Advice on new mac purchase: iMac 27 in or new iMac 24 in?

[Rag and Bone]

We have a small live children's theatre that has been presenting online this past year.

I'm looking at a refurb 27in iMac (2020 model, 10-core Intel Core i9, Radeon Pro 5700 XT with 16GB of GDDR6 memory), but it will run close to $4500 CDN once I add the needed memory.

Should I be considering the new 24 in iMac: with 16g memory and a 2Tb drive, it comes in at $3100 CDN.

I am creating 10 to 15 minute videos using 4k footage with color grading and some effects. The products are presented on Vimeo and the like as HD files, not 4K.

[Andy 1968]

You don't need to spend money on a 2 TB M.2 drive. A 512 MB drive should work for the OS and programs. You can then use external storage for your media.

If you are editing H.264 the M1 chip should work OK but keep in mind I am not sure Premiere Pro is optimised for the M1 chip. If you are editing Red One R3D files, BRAW or Pro Res get the Intel systems.

[Rag and Bone]

Thanks for that. I am using Pro Res from a Ninja V as my file format...I guess I should have mentioned that.

[Andy 1968]

The M1 chip might struggle with Pro Res but I imagine it will playback at half resoluton. The Intel chip will play Pro Res 4K at full reolution.

[Peru Bob]

Moved to the Video Hardware forum.