Recommendation between two older iMacs

[Curlyp]

Greetings all! I am looking to purchase a used iMac in the $350 range. I came across two different models/years that are going for $350. They are in good shape, but the older year of the two seems much "beefier"; however, is not able to be updated to Mojave. I am not sure which one to go with and would like to get your opinion.

Below are the two models and pictures with specs of the ones I am considering. Which one would you go with?

Mid 2011 27"
i7 3.4GHz, 20GB RAM
AMD Radeon HD 6970M 1024MB
macOS: High Sierra

Late 2012 27"
i5 2.9GHz, 16GB RAM
NIVIDA Geforce GTX 660M 512MB
macOS: Mojave

 

[jerwin]

do you need usb 3?

 

[Curlyp]

do you need usb 3?

It would be nice for the faster speeds, but is not totally a "need".

 

[retta283]

The graphics chipset in the mid 2011 iMac is notorious for failure. I would go with the 2012 for that reason alone.

 

[redheeler]

I'd pick the 2012 as it's more future proof and the 2011s do have a higher failure rate for the dedicated graphics as @retta283 mentioned. 512 MB is a little light for the VRAM but it should be adequate in basic usage, really depends on how you plan to use the iMac.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

I’d get the 2012. Likely to be more reliable, USB3, likely to be supported longer.

 

[Curlyp]

I'd pick the 2012 as it's more future proof and the 2011s do have a higher failure rate for the dedicated graphics as @retta283 mentioned. 512 MB is a little light for the VRAM but it should be adequate in basic usage, really depends on how you plan to use the iMac.

I just plan on using it for web surfing and video editing. Do you think I will be hindered by the i5 verses the i7?

 

[Zen_Arcade]

I just plan on using it for web surfing and video editing. Do you think I will be hindered by the i5 verses the i7?

No.

 

[Fishrrman]

Get the 2012.

 

[mikehalloran]

Neither.

Get a 2013 or later. Apple went with a cooler running HDD that year to reduce the heat problems inherent in the 2011 & 2012. Yes, the 2012 had problems, too.

Avoid the 2011 unless someone got rid of the HDD and installed an SSD years ago. Even still, it's obsolete. I still have one and there are many that I service but those spinning heat pumps were jettisoned by 2016 and the NV RAM batteries replaced. Not one has suffered graphics problems — nor will they since I removed the source of the problem. In my case, our 2011 i5 does everything my wife needs. Still, I can no longer recommend that anyone buy one.