Used iMac 27" with 32GB RAM - Worth it?

[Tofray]

I've been negotiating with a CL seller who has a:
-3 month old 3.4Ghz i7 with 680mx, 1TB Fusion, 32GB RAM, with 2+ years of Applecare...$2600 is his lowest offer.

The config I'm considering buying online is:
-3.4 i5, 780m, 3TB Fusion, 8GB RAM...With Applecare & tax=$2700 (Govt discount)

I really don't want to wait the 2 weeks to get the mac, and 32GB RAM/i7 would be nice. The positive for a new config is: It's new! slightly upgraded vid card, and 2TB more storage.

Is the extra 24GB of RAM & i7 upgrade worth buying used? I do like to play video games on it, but not sure if the extra 24GB would make much of a difference if it's the only thing I'm running.

I'm really itching to pull the trigger, so any help would be appreciated.

 

[RedReplicant]

Does $2700 include tax? If so go the new route. You don't need 32GB of ram if your only usage point is playing games - 8GB would be fine, if not it's cheap to add another 16GB (overkill).

 

[td2243]

I'd buy a new one for that much money. PLUS get an extra year of applecare.

Used is used. Don't pay a new price. IMHO.

 

[MrGimper]

About 6 weeks ago I paid £1600 (about the same as your $ price with conversion) for a similar spec late 2012, except mine had 24GB RAM. It was a March 2013 machine.

I knew the new models were coming but hadn't been announced. I assumed there wouldn't be earth-shattering changes.

I'm happy with my choice. Now the new models are out, I'd expect pre-owned 2012 models to drop in price. What I'm essentially saying is I'd expect to pay a few 100 $'s less than what's being asked for that pre-owned i7 now new models are out.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

It really depends on what you are using it for. Gaming, pick the new model. Everything else, the old one.

 

[buster84]

I've been negotiating with a CL seller who has a:
-3 month old 3.4Ghz i7 with 680mx, 1TB Fusion, 32GB RAM, with 2+ years of Applecare...$2600 is his lowest offer.

The config I'm considering buying online is:
-3.4 i5, 780m, 3TB Fusion, 8GB RAM...With Applecare & tax=$2700 (Govt discount)

I really don't want to wait the 2 weeks to get the mac, and 32GB RAM/i7 would be nice. The positive for a new config is: It's new! slightly upgraded vid card, and 2TB more storage.

Is the extra 24GB of RAM & i7 upgrade worth buying used? I do like to play video games on it, but not sure if the extra 24GB would make much of a difference if it's the only thing I'm running.

I'm really itching to pull the trigger, so any help would be appreciated.

Thats not a good deal at all! I just spent $2795 after Tax for this system. 27" 3.5 I7, 256 SSD, GTX 780M, 8GB Ram (Easily upgradeable with the access panel in the back and cheaper to do it yourself), I also got the Trackpad and Magic mouse and Apple Care.

I got it all through the educational discount so its a little cheaper. If your in school you can get the same deal, If you have kids who are in school you can also get this deal. You can also have a friend who's in school help you out. Anyone can order from the educational store, but they can do an audit (never heard of this happening to anyone i know). All you need to do is link a .edu e-mail to your account and they wont audit you.

If you can't get the educational discount and your government one isn't as good your better buying one of these over the ones on CL.

3.4 I7, 1TB hard drive, GTX 675MX, 8GB Ram $1739
http://store.apple.com/us/product/G0MS4LL/A/refurbished-imac-34ghz-quad-core-intel-core-i7

3.4 I7, 1TB Fusion Drive, 680MX, 8GB Ram, $1999
http://store.apple.com/us/product/G0MS5LL/A/refurbished-imac-34ghz-quad-core-intel-core-i7

3.4 I7, 3TB Fusion Drive, GTX 675MX, 16GB Ram $2199
http://store.apple.com/us/product/G0MS6LL/A/refurbished-imac-34ghz-quad-core-intel-core-i7

Then add your own applecare on top of that for 3 years of protection. CL is full of Apple users who are trying to get unsuspecting people to overpay for their used crap that way they can buy a new one for only a hundred more. Simple searches will yield cheaper and better deals than used on CL.

Show him these links and tell him he's $600 over priced when you can get a refurbished one for 2k with the same specs (just less memory, but a cheap upgrade). Offer him $1900 no more. Knowing him his unit is a refurbished unit too!

 

[II BISTRO II]

I've been negotiating with a CL seller who has a:
-3 month old 3.4Ghz i7 with 680mx, 1TB Fusion, 32GB RAM, with 2+ years of Applecare...$2600 is his lowest offer.

The config I'm considering buying online is:
-3.4 i5, 780m, 3TB Fusion, 8GB RAM...With Applecare & tax=$2700 (Govt discount)

I really don't want to wait the 2 weeks to get the mac, and 32GB RAM/i7 would be nice. The positive for a new config is: It's new! slightly upgraded vid card, and 2TB more storage.

Is the extra 24GB of RAM & i7 upgrade worth buying used? I do like to play video games on it, but not sure if the extra 24GB would make much of a difference if it's the only thing I'm running.

I'm really itching to pull the trigger, so any help would be appreciated.

2013 imac has haswell porcessors, pcie ssd, and a better video card vs the ivy bridge processors in the 2012 and sata ssd

go for the 2013 model!

 

[AaronM5670]

Don't get obsessed over the RAM - the beauty of the 27" is that it can be upgraded in the future. Most professionals don't even need 32GB.