HUH? I got 8 cores running at 3.8. It's called hyperthreading. I know very well what hyperthreading is. And, no, you don't. The fact that you think you have eight core shows you haven't got a clue. Those are "virtual cores." The iMac can do it as well. To get eight true cores either requires a dual socket MB or time to wait for Intel to develop a 1366 socket 8 core processor. They are working on a six core now.
As for the Crucial memory, the challenge was to meet the specs of an iMac which would include the quality of the type of RAM installed as well as the features such as WIFI and Firewire capability out of the box, not to make a computer with the features Cabojoe thinks are desireable. The Crucial memory was priced yesterday and was the cheapest of the top RAM of the quality that Apple always puts in it's computers thereby meeting the specs of the challenge.
And you haven't an economic clue how to compare prices either. All you have listed is the compilation of the sum of the costs of the parts. You'd go broke.
I would rather have a computer that cabojoe thinks is desirable than what Steve Jobs will mandate. Nice back peddle on the hyperthreading. I never said the Mac doesn't do it, that's you talkin. I watched you give the 1066 memory is > than 800 memory lecture, I know I don't need to give you the 1600 > than 1066 lecture. With i7, processor speed and memory bandwidth are king. And where is the upgrade path with that monitor. Next year I go ATI Eyefinity with two more monitors. Easy and cost effective for me, hard for the iMac owner. Upgrade path for the processor? Drop in a 6 core whenever I want. Intel comes up with new killer invention? Change out the mobo. As to comparing prices, you're the one that is doing that. I set a target price and stuck to it when I ordered. When I said it cost me 2500 delivered, I meant it. Even the mail in rebates were calculated. Doing it your way with your pretty little lists and stuff, trying to inflate my price, 6 months after the fact, is what is screwing you up. Specs of the challenge? They were simple...go back and read them, don't make them up as you go. Now I have to say this, and I know you aint gonna like it. I was in Bestbuy last week and saw an iMac sitting like a lone bird over on the little Apple table. I had to point and laugh. It looks gay. I laughed so hard that I was shadowed by the store's Mac geek throughout the store.
Virtual or not, it don't matter, it looks like eight cores to the OS. Read my original post, something about "4 cores going 3.8 (or 8 cores if you will)". Don't ever try to Miss Cleo what I know from over the internet. I have an economic clue also. My house and van and trailers and boat are paid off, and I'm a long ways from going broke. Stuff that in your pipe and smoke it.