Can you test the speed of both the Thunderbolt and the USB C in file transfer speed from an external drive ? Seemed that the speed is limited to not more than 700 MBps !!
your just like my brother the second i say “i want a macbook” (example) he tells me all these techs things and idk what he’s saying and just says SO DONT GET IT in the end …
This is by far the most detailed iMac M1 comparison that talks about what maters, like the cooling system rather than the colour of the box strap. Thank you, high quality as always.
This is the most informative video on the 24" iMac I have watched. It is the only one that actually explains the real-world differences between models.
Thank you for this video! I have been looking everywhere for a decent comparison between the base model and the mid model. I ordered the base model and was agonizing over whether or not to spend the extra money to upgrade to the mid. I knew there had to a catch to the base model’s lower price outside of the lack of Touch ID, 1 GPU core, and 2 ports, so I’m glad you touched upon the internal differences re cooling. But even with the differences in the internal cooling setup I probably won’t notice much difference. I don’t do video editing or much photo editing and my current job is all about writing. So I think for my needs the base model is more than good enough, as nice as it would be to have the shinier version. Maybe ill spend the extra 50 bucks on a Touch ID keyboard, though.
I do not have any issues with the base model. I am enjoying it and it works quite well. There are many of us who will find it suits needs. I am glad there are choices. It is my first Apple desktop. I have been using laptops for years but wanted a desktop and decided to go with the base model. I have had it for a month now and still not second guessing my decision. Previous desktops have been HP and I PREFER APPLE. This screen is gorgeous. Very pleased.
That is exactly the problem with reviews like these. It is alarmism, "you better buy the upgraded version because the heaviest load it can possibly handle is heavier than the base model". I seriously doubt the majority of people will ever push the iMac hard enough to get it to the brink of overheating. This is exactly what they said about my M2 air, the reviewers were screaming about overheating. Meanwhile I have had zero issues and my glass desk is only slightly cooler than the bottom of my air. For people who do not know any better, they will panic buy the more expensive machine and *never* benefit from the upgraded model. Even the title uses aggressive terms - "dont be FOOLED"..... as if theres an inherent flaw with the base model or its a bad purchase.
Shocking that Apple doesn't clearly advertise these differences. Great work to fully explain these differences. The base model should be fine for me but thanks for the info👍😎
I'm not even thinking of buying a new iMac, but I enjoy keeping up with how the newer generations are built! Amazing presentation on the performance of the two models!
Just got home a few hours ago from the Apple store Christmas shopping for my 13 year old daughter. I was feeling buyers remorse purchasing the 8 GPU model instead of the cheaper 7 GPU model. Not by choice I should add. Apple did not have the cheaper version available in stock. After watching this video the buyers remorse is gone. Proper heat dissipation is crucial to electronics. In my opinion it is wiser to spend the extra $200 and have a longer lasting machine. Thanks again. Great video. 👍🏼
Personally, I'd upgrade to 16GB of unified memory before the storage because you can always get more storage with externals drives! You can't do that with memory...
Agreed. It should also extend the longevity. It's poor that some computers at this price are still only coming with 8GB RAM (and yes, I appreciate Mac OS is better optimised, but still).
9 months later but not sure if 16gb is really necessary.. I run AstroPixelProcessor stacking hundreds of 12.6mb images on my 8gb and have never used swap. I can't really think of a more RAM intensive task as that would easily max out my dual xeon z820 with 64gb of ram.
When watching a bunch of tech videos in a row it‘s funny to see the different acting approaches of all the hosts/presenters/reviewers. A common humorous theme seems to be the „oops.. awkward comment/question/moment while actually only talking to a camera“ schtick. 😃
The most helpful video on the M1 iMac that I've watched so far. Thank you for making the differences make sense to both people who will be doing graphics heavy tasks, as well as the people who are just doing basic tasks (email, word processing, internet browsing, etc.).
It’s funny to see so much talk around a 200$ upgrade while here in Canada I had to pay double the price at 3022$ for mine with 16Gb and 1Tb SSD. Thanks for you videos. ✌️
Just read the base model only has one fan with thermal paste while the upgraded model has 2 fans and a thermal pipe. This explains why some reviewers report a loud fan on the lower model and others report quiet fans on the upgraded model.
Ordered the higher priced one in orange today. Got the port adapter, and a CD/DVD writer. Replacing my old 2010 iMac. Best Buy told me it was worth $0 in trade. So, I'm keeping it.
Thanks, great vid. Im erring on the said elf the base model, with 16gb. And I'll hang a hub and storage off the back of it. I just use it for day to day type work, so that should be fine for me.
My opinion: 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD are the minimum spec for any real work. 8GB is a crime, and speaks poorly of Apple. Their price gouging on RAM and storage is ridiculous.
@@cjones9025 No. I'm a Mac user. Try using only 8GB in Sketch or Photoshop for any length of time, you'll soon run in to problems. This whole "8GB is different on the M1" meme needs to die. It's not magic. Video and images still need a lot of RAM.
This thing is nice, but I can't do 24" anymore. I've been spoiled by the glory that is a 32" monitor. I guess an M1 Mini would be the way to go for me.
