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Interesting thing about the i7 iMac cost

XboxEvolved

XboxEvolved

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 22, 2004
991
1,266
So I of course, wigged out when I saw the Core i7 iMac and thought well man $2200 computer that can't even really be utilized right now, but will start seeing benefits down the road would last me forever, but it is costly...or is it?

I decided to go to newegg.com and find all the parts that would build a similar computer, keep in mind the computer would run Windows 7, have some multimedia software bought that I -guess- would match iLife to a point, webcam, 24' LED (as that is the biggest I could find on the site), Windows Ultimate and rather than coming inside the back of a monitor would be a big hulking box.

So this is what I came up with before tax, and any shipping cost that could occur:

iMac i7 cost: $2200
Newegg.com parts cost: $1920
-------------------------------------
280 difference.

So needless to say I was pretty shocked. This is also considering you would be buying something that wouldnt let you use your monitor as an external in conjunction with another source, power saving solutions, or a crazy good design. This is also probably one of the first Macs that despite being pricey in comparison to other stuff out there, is actually the better buy. The 27' LED I think is what made the biggest difference in cost though with this. You also have to consider no customer support, chances for a free printer after rebate, etc. Just though I would share...
 
actually, that 24" dell monitor is probably cheaper than the 27" on the iMac. Try running some prize searches for 27"-IPS panels with that monster resolution.. it ain't cheap. Actually, in Sweden the whole package costs ~22000SEK (about 2200 dollars) and a comparable monitor costs about 14000SEK ($1400) which would make the computer behind the iMac a real bargain.
 
A 27" IPS monitor at 2560 x 1440 will set you back a lot more than a 24" IPS 1920 x 1200.

Also did you factor in Webcam + Microphone, 802.11n, Bluetooth, Firewire 800 card, optical in/out audio, IR sensor, BT KB + mouse.
 
Yes for the most part I did:

cost of building:
CPU: 290
memory: 90
decent case: 100
hd: 180
motherboard: 150
power supply: 100
graphics: 150
OS: $200
multimedia software: 100
wireless keyboard and mouse: 100
camera: 60
LED monitor closest thing: $400
----------------------------------
Total: 1920 to build your own computer 280 difference in price

Also these parts aren't crappy parts, these are all mid-grade or high-level which I assum iMacs use a mixture of in their innards. Also like I said, I could only find a 24' LED on newegg.com and wasn't about to go looking for more stuff. I really just did it to make myself feel better about spending that much money all at once on a computer and it def worked. lol

edit: unless I am looking in the wrong places, to my knowledge no other company has an LED made specifically at 27' or more, and if they did that would definitely add even more to the overall cost, and would likely make the iMac a total steal.
 
Yeah when I heard 27" IPS LED I figured the price would be close to 3000$ The display is a major selling point here. Not to mention the fact that the new DP does video in. I can see apple releasing a 27" stand alone display to brother the 24" and charge 1200$ for it.
 
It is normal for a prebuilt computer to cost less than the parts at retail.
 
Right cube I understand that. the point of my research into it was to see how much of a gap there would be. Do that with the iMac 21.5 3.06Ghz and I guarantee you that your going to have a FAR bigger gap, not a small $100-200 gap, but at least a $700 gap. It is also priced comparatively to a lot of i7 full desktops and all-in-ones out there.

For example, going to Alienware an i7 with a 24' Dell monitor will run you nearly $3000 compared to the $2200 of the iMac. This is without a mic/camera, keyboard, or mouse. Granted though, the Alienware has a ATi 5 generation GPU, and 6GB of RAM adding to the cost of course, but this is really probably the best priced Mac Apple has made in a very long time.
 
layziegtp said:
Until we know why the panel is so cheap, I bet we’re going to see a lot of Mac Pro owners buying 27” monitors for $1700 and trying to figure out what to do with the free computer stuck to the back.
Click to expand...

I can see a whole new market of custom cases dedicated to the 27" iMac innards. :D
 
cube said:
It is normal for a prebuilt computer to cost less than the parts at retail.
Click to expand...

Thats definitely not true. Go find any Dell, Hp, Lenovo ect computer then find all the parts and it should be significantly less.

Just built a $1000 computer for ~$500

Now macs you can build a hackintosh inside a powermac g4,or g5 case or mac pro case running osx.
 
I wish Apple would give you different screen choices, I don't need or want to pay extra for a LED IPS monitor. There should be a cheaper option with an LCD screen, for individuals that don't need LED (which I bet are a great deal of their consumers)
 
mastershakess said:
I wish Apple would give you different screen choices, I don't need or want to pay extra for a LED IPS monitor. There should be a cheaper option with an LCD screen, for individuals that don't need LED (which I bet are a great deal of their consumers)
Click to expand...

Apple wants perfection. They could offer those crappy 400$ netbooks but they don't want to because customer isn't happy with it. This LED thing goes to same category.
 
Yes, the new 27" i7/i5 iMac is the only reasonably priced Mac in existence. However, you also have to remember that the 1900usd PC that you came up with will offer you superior expandability. You can use 16GB much cheaper RAM (the iMac uses more expensive laptop so-dimm), you can have many hard disks in raid setup, a desktop graphics card (the iMac's is laptop version, or at least underclocked desktop, not sure), it comes with 12 USB ports. Depends what you really need.
 
madwolf said:
Yes, the new 27" i7/i5 iMac is the only reasonably priced Mac in existence. However, you also have to remember that the 1900usd PC that you came up with will offer you superior expandability. You can use 16GB much cheaper RAM (the iMac uses more expensive laptop so-dimm), you can have many hard disks in raid setup, a desktop graphics card (the iMac's is laptop version, or at least underclocked desktop, not sure), it comes with 12 USB ports. Depends what you really need.
Click to expand...

And it will use 4 times more electricity than iMac so it'll be a lot more expensive in long run.
 
mastershakess said:
I wish Apple would give you different screen choices, I don't need or want to pay extra for a LED IPS monitor. There should be a cheaper option with an LCD screen, for individuals that don't need LED (which I bet are a great deal of their consumers)
Click to expand...

Ah... the fundamental core of the "Macs are expensive" argument...

It's an outstanding value for what you get
vs.
It's a terrible value because it's overkill for what you need
 
Why should it use more electricity? Those are exactly the same parts from the same factory. If you put 6 hard disks instead of the one you get with iMac of course they will use a bit more electricity, if you build the same configuration as iMac, it won't use any more electricity.
 
Eidorian said:
Please, please show me your proof.
Click to expand...

27" iMac has 330W PSU if I remember correctly. There are 1200W PSUs for desktop PCs. Of course I don't mean you would have to get one but 4 times greater was more like a maximum plus monitor, speakers etc. At least I can say it'll use twice as much electricity than iMac does.
 
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