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Refurbished iMac 24-inch 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

S

shadoe1989

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 4, 2009
10
0
So I got this Imac, Was going to get the new 2.93 but thats just a ripoff

Refurbished iMac 24-inch 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
24-inch glossy widescreen display
2GB memory
320GB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memory
Built-in iSight Camera

So whats the diff between this graphic card and the integrated nvidia one?
Oh and the guy on the phone said its coming in a new Imac white box, so im not sure if this is just old stock or what. I told him that most people get a brown apple box and he said yes but this one is coming in a new one.
 
shadoe1989 said:
So I got this Imac, Was going to get the new 2.93 but thats just a ripoff

Refurbished iMac 24-inch 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
24-inch glossy widescreen display
2GB memory
320GB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memory
Built-in iSight Camera

So whats the diff between this graphic card and the integrated nvidia one?
Oh and the guy on the phone said its coming in a new Imac white box, so im not sure if this is just old stock or what. I told him that most people get a brown apple box and he said yes but this one is coming in a new one.
Click to expand...
This is the option I'm leaning owards as well. My understanding is that the ATI Radeon HD 2600 is slightly better than the NVIDIA 9400M.

And agreed, I want to go with an upgraded 2.93 new iMac but jeez it's a $650 difference!
 
Just ordered the 2.8 refurb for £950!! (And I am still in the 5% promotional cashback period for my amex card making it £900)

Considering the apparent UK price increases I think it's a cracking deal.

Goodbye Vista!!
 
shadoe1989 said:
So I got this Imac, Was going to get the new 2.93 but thats just a ripoff

Refurbished iMac 24-inch 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
24-inch glossy widescreen display
2GB memory
320GB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memory
Built-in iSight Camera

So whats the diff between this graphic card and the integrated nvidia one?
Oh and the guy on the phone said its coming in a new Imac white box, so im not sure if this is just old stock or what. I told him that most people get a brown apple box and he said yes but this one is coming in a new one.
Click to expand...

Sounds to me like you got a new machine at the refurb price. I have been thinking that they must be selling new as refurbs, I mean, how many refurbs can they actually have?
 
I just bought one of these :)

I went to the Apple Store after work to have a closer look at the new iMacs and compare them to the old ones. After deciding that the new ones were not worth the increase in price for my needs, I decided to go for this one. It seems like a pretty good deal.

I originally ordered the refurb 20" 2.66GHz iMac (before the new updates on Tuesday) but that was faulty (screen buzzing when adjusting display brightness). That was picked up today so I should be getting my refund soon :)
After seeing the 24" display compared to the 20", I had to pay the bit extra! lol

Hopefully this refurb will be fully working and no faults *touch wood*
 
the_fellowship said:
I just bought one of these :)

I went to the Apple Store after work to have a closer look at the new iMacs and compare them to the old ones. After deciding that the new ones were not worth the increase in price for my needs, I decided to go for this one. It seems like a pretty good deal.

I originally ordered the refurb 20" 2.66GHz iMac (before the new updates on Tuesday) but that was faulty (screen buzzing when adjusting display brightness). That was picked up today so I should be getting my refund soon :)
After seeing the 24" display compared to the 20", I had to pay the bit extra! lol

Hopefully this refurb will be fully working and no faults *touch wood*
Click to expand...

I just did the same..makes no sense to pay the premium on the new one. 1199 isnt bad, and in the future you can sell it for a good amount if you want to upgrade.
 
adam23 said:
Just ordered the 2.8 refurb for £950!! (And I am still in the 5% promotional cashback period for my amex card making it £900)

Considering the apparent UK price increases I think it's a cracking deal.

Goodbye Vista!!
Click to expand...

Did you go via Quidco? Additional 4% if you did :)
 
I've had the 2.8 for over a year, added my own ram... There was talk about how poor the graphics card was on these boards at the time. To hear that they may have taken a step backwards would be a caution flag for me. Gobble up the 2.8's while you can if that is the case. I've seen the benchmarks which are only CPU intensive without the graphics capability so the jury may still be out on that one. But the CPU benchmark's of the newer one's are slightly lower than the 2.8. Again sans graphics...