32 inch monitor as desktop? Or do you mean mounted on a wall? I have 42 inch tv in my small house in Surrey but 24 inches standard for monitors my son has two next to each other and has told me I’m wrong his pc running windows is great and has several graphics cards and a cpu to beat everything and I don’t understand RAM which I thought I did and basically his pc knocks pants off everything else as he and a mate put it together … Personally I think it looks messy like his room 🧐 he has his desktop littered with hundreds and hundreds of apps. You don’t want to know what his bedroom floor looks like some days…..like a sock party Although he did say this iMac 24 looked cute and checked spec and said it would be fine for me…..that translates as it’s useless for gaming but I can watch RUclips videos to my hearts content and edit a bit of amateur video content
this was very insightful ! I haven't seen any news elswhere yet on the single/multiple fans and the differences in heat sinks before. That's very good to know given that the thermal cap is the main limit on the M1 performance. Thanks !
With the 4 port model you can save on storage. You could attach with velcro on the back a fast 1TB SSD drive and keep your video/music library files there. It is a drag that you end up copying rather than moving files, but you get a clean solution without too many cables on the desk. The docking station is expensive. I also experienced with the hubs on my MacBook Air disconnections if i plug 2 5TB portable drives to a hub. The power provided may not be sufficient on a sustained level. Although probably you could use 2 separate hubs. Is there a real difference in Lightroom Classic and Final Cut Pro between 8GB and 16GB RAM?
It's very interesting how the m1 macbook pro with 1 fan performs almost the same as the m1 imac with 2 fans, but the m1 imac with only 1 fan falls behind the m1 macbook pro. I heard somewhere that with the dual fans, you also get a heat pipe where as with the single fan model, you don't. So maybe thats why.
Great breakdown. I knew all of this except the dual fan thing and redesign part of the cooling system from just skimming through synopsis and easily chose the base model. What helped was knowing the base is a much higher end PC compared to the 2011 21.5” iMac, which I own, still running strong (granted I had to replace the HDD with an SSD 7 or 8 years in but still, running great) so a iMac built in 2021 should (even in the base model version) be a wayyyyyy better iMac in all respects. Side note: I’ve used wifi with my iMac the entire time I owned it. Never needed Ethernet and yeah there are less ports but who cares external port devices are easy to get if ever needed as guy pointed out. The main difference is 8 core vs 7 core. For me that’s a no brainer, as there is almost no diff at that little of a jump. If it was 7 core, 15 core step up, I’d be thinking about it. Not for 1 more core 😂 fuck outta here wit dat shitttt 🍎
Wow…this video was amazingly helpful for a family guy needing to upgrade his iMac from 2009. It is finally getting phased out software wise and doesn’t seem to have enough power to back up new age iPhones. Thank you so much, very comprehensive and helped a ton.
Thanks for the video. I've been looking for a review that talks about its base unit. Most of the information being shown were about higher end model. Just bought mine yesterday. Thanks again.
The base model would really round out my setup. After using two M1 based products, I’ve realized the base is plenty for me.. I don’t do any video or photo editing. The lack of ports does suck but can be remedied with dongles and hubs so whatever.
thanks.. I am a basic user but I want my machine to last as long as possible. My thought is that the improved cooling on the upper their mac will enable the machine to last longer. I'm still running a 2013 iMac 27 and it's just now getting glitchy since it will not update to big Sur.
Same on both counts! I also wonder if better cooling improves durability and am also just feeling the need to replace my 2013 27" iMac. (I'll be turning my 2013 iMac into a streaming video Netflix/Hulu device for my study.) Waiting for the M-chip (M2?) 27 inch expected later this year (fingers crossed!).
@@heelerjustheeler879 a 27 ince would be nice, I have very poor eyesight and the larger screen really helps me out. Hopefully at WWDC they will announce
I knew nothing about Apple computers, I liked my iPad Pro, and my daughter who loves everything Apple pushed me toward and iMac when I was looking. I typically find a model that has everything I need, then look at models with things I “like” and usually settle for the middle. I apparently have the upgraded iMac. Good to know the things Apple provided finally because theirs no info or booklet with it. I was researching what I’d need for my Starlink ethernet connection when I found this video, I had NO IDEA my brick has a ethernet port! Thank goodness I found this video, or I’d ordered an adapter for nothing!
The biggest drawback is Apple not letting customers know the total difference between the base and the upgrade. They should have informed customers of cooler differences that can affect performance. Apple owes consumers an apology for not fully identifying all the differences. And if one needs more ports one either buys the upgrade or a separate ports module. So perhaps difference in cost is not as great as one may think. I think the only difference should have been in the monitor: 1080 versus 4.5K. Leave the internal cooling design and the number of ports the same.
The difference in CPU performance is caused mainly by the fact that cheaper iMac has no heat pipe but only simple radiator and the fan placed far from it. Even MBA is better because with thermopads it gives similar performance like MBP.
In a month AMZ will be flush with both powered and passive external hubs that will fit snuggly under the iMac case matching both the color and the finish of the case itself.
