Mid 2010 Mac Mini vs Early 2009 iMac

[thesaz123]

Wanting to buy a Mac desktop to accompany my 2012 MBP... Torn between a Mid 2010 Mac Mini and a Early 2009 iMac. Both are around the same price on eBay, both in great condition.

Specs of Mini are: 2.4GHz C2D, 2GB of RAM, Nvidia GeForce 320M 256mb, 320GB 5400RPM HDD

Specs of iMac are: 2.66GHz C2D, 4GB of RAM, Nvidia GeForce 9400M 256mb, 320GB 7200RPM HDD, 20" screen

Leaning more towards the iMac, just because i've always liked the design of them. But the Mini is a year newer. Any suggestions?

 

[Schnort]

by the specs, the iMac looks like the better deal, if they're the same price.

But not by much.

 

[Micky Do]

Mini

With the Mini you can add a bit more RAM, and maybe replace the HDD somewhere along the line. Use it for a few years, then toss it out and replace it in the system with later (or the latest) tech at a relatively modest cost. You keep the monitor and other peripherals.

With the iMac, sure you can upgrade it a little, but when it comes time for replacement you will have to cough up for a whole new all in one computer.

 

[Acronyc]

If you're concerned about the GPU capability, the 320m in the mini is a lot better than the 9400m in the iMac. I'd go with the mini and upgrade the RAM and put in an SSD.

 

[blanka]

The iMac probably has a screen walking on its last leg, and it is a crappy TN panel, so the screen value is 0. And if you don't like the screen, its value is even negative. The GPU is half as fast as the Mini's. The 2010 mini is the ultimate HTPC, especially when equiped with a BR player, and therefore holds it value very well. You can buy it, use it 3 years and sell it for 50 bucks less.
Hardware architecture is comparable, 45nm CPU, 1066mhz RAM, 3GB/s SATA, but the Mini accepts 16GB, where the iMac stops at 8. Get the Mini any time.

 

[thesaz123]

Decided to go with something different...

I bought a Late 2009 21.5" iMac. 3.06 GHz C2D, 4GB of RAM, 500GB HDD, and GeForce 9400M 256Mb

Bought it used on eBay in excellent condition, came with an Apple mouse and keyboard.

Should be here any time from the 17th to the 23rd!