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journal: toy
Mac Pro vs Dell Precision: The REAL price comparison [UPDATED x2]
It is very apt that he calls his post "A Price Comparison" because that's all it is. It isn't correct and it isn't a direct comparison
On my morning rounds of the blogs I frequent I came across a rather interesting read by a Mr Paul Thurrott: Mac Pro vs. Dell Precision: A price comparison. Now of course, Apple has been touting that the Mac Pro is far cheaper than a comparable Dell, but Mr Thurrott has managed to prove otherwise by getting a Dell to be $1279 cheaper than an equivalent Mac Pro. Unfortunately for Mr Thurrott he misses some important components.
Now I have already emailed him about the problems I’m going to point out to you now, but as I only receive replies to half the emails I send to him pointing out errors and hardly any of these result in changes (I’ve not seen any changes to the factual errors I pointed out to him in his Leopard preview article on winsupersite.com) I’ve decided to post this to show where he slips up. First off, let’s look at the prices he finds:
Systems
Dell Precision Workstation 490 (32-bit) = $3,670
Apple Mac Pro = $4949
Dell price advantage = $1279
That seems to destroy Apple’s entire “cheaper than Dell” theory, or does it. It is very apt that he calls his post “A Price Comparison” because that’s all it is. It isn’t correct and it isn’t a direct comparison. While he says he has matched the same ram, video card and hard drive he hasn’t matched the same processors, so let’s spec out the correct Precision to compare to the Mac Pro:
Which Precision Model?
Paul uses the Precision 490, which was initially used with this comparison, but thanks to one of the comments it has become apparent that the 690 should be used in order to offer the 4 drive bays and the ability to have a 1 KiloWatt powersupply
Processors
Two 3GHz Dual Core Intel Xeon. As Mr Thurrott kindly points out, Dell offers a much wider range of processors ranging from 1.6GHz to 3.7GHz. What he fails to mention is that the 3.2GHz and 3.7GHz processors are actually in the 5000 series and so have smaller L2 caches and slower FSBs. There’s also conveniently two 3GHz Xeons, a 5050 with 2 x 2MB L2 cache and a 667MHz FSB and a 5160 with a 4MB L2 cache and a 1.33GHz FSB. Of course in support of a fair comparison we should use the 5160, which is used in the Mac Pro, which unfortunately for Mr Thurrott is $930 more expensive than the processor he choose. Of course that’s just for one of them, so add another $930 for the second processor
Operating System
In order to have the ability to upgrade to over 4GB of ram you have to include XP x64.
Ram
If you are speccing out the ram make sure you switch the Dell to the 677MHz Ram as this is what the Mac Pro uses. We are using 1GB which is the lowest amount either machine allows (and also because Apple’s ram prices are stupidly high).
Hard Disk
The default dell configuration has an 80GB hard disk so make sure you upgrade that to a 250GB hard disk to match the Mac Pro
Graphics Card
Both machines have been upgraded to the NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500 graphics card with 512MB of ram. This is the most powerful both machines offer.
Optical Drive
The Dell’s optical drive has to be upgraded to the 16x DVD +/- RW drive, which is the closest to the SuperDrive in the Mac Pro
Display
The Mac Pro doesn’t come with a display, but you get a 19” Dell display included in the price of the Precision. The monitor is available here for $247 so we can add that to the price of the Mac Pro.
Ports
The Dell has 8 USB 2.0 ports to the Mac Pro’s 5 and also has more legacy ports (serial, parallel, PS/2). However the Mac Pro has better audio ports, a second ethernet port and 2 firewire 800 ports. Make sure you add a Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic sound card under the audio section and the second ethernet port under the PCI-E network adaptor page.
Warranty
The Dell comes with a 3 year on site warranty. To match this we’ve included AppleCare for the Mac Pro.
Shipping
Apple provides free shipping on the Mac Pro compared to the $30 that Dell charges.
So, what are the final totals in this comparison:
Dell Precision Workstation 690 = $6,235
Apple Mac Pro = $5,745
Dell price advantage = -$490
Not hugely cheaper but not miles more expensive as Mr Thurrott suggested. So, there you have it, the real comparison between the Mac Pro and Dell Precision 490, hopefully Mr Thurrott will correct the mistakes in his post soon.
