Cost comparison: iMac Core Duo vs. homemade PC

[Tostada]

There are so many levels on which you can't even compare the systems.

For example, the cheapest Athlon X2 is significantly faster than the $260 Pentium D 920, and the Pentium D 920 is 2.8 GHz, not 2.0 GHz like the Mac version, so I don't know of a comparable CPU.

And as far as software, you can't really compare the two. Apples come with a lot more good software, but that's pretty much all you'll ever get.

And of course you can't put a price on cute!

 

[vailr]

$1150 Dual Hackintosh Pro

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou
$414 Sceptre X20G-Naga III (newegg.com)
$297 Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (zipzoomfly.com)
$147 2GB (2x1GB) PC3200 (newegg.com)
$144 Windows XP Professional x64 (newegg.com)
$126 Radeon X1600 PRO 256MB (monarchcomputer.com)
$102 Antec NeoHE 550W (ewiz.com)
$89 Maxtor 250GB SATA (ascendtech.com)
$83 Epox EP-9NPAJ (newegg.com)
$40 NEC ND-3550A (newegg.com)
$29 LCT ATX case w/front USB & audio ports (supergooddeal.com)
$29 Logitech 961402-0403 QuickCam Chat (newegg.com)
$21 802.11g PCI (newegg.com)
$18 bluetooth USB (supergooddeal.com)
$12 keyboard & optical mouse (supergooddeal.com)
$9 stereo speakers (supergooddeal.com)
$1,117

Not sure about Nero or a remote.

Don't forget to include shipping from all the different locations.

BTW, shipping on the iMac is free Nailed me for $142 in taxes tho :Q

 

[Bluestealth]

Shipping costs? why are we comparing something homebrew to something OEM? Of course the hardware is going to be A LOT cheaper for them. If you accounted for the cost of the hardware if you were an OEM + overhead + profit, the iMAC would seem like a terrible deal. However comparing it to a homebrew solution requires you to account for individual shipping, reseller markup, manufactuer markup, shipping, and possibly taxes.

Software wise, OEMs have an ability to get things at a very reduced rate. Perhaps because they "want" their products inside dells, etc... At home you must pay full price, where as an OEM may even get away with paying very little to nothing by allowing a lite/OEM version of their product to be installed.

Though, much of the software that you are suggesting has free alternatives, they might not be compariblity to the iLife software in terms of userability, this is why you buy software, because you want something that works for you. With the MAC you have your hardware, much of the software(at least you are paying for it), and almost all of the customization(hardware wise) left up to MAC.

Trying to compare these two platforms in terms of cost is pointless. A lot of people feel that Mac's are a $2000 wastes of money. However people who like them and use them find that the cost gets them everything they want. For them that is fine. However there are many people who are not satisfied by it, and would rather create their own, no matter how much the cost. They may have to suffer at having a small(there are very small computer cases for pentium M desktops if you want them) case next to their monitor(that they can keep through major upgrades). I for one would choose the PC I built, but not everyone would. Not everyone should, they arnt right for everyone, and for some you would have to comprimise on what you actually wanted.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Bluestealth
Shipping costs? why are we comparing something homebrew to something OEM? Of course the hardware is going to be A LOT cheaper for them. If you accounted for the cost of the hardware if you were an OEM + overhead + profit, the iMAC would seem like a terrible deal. However comparing it to a homebrew solution requires you to account for individual shipping, reseller markup, manufactuer markup, shipping, and possibly taxes.

Software wise, OEMs have an ability to get things at a very reduced rate. Perhaps because they "want" their products inside dells, etc... At home you must pay full price, where as an OEM may even get away with paying very little to nothing by allowing a lite/OEM version of their product to be installed.

Though, much of the software that you are suggesting has free alternatives, they might not be compariblity to the iLife software in terms of userability, this is why you buy software, because you want something that works for you. With the MAC you have your hardware, much of the software(at least you are paying for it), and almost all of the customization(hardware wise) left up to MAC.

Trying to compare these two platforms in terms of cost is pointless. A lot of people feel that Mac's are a $2000 wastes of money. However people who like them and use them find that the cost gets them everything they want. For them that is fine. However there are many people who are not satisfied by it, and would rather create their own, no matter how much the cost. They may have to suffer at having a small(there are very small computer cases for pentium M desktops if you want them) case next to their monitor(that they can keep through major upgrades). I for one would choose the PC I built, but not everyone would. Not everyone should, they arnt right for everyone, and for some you would have to comprimise on what you actually wanted.

Ah, you're beginning to see why this isn't a 1:1 comparison. It's more of a general comparison done just to see what the numbers would be. I still enjoy building and modifying my own computers, but it's so nice having a system that "just works". Even my old 450mhz G4 Cube has been an absolute joy to own this last month and a half; it's given me zero problems. It just works. While I can say my Windows boxes work, they do require way more maintenance and upkeep than my Mac does.

 

[SexyK]

Originally posted by: Tostada
For example, the cheapest Athlon X2 is significantly faster than the $260 Pentium D 920, and the Pentium D 920 is 2.8 GHz, not 2.0 GHz like the Mac version, so I don't know of a comparable CPU.

What does a Pentium D have to do with an Intel iMac?

You should read up on Yonah (Core Duo).

 

[Cerb]

The Mac prices aren't terrible. They are small, quiet, have decent displays, and are now even moderately powerful. Give your PC build Nexus fans, a Seasonic S12 PSU, Ninja HS, and a P180, and let's see how it turns out (quite awesome, no doubt, but that will eat your savings)...

It's like the iPods being expensive thing. It's not true anymore. When more Linuxes get fully running, it will be awesome (Linux + E > OS X ), especially with WINE.

Good software doesn't cost much (in fact, I've come to use a lot of free and Free software due to genuine quality, not cost). The only pay-for software I now rely on are Nero and Visio. If there were K3b for Windows, that would go down to Visio. Xara Xtreme might even eclipse that. In addition, most of this software works well under OS X, if you actually keep it .

 

[Tostada]

Originally posted by: SexyK

Originally posted by: Tostada
For example, the cheapest Athlon X2 is significantly faster than the $260 Pentium D 920, and the Pentium D 920 is 2.8 GHz, not 2.0 GHz like the Mac version, so I don't know of a comparable CPU.

What does a Pentium D have to do with an Intel iMac?

You should read up on Yonah (Core Duo).

Well, I suppose those benchmarks show it's usually better than a Pentium D and usually slower than a X2 3800.

The point is that you can't even get that CPU retail yet, and it's a little silly to be trying to compare Apple vs. PC on a part-for-part cost analysis. The PC will alway be cheaper ... unless you have Alienware build it for you.