Let me just say I'm absolutely satisfied with my 2.8. Final cut express is probably my most intensive app. Not much of a gamer, but would be if I had the time. Plenty of gaming discussions on this board to make your own decision..The only time I felt like I had an inferior machine was when I rendered video on a quad-core mac pro. I have no problem with the limited production I do. I guess you don't know what your missing until you sit down at a faster machine.

When they come out with faster CPU's that's when the difference will be felt obviously with the faster ram etc... Do the math, make your decision, and pull the trigger..
 
Drumerdude said:
Why is everybodybody getting refubs?
Click to expand...

If you don't plan on doing any gaming or gpu intensive tasks, they are a great deal, plus if you wanted a base model, it seems the ati 2600 is better than the new nvidia 9400m by a bit, or, at the very least, not any worse. Basically a better bang for your buck.
 
Drumerdude said:
Why is everybodybody getting refubs?
Click to expand...

Practically new. The latest gets the added tax of being current, like brand new cars. You can always purchase a better computer at lesser price a year later anyhow. I can't deal with my 2 year old Macbook anymore (new when it was purchased) when dealing with videos, so refurb. Just ordered one of these.
 
macabouttobe said:
I've had the 2.8 for over a year, added my own ram... There was talk about how poor the graphics card was on these boards at the time. To hear that they may have taken a step backwards would be a caution flag for me. Gobble up the 2.8's while you can if that is the case. I've seen the benchmarks which are only CPU intensive without the graphics capability so the jury may still be out on that one. But the CPU benchmark's of the newer one's are slightly lower than the 2.8. Again sans graphics...

Let me just say I'm absolutely satisfied with my 2.8. Final cut express is probably my most intensive app. Not much of a gamer, but would be if I had the time. Plenty of gaming discussions on this board to make your own decision..The only time I felt like I had an inferior machine was when I rendered video on a quad-core mac pro. I have no problem with the limited production I do. I guess you don't know what your missing until you sit down at a faster machine.

When they come out with faster CPU's that's when the difference will be felt obviously with the faster ram etc... Do the math, make your decision, and pull the trigger..
Click to expand...

Is this machine quiet? No fan noise? Thx :)
 
the_fellowship said:
I just bought one of these :)

I went to the Apple Store after work to have a closer look at the new iMacs and compare them to the old ones. After deciding that the new ones were not worth the increase in price for my needs, I decided to go for this one. It seems like a pretty good deal.

I originally ordered the refurb 20" 2.66GHz iMac (before the new updates on Tuesday) but that was faulty (screen buzzing when adjusting display brightness). That was picked up today so I should be getting my refund soon :)
After seeing the 24" display compared to the 20", I had to pay the bit extra! lol

Hopefully this refurb will be fully working and no faults *touch wood*
Click to expand...

My refurb iMac 24" 2.8 GHz arrived today, I missed the UPS delivery by 10 mins! So I had to pick it up this evening from the local depot. Just un-packed it and it definitely doesn't seem it's a new machine. It came in the brown box (double boxed) and the keyboard and mouse were not wrapped in plastic (unlike my 1st iMac refurb 20" 2.6GHz).

Anyway, I connect it up and power it up...all I get is a series of beeps! I try again a few times, still a series of beeps and then nothing. I try to re-connect all the cables and wires but still no joy. So I decide to check the RAM, as soon as I touch the ram door...it just falls off! It wasn't even screwed in! So I make sure the RAM is seated properly and attach the ram door correctly i.e. with the screw! It now boots up and I'm just doing a software update.

