Refurbished iMac options, some help?

[i0Nic]

Hey guys,

I'm looking to buy a refurbished 27" iMac and have narrowed it down to the below 3 models:

Refurbished iMac 27-inch 3.2GHz Intel Core i3 processor
27-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
4GB memory
1TB hard drive
ATI Radeon HD 5670 graphics with 512MB memory
AUD $1439

Refurbished iMac 27-inch 2.66GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5
27-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
4GB memory
1TB hard drive
ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics with 512MB memory
AUD $1529

Refurbished iMac 27-inch 2.8GHz Intel Quad-Core i5 processor
27-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
4GB memory
1TB hard drive
ATI Radeon HD 5750 graphics with 1GB memory
AUD $1699

I'm looking to get the best bang for my buck, obviously I'd like to spend less. Which option would be best? I'm currently thinking about the cheapest first option, is the graphics card and processor far behind the others? I'd be looking at basically using the iLife apps, web design as well as some light gaming such as starcraft 2.

Any insights you could provide would be helpful!

 

[0007776]

If that's all you'll be doing then the cheapest on will be powerful enough for you. Buy that one and save the money.

 

[i0Nic]

If that's all you'll be doing then the cheapest on will be powerful enough for you. Buy that one and save the money.

Yeah but I don't mind spending the bit extra if it's worth it, if there's not much real world performance difference then yeah I'd just save the money.

 

[MaLiLoMAC]

I'd vote for this one right here.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/G0GF0LL/A?mco=MTU0Mzg4OTg

Refurbished iMac 27-inch 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
27-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
4GB memory
1TB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics with 512MB memory
Built-in iSight camera

$1,699.00
Ships: 1-3 business days
Free Shipping

Same price as the refurbished 2.8 i5 with a better processor. The i7 is much better than the slightly better graphics in the 2.8 i7, IMO.

But then, I got the refurbished i7 and I love it, so I may be prejudiced.

 

[0007776]

I'd vote for this one right here.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/G0GF0LL/A?mco=MTU0Mzg4OTg

Refurbished iMac 27-inch 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
27-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
4GB memory
1TB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics with 512MB memory
Built-in iSight camera

$1,699.00
Ships: 1-3 business days
Free Shipping

Same price as the refurbished 2.8 i5 with a better processor. The i7 is much better than the slightly better graphics in the 2.8 i7, IMO.

But then, I got the refurbished i7 and I love it, so I may be prejudiced.

He's in Australia not the US so that one isn't an option.

Yeah but I don't mind spending the bit extra if it's worth it, if there's not much real world performance difference then yeah I'd just save the money.

I don't think you'll see too much difference unless you are running a lot of apps at once in which case it may be worth it to get one of the quad core models.

 

[MaLiLoMAC]

He's in Australia not the US so that one isn't an option.



I don't think you'll see too much difference unless you are running a lot of apps at once in which case it may be worth it to get one of the quad core models.

I am sure they have that one is the Australia store as well.


And you are right, he probably won't see much difference right now for what he's doing. If he's going to keep the machine for several years, though, the few hundred dollars difference is worth it to get a quad core IMO.