Quad iMac undercuts Quad Mac Pro

[VirtualRain]

How exactly do you figure that? A C2D 3Ghz desktop with 4GB of RAM should sell for about $500. The iMac with these specs sells for $1700. So the display in the iMac is hardly "free".

I was comparing Apples to Apples (iMac to comparable Mac Pro)...

Consider that a 2.8GHz i7 iMac with 4GB of RAM and 1TB drive is $2200 while a 2.66GHz Mac Pro with 3GB of RAM and 640GB drive is $2500. So not only are you getting a slightly faster computer with more memory and storage, for less, but you are getting a 27" LED 2560 display to boot!

 

[iMacmatician]

According to a friend of mine who works at Apple, there will be no change to the mac pro line until late 2010 -2011.

SO stop your ******** rumors!

Just like iNerd and Scottsdale's source, both of whom were proven wrong? There are more of that kind further in the past.

+1 on that

+2

 

[dsiew81]

How exactly do you figure that? A C2D 3Ghz desktop with 4GB of RAM should sell for about $500. The iMac with these specs sells for $1700. So the display in the iMac is hardly "free".

Fair enough, though the screen can't be that cheap nor the materials, engineering, manufacturing and R&D that went into the product, regardless of one's personal preference. Then there's also OS X.

 

[dsiew81]

I was comparing Apples to Apples (iMac to comparable Mac Pro)...

Consider that a 2.8GHz i7 iMac with 4GB of RAM and 1TB drive is $2200 while a 2.66GHz Mac Pro with 3GB of RAM and 640GB drive is $2500. So not only are you getting a slightly faster computer with more memory and storage, for less, but you are getting a 27" LED 2560 display to boot!

A price drop would sweeten the deal, but as many supporters have stated before, expandability and customization are big factors to many MP buyers. I wonder what Apple would do with damaged or faulty 27" iMac screens? Nice screen as they are, perhaps the Mac Mini should have copped i5/i7 options too? Then you'd have a headless and reasonably affordable product that is easier to upgrade than an iMac. Subsequently, you'll have a choice of monitor, which would apply to those who lament gloss-only LED units.

 

[iMacmatician]

perhaps the Mac Mini should have copped i5/i7 options too?

Core i5/i7 is probably too hot for the Mac mini. Maybe even mobile Clarksfield.

The Mac mini's not known to get the latest CPUs anyway.

 

[hitekalex]

I was comparing Apples to Apples (iMac to comparable Mac Pro)...

Consider that a 2.8GHz i7 iMac with 4GB of RAM and 1TB drive is $2200 while a 2.66GHz Mac Pro with 3GB of RAM and 640GB drive is $2500. So not only are you getting a slightly faster computer with more memory and storage, for less, but you are getting a 27" LED 2560 display to boot!

Ah I see your point.. However, at $2,500 that 2.66Ghz Mac Pro is such a terribly overpriced machine, I wouldn't use it as a point of reference for anything!

 

[VirtualRain]

Ah I see your point.. However, at $2,500 that 2.66Ghz Mac Pro is such a terribly overpriced machine, I wouldn't use it as a point of reference for anything!

You're right... I guess the Mac Pro makes anything look like a good deal!

 

[Umbongo]

You're right... I guess the Mac Pro makes anything look like a good deal!

Especially when it's up against something shiney and new .

Even if the Mac Pro had less obscene pricing, like:

2.66GHz x4 $1,599
2.93GHz x4 $2,099
2.26GHz x8 $2,199
2.66GHz x8 $3,399
2.93GHz x8 $4,599

we'd still be seeing "iMac comes with display!", "iMac can act as a monitor!", "iMac takes up less space", "iMac uses less power!" and other such odd justifications and assumptions .

 

[xgman]

The rumors of the early 2010 Mac Pros with the first six core cpu's, etc will make the spread between the imac's and the mac pros what they should be again.

http://www.cultofmac.com/apple-testing-6-core-mac-pro-using-intel-gulftown-chip/18751

 

[Eidorian]

The rumors of the early 2010 Mac Pros with the first six core cpu's, etc will make the spread between the imac's and the mac pros what they should be again.

http://www.cultofmac.com/apple-testing-6-core-mac-pro-using-intel-gulftown-chip/18751

Why is everyone clinging to Gulftown to make your Mac Pro "pro again?

It's a drop in option for LGA 1366. Of course there are rumors of other minor tweaks like 10 Gbps Ethernet and other fluff. The differentiation from today's Bloomfield based Mac Pro is only in the details more so than a radical platform shift.

Apple is making a killing on the single socket Mac Pro. There are fewer instances where you're going to want one now.

 

[PaulD-UK]

According to a friend of mine who works at Apple, there will be no change to the mac pro line until late 2010 -2011....

Hi
Thats cool.
How many Apple engineers does it take to change a lightbulb?

Or rather how many does it take to add a 10Gb/s network/LightPeak chip/socket?
Or re-write the EFI microcode for Gulftown?

Presumably not enough to keep your friend gainfully employed...

 

[handheldgames]

Hopefully they can fix the issue with excessive heat generated with the Core i7 CPU's else these iMacs are going to sound like dustbusters!

 

[hitekalex]

It's a drop in option for LGA 1366. Of course there are rumors of other minor tweaks like 10 Gbps Ethernet and other fluff. The differentiation from today's Bloomfield based Mac Pro is only in the details more so than a radical platform shift.

Apple is making a killing on the single socket Mac Pro. There are fewer instances where you're going to want one now.

