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Apple iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011) vs Apple iMac Pro (2017)

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleiMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011)AppleiMac Pro (2017)
Overview
ReleasedMay 2011December 2017
Performance
ProcessorIntel Core i5-2400S, Intel Core i5-2500S or Intel Core i7-2600SIntel Xeon W-2140B, Intel Xeon W-2150B, Intel Xeon W-2170B or Intel Xeon W-2191B
CPU cores48, 10, 14 or 18
GraphicsAMD Radeon HD 6750M (512 MB GDDR5) or AMD Radeon HD 6770M (512 MB GDDR5)Radeon Pro Vega 56 (8 GB HBM2), Radeon Pro Vega 64 (16 GB HBM2) or Radeon Pro Vega 64X (16 GB HBM2)
Memory4 GB, 8 GB or 16 GB32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB or 256 GB
Storage500 GB to 2 TB1 TB to 4 TB
CPU2.5 GHz quad-core Core i5-2400S or 2.7 GHz quad-core Core i5-2500S; the higher model offers a 2.8 GHz quad-core Core i7-2600S upgrade. Exact model identities cross-checked with EveryMac; the i5 has 6 MB shared L3 cache. Intel confirms the i7 has eight threads and up to 3.8 GHz Turbo Boost.Xeon W at 3.2 GHz with 8 cores (Turbo Boost 4.2 GHz), 3.0 GHz with 10 cores (4.5 GHz), 2.5 GHz with 14 cores (4.3 GHz) or 2.3 GHz with 18 cores (4.3 GHz). Exact W-B CPU identities follow Geekbench. The 8/10-core versions launched first; Macworld reports later January 2018 availability for 14/18-core options. Apple changed the standard configuration to 10 cores in August 2020.
GPU2.5 GHz model has AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 512 MB GDDR5; 2.7 GHz and optional i7 models have Radeon HD 6770M with 512 MB GDDR5Radeon Pro Vega 56 with 8 GB HBM2, optionally Vega 64 or Vega 64X with 16 GB HBM2. Vega 64X is a later option included in Apple’s current specification sheet, absent from the launch reviews.
Memory typeFour SO-DIMM slots, 1333 MHz DDR3; 4 GB standard as two 2 GB modules. Base model offers an 8 GB factory upgrade; higher model offers 8 or 16 GB. Memory is user accessible.Quad-channel 2666 MHz DDR4 ECC; 32 GB standard, configurable to 64/128/256 GB. The current maker sheet includes the later 256 GB option; launch reviews cover up to 128 GB. No user-accessible memory door.
Storage typeBase model has a 500 GB 7200 rpm hard drive. Higher model has a 1 TB 7200 rpm drive, configurable to 2 TB and a 256 GB solid-state second drive. Mixed hard-drive-plus-SSD options are described here rather than labelled Fusion Drive or presented as a single SSD; no standalone 256 GB row is inferred from the support sheet's second-drive wording. Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with 4x double-layer DVD burning.1 TB SSD, configurable to 2 or 4 TB
Display
Screen size21.5″27″
Resolution1920 × 10805120 × 2880
PanelIPS LCDIPS LCD
Brightness–500 nits
Display typeGlossy LED-backlit IPS widescreen display, millions of colours; optional unpublished refresh rate and brightness omittedLED-backlit Retina 5K display; IPS panel confirmed by EveryMac. Native refresh rate omitted because Apple does not publish it in the specification sheet.
Display features–Wide colour (P3); supports one billion colours
Connections
PortsThunderbolt, 4 × USB-A, Ethernet, SD card slot, headphone jack4 × Thunderbolt 3, 4 × USB-A, SD card slot, Ethernet, headphone jack
Ethernet1 Gb/s10 Gb/s
External displaysUp to 1Up to 4
Wi-Fi802.11n802.11ac
Bluetooth2.1 + EDR5.0
CameraFaceTime HD camera1080p FaceTime HD
Back portsOne Thunderbolt port also provides Mini DisplayPort 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 are described here because the main port list has no fields for them; IR receiver built in.Four USB-A ports; four Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports with DisplayPort 1.2, Thunderbolt up to 40 Gb/s and USB 3.1 Gen 2 up to 10 Gb/s; UHS-II SDXC, Nbase-T Ethernet supporting 1/2.5/5/10Gb and 3.5 mm headphone jack. Thunderbolt 2, HDMI, DVI and VGA require adapters.
External displaysFull built-in resolution and one external display up to 2560 × 1600 simultaneously; extended desktop and mirroring, optional DVI/VGA/dual-link DVI adaptersTwo 5120 × 2880 displays at 60 Hz with one billion colours, four 3840 × 2160 displays at 60 Hz with one billion colours, or four 4096 × 2304 displays at 60 Hz with millions of colours, alongside the built-in display
SpeakersStereo speakers with two internal 17 W amplifiers, built-in microphone and support for iPhone headset microphonesStereo speakers
Microphones–Four microphones; supports Hey Siri
Keyboard and mouseApple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse, with Magic Trackpad substitution available from the online storeSpace grey Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad and Magic Mouse 2; optional space grey Magic Trackpad 2
Design and power
TypeAll-in-oneAll-in-one
Weight9.3 kg9.7 kg
Width × depth × height528 × 188.5 × 451 mm650 × 203 × 516 mm
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detail–Dimensions include the stand; weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process. Optional VESA mount adapter kit.
Power supplyMaximum continuous power 205 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz single phase100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz, single phase
MaterialsAluminium 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 regionsRecyclable aluminium enclosure; arsenic-free glass and mercury-free LED backlight
In the boxiMac, Apple Wireless Keyboard, Magic Mouse, power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation. Launch press specifies Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife '11; the later support sheet lists OS X Lion, reflecting the software update rather than launch software.iMac Pro, space grey Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad, space grey Magic Mouse 2, Lightning to USB cable and power lead

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