- Joined
- Feb 9, 2011
- Messages
- 184
- Reaction score
- 4
- Points
- 18
- Location
- Hong Kong
- Your Mac's Specs
- 21½" 3.6GHz Core i5 iMac, 12GB Crucial RAM
So lemme explain. I recently joined the Mac Forums under the anticipation of getting a kick-**** tax refund and getting the Mac of my dreams. I was sooooo excited, and then last night the wind went out of my sails. You see, my tax guy got back with me and said that we evidently didn't dot some "i" or cross some "t". End result was my big chunky tax refund becoming a kinda limp and whimpy.
I swear thats never happened to me before.
Naturally this leaves me with a choice. I absoultely need to get my dying computer replaced, but with about a $1300 budget, I'm left with a choice; low-end iMac 21.5" i3 ($1309 from the Apple store, iWork installed, -w- AppleCare), or a somewhat beefy PC with the following hand-picked parts off NewEgg ($1279):
Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
ASUS Rampage III Formula LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
XIGMATEK Intel Core i7 compatible Dark Knight-S1283V REV.W with ACK-I5361 120mm Long Life
XIGMATEK ACK-I5363 Intel Core i7 compatible Bracket Set
(2) HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000.C HDS721010CLA332 (0F10383) 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"
(2) G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Memory
ASUS ENGTS450 DC OC/DI/1GD5 GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
Obviously I can rebuild using the existing supplies from my dying PC...but which is better. I realized asking on a Mac forum is a bit like loading the deck, but I absolutely know I won't get a straight answer anywhere else. As I see it:
PC Pros: PC with above componets would likely be more powerful. Could last a bit longer. Good use of existing case. My PC friends won't disown me.
Mac Pros: Mac has a warranty. No need to build, and I've wanted a Mac for a bit. A little less powerful in comparison. Obviously less memory, but less likelihood of virus too.
Its a tough call given my budget. What would you do?
I swear thats never happened to me before.
Naturally this leaves me with a choice. I absoultely need to get my dying computer replaced, but with about a $1300 budget, I'm left with a choice; low-end iMac 21.5" i3 ($1309 from the Apple store, iWork installed, -w- AppleCare), or a somewhat beefy PC with the following hand-picked parts off NewEgg ($1279):
Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
ASUS Rampage III Formula LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
XIGMATEK Intel Core i7 compatible Dark Knight-S1283V REV.W with ACK-I5361 120mm Long Life
XIGMATEK ACK-I5363 Intel Core i7 compatible Bracket Set
(2) HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000.C HDS721010CLA332 (0F10383) 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"
(2) G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Memory
ASUS ENGTS450 DC OC/DI/1GD5 GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
Obviously I can rebuild using the existing supplies from my dying PC...but which is better. I realized asking on a Mac forum is a bit like loading the deck, but I absolutely know I won't get a straight answer anywhere else. As I see it:
PC Pros: PC with above componets would likely be more powerful. Could last a bit longer. Good use of existing case. My PC friends won't disown me.
Mac Pros: Mac has a warranty. No need to build, and I've wanted a Mac for a bit. A little less powerful in comparison. Obviously less memory, but less likelihood of virus too.
Its a tough call given my budget. What would you do?