Apple iMac (21.5-inch, Early 2013) vs Apple iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2011)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

iMac (21.5-inch, Early 2013) compared with iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2011)
AppleiMac (21.5-inch, Early 2013)AppleiMac (21.5-inch, Late 2011)
Overview
ReleasedMarch 2013August 2011
Performance
ProcessorIntel Core i3 3.3 GHz (iMac Early 2013)Intel Core i3 3.1 GHz (iMac Late 2011)
CPU cores22
GraphicsIntel HD Graphics 4000AMD Radeon HD 6750M (256 MB GDDR5)
Memory4 GB2 GB, 4 GB or 8 GB (better)
Storage500 GB (better)250 GB
CPU3.3 GHz dual-core Core i3 confirmed by the US maker education price list and contemporary Apple-store coverage. A conflicting New York state price-list row says 3.1 GHz; the corroborated US maker row is used. Exact secondary EveryMac identifies i3-3225, but the chip record retains the maker clock name.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.
GPUIntel HD Graphics 4000, sharing system memory; maker price list confirms the graphics model.AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 256 MB GDDR5.
Memory type4 GB in two 2 GB modules confirmed by the maker price list; 1600 MHz DDR3 and internal-only memory access according to EveryMac. Secondary reports of higher memory options are not expanded into an unverified factory matrix.1333 MHz DDR3; 2 GB standard in one module, configurable to 4 GB (two 2 GB) or 8 GB (two 4 GB).
Storage type500 GB hard drive confirmed by the maker price list; EveryMac specifies 5400 rpm Serial ATA. No built-in optical drive. Unspecified alternative storage capacities are omitted.250 GB 7200 rpm Serial ATA hard drive; slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with 4x double-layer burning.
Display
Screen size21.5″21.5″
Resolution1920 × 10801920 × 1080
PanelIPS LCD–
Display typeEveryMac specifies an IPS LED-backlit display with laminated cover glass and antireflective coating. No retained exact maker technical sheet was found; panel technology comes from this named exact-model secondary source. Brightness and refresh rate are unpublished.LED-backlit glossy TFT active-matrix LCD with millions of colours. Panel technology, brightness and refresh rate are not published.
Connections
Ports4 × USB-A, 2 × Thunderbolt, Ethernet, SD card slot, headphone jack4 × USB-A, SD card slot, Ethernet, headphone jack
Ethernet1 Gb/s1 Gb/s
External displays–Up to 1
Wi-Fi802.11n (EveryMac)802.11n
Bluetooth4.0 (EveryMac)–
CameraFaceTime HD camera (EveryMac)FaceTime HD camera
Back portsAccording to EveryMac: four USB 3 ports, two first-generation Thunderbolt ports, SDXC card slot, Gigabit Ethernet and headphone/optical digital output with iPhone headset microphone support.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–Built-in display and one external display up to 2560 × 1600 simultaneously; extended desktop or mirroring.
SpeakersBuilt-in stereo speakers and dual microphones, according to EveryMac.Stereo speakers with two internal 20 W amplifiers; microphone and support for Apple iPhone headset microphone.
Keyboard and mouseWired Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad and traditional Apple Mouse, according to EveryMac.Wired Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad and Apple Mouse with scroll ball.
Design and power
TypeAll-in-oneAll-in-one
Weight–8.8 kg
Width × depth × height–528 × 188.5 × 451 mm
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detail–Maker reference weight; actual weight varies with configuration and manufacturing process.
Power supply–Maximum continuous power 205 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz.
In the boxEducation-only model confirmed by Apple documentation. Maker price list confirms the stock 3.3 GHz/4 GB/500 GB configuration; other detailed figures come from the named exact-model EveryMac source. March 2013 month precision follows contemporary Apple-store coverage and maker pricing; initial orders quoted 5–7 business days, not confirmed delivery on 5 March.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.

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