I don't know what quality checks the refurb units go through, but for something as simple as the RAM door not being screwed in correctly (which causes the iMac not to even boot!) should be an easy thing to spot. I can't believe the fault developed during transit, so it must have been a fault during the so called "testing" phase lol

That's two refubs I've received in the last 6 days...1st was faulty and the 2nd was almost faulty! I hope others ordering refurbs don't have to go through anything similar!

btw, the 24" screen looks amazing! :)
 
the_fellowship said:
My refurb iMac 24" 2.8 GHz arrived today, I missed the UPS delivery by 10 mins! So I had to pick it up this evening from the local depot. Just un-packed it and it definitely doesn't seem it's a new machine. It came in the brown box (double boxed) and the keyboard and mouse were not wrapped in plastic (unlike my 1st iMac refurb 20" 2.6GHz).

Anyway, I connect it up and power it up...all I get is a series of beeps! I try again a few times, still a series of beeps and then nothing. I try to re-connect all the cables and wires but still no joy. So I decide to check the RAM, as soon as I touch the ram door...it just falls off! It wasn't even screwed in! So I make sure the RAM is seated properly and attach the ram door correctly i.e. with the screw! It now boots up and I'm just doing a software update.

I don't know what quality checks the refurb units go through, but for something as simple as the RAM door not being screwed in correctly (which causes the iMac not to even boot!) should be an easy thing to spot. I can't believe the fault developed during transit, so it must have been a fault during the so called "testing" phase lol

That's two refubs I've received in the last 6 days...1st was faulty and the 2nd was almost faulty! I hope others ordering refurbs don't have to go through anything similar!

btw, the 24" screen looks amazing! :)
Click to expand...

Oh my gosh I'm glad you posted this.....wow thats really something. Makes me want to go for the clearance version versus refurb. Geez I hope it runs ok for you. Please post update!
 
the_fellowship said:
My refurb iMac 24" 2.8 GHz arrived today, I missed the UPS delivery by 10 mins! So I had to pick it up this evening from the local depot. Just un-packed it and it definitely doesn't seem it's a new machine. It came in the brown box (double boxed) and the keyboard and mouse were not wrapped in plastic (unlike my 1st iMac refurb 20" 2.6GHz).

Anyway, I connect it up and power it up...all I get is a series of beeps! I try again a few times, still a series of beeps and then nothing. I try to re-connect all the cables and wires but still no joy. So I decide to check the RAM, as soon as I touch the ram door...it just falls off! It wasn't even screwed in! So I make sure the RAM is seated properly and attach the ram door correctly i.e. with the screw! It now boots up and I'm just doing a software update.

I don't know what quality checks the refurb units go through, but for something as simple as the RAM door not being screwed in correctly (which causes the iMac not to even boot!) should be an easy thing to spot. I can't believe the fault developed during transit, so it must have been a fault during the so called "testing" phase lol

That's two refubs I've received in the last 6 days...1st was faulty and the 2nd was almost faulty! I hope others ordering refurbs don't have to go through anything similar!

btw, the 24" screen looks amazing! :)
Click to expand...

Ya I think your just un-lucky or something, I just got my refurb 2.8 yesterday and it's immaculate, everything was wrapped in plastic too.

Mine came in a white box but not a "new" white box with the pictures and such, just a plain white box.
 
NRose8989 said:
Ya I think your just un-lucky or something, I just got my refurb 2.8 yesterday and it's immaculate, everything was wrapped in plastic too.

Mine came in a white box but not a "new" white box with the pictures and such, just a plain white box.
Click to expand...

Seems like maybe the white box ones are actually new and the brown box refurb. I'm holding out for the previous 3.06, I'm thinking they will have to clear them soon, then I will have to decide new or refurb.
 
Yeah I do think I'm lucky when it comes to refurbs!

So far the iMac seems to be running ok, I've just completed the Software Update so it's all up to date. I am checking all the hardware (ethernet, wifi, iSight, Bluetooth etc) to make sure it's all ok.

Does anyone know if there is a hardware test you can run to ensure everything is ok? I don't really want to have to test each component manually lol

Besides the "dodgy" packaging and the ram door, it seems ok *touch wood* lol :)

Cheers
 
the_fellowship said:
Anyway, I connect it up and power it up...all I get is a series of beeps! I try again a few times, still a series of beeps and then nothing. I try to re-connect all the cables and wires but still no joy. So I decide to check the RAM, as soon as I touch the ram door...it just falls off! It wasn't even screwed in! So I make sure the RAM is seated properly and attach the ram door correctly i.e. with the screw! It now boots up and I'm just doing a software update.