10Gig Ethernet?? LOL! Unless someone is crazy enough to make a GRID cluster of Mac Pros, I don't know why one would ever need 10GbE in a desktop/workstation.

Clearly, with the latest i7 iMac option - there is simply no reason to drop $2.5 g's on a single-CPU Mac Pro.

 

[PaulD-UK]

10Gig Ethernet?? LOL! Unless someone is crazy enough to make a GRID cluster of Mac Pros, I don't know why one would ever need 10GbE...

Hi
Hundreds of small video editing facilities are using link aggregation and (relatively) expensive managed switches to make current Mac Pro networking reliably carry the bandwidth necessary for HD video editing using shared storage.
Tens of thousands more (there are a million + Final Cut Pro users) would use the technology if it devolves down from the bespoke (expensive) networking consultancies to plug'n'play for the rest of us.

We could edit on a new iMac - if it had the connectivity.....
Which it doesn't so we can't.

Roll on Light Peak!

 

[NJRonbo]

Hopefully they can fix the issue with excessive heat generated with the Core i7 CPU's else these iMacs are going to sound like dustbusters!

Let me ask you something.

As someone who has an i7 on preorder.

I have been hearing reports of excessive heat with
these new iMacs. Well, actually, your post was only
the second I read.

Is this a problem Apple is aware of and working
to fix before they release these iMacs?

How likely is it that these iMacs are going to overheat?

 

[Buzz Bumble]

They aren't going to drop the Mac Pro just because of the iMac.

You might be proven wrong there.

All the other Macs have had quite significant price drops, especially with this week's release of the new iMacs (here in New Zealand anyway, not sure if that exchange rate related and/or we've finally got the previous drops), and the MacPro now seems over priced. Since the Mac Pro is due for updating early next year I think you may find that too gets a price drop then, and maybe the display screens at the same time.

 

[lemonade-maker]

Clearly, with the latest i7 iMac option - there is simply no reason to drop $2.5 g's on a single-CPU Mac Pro.

Internal RAID (software or hardware), PCI bus, and several monitors are just a start of why someone would go Mac Pro single cpu.

 

[harmonica01]

i foresee a midcycle update including 8gb ram, 285 nvidia card to get rid of their stock of them, 2.93 quad and 2tb HD mac pro going in the 2400 range before any new super update comes in q1 10

 

[Umbongo]

Let me ask you something.

As someone who has an i7 on preorder.

I have been hearing reports of excessive heat with
these new iMacs. Well, actually, your post was only
the second I read.

Is this a problem Apple is aware of and working
to fix before they release these iMacs?

How likely is it that these iMacs are going to overheat?

They aren't out yet so no one knows. The fact is Apple didn't go to 65W TDP processors on the iMac for what can only be assumed were heat reasons. They have increased the size to 27" and can now support 95W processors, but how well that cooling will work when you are pegging 4 cores at 100% remaisn to be seen.

 

[Eidorian]

They aren't out yet so no one knows. The fact is Apple didn't go to 65W TDP processors on the iMac for what can only be assumed were heat reasons. They have increased the size to 27" and can now support 95W processors, but how well that cooling will work when you are pegging 4 cores at 100% remaisn to be seen.

The 21.5" iMac appears to be using the 65 W E7600. The lower amount of cache is going to reduce heat a little compared to the E8400 but it's still a toasty processor. It is going to break old 45W limit on smaller models.

 

[Umbongo]

The 21.5" iMac appears to be using the 65 W E7600. The lower amount of cache is going to reduce heat a little compared to the E8400 but it's still a toasty processor. It is going to break old 45W limit on smaller models.

I thought that was on the 27", my mistake. Even if Apple have got the best processors from the binning processor the quads are still going to be hot when running full power. I dont think there will be issues of over heating or anything, but I can't imagine quiet renders.

 

[Eidorian]

I thought that was on the 27", my mistake. Even if Apple have got the best processors from the binning processor the quads are still going to be hot when running full power. I dont think there will be issues of over heating or anything, but I can't imagine quiet renders.

Yeah it's LGA 775 across the entire line until you hit the quad core.

I'll call up the local Mac shop next week if they have some display models. They're only 1.5 miles away compared to the almost 20 miles the Apple store is.

 

[KG2002]

i foresee a midcycle update including 8gb ram, 285 nvidia card to get rid of their stock of them, 2.93 quad and 2tb HD mac pro going in the 2400 range before any new super update comes in q1 10

Have this ever happened before? That would be nice. I will go and google for it now.

I am planning to get Mac Pro with the lowest CPU and upgrade it myself to something faster. iMac with i7 looks great and is great value for the money. It just has glossy screen which is a No Go.

 

[Bubba Satori]

Why is everyone clinging to Gulftown to make your Mac Pro "pro again?

I don't understand that either ? The cpus in the Mac Pros are great.

It's the video cards that are absolutely embarrassing. GT120 & 4870 ?

What are low end consumer cards doing in a workstation ?

Only two choices and no "professional" cards. Excuse me, ATI and Nvidia make a couple of dozen professional video cards that are bto options from any pc manufacturer, Tiger Direct or New Egg.

Why does Apple hate high performance video cards and not allow their customers to get them in their Mac "Pros" ? Any ideas ? Please no flames. I really would like to know.

 

[Eidorian]

I don't understand that either ? The cpus in the Mac Pros are great.

The single socket Mac Pros aren't much to talk about.

Lynnfield and even Bloomfield are relavtively affordable compared to the total unit cost.