3 года назад+9
All those ports are USB-C ports. Its just that two are USB 3 and other two are USB 4/Thunderbolt
@@GregsGadgets it's not out of the question that apple is making use of the not completely perfect chips that come out and putting them in the base model, and saving the perfect ones for the upgraded models.
@@HearMeLearn I think that is unlikely. Apple is extremely selective with its components. The risk of "imperfect" chips includes failures, which would be costly to the company.
My search for a way to use my iMac as a monitor for my work laptop (HP) led me here. I already bought the mid model iMac last year. No regrets even if I’m not a heavy user and it’s good to know that the fan/cooling system is better (I’m in a tropical country 😅).
It’s true, Apple just was very quite about the base iMac vs, upgraded higher performance, even purchasing one of them in 2024 it was not apparent for the customers. This video thankfully clearly distinguished both models. Why this is important even 2 years later in 2024 - because even 2 years later customers will find the best value purchasing one of the two models compared saving money. I just bought for my significant other the upgrade for $790 as an “open box” from eBay, replacing her old 2017 iMac.
I am currently looking into buying an Apple Desktop. I am glad I came across this very informative video, I do see the difference between the new and old model. Thank you, for all these details.
honestly I think what those scores tell us, is more about the chip than the fan. as we've already seen with the air and the pro, a fan doesn't take much of a difference, so the difference between 1 fan and two should be even smaller. I think this is telling us that the lower binned chips are lacking more than a single GPU core. it would seem that the quality of the whole chip takes a step down.
The performance and the throttling itself isn’t the biggest issue of the cooling solution,but the fact that the base model iMac also is running way hotter than the upgraded version, and that may hurt the longevity of the iMac.
You know? I kinda like how you try different backgrounds lately. But I admit, I miss the light sabers a bit, sure it’s not apple but it still looked cool 😅
Lol i just trying to keep it fresh and not boring, i was getting bored of the light sabers, but don’t worry they’ll return eventually… i spent too much money on them to never use them again 😂
7 GPU cores suggests that Apple frequently has one of the GPU cores not working when they manufacture their CPUs and they wanted to reuse those in a cheaper model, disabling the defective core. Because who on earth designs something with 7 cores? Also don't buy the M1/M2 or anything like that at all, not only is the SSD soldered (which bricks the life of the device a ton, and to the people who say that the machine will become useless before its SSD dies, well I am still using a laptop from 2007 and it's not even weak). Whatever, not only is the SSD soldered, it also contains the firmware. If it dies say goodbye to your iMac!
I feel so much better now. I’m a photographer and all I use my Mac for is Lightroom, photoshop, and the internet. I’ve had the 21.5in I Mac since 2017, 8GB and I think a shitty intel processor? Well they told me I could come in and they could put more memory/Ram in -32gb for $400. WELP. Apparently that’s not the case and $1700 later a new 16gb Mac is being mailed to me. Honestly I was super freaking pissed at my Mac lol. I was new to photography when I bought it and didn’t know how much space LR and PS. This video lessened the blow. Importing exporting editing all of it has been a nightmare the last couple years…I’m just so stubborn with parting with the cash. You helped me feel better, than you. Also you have a very pleasant persona and voice to listen to, and are very knowledgeable- I will subscribe now :)
Ironically I’m probably better off with an iPad. The more I look at the options the more I realise how much I don’t need a computer for. Maybe the iPad Pro 12.9 instead. Interesting video
Bought base with upgraded RAM and storage. Exported videos from apple photos for several hours straight. Fan never spun and case was cooler than body temperature. Previous pre retina iMac took hours where this takes minutes, all while loudly blowing hot air like a space heater. Then would crash due to overheat. Previous iMac was a total dud. Relieved this one can do what it does. Will be putting it through it’s paces in logic soon. The upgraded iMac should come with 16 gb RAM by default and cost slightly more imho. Not enough differentiation.
Would love to know how SSD will be affected after 2 years of work. Sure it depends on the user how much the user is copying data but if the SSD life will be seriously shorter after 2 years then the 2 years old iMac with M1 chip will have very little value.
Real becnchmark exporting video: 10 min 4K in final cut pro 1 stream of 4K video Color grading 30 saturation boost Pre-rendering=Off Export to apple prores Higher end finished in 3 mins 23 secs Base needs +4mins to finish Great rigs ideal for intensive workloads Note there's a bottle neck of 8GBs of memory (too low) nothing to do with cpu If project longer than 10 mins or Using multiple streams of 4K video At least I recommend upgrading to 16 GBs The physical difference over the base model : 1 added fan 1 heat sink (no heat pipe) Higher end 2 fans 1 heat pipe Better thermal design (Gpuc +CPU performance) So different design strategy for cooling Thanks for the video next The M2 Vs M1 chip!
When you add the additional memory it’s another $250 cad or $200 on top of the price difference between the base 7 core gpu snd 8 core gpu iMac. Or exactly $200 difference as you implied.
Hi Greg, did you monitor the fan speeds of both during the tests? Is there a chance the 16gb on the higher end model is affecting the benchmark results or do the benchmark apps not use up the ram? Haven’t long discovered your videos, really enjoying them thanks.
