Would this iMac still work

perfectpink wrote:

Apple IMAC 21.5-Inch Intel Core i5 2.50GHz 4GB RAM 500GB HDD Mac OS X 10.13,6

Would this iMac be worth buying as secondhand

No buying a used iMac is a gamble, plus that 21.5" model has a really slow 5400 rpm Hard Drive and non-upgradable RAM.

If you are looking to save on an iMac that has an Apple warranty,

see > https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/mac/imac

2011 iMac, the last with the built in CD/DVD drive…

First iMac with faster SATA 3 hard drive interface, the 2010 and earlier had SATA 2…

Still a good computer for e-mail, iTunes CD imports, and an occasional letter…

Needs more memory, can go to 32, you can easily add two 4 gig chips for 12, or two 8 gig for 20…

Only major problem was the video card, not Apples fault.

AMD used lead free solder with a lower melting point on the video card.

Using a 2011 iMac to write this post…!

den.thed wrote:

that 21.5" model has a really slow 5400 rpm Hard Drive and non-upgradable RAM.

FWIW, the OP is referring to an iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011) with a 7200-rpm hard drive and upgradable Memory.

But I agree that it should not be purchased in 2022.

Jack

If you're OK with a slow HDD and long boot times than it all depends on the asking price. You gave no year, so this is strictly a guess it's an entry level machine.

If you're looking for a dependable used computer, don't buy based on price alone. You could be buying old problems along with an old computer.

While I’m sure many people have bought used Macs without problem we do regularly get discussions where the seller had not correctly prepared the Mac for resale. Consequently the buyer was unable to log in or set up a user account. If you are not buying from a trusted seller who has followed the correct pre-sale procedure and you are not getting it for very little money I would give it a miss.

What do you want to do with it? Note that Garageband is not available for any OS below Big Sur.

Yeah thanks, I see that now.

https://support.apple.com/kb/SP623?locale=en_US

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-i5-2.5-21-inch-aluminum-mid-2011-thunderbolt-specs.html

Even more reason to pass.

I wouldn't.

Keith Barkley wrote:

Note that Garageband is not available for any OS below Big Sur.

Where did GarageBand enter the picture?

On the GB discussion we get people all the time who buy an old Mac expecting to be able to download Garageband.

Keith Barkley wrote:

On the GB discussion we get people all the time who buy an old Mac expecting to be able to download Garageband.

That might be because you're in the GarageBand community. 😎

Do you know any other programs that people specifically buy a Mac for?