Apple iMac (20-inch, Early 2009) vs Apple iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2011)

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iMac (20-inch, Early 2009) compared with iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2011)

	AppleiMac (20-inch, Early 2009)	AppleiMac (21.5-inch, Late 2011)
Overview
Released
Released	March 2009	August 2011
Performance
Processor
Processor	Intel Core 2 Duo E8135	Intel Core i3 3.1 GHz (iMac Late 2011)
CPU cores
CPU cores	2	2
Graphics
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M (256 MB shared DDR3)	AMD Radeon HD 6750M (256 MB GDDR5)
Memory
Memory	2 GB, 4 GB or 8 GB	2 GB, 4 GB or 8 GB
Storage
Storage	320 GB to 1 TB (better)	250 GB
CPU
CPU	2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E8135 with 6 MB shared L2 cache and 1066 MHz frontside bus; exact chip identity cross-checked with EveryMac	3.1 GHz dual-core Intel Core i3 with 3 MB shared L3 cache. The English specification and maker education price list confirm dual-core i3; conflicting translated regional processor descriptions are not used. Exact Intel SKU unestablished.
GPU
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with at least 256 MB DDR3 shared with system memory; available system memory varies with graphics requirements	AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 256 MB GDDR5.
Memory type
Memory type	Two user-accessible SO-DIMM slots for 1066 MHz DDR3; 2 GB standard, factory upgrades to 4 or 8 GB	1333 MHz DDR3; 2 GB standard in one module, configurable to 4 GB (two 2 GB) or 8 GB (two 4 GB).
Storage type
Storage type	320 GB 7200 rpm Serial ATA hard drive, configurable to 640 GB or 1 TB; slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with 4x double-layer DVD burning	250 GB 7200 rpm Serial ATA hard drive; slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with 4x double-layer burning.
Display
Screen size
Screen size	20″	21.5″
Resolution
Resolution	1680 × 1050	1920 × 1080 (better)
Brightness
Brightness	290 nits	–
Display type
Display type	Glossy widescreen TFT active-matrix LCD, millions of colours; maker typical brightness 290 cd/m², contrast 800:1 and 160° horizontal/vertical viewing angle. Panel technology and refresh rate unpublished and omitted.	LED-backlit glossy TFT active-matrix LCD with millions of colours. Panel technology, brightness and refresh rate are not published.
Connections
Ports
Ports	DisplayPort, 4 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack	4 × USB-A, SD card slot, Ethernet, headphone jack
Ethernet
Ethernet	1 Gb/s	1 Gb/s
External displays
External displays	Up to 1	Up to 1
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	802.11n draft	802.11n
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	2.1 + EDR	–
Camera
Camera	iSight camera	FaceTime HD camera
Back ports
Back ports	Four USB 2.0 ports on the computer, plus two on the supplied wired keyboard; one FireWire 800 port at 7 W, Mini DisplayPort output, Gigabit Ethernet, headphone/optical digital output and line-in/optical digital input. FireWire and audio input described here; no SD slot.	Four USB 2.0 ports on the computer, plus two on the wired keyboard; Mini DisplayPort, FireWire 800 at 7 W, SDXC card slot, Gigabit Ethernet, headphone/optical output and audio line-in/optical input. This education model has no published Thunderbolt or Bluetooth specification.
External displays
External displays	Full built-in resolution and one external display up to 2560 × 1600 simultaneously; extended desktop and mirroring, optional DVI/VGA/dual-link DVI adapters	Built-in display and one external display up to 2560 × 1600 simultaneously; extended desktop or mirroring.
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in stereo speakers with internal 24 W digital amplifier, microphone and support for Apple Stereo Headset microphones	Stereo speakers with two internal 20 W amplifiers; microphone and support for Apple iPhone headset microphone.
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Apple Keyboard and Mighty Mouse; numeric-keypad keyboard, wireless keyboard or wireless Mighty Mouse available as options	Wired Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad and Apple Mouse with scroll ball.
Design and power
Type
Type	All-in-one	All-in-one
Weight
Weight	9.1 kg	8.8 kg (better)
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	485 × 189 × 469 mm	528 × 188.5 × 451 mm
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	–	Maker reference weight; actual weight varies with configuration and manufacturing process.
Power supply
Power supply	Maximum continuous power 200 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz single phase	Maximum continuous power 205 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz.
Materials
Materials	Aluminium and glass enclosure with arsenic-free display glass, BFR-free components and PVC-free internal cables	–
In the box
In the box	iMac, Apple Keyboard, Mighty Mouse, cleaning cloth, power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation; Mac OS X Leopard and iLife '09	Education institution model with Mac OS X Lion and iLife. August 2011 month precision follows contemporary MacRumors ordering coverage and 9to5Mac shipment scheduling, corroborated by the maker price list dated 8 August; that price date is not treated as a first delivery day.