2011 iMac 21.5" Refurb: 2.8GHz Core i7 vs. 2.7GHz Core i5?

The former is the custom configuration; how significant is the difference? I apologize if this is a stupid question. I'm not super familiar with hyper-threading. The price difference is small ($40; 979/1019).

Many thanks and Merry Christmas.

Well depends on the cost and what memory is installed. With same memory and OS the i7 is faster, GeekBench score of 10,284 compared to the i5 7,175.

$979 and $1019. Same memory, 4GB, but I am upgrading to 8. I did notice the difference in the GeekBench scores. I was also concerned about how the Sandy Bridge i7s stand up agains today's i7s, but the '11 iMac is appealing to me because of the optical drive and user-upgradability. Thanks so much for your help.

As a suggestion go to 12GB of memory. 2 x 2GB original and 2 x 4GB from OWC or Crucial the brands recommended here.

The optical drive is not that critical as a cheap say Samsung will work well and the day of the optical drive is fading with thumb drives being so cheap. User upgradeability applies only to memory and that is important. They are fair devils to crack open with magnetic screens.

I agree with Harry. I have both a 2011 21.5" iMac with optical drive to which I added more memory, and a 2013 27" iMac without an optical drive. The 2011 model is heavier than the 2013 model even though the screen is larger on the 2013 model. I rarely if ever use the built in optical drive since I keep a external Samsung tray loader on my desk. Also now instead of putting data on DVDs or CDs I use SD cards. I can buy a 16 GB fast SD card for $8 at my local discount store.

Thanks much, Harry (I will do that) and chscag. I'm kinda attached to CDs through music and burning (buying, borrowing from the library, etc.)! But I agree a cheap external is totally practical.

A Samsun SE-208 can be recommended and is USB bus powered meaning no mains plugs. We old timers can remember the same argument when the original iMac killed the floppy. End of the civilized world as we knew it!

That is funny--I was afraid I was sounding dinosaurian! Thanks for the recommendation. Looks very wise next to Apple's SuperDrive.

You ain't old enough yet Adam's to be dinosaurian.

Adam's said:

Thanks much, Harry (I will do that) and chscag. I'm kinda attached to CDs through music and burning (buying, borrowing from the library, etc.)! But I agree a cheap external is totally practical.

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I got an external ASUS DVD/CD multi drive. It does everything but blue ray. It also only cost about $25 USD plus shipping.. Truly a bargain and with them being so cheap. I don't even worry about the whole no drive issue anymore.

Thanks, Harry. Sounds good, Exodist. I'll keep these in mind!