Update: It seems that Paul has updated his post to take into account the processors. However his comparison still fails to take into account the monitor and warranty with the Mac Pro and the firewire card, sound card and shipping with the Precision
Update 2: After reading John Gruber’s rebuttal I’ve realised that I should have included the 64 bit version of Windows. While the Dell wins here by having a fully 64 bit OS compared to Tiger’s half complete 64 bit implementation (Leopard will offer a full 64 bit), the 32 bit version of Windows can only access up to 4GB of ram, not the full 16GB offered by Tiger. Also thanks to Swordmaker for pointing out that I should have used the Precision 690 as a base instead of the 490 as this has a comparable power supply and also the 4 drive bays. Due to using the 690 I have also added a second ethernet port to the Dell and upgraded the Mac Pro’s ram to 2GB and changed the monitor to a 19” 1907FP
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thinkback
Who cares if you want dell buy dell, apple buy apple it your money
Have you ever wondered why PC uses don’t spend all of their time comparing computers? A computer is a tool. It doesn’t make you work faster or better or more creative. It is the individual using the computer that matters the most. Mac users, get a life
Have you ever wondered why PC uses don’t spend all of their time comparing computers?
Because they are spending all their time trying to fix Windows. 
Michael, Mac users aren’t arguing with themselves.
| May. 16, 2007 | ||
| 9:16 am |
Have you ever wondered why PC uses don’t spend all of their time comparing computers?
You would be surprised how many PC users spend a lot of their time comparing computers. You would also maybe like to read the original article that inspired this, which was a comparison between a Mac Pro and a Dell Precision by Paul Thurrott, a PC user. He wasn’t comparing which would make you work better, and neither was I. He was comparing which gives you better value for money, which at the time of the comparison was the Mac Pro. I haven’t looked at prices recently to be able to compare.
A computer is a tool. It doesn’t make you work faster or better or more creative. It is the individual using the computer that matters the most.
A computer in general may not make you work faster, better or be more creative (though it can help you express your creativity). However, the OS you use does affect how fast you work and so on. Some people are more productive on Windows, some on OS X and some on Linux. Everyone is different and so what works well for one computer user may not work as well for another.
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| May. 16, 2007 | |
| 10:14 am |
Everyone is different and so what works well for one computer user may not work as well
for another.
I think it’s safe to say that adware/spyware/viruses/worms don’t work well with most users.
Likewise, trying to find Registry keys to get your computer working doesn’t work well for most people.
There are more hassles in Windows, and thus, everyone is more productive on OS X with the same application.
| May. 16, 2007 | ||
| 10:37 am |
There are more hassles in Windows, and thus, everyone is more productive on OS X with the same application.
There are very few truly cross platform apps. About the only really worthwhile ones are Adobe apps. As for everyone being more productive on OS X, that’s like me saying that everyone prefers to drive a BMW. Some don’t like BMWs
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| May. 16, 2007 | |
| 10:56 am |
As for everyone being more productive on OS X, that’s like me saying that everyone prefers to drive a BMW. Some don’t like BMWs
No, it’s like saying everyone hates getting hit in the head.
| May. 16, 2007 | ||
| 11:01 am |
I can’t believe people are still talking about this article. Folks, give it a break! Its been 9 months already
When you compare ‘like’ computers Macs are within $15-$20 of their PC counterparts.
Go here for an accurate comparison - http://www.systemshootouts.org/shootouts/de sktop/2006/0809_dt3200.html
And like most people, I comparison shop. Not only for price, but for best value. What does it matter that you bought your computer for $399, if it costs and additional $1000 to get it to do the thngs you need it to do.
There are very few truly cross platform apps. About the only really worthwhile ones are Adobe apps. As for everyone being more productive on OS X, that’s like me saying that everyone prefers to drive a BMW. Some don’t like BMWs
I’m not being flippant about it, though it may sound that way. What I’m saying is Windows has more problems than OS X does. If we can agree on that, than that means you are more productive on OS X.
It’s not about liking chocolate or vanilla. What if vanilla always had worms in it?
| May. 16, 2007 | ||
| 11:12 am |
I DON’T OWN A COMPUTER, (I’M AT K-MART USING ONE NOW). But the reference to going to the Hilton restuarant or a McDonalds has to be addressed; I know at one of them I can get a Mac!
To Diane Howes - Yup! Apple made the migration to Intel chips last year.
Besides lower cost and better performance, the addition of Intel chips now allows all Macs to offer the ability to run the Windows Operating System as well as virtually any Windows program. So Macs can run the 15,000 or so Mac programs, the 22,000 or so, PC programs, Oh, and did I mention it also runs Linux and all it’s programs, too?
And all of this for still less than a comparably configured Dell, HP, Gateway, or Sony.
51.
I think this matter is closed.. the Mac is a better computer for less money. Nuff Said.