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Previous Generation iMac: good deal?

TSE

TSE

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jun 25, 2007
4,079
3,730
St. Paul, Minnesota
Right now there is a Quad-Core i5 27 inch iMac, with AMD Radeon 5750 HD Graphics, 4 GBs of RAM, a 1TB HD for $1449 from the Refurb store.

How does this compare to the current base-model iMac, performance wise? If the iPod promo comes out, does the iPod promo count refurbished products? Thank you!
 
TSE said:
Right now there is a Quad-Core i5 27 inch iMac, with AMD Radeon 5750 HD Graphics, 4 GBs of RAM, a 1TB HD for $1449 from the Refurb store.

How does this compare to the current base-model iMac, performance wise? If the iPod promo comes out, does the iPod promo count refurbished products? Thank you!
Click to expand...

It is not as good.
 
The 2011 base model iMac outperforms any previous generation iMac, graphics, processor, everything.

Check out the benchmarks.
 
Will it matter?

I'm finally ready for my upgrade next week, and I have two options to replace my 2001 733 MHz PowerPC G4 Quicksilver, 768 MB SDRAM, running 10.4.11 (!). Yeah, I'd say it's time, too.

Anyway, I'm choosing between the 2010 iMac 27" 3.2 GHz i3 550 processor or the 2011 iMac 27" 2.7 GHz i5 2500S processor. I will primarily use it for your standard web, email, music, photo, school work (no major gaming, high-tech editing, graphics, etc.); however, I do want it to remain relevant for a few years and not be obsolete in a generation or two.

I've seen the bench test scores, know the on-paper differences when comparing the two, blah blah blah, but the other catch: the 2010 is 15% cheaper ($1396) than the 2011 ($1650).

TO ME, is the newness of the latter worth the possible savings by going once-removed?
 
jmw1480 said:
I'm finally ready for my upgrade next week, and I have two options to replace my 2001 733 MHz PowerPC G4 Quicksilver, 768 MB SDRAM, running 10.4.11 (!). Yeah, I'd say it's time, too.

Anyway, I'm choosing between the 2010 iMac 27" 3.2 GHz i3 550 processor or the 2011 iMac 27" 2.7 GHz i5 2500S processor. I will primarily use it for your standard web, email, music, photo, school work (no major gaming, high-tech editing, graphics, etc.); however, I do want it to remain relevant for a few years and not be obsolete in a generation or two.

I've seen the bench test scores, know the on-paper differences when comparing the two, blah blah blah, but the other catch: the 2010 is 15% cheaper ($1396) than the 2011 ($1650).

TO ME, is the newness of the latter worth the possible savings by going once-removed?
Click to expand...

Personal pref, I'd say. What do you value more, saving money or having the latest and greatest machine? You can find a lot of great refurbished items that will do exactly what you need it to do. And according to your use, I would think the 2010 model is the best all around for you. I'd stick with that. While it won't be the fastest on the market, that machine will last you for a while... 3+ years.
 
ee4life said:
It looks like the previous two generations with the i7 still perform rather well in those benchmarks...
Click to expand...

Yep. Just benched my 2009 i7 and got 8613 with Geekbench. Good enough for me, and I don't see any reason to upgrade to Sandy Bridge. My i7 is blazing fast; I never want for more speed.
 
It depends on your use and preference. I got the previous generation i7 which is ranked 2nd in the benchmarks. If I had more money I would prefer the latest and greatest. For my use I prefer having i7 with higher cache and higher gram than thunderbolt with newer graphics card.

It completely depends on what you use it for. I needed it primarily for running simulations, photo editing, connecting to my keyboard.
 
jmw1480 said:
I'm finally ready for my upgrade next week, and I have two options to replace my 2001 733 MHz PowerPC G4 Quicksilver, 768 MB SDRAM, running 10.4.11 (!). Yeah, I'd say it's time, too.

