2.4GHz vs 2.66GHz ... a difference you would notice?

[GameGuru38]

I have the 2008 iMac in my signature and I just bought another 2008 one that has 2GB of RAM, 500GB HDD and that 2.66GHz processor. My question is if I put 4GB of RAM and the same SSD in this one would there be any discernible difference in performance with the extra 200MHz? My instinct is no but just wondering.

 

[maflynn]

The difference will be there, but I doubt that it will be that much noticeable in real work activities

 

[jerwin]

the 2.66 ghz machine should have a faster video card-- hd2600 pro instead of hd 2400xt.

three times the stream processors. Might be useful on period appropriate games, but I don't imagine that it was a gaming card even then.

 

[BrettApple]

I have a base model 2007 2.0 GHz iMac (128MB 2400XT) and my brother has a 2008 2.66 GHz model (256MB 2600 Pro) and the difference is pretty marginal. Both are on El Capitan, both have 4GB of RAM, 2007 has a 120GB SSD and his '08 has a 512GB model.

The biggest difference is UI performance and frame-rate with the better GPU he has under Yosemite and up. Otherwise, websites load about the same, apps open just as quick, etc. If you don't game or edit videos, it won't be very significant. Just feels a bit better to use. A real upgrade would be moving to a Core i5+ iMac with a better GPU too rather than between C2D models that all feel pretty much the same from 2007-2009.