Why are Apple Mac Pro's ridiculous?
Posted October 15, 2010 by Nick Vogt in Computer Hardware
They cost almost twice as much as a high-end custom-built PC that has equal or better equipment.
These sorts of comparisons are always fun.
I chose the i7 equivalent of the Xeon that comes in the Mac.
A few notes:
- Intel Core i7 and Xeon processors are nearly identical in performance when you're talking about single-processor systems. i7 is marketed for mainstream and Xeon for workstations. The main "advantage" Xeon has is ECC memory. I use advantage in quotes because ECC memory has error checking at the expense of some performance.
- The 500GB/platter note on the HDD's indicates the size of the hard drive's platters. Hard drives generally contain more than one disc (called platters). Many 1TB hard drives use three 333GB platters. These new Samsung Spinpoint's use two 500GB platters, which results in lower heat and noise, faster performance, and fewer moving parts, when compared to a similar 3x333GB drive. The size of the platters on the Apple drives are unknown.
The AMD quad-core isn't quite as fast as the i7, but it makes up for it by being considerably less expensive, having a more future-proofed motherboard socket, and being very easily overclockable to the mid to upper 3GHz range.
In my opinion Apple really needs to come out with a mainstream desktop PC. Something that is expandable and upgradable like the Mac Pro, but priced more inline with the iMac. Most users don't need an expensive Xeon processor or some of the extra costs associated with the Mac Pro. Apple can outsource a case from Antec or another reputable manufacturer, put an i5 or i7 in there, and offer the package in the mid to upper $1000 range (plus their ultra expensive monitor). Yeah, it'd still be expensive compared to a custom-built PC, but it wouldn't be quite as ridiculous as the Mac Pro.
These sorts of comparisons are always fun.
Custom Intel PC vs Mac
I chose the i7 equivalent of the Xeon that comes in the Mac.
A few notes:
- Intel Core i7 and Xeon processors are nearly identical in performance when you're talking about single-processor systems. i7 is marketed for mainstream and Xeon for workstations. The main "advantage" Xeon has is ECC memory. I use advantage in quotes because ECC memory has error checking at the expense of some performance.
- The 500GB/platter note on the HDD's indicates the size of the hard drive's platters. Hard drives generally contain more than one disc (called platters). Many 1TB hard drives use three 333GB platters. These new Samsung Spinpoint's use two 500GB platters, which results in lower heat and noise, faster performance, and fewer moving parts, when compared to a similar 3x333GB drive. The size of the platters on the Apple drives are unknown.
Custom AMD PC vs Mac
The AMD quad-core isn't quite as fast as the i7, but it makes up for it by being considerably less expensive, having a more future-proofed motherboard socket, and being very easily overclockable to the mid to upper 3GHz range.
Thoughts
In my opinion Apple really needs to come out with a mainstream desktop PC. Something that is expandable and upgradable like the Mac Pro, but priced more inline with the iMac. Most users don't need an expensive Xeon processor or some of the extra costs associated with the Mac Pro. Apple can outsource a case from Antec or another reputable manufacturer, put an i5 or i7 in there, and offer the package in the mid to upper $1000 range (plus their ultra expensive monitor). Yeah, it'd still be expensive compared to a custom-built PC, but it wouldn't be quite as ridiculous as the Mac Pro.
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