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iMac 20" Core Duo refurb for $1199?

S

sigamy

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Mar 7, 2003
1,401
187
NJ USA
Does it make sense to save $300 and get the 20" Core Duo iMac as a refurb for $1199? Or is the 2.16 Ghz Core 2 Duo (and extra 512mb) worth $300?

Will having the Core 2 Duo put me in better shape for possible future upgrades? I'm not sure if the CPUs are in sockets or not.
 
$300 is a good amount of money, although the extra memory accounts for some percentage of that. The new one is probably 10-25% faster depending on the application. Probably, it will also represent a cut-off at some point of being able to do something that the Core Duo is not (say, one or two years from now some higher-end application requiring at least a Core 2 Duo).
 
It all depends if you are the type of person that will stay satisfied with your existing machine or will lust after the latest and greatest. If you are the latter type it makes no sense to buy the current model. In two years core 2 duos will be like a G4 Mac -- Yesterdays news. Get the refurb and plan on upgrading in 2-3 years.

If your the type of computer user who only upgrades when your current hardware no longer does what you want then get the newer model. The extra $300 may buy you a couple of additional years of use.
 
sigamy said:
Does it make sense to save $300 and get the 20" Core Duo iMac as a refurb for $1199? Or is the 2.16 Ghz Core 2 Duo (and extra 512mb) worth $300?

Will having the Core 2 Duo put me in better shape for possible future upgrades? I'm not sure if the CPUs are in sockets or not.
Click to expand...

i bought an iMac 20" refurb. for 1399.00 to save money and had it for about 10 days, and new iMacs rolled out. guess what, i returned it asap.

but that is a good deal. 1199.00. imo.
 
$1200 is a good deal. BUT, remember this - the new ones haven't hit the refurb page yet. The current 20" is $1500, $1400 edu. Refurb is usually $100 less than edu. So if we're comparing refurb to refurb, I bet you're going to be able to get a refurb core 2 duo 20" for $1300.

If you can wait, that would be the real bargain.
 
On that note, when do you guys think the Core 2 Duo will hit the refurb store? Maybe another week? I'm anticipating that quite a bit. That will be a deal and a half; the 20" Core Duo was originally $1699 and goes for only $1199 on the refurb store. If we get anywhere close to that kind of discount on the 20" Core 2 Duo -- which is regularly $1499, already $200 less than the Core Duo was -- I will be ecstatic. It for sure should be no more than $1299. I just hope they get some soon because I just put all my PC stuff -- three computers and three LCDs -- up for sale today in anticipation of switching!
 
mrogers said:
On that note, when do you guys think the Core 2 Duo will hit the refurb store? Maybe another week? I'm anticipating that quite a bit. That will be a deal and a half; the 20" Core Duo was originally $1699 and goes for only $1199 on the refurb store. If we get anywhere close to that kind of discount on the 20" Core 2 Duo -- which is regularly $1499, already $200 less than the Core Duo was -- I will be ecstatic. It for sure should be no more than $1299. I just hope they get some soon because I just put all my PC stuff -- three computers and three LCDs -- up for sale today in anticipation of switching!
Click to expand...

The 20" Core 2 Duo may be $1,399 refurb or $1,349 and may not show up for about 3-5 weeks.
 
roland.g said:
The 20" Core 2 Duo may be $1,399 refurb or $1,349 and may not show up for about 3-5 weeks.
Click to expand...

Well if that's the case I won't be too broken up about it, because I can get the EDU discount. But I think the refurb will be $1299 or less, since the EDU price is $1399 and the refurbs are always significantly less than education. I'm just going to wait until my main PC sells, and if there aren't any Core 2 Duo refurbs available by then I'll just take the EDU discount.
 
mrogers said:
Well if that's the case I won't be too broken up about it, because I can get the EDU discount. But I think the refurb will be $1299 or less, since the EDU price is $1399 and the refurbs are always significantly less than education. I'm just going to wait until my main PC sells, and if there aren't any Core 2 Duo refurbs available by then I'll just take the EDU discount.
Click to expand...

Actually the EDU and refurb price are often very close if not the same.
 
30% faster CPU (4 MB cache).
Double the amount of RAM and add dual channel capability.
Better screen.
Better speakers (12 W amped)
The latest and greatest.

$300 more.

