Any opinions on replacing my current 20" iMac?

[K20]

Hey guys,

My 20" iMac (2.16ghz core duo, ATI Radeon X1600) is suffering from those horrible horizontal lines across the display, and is also locking up as soon as it hits 130 degrees F (even when the temp in my house is like 50 degrees), so I'm thinking it's time to replace it. I know I can open up the iMac and blow away the dust, but I feel like I'll be having to do this every time I get those lines.

I'm trying to decide between a couple of aluminum iMacs (24", 2.8ghz, with Radeon 2600 Pro or 20", 2.66ghz, with GeForce 9400M), however, I'm still worried about eventually getting the same problems I've experienced with my current iMac. I'm also thinking about a Mac mini with a 22" LCD display.

Any opinions on what machine to go for?

Thanks guys

 

[miles01110]

Well without any mention of budget or what you use your computer for, I'd say go for the iMac. The Minis just aren't great machines.

 

[ziggyonice]

I think the issue you're having with your machine is quite rare -- you may want to get that checked out if you're still under warranty.

Otherwise, I'd have to vote for a new iMac over the mini. While the Mac mini is great when cost is an issue -- and when you don't need something super powerful -- the iMac will easily blow it away in terms of what it can do.

 

[jjhoekstra]

First have your iMac checked as it is a rare defect
I have now both the new mini and the new iMac 20" and I like both a lot. The one big disadvantage of the mini is the small HD, and that can easily be solved with an external HD. Performance-wise the iMac and the mini are close enough that it is not relevant. If money is an issue, go with the mini, you will not regret it. We got our iMac for estetic reasons, it lives in the living room and looks much nicer than the mini.

 

[K20]

I'm out of warranty and did not purchase AppleCare, so I'm out of luck there

I did search on the forums a while back and eventually narrowed it down to heat issues related to the GPU causing horizontal lines on the screen and the system to lock up. People were fixing this by using smcFanControl (not working for me), opening up their iMac and blowing off the dust from the fan (somewhat temporary), or paying $1k+ for a replacement logic board.


Do you guys happen to know if there are any heat issues related to the 20" GeForce 9400M or the 24" Radeon 2600 Pro that cause the same problems I have with my current iMac? (Don't really have a specific budget)