refurb iMac 21.5" low end vs. late 2012 imac 21.5" low end

[hwrdrrk]

Besides the pretty new design, lack of superdrive, and weight difference...

how do these two computers compare from a speed and power perspective?

in other words, how do the two quad core i5 processors compare?

(assume I have the same ammount of RAM in each of them. Let's say 16GB)

Thanks for your input! Want to buy soon.

[angelsguardian]

Surely impossible to say as they're not released?

[phoenixsan]

a) A bigger HDD
b) Better GPU
c) USB 3.0
d) Better Bluetooth
e)Obviously, a slightly better processor (same cache level 2 and level 3)

and has not FireWire 800 ( a real dealbraker if you had invest in peripherals)

Also, the 2011 model is a proved thing. We dont know yet about the quality of the 2012 iMac. But I will say, the 2012 sounds like a good improvement over the 2011

[hwrdrrk]

Originally Posted by phoenixsan

a) A bigger HDD
b) Better GPU
c) USB 3.0
d) Better Bluetooth
e)Obviously, a slightly better processor (same cache level 2 and level 3)

and has not FireWire 800 ( a real dealbraker if you had invest in peripherals)

Also, the 2011 model is a proved thing. We dont know yet about the quality of the 2012 iMac. But I will say, the 2012 sounds like a good improvement over the 2011

Thanks for your thoughts. How much better of a GPU? USB 3.0 is a good selling point, but thunderbolt drives for 2011 should be pretty fast. Bluetooth not high on my list.

Leaning towards 2011.

[phoenixsan]

The 2011 iMac has a stock Radeon HD 6750M and the 2012 a GeForceGT 640M, I believe. The benchmarks:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Rad...M.43958.0.html
(for the 2011 stock card)

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-...M.71579.0.html
(for the 2012 stock card)

Hope that helps

[Dekema2]

Not only bigger HDD but also faster. 3x as fast

[hwrdrrk]

Originally Posted by Dekema2

Not only bigger HDD but also faster. 3x as fast

I believe the new HDD is the same speed. The new fusion drive is 3x as fast and 3x as much cash. $$$

----------

Originally Posted by phoenixsan

The 2011 iMac has a stock Radeon HD 6750M and the 2012 a GeForceGT 640M, I believe. The benchmarks:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Rad...M.43958.0.html
(for the 2011 stock card)

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-...M.71579.0.html
(for the 2012 stock card)

Hope that helps

I'm sure this information is helpful, but it's also over my head. In the graphics cards for dummies edition, how would the comparison of these two read? I'm not a gamer. But I am a professional musician and amateur finalcutographer.