Hi Greg, Great video, thanks very much. Could it be that the higher spec model with the two fans and the heat pipe is going to be fitted with a higher spec CPU (M2 or whatever Apple will call it) at some stage and they will have various versions of the 24 inch model with different power CPUs?
A useful clarification and refresher on the differences. I'm not sure about anyone else but I really don't like face ID, Touch ID, and all that kind of stuff. I don't see touch ID as something to make my life easier but regard it as something a bit creepy and sinister. It is making my life harder when there is one more thing I have to avoid using. Can the touch ID be disabled if you get the middle or high-end iMac? Can you use a pin or password instead?
Of course, you can use a password as well. Remember though this isn't a Google product, your information is only stored locally inside the secure enclave.
Great video, Greg! I have subscribed. I am about to kick my 2013 iMac to the curb because it is slower than molasses on a cold day. I would love to know if the mentality that Mac users have in upgrading their Macs in the past years will apply to the new M1 Macs. I think you said that you can not upgrade them and change the guts of them. I am a very basic user and the most advanced things I do on my iMac is watch online TV and edit photos. (got tons of those) . Though I would love to learn more things that are more on the creative side (not the programming stuff). So how long will these M1 Mac live for? Thank you for your videos...they made me giggle.
HI Greg thank you, you seem to be the only one on RUclips that can operate the new 24” iMac, the others can only do the unboxing while waiting to copy yourself and others that can use Apple products, once again many thanks for your videos.👍
thank you for the comparison. I couln’t find the 16gb M1 in any of the stores, and was so close to just say forget it and buy the 8gb one. But now, I’m gonna wait and order it from the apple store instead. 😂 my purse thanks you.
Great and informative. thanks. I'm not a developer and I won't be editing films. I Zoom everyday, use Word for writing, and watch films. Do you think the entry level model is enough? Zooming really makes my mac laptop get hot after a while.
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Can you test the speed of both the Thunderbolt and the USB C in file transfer speed from an external drive ? Seemed that the speed is limited to not more than 700 MBps !!
Thanks 🙏🏻
your just like my brother the second i say “i want a macbook” (example) he tells me all these techs things and idk what he’s saying and just says SO DONT GET IT in the end …
Too verbose. Trying to be funny. But the gags were really dry. Not worth making the videos longer. Keep it short, pal!
No one, I repeat NO ONE told us about this and this is actually informative.
You must have not watched any other videos on the iMac. All of them are the same
This is by far the most detailed iMac M1 comparison that talks about what maters, like the cooling system rather than the colour of the box strap. Thank you, high quality as always.
This is the most informative video on the 24" iMac I have watched. It is the only one that actually explains the real-world differences between models.
Thank you so much 🙏 Glad it was helpful!
Yep
I certainly wouldn’t go for cheapest version now I know it so different inside.
@@lisadefries6718 agreed
Totally agree 💯
@@lisadefries6718 you pay 20 percent more for 8 percent more performance. Not worth it. The base model is always the way to go with apple
Thank you for this video! I have been looking everywhere for a decent comparison between the base model and the mid model. I ordered the base model and was agonizing over whether or not to spend the extra money to upgrade to the mid. I knew there had to a catch to the base model’s lower price outside of the lack of Touch ID, 1 GPU core, and 2 ports, so I’m glad you touched upon the internal differences re cooling. But even with the differences in the internal cooling setup I probably won’t notice much difference. I don’t do video editing or much photo editing and my current job is all about writing. So I think for my needs the base model is more than good enough, as nice as it would be to have the shinier version. Maybe ill spend the extra 50 bucks on a Touch ID keyboard, though.
Hi I came across your statement a year after you post it. How does it serve you? I'm thinking to buy the base model too. 😊
I do not have any issues with the base model. I am enjoying it and it works quite well. There are many of us who will find it suits needs. I am glad there are choices. It is my first Apple desktop. I have been using laptops for years but wanted a desktop and decided to go with the base model. I have had it for a month now and still not second guessing my decision. Previous desktops have been HP and I PREFER APPLE. This screen is gorgeous. Very pleased.
That is exactly the problem with reviews like these. It is alarmism, "you better buy the upgraded version because the heaviest load it can possibly handle is heavier than the base model". I seriously doubt the majority of people will ever push the iMac hard enough to get it to the brink of overheating.
This is exactly what they said about my M2 air, the reviewers were screaming about overheating. Meanwhile I have had zero issues and my glass desk is only slightly cooler than the bottom of my air.
For people who do not know any better, they will panic buy the more expensive machine and *never* benefit from the upgraded model.
Even the title uses aggressive terms - "dont be FOOLED"..... as if theres an inherent flaw with the base model or its a bad purchase.
Hi I came across your statement a year after you post it. How does it serve you? I'm thinking to buy the base model too.
Shocking that Apple doesn't clearly advertise these differences. Great work to fully explain these differences. The base model should be fine for me but thanks for the info👍😎
Not shocking, it's simply _'deceptive retail,'_ as usual..most Companies hide details of production & durability, quality etc etc.