You decide.;)
 
mrogers said:
The 20" Core Duo EDU price was $1599. The refurb 20" Core Duo was $1199. That's not close. So I'm staying optimistic :cool:
Click to expand...

Actually, you're wrong. You are comparing different points in time. The 20" Core Duo EDU was $1,599 when the retail was $1,699 but the refurb was not $1,199 at that time. The refurb dropped with the announcement of the new Core 2 Duos and 24". When the Core 2 became $1,499 the price on the EDU also dropped and the original Core Duo had to as well.
 
roland.g said:
Actually, you're wrong. You are comparing different points in time. The 20" Core Duo EDU was $1,599 when the retail was $1,699 but the refurb was not $1,199 at that time. The refurb dropped with the announcement of the new Core 2 Duos and 24". When the Core 2 became $1,499 the price on the EDU also dropped and the original Core Duo had to as well.
Click to expand...

You're not completely right either. I don't remember when exactly it dropped to $1199, but I know it was $1249 (only $50 more) a couple months ago (about July or so) -- because I was very close to pulling the trigger on one then. At that point, the EDU price was still $1599 and the retail was still $1699. I know, I had one added to my cart one day and almost did it. So there, we're looking at a 26.5% reduction from retail and a 22% reduction from EDU. That's sizeable. I'm not saying that's normal, but it does set a potential precedent.
 
mrogers said:
You're not completely right either. I don't remember when exactly it dropped to $1199, but I know it was $1249 (only $50 more) a couple months ago (about July or so) -- because I was very close to pulling the trigger on one then. At that point, the EDU price was still $1599 and the retail was still $1699. I know, I had one added to my cart one day and almost did it. So there, we're looking at a 26.5% reduction from retail and a 22% reduction from EDU. That's sizeable. I'm not saying that's normal, but it does set a potential precedent.
Click to expand...

ok.

in your opinion what do you think is a better buy and will have a better resale next spring...

a refurb 20" iMac 2.0 Intel Core Duo for $1,199 + tax
or a used 20" iMac 2.1 G5 (built-in iSight) for $800-950

both are 10.4 512MB RAM 250HDD BT & AE

Do you think I could still get at least $600-750 for the iMac G5 by then. I think if I can get it for as low as $750-$900, that's a cost of $150-200 over 6-9 months. That's about $20/month. Am I crazy thinking I could resell it for that much??

What do think the 20" Core Duo would fetch? I don't need boot camp and considering I won't keep it that long which way would you go?
 
roland.g said:
ok.

in your opinion what do you think is a better buy and will have a better resale next spring...

a refurb 20" iMac 2.0 Intel Core Duo for $1,199 + tax
or a used 20" iMac 2.1 G5 (built-in iSight) for $800-950

both are 10.4 512MB RAM 250HDD BT & AE

Do you think I could still get at least $600-750 for the iMac G5 by then. I think if I can get it for as low as $750-$900, that's a cost of $150-200 over 6-9 months. That's about $20/month. Am I crazy thinking I could resell it for that much??

What do think the 20" Core Duo would fetch? I don't need boot camp and considering I won't keep it that long which way would you go?
Click to expand...

Well, yeah, that's tough. I think you'll still be able to sell the G5 for $700 or so next spring, but I also think that the Core Duo will stay above $1000. I bet 20" iMac Core Duos will still be going for about $1100 on eBay come spring, and I would bet good money that they won't go below $1000. That's only a $100-$200 cost over 6-9 months, so it's not going to ultimately cost you any more to have the Core Duo and you'll have a MUCH faster computer in the meantime.

That said, if you do need the extra $300-$350 right now for something else, and you know that you won't need Windows on your Mac, and you know that you can live with the G5's slow speed for a relatively short time, then that is definitely a viable option. Personally, however, I would get the Core Duo.
 
mrogers said:
Well, yeah, that's tough. I think you'll still be able to sell the G5 for $700 or so next spring, but I also think that the Core Duo will stay above $1000. I bet 20" iMac Core Duos will still be going for about $1100 on eBay come spring, and I would bet good money that they won't go below $1000. That's only a $100-$200 cost over 6-9 months, so it's not going to ultimately cost you any more to have the Core Duo and you'll have a MUCH faster computer in the meantime.

That said, if you do need the extra $300-$350 right now for something else, and you know that you won't need Windows on your Mac, and you know that you can live with the G5's slow speed for a relatively short time, then that is definitely a viable option. Personally, however, I would get the Core Duo.
Click to expand...