Anyway, I'm choosing between the 2010 iMac 27" 3.2 GHz i3 550 processor or the 2011 iMac 27" 2.7 GHz i5 2500S processor. I will primarily use it for your standard web, email, music, photo, school work (no major gaming, high-tech editing, graphics, etc.); however, I do want it to remain relevant for a few years and not be obsolete in a generation or two.

I've seen the bench test scores, know the on-paper differences when comparing the two, blah blah blah, but the other catch: the 2010 is 15% cheaper ($1396) than the 2011 ($1650).

TO ME, is the newness of the latter worth the possible savings by going once-removed?
Click to expand...

If I were in your shoes I'd go for the less expensive one. Both will be light years ahead of what you're using now, and if you were able to get by with a G4. As you stated you're not a power user, so the 2011 would just be latest and greatest, not necessarily best for you.

Did you have the G4 since 01? And do you plan on keeping this one another 10 years?
 
OneMike said:
If I were in your shoes I'd go for the less expensive one. Both will be light years ahead of what you're using now, and if you were able to get by with a G4. As you stated you're not a power user, so the 2011 would just be latest and greatest, not necessarily best for you.
Click to expand...

I absolutely agree! If you want to join the herd of spec chasers and "I can't live without the latest technology" types, go for the latest model. As OneMike said, the referb version will more than suit your requirements and it'll same you some money! :)
 
OneMike said:
Did you have the G4 since 01? And do you plan on keeping this one another 10 years?
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the advice! I HAVE had the G4 since '01 , when it was brand new. I've had to shock it back to life a few times, and it's no longer upgradable, but I feel, even when I sell it, it's going to keep on ticking for the basics.

As far as my new purchase choices, neither is refurb; last year's model is still on the shelf at the discount. I doubt I'll be able to hold on for as long this last time, with the ever-increasing pace of technology, but we'll see!

So I'm thinking 2010 model, and with the savings perhaps upgrade the RAM to 12 gb and / or add on a SSD for the OS as others have posted about on the forum? Or just save the $ for when I upgrade my 2005 867 MHz PowerPC G4 laptop next cycle (!).
 
Last edited:
bpeeps said:
Proof? Show your work.
Click to expand...

Using the benchmark numbers you provided...

9124 > 7185 (2010 27" i7 > 2011 21.5" base)
8332 > 7185 (2009 27" i7 > 2011 21.5" base)

QED

You may have tried to state something different (i.e. the 2011 base performs better than any previous stock config), but what you actually said was not true given the benchmark you provided.
 
ee4life said:
Using the benchmark numbers you provided...

9124 > 7185 (2010 27" i7 > 2011 21.5" base)
8332 > 7185 (2009 27" i7 > 2011 21.5" base)

QED

You may have tried to state something different (i.e. the 2011 base performs better than any previous stock config), but what you actually said was not true given the benchmark you provided.
Click to expand...

If you go by geekbench results 2010 i7 is second only to highest end imac (3.4 ghz i7) courtesy the hyperthreading and high L3 cache.
 
2010 i7 is amazing value at the moment on the refurb store - and still the second fastest imac available!!
 
Bobbytoad said:
2010 i7 is amazing value at the moment on the refurb store - and still the second fastest imac available!!
Click to expand...

No it isn't. That would be a 21.5 with 2600S. The 2.8 i7 is slightly faster.

But you're right it is a amazing value. It comes with a 27 screen. Can't beat that.
 
TSE said:
Right now there is a Quad-Core i5 27 inch iMac, with AMD Radeon 5750 HD Graphics, 4 GBs of RAM, a 1TB HD for $1449 from the Refurb store.

How does this compare to the current base-model iMac, performance wise? If the iPod promo comes out, does the iPod promo count refurbished products? Thank you!
Click to expand...

Not a very good deal tbh
 
wangkom said:
It out performs the 2010 2.93ghz i7 quadcore?
Click to expand...


No of coarse not.

The 2.93 is the currently the third fastest imac avail. The sandybridge 27 3.4 and 21.5 2.8 are faster. The i7 2.8 on the 21.5 2011 and the 2010 27 2.93 are very close as far as CPU is concerned.
 
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