I'm not even thinking of buying a new iMac, but I enjoy keeping up with how the newer generations are built! Amazing presentation on the performance of the two models!
My boy is back with the matching iMac shirt 😂
Just got home a few hours ago from the Apple store Christmas shopping for my 13 year old daughter. I was feeling buyers remorse purchasing the 8 GPU model instead of the cheaper 7 GPU model. Not by choice I should add. Apple did not have the cheaper version available in stock. After watching this video the buyers remorse is gone. Proper heat dissipation is crucial to electronics. In my opinion it is wiser to spend the extra $200 and have a longer lasting machine. Thanks again. Great video. 👍🏼
I have the base model, and I absolutely love it. I’m just trying to find some accessories to pair with it.
Can you play roblox on it without lagging?
@@juaern Not sure why you asked such a simple question... but of course. Roblox would be smooth as butter
Me too. I'm finding it works very well. No issues whatsoever
@@juaernyes in Arcade very good
The base level is basically the desktop version of the M1 MBA, and the mid-tier is the M1 MBP.
Personally, I'd upgrade to 16GB of unified memory before the storage because you can always get more storage with externals drives! You can't do that with memory...
Exactly, I ordered an silver high end model with upgraded 16GB ram and base storage. Will get it several days later.
Agreed. It should also extend the longevity. It's poor that some computers at this price are still only coming with 8GB RAM (and yes, I appreciate Mac OS is better optimised, but still).
Smart lads
9 months later but not sure if 16gb is really necessary.. I run AstroPixelProcessor stacking hundreds of 12.6mb images on my 8gb and have never used swap. I can't really think of a more RAM intensive task as that would easily max out my dual xeon z820 with 64gb of ram.
When watching a bunch of tech videos in a row it‘s funny to see the different acting approaches of all the hosts/presenters/reviewers.
A common humorous theme seems to be the „oops.. awkward comment/question/moment while actually only talking to a camera“ schtick. 😃
The most helpful video on the M1 iMac that I've watched so far. Thank you for making the differences make sense to both people who will be doing graphics heavy tasks, as well as the people who are just doing basic tasks (email, word processing, internet browsing, etc.).
It’s funny to see so much talk around a 200$ upgrade while here in Canada I had to pay double the price at 3022$ for mine with 16Gb and 1Tb SSD. Thanks for you videos. ✌️
Why didn’t you just get an MacBook Pro?
Just read the base model only has one fan with thermal paste while the upgraded model has 2 fans and a thermal pipe. This explains why some reviewers report a loud fan on the lower model and others report quiet fans on the upgraded model.
Is it just me, or is anyone else kinda digging “bedhead Greg” a little more?
Ordered the higher priced one in orange today. Got the port adapter, and a CD/DVD writer. Replacing my old 2010 iMac. Best Buy told me it was worth $0 in trade. So, I'm keeping it.
Thanks, great vid. Im erring on the said elf the base model, with 16gb. And I'll hang a hub and storage off the back of it. I just use it for day to day type work, so that should be fine for me.
Definitely should be good. And i think that most people will get better performance with a base 16gb model then with the $1499 version.
On release day I went to the Apple store. After looking at them and talking to associates, I purchased the base model.
I got it last month. Runs great. No issues at all
@@wrackable How did you mod the base?
My opinion: 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD are the minimum spec for any real work.
8GB is a crime, and speaks poorly of Apple. Their price gouging on RAM and storage is ridiculous.
You're probably thinking in terms of PC specs where in this case doesn't apply. Not apples to apples.
@@cjones9025 No. I'm a Mac user.
Try using only 8GB in Sketch or Photoshop for any length of time, you'll soon run in to problems.
This whole "8GB is different on the M1" meme needs to die. It's not magic. Video and images still need a lot of RAM.
@@w0mblemania Gotcha
This thing is nice, but I can't do 24" anymore. I've been spoiled by the glory that is a 32" monitor. I guess an M1 Mini would be the way to go for me.
32 inch monitor as desktop?
Or do you mean mounted on a wall?
I have 42 inch tv in my small house in Surrey but 24 inches standard for monitors my son has two next to each other and has told me I’m wrong his pc running windows is great and has several graphics cards and a cpu to beat everything and I don’t understand RAM which I thought I did and basically his pc knocks pants off everything else as he and a mate put it together …
Personally I think it looks messy like his room 🧐 he has his desktop littered with hundreds and hundreds of apps. You don’t want to know what his bedroom floor looks like some days…..like a sock party
Although he did say this iMac 24 looked cute and checked spec and said it would be fine for me…..that translates as it’s useless for gaming but I can watch RUclips videos to my hearts content and edit a bit of amateur video content
this was very insightful ! I haven't seen any news elswhere yet on the single/multiple fans and the differences in heat sinks before. That's very good to know given that the thermal cap is the main limit on the M1 performance. Thanks !
With the 4 port model you can save on storage. You could attach with velcro on the back a fast 1TB SSD drive and keep your video/music library files there. It is a drag that you end up copying rather than moving files, but you get a clean solution without too many cables on the desk. The docking station is expensive. I also experienced with the hubs on my MacBook Air disconnections if i plug 2 5TB portable drives to a hub. The power provided may not be sufficient on a sustained level. Although probably you could use 2 separate hubs. Is there a real difference in Lightroom Classic and Final Cut Pro between 8GB and 16GB RAM?
