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General Mac hardware discussions: confused between getting an imac coreduo or macmini coreduo.

by don13ger - 3/30/06 9:33 AM

Total posts: 6

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Post 1 of 6

confused between getting an imac coreduo or macmini coreduo.

by don13ger - 3/30/06 9:33 AM

if i buy the imac core duo, these would be the specs..

2.0GHz Intel Core Duo with 2MB shared L2 cache
* 2GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x1GB
* 500GB Serial ATA drive
* ATI Radeon X1600/256MB VRAM
* SuperDrive 8x (DVD+R DL/DVD+RW/CD-RW)
* iWork '06 preinstalled
* Wireless Keyboard & Mouse + Mac OS X - U.S. English
* Accessory kit
* AppleCare Protection Plan for iMac - Auto-enroll
* 20-inch widescreen LCD
* 2GHz Intel Core Duo
* AirPort Extreme
* Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR

price:$2682.00

if i buy the mac mini core duo, these would be the specs...

1.66GHz Intel Core Duo processor
* 2GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x1GB
* 120GB Serial ATA drive
* SuperDrive 8x (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
* Wireless Keyboard & Mouse Set - U.S. English
* Apple Cinema HD Display (23" flat panel)
* iWork '06 preinstalled
* Mac OS X - U.S. English
* AppleCare Protection Plan for Mac mini (w/or w/o Display) - Auto-enroll
* 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo
* Intel GMA950 graphics
* Accessory kit

price:$2,850.00

now im confused..
how big is the 1.66 ghz difference to 2.0 ghz
plus, is the graphics card for the mini enough?
will the mini be okay for hours of use?

i like that the imac already has built in web cam and mic but i also like the hd cinema display that im gonna get if i get the mini...

need anyone's advice..

thanks.
don ger

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Post 2 of 6

Confused

by mrmacfixit

- 3/30/06 12:28 PM In reply to: confused between getting an imac coreduo or macmini coreduo. by don13ger

Well you certainly know how to push the price up.
If you are going to max out the RAM, in any machine, do not buy that RAM from the Manufacturer of the machine. Shop around and you may well find that you can lower your price considerably.
Personally, if I was going to spend that much money on a machine, I would not pick the mini.
The iMac is built to be faster by virtue of the different logicboard architecture. The iMac would win the race if the mini and the iMac were both running the same speed processors.
The 2Ghz processor in the iMac will leave the mini standing. Graphics card in the iMac is also better and it has the added advantage of the built-in 20"LCD.
Granted, the 23" Cinema is a nice piece of kit and the mini is capable of running it.

Ultimately the choice is yours but, personally, I'd go for the iMac as having more bang for the buck

P

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Post 3 of 6

thanks

by don13ger - 3/30/06 8:16 PM In reply to: Confused by mrmacfixit

thanks for the advice.. seems like everyone i ask tells me to choose the imac.. so im probbly gonna get it..

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Post 4 of 6

for the ram,

by Ravensblood - 3/31/06 3:55 PM In reply to: thanks by don13ger

check out http://www.ramseeker.com/ . they compare prices fro several different resellers. make sure you buy from one with a lifetime warranty.

I don't know what your needs are, but I would also suggest the iMac. From the initial testing at Macword they say it'll be a pretty decent gaming machine once the games are universal.

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