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WOPR · Sep 15, 2006, 02:37 PM

I want to upgrade from my current iMac (see my sig) and can choose between:

Refurb 20" Core Duo iMac (the last model, just superceded) 512mb/250gb

and

New 17" Core 2 Duo iMac 1gb/250gb

Both are the same price (£799). I'd upgrade the 17" to 2gb for £120, and add 1gb to the 20" for slightly less to give 1.5gb total.

I can't decide!!! Both would be a lot quicker than my current machine, but is the 64bit Core 2 Duo really worth having? I only use Adobe CS occasionally, all my other commonly used apps are Universal Binary.

Any help appreciated!

iMacfan · Sep 15, 2006, 02:50 PM

If your budget can't stretch to a new C2D 20", then I'd go with the refurb. You'll appreciate the extra screen space, and the quality is meant to be much better too.

David

WOPR · Sep 15, 2006, 03:24 PM

Yes I only have just under a grand to spend and I want a good amount of memory, so these are my 2 options.

imitchellg5 · Sep 15, 2006, 03:42 PM

Go for refurb 20". I have a 17 inch G5, but now I wish I had gotten 20 instead. The 17 inch is a bit crowded heighth wise IMO, and the 20 is a perfect size.

Hiramw · Sep 15, 2006, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by WOPR

I want to upgrade from my current iMac (see my sig) and can choose between:

Refurb 20" Core Duo iMac (the last model, just superceded) 512mb/250gb

and

New 17" Core 2 Duo iMac 1gb/250gb

Hi,

Unless you are feeling cramped by your current 17" screen, I would suggest the 17" Core 2 Duo. It's actually faster the 20" Core Duo. I suspect the very large 4GB cache on the Core 2 Duo is part of the reason for the speed difference. The Core 2 Duo machine should have a bit longer life as well. It's 64-bit and will be able to take full advantage of Leopard. It also has a higher RAM ceiling. In short, there are number reasons to favor the Core 2 Duo machine.

Hiram

WOPR · Sep 15, 2006, 03:54 PM

I'm 70/30 towards the 17" Core 2 Duo at the moment. Keep the comments coming folks!

MichiganRich · Sep 15, 2006, 05:02 PM

Although I would have difficulty settling for the 17, the Core 2 Duo will be the easier re-sell in the future as well. Newest chips always sell used better than bigger screens.

WOPR · Sep 15, 2006, 05:06 PM

Well I'm quite happy with my current 17" to be honest, so I think I'm almost certainly going to go for the newer model. I'll think it over for another couple of days before clicking the 'buy' button

Hiramw · Sep 15, 2006, 07:28 PM

imitchellg5 · Sep 15, 2006, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by Hiramw

Hi,

Unless you are feeling cramped by your current 17" screen, I would suggest the 17" Core 2 Duo. It's actually faster the 20" Core Duo. I suspect the very large 4GB cache on the Core 2 Duo is part of the reason for the speed difference. The Core 2 Duo machine should have a bit longer life as well. It's 64-bit and will be able to take full advantage of Leopard. It also has a higher RAM ceiling. In short, there are number reasons to favor the Core 2 Duo machine.

Hiram

Aren't all iMacs since G5s 64 bit?

iMacfan · Sep 15, 2006, 08:02 PM

No, the Core Duos are 32-bit

bbrowne74 · Sep 15, 2006, 09:18 PM

I just picked up a 17" Core 2 Duo iMac, and went 17" for a couple reasons:

As an educator, I got the unit for $1099. The 20" model was 300 more. I have a MacBook Pro and was using it as a desktop with a 21" Samsung LCD. I've hooked up the iMac to it and can span or make the LCD my primary screen. I used my existing screen and saved $300. Would it be nice to have (2) 20" LCDs for my desktops at home? Sure, but I figured since I Have a MacBook Pro already I shouldn't push my luck financially. I wanted the desktop as a multimedia file server to access my library remotely, and also so I don't always have to whip out the MBP all the time when I get home from work.

I can definitely tell the difference betwen working on the 17 and working on the 21. Is it worth $300 to me (or you if you want to save the dough)? I don't think so.

I'd also probably go for the Core 2 Duo vs. the first gen - if you're given a choice between previous gen and present gen esp. with the change in processor and other updates, I'd probably go newer.

WOPR · Sep 16, 2006, 08:04 AM

Thanks for all the help guys, I've decided to go for the new Core 2 Duo 17". Can't order until Tuesday though as my wife can get a discount by ordering through her employer

Thanks again, especially for those benchmarks Hiramw.

bbrowne74 · Sep 16, 2006, 04:54 PM

Good choice WOPR. Of course you couldn't go wrong with a 20" Core Duo either, bt if you're happy with 17" I'd get the latest and greatest. Since we're talking first gen Intel here it can't hurt to get the more refined product.

Cool name BTW:

"Would you like to Play a game?"
"Greetings PRofessor Falken"

jamil5454 · Sep 16, 2006, 11:10 PM

Now that you can hook up an external monitor in span mode, even screen real estate can be upgraded. Seeing as the processor in the 20" Core Duo is socketed and can be upgraded with a little hassle to the new Core 2 Duo, you have to ask your whether you want the processor now and upgrade screen real estate later, or get the screen real estate now and upgrade the processor later. If it were me, I'd go with the former, as adding another monitor is extremely easy and much cheaper (without voiding your warranty either).

Tuoder · Sep 17, 2006, 06:49 AM

My money is on the 20", as both the RAM and the CPU are ugradeable later. Furthermore, i would get the VRAM upgrade instead of a RAM upgrade, for the same reason.

macdevil · Sep 17, 2006, 08:10 PM

I was going to BTO 24" iMac at the end of the month, but due to circumstances in my family, I have aquired a 24" standard model at about a 40% discount that was only two days old.
So now I am interested in what I can get upgraded on the base 24"model. I know the ram is consumer upgradable and I will be taking it up to max in a week or so. Are the processors soldered on or if down the line are they upgradable? Video card? Hard drive? And, although not most imortantly, but just wondering, is the airport extreme integrated into the motherboard or will it be replacable when the n standard comes out in '07?

mduell · Sep 17, 2006, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by macdevil

I was going to BTO 24" iMac at the end of the month, but due to circumstances in my family, I have aquired a 24" standard model at about a 40% discount that was only two days old.
So now I am interested in what I can get upgraded on the base 24"model. I know the ram is consumer upgradable and I will be taking it up to max in a week or so. Are the processors soldered on or if down the line are they upgradable? Video card? Hard drive? And, although not most imortantly, but just wondering, is the airport extreme integrated into the motherboard or will it be replacable when the n standard comes out in '07?

The CPU, RAM, hard drive, optical drive, and GPU/VRAM are all upgradeable. However Apple will not honor your warranty if you upgrade anything other than the RAM.
N will not be out until at least 2008.

macdevil · Sep 19, 2006, 12:41 AM

Thanks for the info!

brokenjago · Sep 19, 2006, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by Hiramw

...very large 4GB cache on the...

You're right, that's a very large cache!

WOPR · Sep 20, 2006, 11:02 AM

Order placed, should be with me on the 29th

Hiramw · Sep 20, 2006, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by WOPR

Order placed, should be with me on the 29th

Cool! Give us a little report back and let us know how you like it.

Hiram

WOPR · Sep 20, 2006, 12:18 PM

Will do, expect pictures too

Feel guilty though as I pre-ordered a PC game today as I couldn't wait for the Mac version