Sounds like the base model is the way I’ll be going. Thanks for the video!
It's very interesting how the m1 macbook pro with 1 fan performs almost the same as the m1 imac with 2 fans, but the m1 imac with only 1 fan falls behind the m1 macbook pro. I heard somewhere that with the dual fans, you also get a heat pipe where as with the single fan model, you don't. So maybe thats why.
I just really miss the Apple logo on the chin…
I never notice that since my iMac mid-2011! Lol!
Great breakdown. I knew all of this except the dual fan thing and redesign part of the cooling system from just skimming through synopsis and easily chose the base model. What helped was knowing the base is a much higher end PC compared to the 2011 21.5” iMac, which I own, still running strong (granted I had to replace the HDD with an SSD 7 or 8 years in but still, running great) so a iMac built in 2021 should (even in the base model version) be a wayyyyyy better iMac in all respects. Side note: I’ve used wifi with my iMac the entire time I owned it. Never needed Ethernet and yeah there are less ports but who cares external port devices are easy to get if ever needed as guy pointed out. The main difference is 8 core vs 7 core. For me that’s a no brainer, as there is almost no diff at that little of a jump. If it was 7 core, 15 core step up, I’d be thinking about it. Not for 1 more core 😂 fuck outta here wit dat shitttt 🍎
Wow…this video was amazingly helpful for a family guy needing to upgrade his iMac from 2009. It is finally getting phased out software wise and doesn’t seem to have enough power to back up new age iPhones. Thank you so much, very comprehensive and helped a ton.
Another possibility is that the 7 core GPU chip version of the M1 is a lower binned CPU that can't keep up a sustained high clock speed
No the issue is that cheaper iMac has no heatpipe :(
Thanks for the video. I've been looking for a review that talks about its base unit. Most of the information being shown were about higher end model. Just bought mine yesterday. Thanks again.
You look different at 11;20 ! Better and refreshed :)
The base model would really round out my setup. After using two M1 based products, I’ve realized the base is plenty for me.. I don’t do any video or photo editing. The lack of ports does suck but can be remedied with dongles and hubs so whatever.
Both models don't have enough ports
I almost pulled the plug on the base model an hour ago! Seriously thanks a lot for the video.
thanks.. I am a basic user but I want my machine to last as long as possible. My thought is that the improved cooling on the upper their mac will enable the machine to last longer. I'm still running a 2013 iMac 27 and it's just now getting glitchy since it will not update to big Sur.
Same on both counts! I also wonder if better cooling improves durability and am also just feeling the need to replace my 2013 27" iMac. (I'll be turning my 2013 iMac into a streaming video Netflix/Hulu device for my study.) Waiting for the M-chip (M2?) 27 inch expected later this year (fingers crossed!).
@@heelerjustheeler879 a 27 ince would be nice, I have very poor eyesight and the larger screen really helps me out. Hopefully at WWDC they will announce
I knew nothing about Apple computers, I liked my iPad Pro, and my daughter who loves everything Apple pushed me toward and iMac when I was looking. I typically find a model that has everything I need, then look at models with things I “like” and usually settle for the middle. I apparently have the upgraded iMac. Good to know the things Apple provided finally because theirs no info or booklet with it. I was researching what I’d need for my Starlink ethernet connection when I found this video, I had NO IDEA my brick has a ethernet port! Thank goodness I found this video, or I’d ordered an adapter for nothing!
I hate it when apple cripples it products either by software/hardware. Just put in the damn heat pipe and extra fan on the base model.
The biggest drawback is Apple not letting customers know the total difference between the base and the upgrade. They should have informed customers of cooler differences that can affect performance. Apple owes consumers an apology for not fully identifying all the differences. And if one needs more ports one either buys the upgrade or a separate ports module. So perhaps difference in cost is not as great as one may think. I think the only difference should have been in the monitor: 1080 versus 4.5K. Leave the internal cooling design and the number of ports the same.
I mean it’s literally in the description of what each comes with
The difference in CPU performance is caused mainly by the fact that cheaper iMac has no heat pipe but only simple radiator and the fan placed far from it. Even MBA is better because with thermopads it gives similar performance like MBP.
WoW, at 1299,00 you’re lucky, in Canada the cheapest is 1599,00 😡, for the same computer! ( I know the $ exchange but still)
Your jokes and commentary is some of the best in the business 😎👍🏼
In a month AMZ will be flush with both powered and passive external hubs that will fit snuggly under the iMac case matching both the color and the finish of the case itself.
All those ports are USB-C ports. Its just that two are USB 3 and other two are USB 4/Thunderbolt
Yup! 👍
Well it’s either the fan actually matters or the base model gets a lower quality m1 chip, or both
I think it’s the cooling system that is making a majority of the difference.
@@GregsGadgets it's not out of the question that apple is making use of the not completely perfect chips that come out and putting them in the base model, and saving the perfect ones for the upgraded models.
