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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Desktops > Thinking of getting a refurb Rev B. iMac 20"

Thinking of getting a refurb Rev B. iMac 20"
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galarneau
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Dec 11, 2005, 02:26 PM
 
What's the final word on noise/heat/overall satisfaction?

I've read about the bad capacitors etc.

They seem quiet/cool enough when I see them at the local Apple store... though it is pretty loud in there.

Any (positive/negative) opinions appreciated.
     
drewcifer
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Dec 11, 2005, 11:34 PM
 
go for it, mine runs like a champ.
     
galarneau  (op)
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Dec 13, 2005, 08:18 PM
 
No more responses?

Lots of satisfied customers, or nobody has anything nice to say?
     
slugslugslug
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Dec 13, 2005, 11:21 PM
 
I love my 20" 2.0GHz iMac G5. Had it since mid-June w/nary a problem. The times I've heard a fan, it's been quiet. Also, I would imagine refurb means it's slightly less likely to have problems, but I could be talking out my butt there. Anyway, just get it.
     
only120xs
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Dec 14, 2005, 11:07 AM
 
Mine's perfect
     
legacyb4
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Dec 14, 2005, 01:57 PM
 
Sure, but with only three weeks or so to go, you can't wait to see what Santa brings at MacWorld SF?
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jhogarty
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Dec 14, 2005, 02:14 PM
 
Since we are so close to MacWorld I'd wait unless you have an urgent need. With that said, my 20" iMac has been running very well for some time. I've had two issues.

1. One time it sounded like the fan was kicked in at high speed and didn't want to calm down. I had to turn it off for a few minutes and back on. Never had a problem again until the next one.

2. My daughter was "experimenting" and seeing how much she knew about computers. She unplugged the power from the back of the unit and freaked her brother and mother out. She thought she broke it and was crying. I came home, saw the cable, plugged it in and it has been on ever since.

We normally log out and put the iMac in sleep mode when not in use. Same for my dual G5.

Our iMac is in our living room (no tv here) and when guests come over it is always a conversation piece.

J.
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Crusoe
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Dec 14, 2005, 05:48 PM
 
I have too. I'm am going to wait till after MWSF. I'm thinking nothing new on the hardware front but the refurbs for both Rev C iMacs and DC PMs will pop up on the the refurb store. Perhaps a price drop on PM line so that will give me more options.... confusion hehe.
The Rev C is a healthy performance boost over the Bs according to barefeats.
http://www.barefeats.com/im21.html so i'm already torn.
( Last edited by Crusoe; Dec 14, 2005 at 07:18 PM. )
If a group of mimes are miming a forest and one falls down, does he make a sound?
     
quiklee
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Dec 14, 2005, 07:38 PM
 
I considered getting a refurb, but went with the new iMac 20 just cuz of the built in isight! I think one day, everyone of my family is gonna get an imac or powerbook (with builtin isight) and then we'll be able to see and talk to each other much better.
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Chinasaur
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Dec 17, 2005, 07:41 PM
 
I bought a refurb 2Ghz, 20" last week.

1. Fan noise. I can hear it. It's now in my kitchen.
2. The thing is fast with 2GB of RAM.
3. Runs Doom3 well at HighQuality w/ 2GB
4. Too noisy for my quiet office.
5. Disply is BRIGHT!!
6. Display is very crisp. No dead/stuck pixels on mine.

I wouldn't buy again but that's my mileage.
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galarneau  (op)
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Dec 17, 2005, 08:38 PM
 
I'm not going to get one. I like quiet & cool running computers.

I might get a mini to go with my 22" CRT after MacWorld, especially if an updated model drops the price of the older mini's with Airport down under $400.
     
slugslugslug
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Dec 17, 2005, 09:51 PM
 
Originally Posted by galarneau
I'm not going to get one. I like quiet & cool running computers.
Maybe you should start an "Is your Rev B. iMac noisy?" thread (if there isn't one already), or better yet a poll. I wouldn't just assume Chinasaur's experience is typical. Esp. since there's some other thread around here where a bunch of us chimed in to say ours isn't noisy.

Chinasaur, maybe you should take yours into an Apple Store or a reseller who does warranty repair. Can't imagine why it should be so noisy, unless it's constantly doing some kind of heavy-duty bioinformatics in a really hot building..
     
Chinasaur
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Dec 20, 2005, 08:41 AM
 
The fans at idle are loud to "me" in my silent house. I also have no carpets/drapes/sound deading material so everything resonates/echos. It's louder (at idle) than my Dual 1.8 PM under my desk, and since it sits ON my desk, it "seems" louder. I'm susceptible to noises so I bought a fanless 9600XT to keep the noise down as much as possible in my DP 1.8 so I hear fan noises more than most.

I'm sure to most people it would be acceptable, but after living with loud PC's/dot matrix printers/office bedlam..I choose now not to listen to anything but the most silent system I can buy.
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blindemboss
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Dec 20, 2005, 04:18 PM
 
Well, I just pulled the trigger on a refurbished Rev. B. iMac 20".

Looking forward to working on a larger screen coming from a 15" iMac G4.
Crossing my fingers that it'll be free of noise, heat, and most of all, flames.
I report back next week once I've had time to play with it.
     
quiklee
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Dec 20, 2005, 04:35 PM
 
Can't wait to see some pictures! Welcome to the Nation!
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Chinasaur
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Dec 20, 2005, 07:18 PM
 
Blindem,

1. You are going to DIG the 20" display. It's wide and crisp and BRIGHT!
2. Get yourself 2GB of RAM. Bite the bullet now and do it while you can. You'll kick yourself later if you ever find out how well it would have run otherwise.
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blindemboss
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Dec 28, 2005, 09:24 PM
 
Originally Posted by quiklee
Can't wait to see some pictures! Welcome to the Nation!

How do I post a pic here at MacNN?
Would love to share my new baby with everyone.
     
Chinasaur
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Dec 29, 2005, 12:04 AM
 
Try putting the image somewhere. Then use [ img ]http://somewhere.com/somewhere[ /img ].. without the spaces between the brackets...and see if that doesn't work
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blindemboss
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Dec 29, 2005, 01:11 PM
 
Thanks Chinasaur.
But I managed to put two pics here at yahoo:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/blindemboss/my_photos

One with my old trusty G4 and the new behemoth 20 incher beside it.
The G4 certainly has more character, but the G5 has that sleeker minimalist look.
     
Chinasaur
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Dec 30, 2005, 01:28 AM
 
Be sure to post it in the iMac picture thread
( Last edited by Chinasaur; Dec 30, 2005 at 01:47 AM. )
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