By that rationale, I guess I wouldn't get the Core Duo 20" refurb for $1,339 (included is an extra 512MB RAM and tax)

because I can get a Core 2 Duo 20" new with standard 1GB RAM for $1,371
or even with 2GB RAM for $1,531 (also including tax)
 
Josias said:
30% faster CPU (4 MB cache).
Better screen.
Click to expand...

30% faster CPU? At the same clock, merom is about 10% faster on average. The added .16 is an 8% faster clock. I think we're looking at ~20% faster on average.

Better screen? How so? Brightness, contrast, and resolution, at least, all stayed the same.

I continue to believe that the refurb on the 20" core 2 duo will be $1299. It will be lower than the edu price and higher than the refurb 20" core duo, so that puts us between $1200 and $1400. Could be $1350, but I'm betting $1300. Sweet! :)
 
QCassidy352 said:
30% faster CPU? At the same clock, merom is about 10% faster on average. The added .16 is an 8% faster clock. I think we're looking at ~20% faster on average.

Better screen? How so? Brightness, contrast, and resolution, at least, all stayed the same.

I continue to believe that the refurb on the 20" core 2 duo will be $1299. It will be lower than the edu price and higher than the refurb 20" core duo, so that puts us between $1200 and $1400. Could be $1350, but I'm betting $1300. Sweet! :)
Click to expand...

Merom is 20% faster at equivalent speeds. Plus 4 MB cache. Plus 160 MHz extra, which you can't logically calculate as 8%. The gain in upgrading the MacPro from 2.66 to 3 GHz is only 5%.

"The new iMacs. Bigger. Faster. Brighter."

Yes, the 20" and 24" now have 800:1 contrast, and a bumped brightness. The 17" has also significantly improved.
 
sigamy said:
Will having the Core 2 Duo put me in better shape for possible future upgrades? I'm not sure if the CPUs are in sockets or not.
Click to expand...

I think you will be disappointed by the prospects of a CPU upgrade. I don't believe anyone has posted about the new C2D Macs, but the Yonah processor in the CD Macs was socketed, not soldered onto the motherboard. If the Merom processor on this motherboard is socketed, you may be able to swap it out for a faster Merom in the future (although the disassembly process is not for the faint-hearted). However, when Santa Rosa comes out in Q2 '07 Intel will likely change the socket meaning the newer, faster Meroms will be transitioned (in part, if not entirely) over to the new socket. So, you will probably not see Meroms that are considerably faster than 2.33 GHz come out for the current motherboard/socket.
 
phairphan said:
I think you will be disappointed by the prospects of a CPU upgrade. I don't believe anyone has posted about the new C2D Macs, but the Yonah processor in the CD Macs was socketed, not soldered onto the motherboard. If the Merom processor on this motherboard is socketed, you may be able to swap it out for a faster Merom in the future (although the disassembly process is not for the faint-hearted). However, when Santa Rosa comes out in Q2 '07 Intel will likely change the socket meaning the newer, faster Meroms will be transitioned (in part, if not entirely) over to the new socket. So, you will probably not see Meroms that are considerably faster than 2.33 GHz come out for the current motherboard/socket.
Click to expand...

Why do you think Intel will change the socket for Santa Rosa? They're not changing it for Kentsfield.
 
mrogers said:
Why do you think Intel will change the socket for Santa Rosa? They're not changing it for Kentsfield.
Click to expand...

Because at one point Intel had roadmapped a new socket (Socket P) for Santa Rosa. The current socket on the Napa/Napa refresh is Socket M. They are not compatible. There was apparently a lot of negative feedback from system manufactures/builders, so (as far as I know) Intel has not made a formal, final announcement on this issue.
 
Keep in mind that Apple (most of the time) hooks up the refurbished products.

I got my current cpu (sig) and it came pretty much maxed out, minus the 500gb hard drive.
 
keithbennis said:
Keep in mind that Apple (most of the time) hooks up the refurbished products.

I got my current cpu (sig) and it came pretty much maxed out, minus the 500gb hard drive.
Click to expand...

Hrm, nearly every product in the refurb store is stock config... because they don't accept returns on CTO items. SOMETIMES if someone manages to return a CTO product they will sell it as configured in the refurb store, at the stock price, but it's a crapshoot. I wouldn't say that they are usually anything but stock configuration.
 
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