@@HearMeLearn I think that is unlikely. Apple is extremely selective with its components. The risk of "imperfect" chips includes failures, which would be costly to the company.
@@heelerjustheeler879 not necessarily, by imperfect I just mean lower performance than expected, but still enough to sell
@@HearMeLearn no
Thank you. I was undecided about which model to go for but you have helped me make up my mind.
My search for a way to use my iMac as a monitor for my work laptop (HP) led me here. I already bought the mid model iMac last year. No regrets even if I’m not a heavy user and it’s good to know that the fan/cooling system is better (I’m in a tropical country 😅).
It’s true, Apple just was very quite about the base iMac vs, upgraded higher performance, even purchasing one of them in 2024 it was not apparent for the customers. This video thankfully clearly distinguished both models. Why this is important even 2 years later in 2024 - because even 2 years later customers will find the best value purchasing one of the two models compared saving money. I just bought for my significant other the upgrade for $790 as an “open box” from eBay, replacing her old 2017 iMac.
Thanks this is a very useful video, the only thing that bothers me is the Ethernet so looks like the base model for me.
I am currently looking into buying an Apple Desktop. I am glad I came across this very informative video, I do see the difference between the new and old model. Thank you, for all these details.
I’ve been weeks seeing videos to guide me to take the choice between these two and this was the best video I’ve been looking for 🤝🤝🤝 excellent job !!!
I am feeling fooled by apple, cause I believed the base model iMac has 2 fans, because it is how they advertised!!!
Thanks, man. Your review changed my perspective about this computer and some of the other product reviewers.
honestly I think what those scores tell us, is more about the chip than the fan. as we've already seen with the air and the pro, a fan doesn't take much of a difference, so the difference between 1 fan and two should be even smaller. I think this is telling us that the lower binned chips are lacking more than a single GPU core. it would seem that the quality of the whole chip takes a step down.
I got the pink. Nice very good no complains
About to purchase my iMac in the next two weeks, thanks for this!
The performance and the throttling itself isn’t the biggest issue of the cooling solution,but the fact that the base model iMac also is running way hotter than the upgraded version, and that may hurt the longevity of the iMac.
Great explanation between the 2 models. I can make an informed decision with the info you provided
You know? I kinda like how you try different backgrounds lately. But I admit, I miss the light sabers a bit, sure it’s not apple but it still looked cool 😅
Lol i just trying to keep it fresh and not boring, i was getting bored of the light sabers, but don’t worry they’ll return eventually… i spent too much money on them to never use them again 😂
Ah I get it. Ur like those who would wear something once or for one week, then look for new clothes already 😜😂
😅 More like I don’t want my viewers to get bored with me, which seems like i do a good job at 😂
7 GPU cores suggests that Apple frequently has one of the GPU cores not working when they manufacture their CPUs and they wanted to reuse those in a cheaper model, disabling the defective core. Because who on earth designs something with 7 cores?
Also don't buy the M1/M2 or anything like that at all, not only is the SSD soldered (which bricks the life of the device a ton, and to the people who say that the machine will become useless before its SSD dies, well I am still using a laptop from 2007 and it's not even weak).
Whatever, not only is the SSD soldered, it also contains the firmware. If it dies say goodbye to your iMac!
I feel so much better now. I’m a photographer and all I use my Mac for is Lightroom, photoshop, and the internet. I’ve had the 21.5in I Mac since 2017, 8GB and I think a shitty intel processor? Well they told me I could come in and they could put more memory/Ram in -32gb for $400. WELP. Apparently that’s not the case and $1700 later a new 16gb Mac is being mailed to me. Honestly I was super freaking pissed at my Mac lol. I was new to photography when I bought it and didn’t know how much space LR and PS. This video lessened the blow. Importing exporting editing all of it has been a nightmare the last couple years…I’m just so stubborn with parting with the cash. You helped me feel better, than you. Also you have a very pleasant persona and voice to listen to, and are very knowledgeable- I will subscribe now :)
Ironically I’m probably better off with an iPad. The more I look at the options the more I realise how much I don’t need a computer for. Maybe the iPad Pro 12.9 instead. Interesting video
You answered all my questions! You're awesome, thank you.
Buy the higher end one. Case closed!
The base iMac is being throttled back in the CPU speed because of the poor thermals. 1 fan can't cut it in CPU intensive apps. For casual use it's ok.
Thank u for this honest and amazing video bro i hope u will reach 500k so soon 😇
Thanks! Appreciate it!
Bought base with upgraded RAM and storage. Exported videos from apple photos for several hours straight. Fan never spun and case was cooler than body temperature. Previous pre retina iMac took hours where this takes minutes, all while loudly blowing hot air like a space heater. Then would crash due to overheat. Previous iMac was a total dud. Relieved this one can do what it does. Will be putting it through it’s paces in logic soon.
The upgraded iMac should come with 16 gb RAM by default and cost slightly more imho. Not enough differentiation.
Hope you reach 200k subs fast 😁😁
Thank you 🙏
Would love to know how SSD will be affected after 2 years of work. Sure it depends on the user how much the user is copying data but if the SSD life will be seriously shorter after 2 years then the 2 years old iMac with M1 chip will have very little value.
