Core 2 Duo or i3?

[Eric8199]

I'm getting a new iMac for Christmas. I'm planning on getting a refurb from Apple, as I can save a bit of money, and what I hear is they are just as good, if not better, than a brand new machine.

My question: I can get the 21.5" with a Core 2 Duo processor and a 1TB hard drive, or an i3 with a 500GB hard drive.

Aside from that, everything else is the same. The C2D is a little more expensive, but a bigger savings over retail. I will be doing photoshop work, design with Quark, some video editing, and likely some gaming on a Windows partition.

What do you guys think? Should I get the more current i3, or go with the C2D to get the bigger hard drive.

i3 is $1019 with 500GB
C2D is $1099 with 1TB

 

[TMRaven]

what are the gpus for both? I'm leaning towards the i3.

 

[eatbacon]

You can buy a 1TB drive for roughly the price difference (even an external if you don't want to mess with installation). Go for the better CPU.

 

[Eric8199]

You can buy a 1TB drive for roughly the price difference (even an external if you don't want to mess with installation). Go for the better CPU.

Thanks. That's kind of what I was thinking. Don't really need the extra space at this time anyway, because the computer I'm replacing has a 250GB hard drive that isn't full.

 

[AlexisV]

i3 will give you better resale value in 3/4 year's time

 

[AlvinNguyen]

I would go with the i3 hands down! I had the exact 21.5 core duo with 1tb you mentioned and I recently got a 27" i3 as a replacement and its worlds apart. I can feel the performance difference noticeably. Plus, why not have the newest one possible - the core2duo intels are really dated now.

 

[300D]

i3 without question. C2D is out of date.

 

[Hellhammer]

Storage can always be added, CPU speed cannot.

 

[stridemat]

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Storage can always be added, CPU speed cannot.

Agree with. Buy the highest spec machine you can in relation to CPU and graphics card. Everything else can be done with aftermarket purchases.

 

[300D]

Agree with. Buy the highest spec machine you can in relation to CPU and graphics card. Everything else can be done with aftermarket purchases.

Incorrect. The CPU is easily upgraded.

 

[Hellhammer]

Incorrect. The CPU is easily upgraded.

I wouldn't say easily. Upgrading the CPU involves taking off the whole logic board. That's not something what I would consider easy, especially when compared to RAM upgrade which is considered to be an easy upgrade. Plus it voids warranty. You would also be stuck with the E8600 if you bought the C2D model, not much of an upgrade.

 

[300D]

I wouldn't say easily.

No more difficult than changing the hard drive.

Plus it voids warranty.

As does anything other than ram.

 

[stridemat]

Incorrect. The CPU is easily upgraded.

Good luck with that...I would not have the confidence to do it.

 

[Hellhammer]

No more difficult than changing the hard drive.

Upgrading the HD does not involve removal of the whole logic board.

As does anything other than ram.

Only if you damage something while doing it. However, the CPU has "warranty voided if removed" sticker on it, other components don't.

 

[TMRaven]

You technically don't void your warranty if you replace a hard drive or optical drive on the iMac and don't damage anything. If you ever find yourself needing service, you can just replace the original equipment it came with.

The heat sink for the cpu however, has a warranty voided if removed sticker covering one of its screws.

 

[300D]

Only if you damage something while doing it.

Incorrect. The iMac is "non-user serviceable" which means it up to Apple if a self-upgrade is warranty voiding or not.

 

[TMRaven]

Apple won't know if your machine was upgraded or not if everything internally was the same as its factory conditions. That's why they have "warranty voided if removed" stickers on.

 

[300D]

Apple won't know if your machine was upgraded or not if everything internally was the same as its factory conditions.

Then there would be nothing upgraded! Der! I can tell you really put a lot of thought into that post.

 

[TMRaven]

I guess you didn't think of replacing your aftermarket HDD or SSD with the original HDD that came with the computer whenever you need it serviced.

You really try your hardest to sound like a douche over the internet, huh?

 

[biggd]

Core2Duo is lame sauce

Wait till after Xmas ( and u have all your gifts and $) and score an Icore5

 

[jfyrfytr25]

Then there would be nothing upgraded! Der! I can tell you really put a lot of thought into that post.

You make no sense. he is absolutely correct. In fact Steve Jobs made a comment to this affect in a Q & A awhile back. Said that users are free to upgrade all they want as long as no damage is done while doing it. The warranty is not voided with the act of changing the hard drive. It is voided when you break off a cable clip when re-placing the display.


Also, your logic and his differs in one way. If you replace the original HD before taking it to apple, then there is no upgrade and all is well, (as you said)

However, your point was that a CPU swap voids the warranty like any other upgrade. The difference is, with that sticker, even if you replace the original chip before servicing they wil still know and therefore VOID!!!!