make sure you get an SSD inside or it will be slower.

[@JayBachochin]

I love your video ! Great Job ! I do own the iMac 2020 (Sonoma 14.2.1.). I LOVE IT !!!! I'd like to add an iMac secondary display. Can you even do that? I get nervous cause I see so many iMac models have Target Display Mode (2009-2010 then mid-2011 to 2017) has the Display Target Mode. But now I'm seeing you can not add a secondary display to the 2020 iMac? Is that true or are there ways around that? I'm so confused. Can you give me some pointers? I'm looking at getting a 27" iMac Apple A14027 Thunderbolt 2650x1440 EMC 2432 Display Widescreen to connect to my iMac. I appreciate and look forward to your reply. Best, Jay

[@craigneidel]

Thanks for the nice words. No you can't use the 2017 or 2020 iMacs in secondary display mode. In fact no 5K iMacs etc. even back to 2015. The only thing you can try is something like Luna Display which can help make the monitor into a second screen but it's not 100% perfect and there are a bunch of videos on that if you wanted to try it. So if you are trying to use the 5k iMac as a screen it's not easy and not perfect but Luna Display is one option and I recommend watching some videos on the pros and cons. Thank you.

[@JayBachochin]

@@craigneidel THANK YOU CRAIG !!! I truly appreciate your prompt reply. I do have a non-returnable refurbished Apple A1407 27" Thunderbolt 2650x1440 EMC 2432 Display LCD Widescreen Monitor arriving in next couple days. I thought if this was just a display/monitor I would be able to hook up Thunderbolt 3 (iMac 2020) to Thunderbolt 3 (New Display) it would work. Now I did watch some Luna Display videos (thank you for suggesting). It looks like that may work on my iMac 2011 (that is just a paper weight). Does this mean the refurbished Apple A1407 27" Thunderbolt 2650x1440 EMC 2432 Display LCD Widescreen Monitor coming in a couple days is now a paper weight (because I can’t load Luna Display on just a monitor)? Thanks again for your expertise Craig !! I truly appreciate it!!!!

[@craigneidel]

@@JayBachochin I'm sorry. I thought you bought a 27 inch iMac and not a monitor. If just the old apple monitor I think that should work but I never had one. You might need a converter for the connection but not 100 sure. When you get it let me know how it goes.

[@JayBachochin]

@@craigneidel ABSOLUTELY!!!! I’ll definitely give you all my specs and connectivity. That way I’ll know, you’ll know for sure (as I’m the guinea pig lol). It’s all about networking and sharing knowledge. Thank you again for your replies !!! You’re simply the Best and love your channel. I learn so much. SIDE NOTE: my apologies on not mentioning it was just an Apple display but at the same time learned about Luna Display which if my new Apple display doesn’t work I can go to Plan C …utilizing my iMac 2011 with Luna.

[@craigneidel]

Thanks.

[@marshallramirez3068]

So now it’s 2024 guys and I’m in the market of getting an iMac and I’m interested in getting the 2020 27 inch iMac it has a 10th generation until for I Semon with 512 GB SSD hard drive with 32 GB of ram for $1000 is that worth it especially now also another question is I found a MacBook Pro 13 inch but the same specs for $750 is that also worth buying as well please let me know in the comments and how long will Apple continue to support updates for it and is it still worth it?

[@craigneidel]

I think the 2020 iMacs are still great values if you can get around $800 to $1,000 since they come with a screen that Apple is basically selling now for $1600. Key is buying a bunch of keep ram and installing it. Obviously the updates will be an issue down the road but you can always load something like Open Core to expand that.

[@JoTokutora]

Answer = YES!

[@craigneidel]

@@JoTokutora maybe

[@JoTokutora]

@@craigneidel Nah man is an absolute yes. Especially the 10 core/ 20 thread, 128GB ram with the Pro 5700xt. Prices are great now

[@craigneidel]

Do what works for you.

[@arsakellariadis]

I found the i7 version with 8gb ram, 512gb ssd for 1600$… It’s way pricier in Europe. For about the same price I can get the base model M3 iMac… I don’t know what to do 😂

[@craigneidel]

Yes, for that price it's worth it to get the M3 most likely.

[@arsakellariadis]

@@craigneidel The only upsides I can think of is the 5K screen, the ability to install windows and maybe my thought process is wrong, but future proof wise, isn’t it better to be able to cheaply upgrade the ram of a 2020 iMac than be stuck with 8gb on the M3? Isn’t the biggest problem for future proofing a machine the modern ram requirements? I think the 10700K and the 5500 8gb ram can stand the test of time, 8gb of ram won’t.

