That's a false comparison. The BASE iMac Pro starts at $5k. The specs you're comparing it to is the fully loaded super-expensive one, whose price Apple hasn't mentioned yet. No, Svartalfiar, he is trying to build a PC comparable to the HIGH END iMac Pro using PC components, not a low end iMac Pro. YOU are the one who is making the false comparison. Here's part of the reason why your component list is wrong:
- RAM Memory: the iMac Pro uses ERROR CORRECTING RAM clocked to 2666MHz suitable for a workstation environment where production and accuracy is paramount. You selected mere off-the-shelf DESKTOP memory that is not error correcting, meaning it is missing components included in ECC RAM, which requires one more memory chip and different firmware. That's additional cost.
- Processor: The iMac Pro uses the latest WORKSTATION CLASS processor, the Intel XEON. You, on the other hand have selected a FOUR YEAR OLD DESIGN intel Haswell i7 processor merely because it has 8 Cores and it's the most the expensive you could find (not a good criterion).
So, you are trying to build a DESKTOP computer, not a WORKSTATION. There is a huge difference in the quality of the machines. You demonstrate your ignorance in your statement about the monitors when you say: "I don't understand why people would buy that much resolution in such a small screen, it's useless" because the people who are going to be working on these workstations are going to be working on video and graphic in real-time, real resolutions. That means they NEED the pixels, not a mere representation provided by a smaller screen simulating the full image or video. They also need the full gamut of colors that the iMac can produce. . . but that cannot be produced by that $1500 monitor that The KG9 Kid's selected for his build.
Even so, your build comes to a total of $4750 before you add in case, power supply, keyboard, mouse, operating system, software suite, miscellaneous parts, labor, warranty, overhead, etc. What in hell have you proved?
You've proved that Apple can build and sell a $4995 WORKSTATION CLASS computer and make a profit for less than what it costs a dilettante amateur to build his own desktop class computer, which still doesn't have the same power or capabilities from off-the-shelf parts, even counting all the free labor the dilettante puts into building his machine. I've shown this time and time again to these home-brew PC builders.
This is a comparison of the top end components anticipating what similar top end fully action-packed components would be in a loaded iMac Pro. I'm sure that screamer pro specs will bring both PC and Apple systems around the $10k mark.
I'm sure they will be, but you listed out the high-end components, then compared it to the low-end price point. I was merely making your comparison more accurate.
You should refactor for a Xeon, not an i7 Extreme.
Here's a Xeon 8core off of Newegg for $600. And going through their website, there's several Xeon processors (maybe not 8core) pricing in the mid hundreds. Of course, these are all server-type processors, not something you'll be putting in your tower. Xeons aren't consumer-targeted processors, so it's not something you'll find in retail all that often, so price points are a bit harder to make.
No, Svartalfiar, he is trying to build a PC comparable to the HIGH END iMac Pro using PC components, not a low end iMac Pro. YOU are the one who is making the false comparison.
No, the specs in the parts he listed were all the high-end iMacPro, not the minimum specs
per Apple's website. There's no way Apple can price a system with as yet unreleased (18core) processors/gfx cards, and a 4 TERABYTE SSD at a price where just the ssd is 1/3 of the total price. Not to mention the other parts n pieces. That's why his component list came out to $10k, not close to Apple's $5k.
Here's part of the reason why your component list is wrong:
My component list was a quick search off of Newegg for somewhat comparable specs, ONLY based off of his list. Nothing more. I'm not trying to get exactly the same or anything, just get a more accurate comparison. And I bet you my almost-$5k is way more accurate than the $10k number you're thinking. And my criterion of "most expensive I could find" was to establish a worst-case estimate. Not why I would ever buy something.
So, you are trying to build a DESKTOP computer, not a WORKSTATION. There is a huge difference in the quality of the machines.
What? There is no difference - most workstations ARE desktop computers, unless you're in an environment with remote workstations run off a central server(s). But that's not what we're talking about here. Workstations generally do need higher computing requirements depending on the business, but all that is is just a desktop with better stuff in it, whether it's a tower or an all-in-one.
You demonstrate your ignorance in your statement about the monitors when you say: "I don't understand why people would buy that much resolution in such a small screen, it's useless" because the people who are going to be working on these workstations are going to be working on video and graphic in real-time, real resolutions.
And who, exactly, is working in 5k resolutions? I work in AV, and we run big screens (as in 26'x15' most recently) in 1080. Sometimes even 720. And, if you're interfacing with systems like the Myerson Symphony, you send them a 480i composite signal because that's all they can take. 5k is only in the realm of Hollywood (theatres still think it's a selling point to have 4k), or very few small-time video companies. And many of them aren't going to be able to drop this much $$ on their Photoshop machine. I would guess more amateurs with GoPros are using -just- 4k than professional companies.
Even so, your build comes to a total of $4750 before you add in case, power supply, keyboard, mouse, operating system, software suite, miscellaneous parts, labor, warranty, overhead, etc. What in hell have you proved?
I proved exactly what I said - that KG9's price comparison was inaccurate, which he admitted in #72 -
I'm sure that screamer pro specs will bring both PC and Apple systems around the $10k mark. And of course, any company selling these pre-built will have cheaper prices overall, and be including all those peripheries.
I've shown this time and time again to these home-brew PC builders.
What home-brew PC guy is going to be trying to build a "workstation-class" computer as an alternative to the iMacPro? Macs aren't nearly as useful for gaming as a PC, and those guys are probably 95% of the build-your-own-badass-computer people. They don't care about processors or 4T ssds nearly as much as putting 4 graphics cards in the machine, and running a water-cooled system with fancy LED lights.
Svartalfiar fails to grasp that there is a vast difference between a consumer grade computer that he can build out of the parts that he has priced out (and as he claims he can find even cheaper versions to include to get the price down and also lower performance) and a professional grade workstation computer, one which are seldom built from the ground up but are most often bought with support contracts from major computer manufacturing companies, which are willing to stand behind their reliability.
Again, I was merely correcting the price comparison. And yes, the parts I quoted were not shopped around, or waited for sales. It was a quick search on Newegg only for a quick price point. My roommate works for a company (used to be with Citrix) that does full-blown remote workstations setups, cloud systems, network security, etc. They quote and sell full systems with warranties and maintenance plans. I would bet they buy their stuff in bulk and can get way cheaper prices on the same parts as I could, and much better integrated than mine. Like I said, mine was just a quick price comparison, the same as KG9's was.
I suspect it has something to do with regulatory environment and the FCC licensing due to all the new product hoops required by the government.
I don't know about Apple, but the Vega Frontier graphics cards are still awaiting FCC licensing and approval, so I would guess the final iMac is waiting too.