I just configured a $60,000 dollar desktop computer

[ttyymmnn]

Apple had their fall product announcement today and, just for shits and giggles, I thought I would see how much I could spend on a new computer. The Mac Pro (which has been around since 2019 and is not new today) starts at $5,999 ($500/month for 12 months). The base model includes:

• 3.5GHz 8‑core Intel Xeon W processor, Turbo Boost up to 4.0GHz

• 32GB of DDR4 ECC memory

• Radeon Pro 580X graphics card with 8GB of GDDR6 memory

• 256GB of SSD storage

• Stainless steel frame with feet

• Magic Mouse

But that’s not nearly enough computing power for me. And besides, the Magic Mouse is absolute garbage, and I want my Mac Pro to have wheels. So here’s how you can option up a $6,000 computer into a $60,000 computer:

• 2.5GHz 28‑core Intel Xeon W processor, Turbo Boost up to 4.4GHz: $7,000

• 5TB (12x128GB) of DDR4 ECC memory: $25,000

• Two Radeon Pro W6800X Duo with 64GB of GDDR6 memory each: $9,600

• 8TB SSD storage: $2,600

• Apple Afterburner card: $2,000

• Stainless steel frame with wheels: $400

• Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad: $149

Total: $52,748

But wait! I need a new monitor to go with that Mac Pro. Let’s see...

• Pro Display XDR 32-inch Retina 6K with nano-texture glass: $5,999

• Pro stand for the monitor: $999

Grand Total: $59,746 (or $4,978/month for 12 months)

That would be a great machine for surfing Oppo and sending email. Do you think it will do the Facebook?

[RamblinRover]

@ttyymmnn

[Jarrett]

@ttyymmnn I don't understand how there are people out there that are smart enough to afford a $60,000 Mac, but stupid enough to spend $60,000 on a Mac.

[benn454]

@ttyymmnn Shit like this is why Apple is a cult.

[Bloody-the-resident-LandRover-apologist]

@ttyymmnn Eh idk, I'm currently going through bids from vendors for some new edge data centers and I could probably get a blade server with those specs for half the price.

[AestheticsInMotion]

@ttyymmnn am I mathing wrong? That seems to total about $31,700

[CB]

@ttyymmnn At least it's 0% APR!

[ttyymmnn]

@jarrett

I'm a lifelong Mac guy, and I need a new laptop, and I'm choking on $1,000 for a MacBook Air. I'm definitely buying used, as with my cars.

[Chariotoflove]

@ttyymmnn

What's amazing is that there are graphics and music businesses (not individuals, for the most part) that will buy this system with many of those upgrades and make their ROI easily.

[facw]

@ttyymmnn said in I just configured a $60,000 dollar desktop computer:

a new monitor

a new monitor? What sort of lame desktops are you guys using over there in Appleland? You are going to want at least three, and probably six would be better. I'd hope the W6800X cards can do at least four each.

[Jarrett]

@ttyymmnn I've heard great things about the M1 MacBooks, including their value/dollar. Since they hold their value so well, I'd even encourage you to buy one new!

The Mac Pros exist to fleece the cultists.

[ttyymmnn]

@aestheticsinmotion

I let Apple do the math. Maybe I copied the numbers wrong. Yeah, the processor is $7,000, not $1,000. I'll have to check my numbers again.

[Skyfire77]

@aestheticsinmotion Yeah, even assuming 7% sales tax I'm only getting $33,916.00

[facw]

@jarrett said in I just configured a $60,000 dollar desktop computer:

The Mac Pros exist to fleece the cultists businesses. That shit is so expensive because they know enterprises that use Macs will pay it. Workstation pricing isn't so terribly different on the Windows side. If you are buying 128GB sticks of RAM you are going to be paying out the nose for them.

[AestheticsInMotion]

@ttyymmnn I was going to say, that seems like a lot of processor for only a grand!

[ttyymmnn]

@skyfire77

I copied my numbers all wrong. Try again.

[Saracen]

@jarrett the M1's are indeed very impressive.

Just wait until the Mac Pro switches to Apple Silicon...

[Jarrett]

@saracen It's certainly exciting to see what'll happen. More innovation is more better!

That said without the need to preserve battery life, I expect Xeons and (especially) Threadripper to compare more favourably.

[Skyfire77]

@ttyymmnn 7000+25000+9600+2600+2000+400+99=$46,699

I'm coming up $6,049 short, unless the base price is included in?

Still don't get why it looks like a box grater...

[ttyymmnn]

@jarrett

The people who would spend $60,000 on a Mac are the ones who want to be seen spending $60,000 on a Mac. The handles on the top are so you can put it on a stainless steel chain and wear it around your neck.

[Exage03040]

@ttyymmnn

Maybe this is a worthy contender???

[ranwhenparked]

@ttyymmnn said in I just configured a $60,000 dollar desktop computer:

That would be a great machine for surfing Oppo and sending email. Do you think it will do the Facebook?

Oh, you're a power user! This will be fine for awhile, but, if you want to get more than a year of use out of it, I'd suggest you buy more RAM.

[ttyymmnn]

@skyfire77

Before the monitor and stand:

With the monitor and stand:

It looks like a cheese grater because it's an homage to the original Mac Pro

[ttyymmnn]

@exage03040

This is my current system. I hope it's a big enough upgrade.

[facw]

@jarrett Also presumably we a getting close to AMD building chips on the same 5nm process Apple has been using. A big part of the M1's impressive numbers is that Apple completely bought out TSMC's most advanced process capacity. Doesn't change the fact the M1 seems pretty fast, but it's not surprising that a chip built on TSMC's 5nm is faster and more efficient than one built on their 7nm process (or Intel's 14nm+++++++++++++++++++ process)