iMac 17 inch versus Dell Dimension C521 comparison

Dell v Mac

Both the Dell Dimension C521and the iMac 17" are consumer-oriented desktop computers. Price is one of the distinguishing differences between the Dell PC and the iMac, with the Dell Dimension priced considerably lower than the iMac even when a monitor is included. However, the Dell Dimension C521 and the iMac differ significantly in terms of their technical stats and their technological parts and it is difficult to compare the two machines exactly side by side. Hardware and software on these two models are worlds apart. More importantly for the end user, they utilize different operating systems. The Dell Dimension desktop is more fully customizable than the iMac. Apple offers their customers some options for upgrades on RAM and hard disk space but for the most part, the Dell has a more customizable configuration.

The Dell Dimension C521 comes with an AMD Sempron 3400+ processor or a AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core, at varying speeds depending on the user's preference. The iMac 17" comes with either an 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or a 1.83GHz. However, the consumer can upgrade the processor to 2.16 GHz on the iMac. The different processor brands (Intel and AMD) are comparable but the Dimension C521 comes with the low-end Sempron.

The maximum RAM on the iMac is 3 GB, whereas the Dell Dimension allows for up to 4 GB of RAM. Both use DDR2 RAM at 667 MHz. The Dell Dimension allows the user the option of four DIMM slots, whereas the iMac only has two slots.

The Dell Dimension C521 Serial ATA hard disk drive comes standard at 7200 RPM, as does the iMac. The iMac comes with 160 GB of hard disk space. On all 2 GHz iMac 17" models, the hard disk can be upgraded to either 250GB or 500GB. Similarly, Dell offers up to 500 GB, but has an extra option of a 320 GB hard drive. The Dell Dimension C521 comes with either a 48x CD-RW/DVD player or a 16x DVD/RW. The low-end iMac 17" with 1.83 GHz processor can only be ordered with a 24x CD-RW/DVD player drive, but the 2.o GHz model includes an 8x DVD/RW "SuperDrive" with 2.4x Dual Layer burn (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW). Thus, only the iMac offers the option to burn dual-layer DVDs, even though their optical drive speeds are slightly slower than the ones on the Dell.

The low-end iMac 17" comes with an integrated graphics card: an Intel-made GMA 950 graphics processor with 64MB of DDR2 SDRAM that is shared with the computer's main memory. Similarly, the low-end Dell Dimension C521 comes with an integrated graphics card: the NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE Integrated Graphics GPU. Users can upgrade that to a non-integrated 128MB ATI Radeon X1300. On the iMac 17" at 2.0 GHz model, users get the same basic graphics card, the ATI Radeon X1600 with 128MB GDDR3 SDRAM.

The default sound card on the Dell Dimension C521 is an integrated 7.1 channel audio card. Users can upgrade to a Sound Blaster Audigy sound card, which is also integrated. Apple's Web site does not indicate the type of sound card used on the iMac but it is integrated with the motherboard. The iMac has a built-in microphone and includes optical digital audio input and output ports that also support headphones. The Dell Dimension does not include digital audio input or output support on its standard jacks. All iMacs have built-in speakers, whereas the Dell PCs do not, and consumers must use external speakers.

Both the iMac 17" and the Dimension C521 have a DVI output port as well as VGA and S-video. However, the iMac's output port is mini-DVI, offering the user the option of purchasing an adapter to be used for any external video device. The Dell Dimension C521 has separate ports for each. The iMac comes with two FireWire 400 ports; the Dell Dimension has no FireWire support.

Dell's Dimension C521 has six USB ports plus two internal USB ports. The iMac has fewer: only 3 USB 2.0 ports and 2 USB 1.1 ports on the keyboard. Both Dell's and Apple's computers come with keyboard and mouse and both can be upgraded to wireless models. The iMac 17" with 2.0 GHz comes with an Apple remote, which is optional on the 1.83 GHz odel. Both iMac 17" models have a built-in infra-red sensor. The Dell Dimension C521 can be upgraded to include a TV-tuner card. The ATI Theater 650 PRO-Combo Analog/Digital TV Tuner comes with a remote. The iMac does not offer a TV tuner card.