Mac Pro price for custom build

[Krionis]

I posted this in a different thread but i thought it was pretty cool so i wanted to let the people who think the Mac Pro is a rip off compared to a custom built PC with the same specs that they are wrong.

Using Newegg, which is arguably the cheapest and best service for computer parts around, i picked out all the Mac Pro's components or components similar. I couldnt find the 5150 on Newegg though so i used the a different site for that

Heres what I found:
http://www.markonecomputers.com/Default.aspx?pid=49526F34-3F4B-4E81-9BC5-35E5FDA7B4AE - Processor
712x2 = 1424 shipping 21.74
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814145130 - video card
93
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701 - Hard drive
80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827131352 - dvd drive
145
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813121042 - mother board (not as good as Macpros but basically as agood)
519
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141210 - ram
like 80ish could probably find better deal

apple keyboard and mouse - 80 dollars free shipping

OSX 130 free shipping

To build a pc with the mac pros performance (i included apple mouse and keybaord as well as OSX) facotring in the cost of shipping it would cost you roughly $2505. not only that but i thing i missed a few things (case, cooling, etc.) that would jar up the price a bit. Newegg was also likely to have better deals i just didnt find but you can see how alike these prices are.

Nice purchase to all you Mac Pro owners out there.

[tobyg]

If you want to do this more accurately, go back and redo it.

Good luck trying to cram that 16x PCI express video card in a motherboard with only a 4x PCI Express slot...

Oh and your ram, that won't fit either. You need FB-DIMM's, registered/ECC DIMMS for this and all xeon motherboards.

Yes, the Mac Pro is a good value. I'll enjoy mine much more when I get Windows fully working natively.

[MovieCutter]

Yeah, that won't run a legit version of OSX. The motherboard isn't Apple's, and therefore very likely won't run OSX. Not to mention, no Firewire 800, no Dual Gigabit Ethernet. That video card isn't as good as the 7300GT Apple is selling, no case (and you can't find one as nice as the Mac Pro), the list goes on and on. In the end, you're spending more due to the case, labor, etc. It won't work with OSX and you'll have a poor man's Mac Pro wannabe without a number of features for almost the same price. Nice try though

[bearbo]

Yeah, that won't run a legit version of OSX. The motherboard isn't Apple's, and therefore very likely won't run OSX. Not to mention, no Firewire 800, no Dual Gigabit Ethernet. That video card isn't as good as the 7300GT Apple is selling, no case (and you can't find one as nice as the Mac Pro), the list goes on and on. In the end, you're spending more due to the case, labor, etc. It won't work with OSX and you'll have a poor man's Mac Pro wannabe without a number of features for almost the same price. Nice try though

i think you missed his point... he's trying to argue that the myth that custom built PC is less expensive, is actually false, apple is not more expensive.

[Krionis]

Hmm i couldnt find one that supported 16x, and as for the ram it would still cost about that price.

And I know that OSX wouldnt run on that machine i was just trying to gauge what i custom built power mac would cost if you could do that with OSX.

EDIT: Bearbo was right on.

[tobyg]

Hmm i couldnt find one that supported 16x, and as for the ram it would still cost about that price.

And I know that OSX wouldnt run on that machine i was just trying to gauge what i custom built power mac would cost if you could do that with OSX.

EDIT: Bearbo was right on.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813182095

And no, the RAM will cost more than what you've found. Go search newegg for "FB-DIMM". That's the type of ram Xeon motherboards need.

And yes, there are many articles on the 'net explaining the value of the Mac Pro. My point was just that it will actually cost you much more than the above list.

[Sun Baked]

RAM costs a little bit more than twice as much ...

The S5000XVN are close, but Apple's board extends things quite a bit 4 PCI Express slots, DIMM risers, bluetooth, wireless, firewire, etc.

The wireless and firewire are things that will take up a PCIx slot.

Something to be said for a modified design instead of a standard Intel motherboard.

[CyberPrey]

I agree, the Mac Pro is pretty fair priced, at least IMHO... I am happy with it, and would happily buy it again.. although I wish my mem upgrade and x1900 would get here faster :) lol :)

Personally, I see a great future for Apple... Moving to Intel chips... Ability to dual boot with windows.....

I kid you not, there are a TON of people that have actually come over to my house just to see windows XP boot up on an apple.... I've actually converted 5 of my friends over to Mac Pro's and 1 to a top-line iMac 20".

Best experiance I had was showing a group of my gamer friends my new "toy".... everyone ooh'ed and awe'ed at it, and the inside of it.... except one... His biggest gripe? "Yeah, its nice but you can't play guild wars on it cuz its only a windows game..." My reply? "Watch..." and then booted up windows and kicked in guild wars :) He was the first of the bunch to order his mac pro :)

[bearbo]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827131352 - dvd drive


i think mac pro is using pioneer dvr-111d($31 on newegg), as oppose to plextor($146)

[Sun Baked]

Intel Server Case ... set you back another few hundred

[thegreatluke]

Is the processor you used the dual-core workstation model?

I'm not sure if there's a difference between the consumer and the workstation model...