Let me know what you guys think about these numbers.
I was curious the other day exactly what Apple is charging us for with the G5 towers...Since most of the specifics can be eliminated because their prices on the market are generally well known.
I made the following presumptions, from my experience buying things online and building PC systems for a few years:
(I'm being generous with most of this...Apple doesn't pay nearly this much for some of these supplies)
64mb nVidia 5200 Ultra: 50 dollars (the 128mb version is like 65-75 online now)
8x single-layer DVD±RW: 75 dollars (actually, a 16x dual-layer costs this much now)
*keyboard and mouse: 75 dollars (not that they are worth it!)
80gb 7200rpm SATA hard drive: 70 dollars
160gb 7200rpm SATA hdd: 120 dollars
*56k modem: 10-15 dollars
*256mb of RAM, high-quality brand, PC 3200: 70
512mb of RAM: 120 dollars, ditto.
depending on the model (for example, single 1.8 vs. dual 2.5), these are the "standard" options and their approximate prices.
now, the G5 lineup:
single 1.8: $1,500 (US)
dual 1.8: $2,000
dual 2.0: $2,500
dual 2.5: $3,000
after subtracting the appropriate prices from the list of things above (graphics card, HDD, RAM, kb/m, 56k, DVD±RW, etc.), we end up with these un-accounted for prices for the lineup:
single 1.8: 1,150
dual 1.8: 1,450
dual 2.0: 2,050
dual 2.5: 2,450
That cost must include the following items:
CPUs
Motherboard
Case/Powersupply/cooling/cables
So, I ran some numbers and tried to figure out how much each component might be expected to cost based on the retail price...These numbers must necessarily include a presumed markup from Apple.
Here's what I came up with:
single 1.8 processor: 500 dollars (2 needed for 1.8 Dual)
single 2.0 processor: 600 dollars (2 needed for 2.0 Dual)
single 2.5 processor: 800 dollars (2 needed for 2.5 Dual)
single proc mobo: 300 dollars
dual proc mobo: 350 dollars
case, etc: 300-400 dollars dollars
Using those numbers, I find myself within 50 dollars of each retail option as they appear on the apple website.
Those numbers put the G5 relative value somewhere near the P4EE processors or the Athlon64-FX processors.
The case and PS are, of course, high quality, and should be that expensive.
The mobo price seems to be in the workstation range, which I guess is appropriate, except for the single processor model, which seems like less of a bargain when the price is broken down.
Suffice it to say, Apple is making a pretty great profit on these systems...
I was curious the other day exactly what Apple is charging us for with the G5 towers...Since most of the specifics can be eliminated because their prices on the market are generally well known.
I made the following presumptions, from my experience buying things online and building PC systems for a few years:
(I'm being generous with most of this...Apple doesn't pay nearly this much for some of these supplies)
64mb nVidia 5200 Ultra: 50 dollars (the 128mb version is like 65-75 online now)
8x single-layer DVD±RW: 75 dollars (actually, a 16x dual-layer costs this much now)
*keyboard and mouse: 75 dollars (not that they are worth it!)
80gb 7200rpm SATA hard drive: 70 dollars
160gb 7200rpm SATA hdd: 120 dollars
*56k modem: 10-15 dollars
*256mb of RAM, high-quality brand, PC 3200: 70
512mb of RAM: 120 dollars, ditto.
depending on the model (for example, single 1.8 vs. dual 2.5), these are the "standard" options and their approximate prices.
now, the G5 lineup:
single 1.8: $1,500 (US)
dual 1.8: $2,000
dual 2.0: $2,500
dual 2.5: $3,000
after subtracting the appropriate prices from the list of things above (graphics card, HDD, RAM, kb/m, 56k, DVD±RW, etc.), we end up with these un-accounted for prices for the lineup:
single 1.8: 1,150
dual 1.8: 1,450
dual 2.0: 2,050
dual 2.5: 2,450
That cost must include the following items:
CPUs
Motherboard
Case/Powersupply/cooling/cables
So, I ran some numbers and tried to figure out how much each component might be expected to cost based on the retail price...These numbers must necessarily include a presumed markup from Apple.
Here's what I came up with:
single 1.8 processor: 500 dollars (2 needed for 1.8 Dual)
single 2.0 processor: 600 dollars (2 needed for 2.0 Dual)
single 2.5 processor: 800 dollars (2 needed for 2.5 Dual)
single proc mobo: 300 dollars
dual proc mobo: 350 dollars
case, etc: 300-400 dollars dollars
Using those numbers, I find myself within 50 dollars of each retail option as they appear on the apple website.
Those numbers put the G5 relative value somewhere near the P4EE processors or the Athlon64-FX processors.
The case and PS are, of course, high quality, and should be that expensive.
The mobo price seems to be in the workstation range, which I guess is appropriate, except for the single processor model, which seems like less of a bargain when the price is broken down.
Suffice it to say, Apple is making a pretty great profit on these systems...