Apple iMac Pro (2017) vs Apple iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020)

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iMac Pro (2017) compared with iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020)
AppleiMac Pro (2017)AppleiMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020)
Overview
ReleasedDecember 2017August 2020
Performance
ProcessorIntel Xeon W-2140B, Intel Xeon W-2150B, Intel Xeon W-2170B or Intel Xeon W-2191BIntel Core i5-10500, Intel Core i5-10600, Intel Core i9-10910 or Intel Core i7-10700K
CPU cores8, 10, 14 or 186, 8 or 10
CPU threads–12, 16 or 20
GraphicsRadeon Pro Vega 56 (8 GB HBM2), Radeon Pro Vega 64 (16 GB HBM2) or Radeon Pro Vega 64X (16 GB HBM2)Radeon Pro 5300 (4 GB GDDR6), Radeon Pro 5500 XT (8 GB GDDR6), Radeon Pro 5700 (8 GB GDDR6) or Radeon Pro 5700 XT (16 GB GDDR6)
Memory32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB or 256 GB (better)8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB or 128 GB
Storage1 TB to 4 TB256 GB to 8 TB (better)
CPUXeon W at 3.2 GHz with 8 cores (Turbo Boost 4.2 GHz), 3.0 GHz with 10 cores (4.5 GHz), 2.5 GHz with 14 cores (4.3 GHz) or 2.3 GHz with 18 cores (4.3 GHz). Exact W-B CPU identities follow Geekbench. The 8/10-core versions launched first; Macworld reports later January 2018 availability for 14/18-core options. Apple changed the standard configuration to 10 cores in August 2020.Six-core Core i5 at 3.1 GHz (Turbo Boost 4.5 GHz) or 3.3 GHz (4.8 GHz), or eight-core Core i7 at 3.8 GHz (5.0 GHz). Upper two bases configurable to 3.6 GHz ten-core Core i9 (5.0 GHz). Exact CPU identities follow Geekbench. Apple specifies a 5.0 GHz Core i7 limit in this iMac, while Intel lists 5.1 GHz for the chip itself.
GPURadeon Pro Vega 56 with 8 GB HBM2, optionally Vega 64 or Vega 64X with 16 GB HBM2. Vega 64X is a later option included in Apple’s current specification sheet, absent from the launch reviews.Radeon Pro 5300 with 4 GB GDDR6 on the two Core i5 bases. Upper base has Radeon Pro 5500 XT with 8 GB GDDR6, optionally Radeon Pro 5700 with 8 GB or 5700 XT with 16 GB GDDR6.
Memory typeQuad-channel 2666 MHz DDR4 ECC; 32 GB standard, configurable to 64/128/256 GB. The current maker sheet includes the later 256 GB option; launch reviews cover up to 128 GB. No user-accessible memory door.2666 MHz DDR4; 8 GB standard as two 4 GB modules. Four user-accessible SO-DIMM slots; configurable to 16/32/64/128 GB on every base.
Storage type1 TB SSD, configurable to 2 or 4 TBLower base: fixed 256 GB SSD. Middle base: 512 GB/1/2 TB SSD. Upper base: 512 GB/1/2/4/8 TB SSD.
Display
Screen size27″27″
Resolution5120 × 28805120 × 2880
PanelIPS LCDIPS LCD
Brightness500 nits500 nits
Display typeLED-backlit Retina 5K display; IPS panel confirmed by EveryMac. Native refresh rate omitted because Apple does not publish it in the specification sheet.LED-backlit Retina 5K display; IPS panel confirmed by EveryMac. Apple does not publish native refresh rate in the specification sheet.
Display featuresWide colour (P3); supports one billion coloursWide colour (P3), one billion colours and True Tone; standard glass or optional nano-texture glass
Connections
Ports4 × Thunderbolt 3, 4 × USB-A, SD card slot, Ethernet, headphone jack2 × Thunderbolt 3, 4 × USB-A, SD card slot, Ethernet, headphone jack
Ethernet10 Gb/s (better)1 Gb/s
External displaysUp to 4 (better)Up to 2
Wi-Fi802.11ac802.11ac
Bluetooth5.05.0
Camera1080p FaceTime HD1080p FaceTime HD
Back portsFour USB-A ports; four Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports with DisplayPort 1.2, Thunderbolt up to 40 Gb/s and USB 3.1 Gen 2 up to 10 Gb/s; UHS-II SDXC, Nbase-T Ethernet supporting 1/2.5/5/10Gb and 3.5 mm headphone jack. Thunderbolt 2, HDMI, DVI and VGA require adapters.Four USB-A ports; two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports with DisplayPort, Thunderbolt up to 40 Gb/s and USB 3.1 Gen 2 up to 10 Gb/s; UHS-II SDXC, Gigabit Ethernet and 3.5 mm headphone jack; Kensington lock slot. Optional 10Gb Ethernet supports 1/2.5/5/10Gb connections. Thunderbolt 2, HDMI, DVI and VGA require adapters.
External displaysTwo 5120 × 2880 displays at 60 Hz with one billion colours, four 3840 × 2160 displays at 60 Hz with one billion colours, or four 4096 × 2304 displays at 60 Hz with millions of colours, alongside the built-in displayOne 6K or 5K external display, or two 4K displays; two 6K displays require Radeon Pro 5700 or 5700 XT. All listed external modes run at 60 Hz.
SpeakersStereo speakersStereo speakers
MicrophonesFour microphones; supports Hey SiriThree-mic array with directional beamforming; supports Hey Siri
Keyboard and mouseSpace grey Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad and Magic Mouse 2; optional space grey Magic Trackpad 2Rechargeable Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse 2; optional numeric keyboard and Magic Trackpad
Design and power
TypeAll-in-oneAll-in-one
Weight9.7 kg8.92 kg (better)
Width × depth × height650 × 203 × 516 mm650 × 203 × 516 mm
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailDimensions include the stand; weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process. Optional VESA mount adapter kit.Dimensions include the stand; weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process. A built-in VESA mount version was also available.
Power supply100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz, single phase100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz, single phase
MaterialsRecyclable aluminium enclosure; arsenic-free glass and mercury-free LED backlightRecyclable, low-carbon aluminium enclosure; arsenic-free glass and mercury-free LED backlight
In the boxiMac Pro, space grey Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad, space grey Magic Mouse 2, Lightning to USB cable and power leadiMac, Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2, power lead, Lightning to USB cable and polishing cloth

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