Apple iMac (20-inch, Early 2009) vs Apple iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010)

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iMac (20-inch, Early 2009) compared with iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010)

	AppleiMac (20-inch, Early 2009)	AppleiMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010)
Overview
Released
Released	March 2009	July 2010
Performance
Processor
Processor	Intel Core 2 Duo E8135	Intel Core i3-540, Intel Core i3-550 or Intel Core i5-680
CPU cores
CPU cores	2	2
CPU threads
CPU threads	–	4
Graphics
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M (256 MB shared DDR3)	ATI Radeon HD 4670 (256 MB GDDR3) or ATI Radeon HD 5670 (512 MB GDDR3)
Memory
Memory	2 GB, 4 GB or 8 GB	4 GB or 8 GB
Storage
Storage	320 GB to 1 TB	500 GB to 2 TB (better)
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	3.06 GHz dual-core Core i3-540 or 3.2 GHz dual-core Core i3-550, both with Hyper-Threading and 4 MB L3 cache; the higher model offers a 3.6 GHz dual-core Core i5-680 with Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost. Exact processor identities cross-checked with EveryMac; unpublished optional boost figures omitted.
GPU
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with at least 256 MB DDR3 shared with system memory; available system memory varies with graphics requirements	3.06 GHz model has ATI Radeon HD 4670 with 256 MB GDDR3; 3.2 GHz and optional i5 models have ATI Radeon HD 5670 with 512 MB GDDR3
Memory type
Memory type	Two user-accessible SO-DIMM slots for 1066 MHz DDR3; 2 GB standard, factory upgrades to 4 or 8 GB	4 GB standard as two 2 GB modules, with factory upgrade to 8 GB in the UK launch release. Four user-accessible SO-DIMM slots support up to 16 GB of 1333 MHz DDR3; the user maximum is distinct from the published factory options.
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	Base model has a 500 GB 7200 rpm hard drive; higher model has 1 TB, configurable to 2 TB. Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with double-layer DVD burning.
Display
Screen size
Screen size	20″	21.5″
Resolution
Resolution	1680 × 1050	1920 × 1080 (better)
Panel
Panel	–	IPS LCD
Brightness
Brightness	290 nits	330 nits (better)
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 Panel technology and refresh rate unpublished and omitted.	Glossy LED-backlit IPS widescreen display, 1920 × 1080 pixels; maker typical brightness 330 cd/m². Refresh rate unpublished and omitted.
Connections
Ports
Ports	DisplayPort, 4 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack	DisplayPort, 4 × USB-A, Ethernet, SD card slot, 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	2.1 + EDR
Camera
Camera	iSight camera	iSight 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.	Mini DisplayPort audio/video output, four USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800 at 7 W, Gigabit Ethernet, SDXC slot, headphone/optical digital output and line-in/optical digital input. FireWire and audio input appear here because the main port list has no fields for them.
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	Full built-in resolution and one external display up to 2560 × 1600 simultaneously; extended desktop and mirroring, optional DVI/VGA/dual-link DVI adapters
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in stereo speakers with internal 24 W digital amplifier, microphone and support for Apple Stereo Headset microphones	Built-in stereo speakers with two internal 17 W amplifiers, microphone and support for iPhone headset microphones
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Apple Keyboard and Mighty Mouse; numeric-keypad keyboard, wireless keyboard or wireless Mighty Mouse available as options	Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse; Magic Trackpad available separately
Design and power
Type
Type	All-in-one	All-in-one
Weight
Weight	9.1 kg (better)	9.3 kg
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	485 × 189 × 469 mm	528 × 188.5 × 451 mm
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Power supply
Power supply	Maximum continuous power 200 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz single phase	Maximum continuous power 241 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz single phase
Materials
Materials	Aluminium and glass enclosure with arsenic-free display glass, BFR-free components and PVC-free internal cables	Aluminium and glass enclosure, arsenic-free display glass and mercury-free LED backlight; BFR-free and PVC-free components, with PVC-free AC cord availability limited to named regions
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	iMac, Apple Wireless Keyboard, Magic Mouse, cleaning cloth, power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation; Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife at launch