Which iMac is right for me?

[Akack]

Need some advice from experts.

Some backround info:

1) in Texas so I don't have to pay tax if I buy from MacMall or Amazon
2) only surf internet, you tube and very light gaming. No photo editing or programming involved, so extremely light computer user. I'm not a heavy gamer by any stretch but currently dabble in some Team Fortress 2.

3) I need a desktop but I don't want a Mac Mini nor want a PC since I want to stay in Mac OS.



So....which better suits my purposes, I may get back into some moderate gaming in the future:

1) new 2011 base 21.5 (i5, AMD 6750M) from Amazon ~ $ 1,125 (would the graphics/processor be adequate for light gaming and possible moderate gaming in future??)

2) refurb 2011 21.5 from Apple (i5, AMD 6770M) ~ $1,373

3) "new" closeout 2010 27 (i3 3.2 ghz, ATI 5670) from macmall ~ $1,350

4) "new" closeout 2010 27 (i5 2.8ghz, ATI 5750) from macmall ~ $1,435

Spent some time with the 21 vs 27 in the Apple store and think the 21 may be too small but 27 too big. If I go with the 21 I will buy an external monitor (probably the LG 23" IPS for ~ $250, thus closing in on the cost of a base 27" from macmall).

All are within my budget but obviously the less I spend the better !!
Thanks in advance or if you have any other suggestions.

 

[wrinkster22]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_5 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8L1 Safari/6533.18.5)

Have you considered a refurb 24" ?
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Sent from an iPhone 4

 

[alust2013]

If you think a 21 will be too small, a 27 would probably suit you better. Any 23" monitor you buy will have the same resolution as the 21" iMac. The 27" may take a couple days to get used to , but it really is nice.

 

[Akack]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_5 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8L1 Safari/6533.18.5)

Have you considered a refurb 24" ?
---
Sent from an iPhone 4

Want to stick with i3 or i5 processors.

If you think a 21 will be too small, a 27 would probably suit you better. Any 23" monitor you buy will have the same resolution as the 21" iMac. The 27" may take a couple days to get used to , but it really is nice.

I know there won't be any difference between option 3 or 4 for simple web browsing but how about for gaming?

 

[Michael383]

I'd go for option 4. That iMac should be great for everyday use and moderate gaming.