@GregsGadgets can you comment on this? I've had this question for a while. Especially with the new "unified" memory, how does SSD life factor in?
Hmm is the clock frequency the same? Running at higher clock you get more process instructions but generate more heat
Real becnchmark exporting video:
10 min 4K in final cut pro
1 stream of 4K video
Color grading 30 saturation boost
Pre-rendering=Off
Export to apple prores
Higher end finished in 3 mins 23 secs
Base needs +4mins to finish
Great rigs ideal for intensive workloads
Note there's a bottle neck of 8GBs of memory (too low) nothing to do with cpu
If project longer than 10 mins or
Using multiple streams of 4K video
At least I recommend upgrading to 16 GBs
The physical difference over the base model :
1 added fan
1 heat sink (no heat pipe)
Higher end
2 fans
1 heat pipe
Better thermal design (Gpuc +CPU performance)
So different design strategy for cooling
Thanks for the video next The M2 Vs M1 chip!
the base took extra 39 seconds. not +4 mins.
I have the 8 GPU model with 16 GB Ram. Love it! It’s worth the extra $200 to me.
When you add the additional memory it’s another $250 cad or $200 on top of the price difference between the base 7 core gpu snd 8 core gpu iMac. Or exactly $200 difference as you implied.
Brilliant video. Pleased I went for the higher spec model now!
This is just the review I needed before I decide which level to buy👍🏽 Thank you!
Hey Greg, I assume the base model comes with a cord to charge the keyboard, mouse, and a iPhone if needed? Even though it’s 2 thunderbolt ports.
Yeah it does. Only differences with accessories is no touch id on keyboard, and no ethernet port in power brick.
@@GregsGadgets thank you sir, keep up the great work
Should we also opt for the Apple care+ ? IS that worth it for an iMac?
Rip off. Unless you throw darts at your iMac it isn’t worth it. Even still apple wouldn’t cover damages like that.
Thank you! I needed an explanation and you did a fantastic job! 🤩
GREAT vid Greg! You're on the road for 200k!!! 👏
Good review,really appreciated for your time and effort.
I wish apple sold the color trackpads separately
Hi Greg, did you monitor the fan speeds of both during the tests? Is there a chance the 16gb on the higher end model is affecting the benchmark results or do the benchmark apps not use up the ram? Haven’t long discovered your videos, really enjoying them thanks.
I love your videos man! Keep it up!
Hi Greg,
Great video, thanks very much. Could it be that the higher spec model with the two fans and the heat pipe is going to be fitted with a higher spec CPU (M2 or whatever Apple will call it) at some stage and they will have various versions of the 24 inch model with different power CPUs?
A useful clarification and refresher on the differences. I'm not sure about anyone else but I really don't like face ID, Touch ID, and all that kind of stuff. I don't see touch ID as something to make my life easier but regard it as something a bit creepy and sinister. It is making my life harder when there is one more thing I have to avoid using. Can the touch ID be disabled if you get the middle or high-end iMac? Can you use a pin or password instead?
Of course, you can use a password as well. Remember though this isn't a Google product, your information is only stored locally inside the secure enclave.
Thank you for that!! I needed all this information
Well, so far you made the best video for my need with the right questions for my choice! Well done!
Great video, Greg! I have subscribed. I am about to kick my 2013 iMac to the curb because it is slower than molasses on a cold day. I would love to know if the mentality that Mac users have in upgrading their Macs in the past years will apply to the new M1 Macs. I think you said that you can not upgrade them and change the guts of them. I am a very basic user and the most advanced things I do on my iMac is watch online TV and edit photos. (got tons of those) . Though I would love to learn more things that are more on the creative side (not the programming stuff). So how long will these M1 Mac live for?
Thank you for your videos...they made me giggle.
I have not idea what the hell he just said lol
Incredibly helpful video, thanks.
Excellent video with all the information you need to make the right choice.
Thank you 🙏
What an excellent excellent excellent video. Literally there’s nothing else I wish you had covered
HI Greg thank you, you seem to be the only one on RUclips that can operate the new 24” iMac, the others can only do the unboxing while waiting to copy yourself and others that can use Apple products, once again many thanks for your videos.👍
thank you for the comparison. I couln’t find the 16gb M1 in any of the stores, and was so close to just say forget it and buy the 8gb one. But now, I’m gonna wait and order it from the apple store instead. 😂 my purse thanks you.
Bought the base Rose Gold M1 Air DON'T JUDGE ME lol. Got the Caldigit TS3+ love it
No judgment here, I have a rose gold air too 🙈
Good research on the extra fan, that's news to me
Great and informative. thanks. I'm not a developer and I won't be editing films. I Zoom everyday, use Word for writing, and watch films. Do you think the entry level model is enough? Zooming really makes my mac laptop get hot after a while.
i’m also proud of bed greg
Thank you he made us all proud.
@@GregsGadgets keep it up you two!
Thanks for the video, you did a great comparison
love your sense of humor!
I just want the base model but at the same time, I want the YELLOW imac sooooooo badly 😢