Apple iMac (20-inch, Mid 2009) vs Apple Mac mini (Late 2009)

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iMac (20-inch, Mid 2009) compared with Mac mini (Late 2009)

	AppleiMac (20-inch, Mid 2009)	AppleMac mini (Late 2009)
Overview
Released
Released	April 2009	October 2009
Performance
Processor
Processor	Intel Core 2 Duo 2 GHz (iMac Mid 2009) or Intel Core 2 Duo 2.26 GHz (iMac Mid 2009)	Intel Core 2 Duo P8400, Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 or Intel Core 2 Duo P8800
CPU cores
CPU cores	2	2
Graphics
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M (256 MB shared DDR3)	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M (shared memory)
Memory
Memory	1 GB, 2 GB or 4 GB	2 GB or 4 GB
Storage
Storage	160 GB to 320 GB	160 GB to 1 TB (better)
CPU
CPU	2.0 or 2.26 GHz Core 2 Duo with 3 MB shared L2 cache and 1066 MHz frontside bus. The retained configuration table says 2.6 GHz, but its processor description and Apple's July 2011 education price list confirm 2.26 GHz; exact Intel SKU not established.	2.26 GHz Core 2 Duo P8400 or 2.53 GHz P8700; the lower consumer model offers a 2.53 GHz upgrade, and the higher model offers 2.66 GHz P8800. The server has a 2.53 GHz P8700. Each has two cores, 3 MB shared L2 cache and 1066 MHz frontside bus; exact chip identities cross-checked with EveryMac. The factory matrix keeps the higher model's 4 GB memory and minimum 320 GB drive with the 2.66 GHz option.
GPU
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 256 MB shared DDR3 according to the retained maker specification; contemporary EveryMac coverage describes 128 MB at launch, so the retained maker value is used.	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics shares a minimum 256 MB DDR3 memory; available system memory varies with graphics use.
Memory type
Memory type	Two SO-DIMM slots for 1066 MHz DDR3; configurations A/B have 1 GB standard and C has 2 GB. Factory options are 2 or 4 GB; the retained specification supports up to 8 GB, which is not listed as a factory configuration.	Two SO-DIMM slots for 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, 2 or 4 GB in consumer configurations and 4 GB in the server; maker-supported maximum 4 GB
Storage type
Storage type	160 or 320 GB 7200 rpm Serial ATA hard drive; slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with 4x double-layer DVD burning.	Consumer model offers 160, 320 or 500 GB 5400 rpm Serial ATA hard drives and an 8x SuperDrive with double-layer DVD support. Server has two 500 GB 5400 rpm drives, totalling 1 TB, and no optical drive; the 1 TB configuration represents those two drives, not one 1 TB drive.
Expansion slots
Expansion slots	–	No internal PCI Express expansion slot
Display
Screen size
Screen size	20″	None built in
Resolution
Resolution	1680 × 1050	–
Brightness
Brightness	290 nits	–
Display type
Display type	Glossy TFT active-matrix LCD with millions of colours; typical contrast 800:1 and 160-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles. Panel technology and refresh rate unpublished.	–
Connections
Ports
Ports	4 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack	DisplayPort, 5 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Ethernet
Ethernet	1 Gb/s	1 Gb/s
External displays
External displays	Up to 1	Up to 2 (better)
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	802.11n draft	802.11n
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	–	2.1 + EDR
Camera
Camera	iSight camera	–
Back ports
Back ports	Four USB 2.0 ports on the computer, plus two on the keyboard; FireWire 800 at 7 W, Mini DisplayPort, Gigabit Ethernet, headphone/optical digital output and line-in/optical digital input. Bluetooth is not published in this exact model specification.	Five USB 2.0 ports up to 480 Mb/s, FireWire 800, Mini DisplayPort, Mini-DVI, Gigabit Ethernet and combined optical digital/analogue audio input and output minijacks. The main DisplayPort count represents Mini DisplayPort; Mini-DVI, FireWire and audio input are described here because the main port list has no fields for them.
External displays
External displays	Built-in display and one external display up to 2560 × 1600 simultaneously; extended desktop or mirroring, with optional DVI, VGA or dual-link DVI adapters.	Extended desktop and mirroring; Mini-DVI up to 1920 × 1200 for DVI/VGA, Mini DisplayPort up to 2560 × 1600 using an optional dual-link DVI adapter. Mini-DVI to DVI adapter included; other display adapters optional.
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in stereo speakers and microphone; internal 24 W digital amplifier and support for Apple Stereo Headset microphones.	Built-in speaker; combined optical digital audio output/headphone minijack and optical digital audio input/line-in minijack
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Apple Keyboard and Mighty Mouse.	Display, keyboard and mouse purchased separately; Apple Remote optional
Design and power
Type
Type	All-in-one	Compact
Weight
Weight	9.1 kg	1.31 kg (better)
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	485 × 189 × 469 mm	165.1 × 165.1 × 50.8 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.	External 110 W adapter; maximum continuous power 110 W, 50–60 Hz single phase. The UK support sheet publishes 100–120 V only for the US, Japan and South America, so no UK input-voltage figure is inferred.
Materials
Materials	–	Recyclable aluminium and polycarbonate enclosure; BFR-free and PVC-free internal components; maker limits its external PVC-free cable claim to North America
In the box
In the box	Education institution model. Contemporary EveryMac coverage records April 2009 release; a maker-confirmed first delivery day is unavailable. Launch configuration A includes Leopard and iLife ’09; later B/C specifications list Snow Leopard and iLife ’11, with their introduction dates unestablished.	Mac mini, Mini-DVI to DVI adapter, 110 W power adapter and cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation. Consumer model includes Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife '09; server includes Mac OS X Server 10.6 Snow Leopard.