Macs can be good value, depending on the situation. When the 5K iMac came out, the base model cost less than the Dell monitor that launched just a couple of months earlier. Even now trying to get a third party screen that beats the one on the 5K isn't streightforward.

>> They claim that to build your own workstation comparable to their $5k base model would cost at least $7k.

It's true for initial costs, but it's a little misleading if you use separate components and recycle them at different intervals. For example I usually go through two or three computers before I even replace my monitors.

I have a 9 year old 27" iMac which I still use daily as an external monitor, and it still looks fantastic.

Out of interest how do you use your iMac as an external monitor? I have a slightly older one, so it doesn't support target display mode (only available on 2009 macs and newer).

It has a mini display port in the back, and I just run a mini display port cable from my laptop to the iMac. I expected it to be complicated when I was looking into how to do it, but it turned out ridiculously easy, I just needed a $5 cable.

It's worth noting that from 2015 and on, iMacs can no longer be used in target display mode.

That's probably true if you're going to be getting Xeon processors, ECC RAM, etc. But if you were to go for consumer grade hardware with similar performance, you'd probably come in at well under $5000. The cost of a 5K display is definitely something that should be considered as well, though.

Something I saw on engadget: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/jqPdTH

That looks pretty close. A few small things are missing if you want complete parity:

* wireless keyboard and mouse * bluetooth * 802.11ac * 10GB ethernet * speakers * web cam

I'm sure you could budget those comfortably within the remaining $800 or so.

My 7048A supermicro running double E5-2650 (2x 10 cores) with 1TB ram, quadro P4000 was around 5000$, without monitor.

What RAM do you have in there that you were able to get 1TB of within that price?

I checked more thoroughly as I first commented "mildly seriously". I recently quit working with Apple and it wasn't on the best terms.

Still, here is the prices:

Also, I am a re-seller, and had good prices:

- 7048A-T system: 990$

- Intel CPU Xeon E5-2650 v3 2.3 GHz: 2x 950$

- PNY P4000: 650$

- The memory is unbranded. A customer of mine needed about 500 of them, and I bought 16 for me at 200$ each, which makes 3200$. I don't have formal confirmation, but I think it's 95Y4812 clone.

Total is around 5800$.

I checked the regular price of the 64Gb memory modules and realized it was nearly 10 times more expensive, so I guess it doesn't count in comparison with the iMac...

Also about the re-seller thing, I've been an Apple re-seller and evangelist for years, and never got more like 3% rebate on their products while I sold Mac by the dozen.

I actually tried it.

Intel announced their 8 core cpu for 600 usd. Power supply 150 usd. 32GB ECC ram 350 usd. top graphic card 600 usd. High end motherboard 300 usd. Fans and case 250 usd. 1tb ssd 350 usd. 5k 27 inch monitor 1200 usd. Speakers 150 usd. So the total Cost is around 3850 usd. Apple just lied to us Tbh. I wish they made mac pros like the the original ones. Easily changeable hardware which is what exactly pro people need