[@arsakellariadis]

@@craigneidel Also, I almost forgot, thank you so much for your content! I love your channel! 😁

[@craigneidel]

Thanks for watching, I appreciate it.

[@toshimon6276]

I saw that deal on Amazon this morning and pulled the trigger on it, $1069 is a nice deal and the savings will pay for the RAM. Sold by Woot who is owned by Amazon, less than 4:45 left on the deal at the time of this comment.

[@craigneidel]

Nice and good luck with everything on that.

[@danieljensen8478]

I consider buying a family members iMac 2020 27, I only play low need games :)

[@craigneidel]

Yes, it's a nice system for sure. Not the best for gaming but should be able to handle lower resource games for sure.

[@gitarman666]

bought mine new in 2020 5k i9 128 gb ram, 2 TB internal ssd, 3.6 10 core intel, i wont be buying a new one until this guy drags or falters in any way that kills my work flow running a recording studio top of the line interfaces with onboard dsp (us apollo x racks) multiple screens and multiple monitors with subs Protools this was a $4800 machine before I upgraded ram to max via OTC i run large sessions without issue of course protools is known for buffer size issues and various bugs but they are manageable as always still very snappey ans optimized for audio production only, no video needed in this shop only 2 TB inputs so one for a second screen and one for the Apollo X racks daisy chained usb externals ,1for time machine, 1 for each DAW saved sessions (i also run studio one and Ableton) 1 for large instrument libraries, one for Superior Drums libs, and for redundancies i have a clone for each daw, backups for the system to restore if time machine screws me the mac silicone Studio specs are intimidating but i simply haven't hit any walls yet my internal ssd after 4 years is about 20% full as only the bones for the programs live there i run disk utility often and delete what i can from the bothersome "other" designation taking up space on the internal i have power conditioners and USP pure sine power backup for all the important gear, still no worries after all this time

[@craigneidel]

Thanks for all the info on this as it helps people making a decision. I'm always interested also in how people use the machines.

hi buddy, thanks for the video! i have this iMac and i love it, but im not sure about the speed of the USB-A ports. I've a QNAP TR-002 (kzbin.info/www/bejne/op24eJygi9Woh6M) that has a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10GBps), if i conned this unit to my iMAC to one of the USB-A port, will i get less speed than if i connect it to a USB-C thunderbolt? thanks!

[@craigneidel]

I don't think you will get the same speed if connected to a USB-A port as those are normaly 5 Gbps at best vs. the 10 Gbps USB-C connectiions.

THANKS @@craigneidel! so USB-A are usually 5Gbps! ohh that's why! in that case i will need to buy a USC-C to USB-C table to get those 10Gbps! i will try next week! thanks a lot! happy xmas!

[@craigneidel]

They can be or less then 5 Gbps. The USB-C are usually 10 Gbps but they can also be 5 Gbps. Or if usb-c type but thunderbolt then 40 Gbps. Confusing but it should say.

thanks for clarifying@@craigneidel! happy new year!

[@craigneidel]

@ happy New year

[@IzzyandShadow]

I just don’t like the look of the M1 I prefer the 2020 version

[@craigneidel]

Yeah, but the blue or silver are pretty nice on the M1 or M3 version of this.

[@ufReitter]

YA NEED 64 GIG RAM AFTERMARKET..

[@craigneidel]

I use 48 which you can get for like $80 and it works great.

[@TechGameDev]

Too bad, this is the most powerful Intel Mac. The day it’s no longer supported, OpenCore Legacy won’t work because macOS will run exclusively on ARM, with no way to make it work on x86.

[@craigneidel]

Maybe but you can upgrade this for a few years and still worth it for that time for the cost you can get these.

[@ufReitter]

THE ANSWER IS YAY

[@craigneidel]

Maybe.

[@macguru9999]

no, you should not... unless someone almost gives it to you... less that 200 dollars.

[@craigneidel]

You are so wrong I can't even respond.

[@mryder66]

I just picked up a 8core 17 2020 model for $225. It freakin' rocks.

[@macguru9999]

thats a good deal. i picked up a 2019 mac pro for 2500usd, was nearly 20grand new@@mryder66

[@craigneidel]

Yes, they are great systems for sure. I'm guessing you mean 27". Thanks for posting.@@mryder66

[@macguru9999]

well done @@mryder66

[@Brockthedog315]

No.

[@craigneidel]

For sure if you get a deal. Edits video like butter.