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2.0Ghz iMac vs 2.0Ghz Mini - What's the difference?

W

Wingnut330

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 16, 2008
530
0
Central Ohio - USA
Hey all,

Aside from size form factor etc, what are the major differences between an iMac and a Mini. I have a 2.0 Mini and I'm considering replacing it with a 24" iMac. In reading the specs I don't see many differences, so it might be a waste to upgrade. It just seems that for the price of upgrading Mini RAM and getting a 23" ACD, I might as well sell the Mini and get a 24" iMac.

Thoughts?
 
The mini lacks a discrete graphics chip with its own video RAM like the iMac has, and it uses a laptop-size hard drive instead of the desktop-sized variety.
 
The current Mac Mini can actually address up to 3.3 GB of memory. I wonder why Apple reports only up to 2 GB though...
 
dbam987 said:
The current Mac Mini can actually address up to 3.3 GB of memory. I wonder why Apple reports only up to 2 GB though...
Click to expand...

Because 3 GB wouldn't be dual channel, and since it has the worst of the worst integrated graphics, there would be a huge performance hit.
 
Differences:
  • Processor - Mac mini uses old Core 2 Duo processor. No 800 MHz FSB and generally slower all round.
  • As mentioned - Laptop HDD - 2.5" 5,400rpm Hard Drive is slower than the iMac's 3.5" 7,200rpm Hard Drive and has smaller capacity.
  • As mentioned - No dedicated graphics card. Poor graphics performance with the mini.
  • As mentioned - 2 GB RAM limit with Mac mini, 4 GB with iMac.
  • iMac has a FW 800 port but the mini has 4 USB ports.
  • Mini's laptop parts make it incredibly power efficient and quiet, although the iMac isn't exactly noisy.
That's everything I think. If you are buying an iMac, but can afford to wait a little, it wouldn't hurt with it approaching the end of its cycle.
 
Thanks BlizzardBomb, that's very helpful. I just bought the Mini before Christmas and bought an MBA a week ago. I'm not in a huge hurry, but I would like to get moving. I'm so over my tired Windows XP machine. I would like to get one soon and from what I'm reading online there is no real date for the new iMac.

I guess I can lay low for another couple of weeks...
 
Unfortunately, the current minis are still only 802.11g. The iMac, MB, MBP, MBA, etc. are all 802.11n.

The mini will address up to 3.3 GB of RAM though.
 
The mini is more than enough computer for everyday tasks. I bought a 1.83C2D mini to use a server, since I had let these forums convince me that it would not be powerful enough to do anything.

That said, it is now the most used computer in my house, and everyone loves it.

The imac is more powerful, but it is quite a bit more expensive if you already have the other peripherals. It will currently address up to 3.3GB/RAM, and memory is so cheap you might as well pop in the 4GB. Most people are not using FW800 anyway, and the HDD is not an issue for most tasks. If you have a HDD MBA, the mini will seem like a rocket anyway. I never thought of the wireless not having N as an issue, since all of my desktops run cabled ethernet.

If you feel like you will be running into walls with the mini specs, get the imac, but do not think that you "need" it. People on this forum make it sound the mini and MB will not function at all...
 
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