I don't know what quality checks the refurb units go through, but for something as simple as the RAM door not being screwed in correctly (which causes the iMac not to even boot!) should be an easy thing to spot. I can't believe the fault developed during transit, so it must have been a fault during the so called "testing" phase lol

That's two refubs I've received in the last 6 days...1st was faulty and the 2nd was almost faulty! I hope others ordering refurbs don't have to go through anything similar!

btw, the 24" screen looks amazing! :)
Click to expand...

That really stinks! Sounds more like "returns" than "refurbs". I wonder if the refurb procedures in the UK are different than in the US. The US website states that it goes through rigorous stringent re-certification procedures. I can't see something that shoddy getting through ANY sort of inspection! Hopefully this will be all of the issues you have.
 
My 24" arrives thursday. It will replace a 20" 2.0ghz model I got last year from the refurb store. This will be the 4th system (actually 5th) Ive bought refurbed. Every single one looked brand new in every way, not a mark on any of them.

The last macbook I bought, also last year, was having kernel panics right out of the box. It wouldnt even run the hardware test off the discs. Apple swapped it immediately with another one (the 5th one).

I would never hesitate to order refurbed from Apple. In fact I probably will never buy brand new as long as I can get what I want in the refurb section. I anticipate this new 24" will last me at least 3yrs. Of course I said the same about this iMac Im typing on now, and its just a little over a yr old :eek:

BTW, every refurb Ive ever gotten has come in brown box. However, I know the refurbed iPhones, when you could still get them, came in a plain white box. Maybe they have changed the look of refurb packaging on some products. I believe the last macbook I got was brand new. It came pre-installed with Tiger even though Leopard had been out for 4 months.They did include a drop in with it. I think it was just unpacked and re-packaged as a refurb, which is why it didnt have Leopard on it.
 
So I ordered the clearance one, but it isn't here yet. In fact it doesn't seem to have moved any in three days, but that is what I have come to expect from UPS. So it sounds like the memory is fairly easy to upgrade yourself or is that just wishful thinking? This will be our first iMac and I would definitely like to upgrade to 4 Gigs of RAM.
 
Osprey said:
So I ordered the clearance one, but it isn't here yet. In fact it doesn't seem to have moved any in three days, but that is what I have come to expect from UPS. So it sounds like the memory is fairly easy to upgrade yourself or is that just wishful thinking? This will be our first iMac and I would definitely like to upgrade to 4 Gigs of RAM.
Click to expand...

Just google How to install ram in your Imac

Plus there is this which may help ;)

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1760

edited: I originally had the wrong link in there. I have the one for 2008 models in there now.
 
This is the first negative experience I have heard of with a refurb. I just ordered a 24" 2.8 refurb today after ordering a 13" 2.0 uni macbook refurb in January. I've been nothing but pleased so far especially since you can still buy applecare for these. Anything a new imac owner should know about these models.
 
Thanks Zmmin3 for the help and the link. I watched a guy on YouTube trying to replace the RAM and he didn't have too much luck with it. I must admit it didn't instill any confidence in me. He actually said they turned the camera off for twenty minutes while they pried the RAM out with a screwdriver.:confused:
 
Osprey said:
Thanks Zmmin3 for the help and the link. I watched a guy on YouTube trying to replace the RAM and he didn't have too much luck with it. I must admit it didn't instill any confidence in me. He actually said the urned the camera off for twenty minutes while they pried the RAM out with a screwdriver.:confused:
Click to expand...

No offense, but the guy must be an idiot - or an Apple hater. Hope he knows how stupid he looks.

I have installed RAM on 4 Dell desktops, 3 HP desktops, 2 Dell Latitude notebooks, and two iMacs - a 24"/2.8 and a 20"/2.6. They iMac's were by far the easiest. I had to take the keyboards out of the Latitudes to get to the second RAM slot... :mad:
 
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