Is the New Mac Pro Really Cheaper than a Dell?

by James R. Stoup Aug 14, 2006

At the most recent WWDC the PowerMac’s successor, the Mac Pro, was announced. And with its debut came the assertion that it was actually cheaper than a similarly equipped Dell. This, of course, was quite a bold statement since Dell is generally considered to be the cheapest PC maker around, while Apple is known (incorrectly at this point in time) for selling hardware at premium prices.

So, to put all of this speculation to an end I am going to compare an Apple Mac Pro and a Dell Precision Workstation and see just which one actually is cheaper. In my comparisons I am only comparing hardware. Since the Mac ships with more software by default it wouldn’t be fair to the Dell and I didn’t want anyone complaining that I was trying to give the Mac any advantages. Now, onward to the test.

[NOTE: The Dell comes in a 750W and 1KW Chassis, I opted for the former because it is cheaper and it makes for a truer test]


Mac Pro vs Dell Precision Workstation
The Specs:
Processor
Two 2.66 Dual-Core Intel Xenon

Memory
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz

Hard Drive
250 GB SATA 3Gb/s 7200 RPM

Graphics Card
512MB PCIe nVidia Quadro FX 4500

Optical Drive
16xDVD/DVD+/-RW

Price
Mac Pro = $4,449
Dell Precision = $5,329

So, initially, it looks like the Mac was cheaper by $880. But if that really was the case then I could stop writing at the end of this line. And yet, you might have noticed that there is a bit more to the article. So, to find out what these numbers really mean, read on.

What the Dell has that the Mac doesn’t
The Dell actually comes with a few more features than the Mac Pro. Now, I can’t claim that these features really justify the price, but they do help explain the difference in cost. Here is a rundown of the Precision’s advantages:

Slots
The Dell comes with the following slots:

3 PCI-e x8 slots
1 PCI-e x16 graphics slot
2 PCI-X 64bit/100MHz slots
1 PCI 32bit/33Mhz slot

There are a total of 7 PCI slots in the Dell as compared to the 4 PCI slots (3 PCI-e and 1 PCI-e graphics slot) in the Mac Pro. Now, I will grant you that I think 7 PCI slots are a bit on the overkill side, but that doesn’t change the fact that if you really needed them, you could get them on the Dell and not the Mac.

Bays
The Mac Pro can boast 4 hard drive bays and 2 optical bays, and that should be plenty for most users. However if your needs are above and beyond the norm then look to the Dell. It too has 4 hard drive bays but it also has 3 optical bays and a smaller bay for a 3.5” floppy drive or a media card reader. As a further enhancement the 3rd optical bay can be converted into a 5th hard drive bay if needed. Once again, I think 5 hard drive bays is overkill, but if you really needed that on the Mac you would be forced to get an external drive. Of course, if you really needed 5 drives worth of storage you would probably have just gone out and gotten a nice external RAID array, but I digress.

So, once again we see that the Dell has a few more features that are not offered on the Mac. And while the usefulness of a third optical drive or a media reader can be debated, it is one more thing that the Dell has that the Mac does not.

Ports
Finally we get to the last major difference between these two machines, I/O ports. The Dell has 8 USB 2.0 ports (2 on the front, 5 on the back and 1 internal), 2 FireWire 400 ports (1 on the front and 1 on the rear), 2 serial, 1 parallel, 2 PS/2, 1 RJ-45, 1 stereo line-in, 2 headphone (1 in front 1 in back) and 1 microphone jack in the front. This brings us to a whopping 20 port connections of various types.

Now, it should be noted that one of the USB 2.0 ports is internal (and thus not easily accessed) and 5 of the ports are quite obsolete (parallel, PS/2 and serial, who uses this crap still? Its 2006, get the with damn program). However, the Apple is close in many respects, it has 5 USB 2.0 ports and 2 USB 1.1 ports (on the keyboard) and superior in others, like FireWire. The Dell has 2 FireWire 400 ports with the Mac Pro having the same 2 FireWire 400 plus 2 more FireWire 800 ports as well.

What the Mac has that the Dell doesn’t
In most regards the Dell has more features than the equivalent Mac Pro, however, the Mac does score a few points here and there. The Mac has 2 FireWire 800 ports while the Dell has none. The Mac has 2 ethernet (RJ-45) jacks to the Dell’s 1. The Mac takes up a smaller space at 3,050 cubic inches (20.1 x 8.1 x 18.7) to the Dell’s 4,220 cubic inches (22.26 x 8.5 x 22.3). (the Mac also weighs less) And, of course, the Mac has handles. (you may scoff but this feature elevates the Mac and thus will save it in the event of mild flooding in your office.)

Conclusion
Between the Mac Pro and the Dell Precision Workstation, the Dell will run you almost $900 more. However, for that $900 you get a couple PCI slots, some extra drive bays and some more ports. Now, if that is worth the extra money then the Dell is a better deal than the Mac Pro (because of the extra headache and cost that those features would run you). However, if you feel you don’t need some of the extra expandability or backwards compatibly of the Dell then the Mac Pro is the clear choice.

Comments

  • I can’t really see a motherboard costing that much more just for those extra features. I realise PCI-Express is relatively new technology but it certainly doesn’t cost that much.

    Perhaps the parts that Dell use are higher end than the Mac? I doubt that though.

    Great comparison article though, James.

    Aaron Wright had this to say on Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 104
  • I will stick to the one with the Firewire 800 and two Gigabit Ethernet ports and still save a wad of cash. Never mind the useless extras that the Dell might offer to a pro. If I needed more I can always extend via Firewire 800 someday.

    Robomac had this to say on Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 846
  • As a long time Mac user but also a PC user, I appreciate your attempt at fairness and accuracy in these comparisons. It’s better to strive for accuracy than to be partisan.

    F Moreno had this to say on Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 1
  • Nice to see a real price comparison. I think the Dell can probably be found much cheaper with the use of deals and/or coupons, as well.

    However, as you mentioned, you didn’t factor in the software or the OS. Not only is the Mac cheaper, but it also is far superior just in the fact that not only can it run Windows, but it comes with iLife and OS X. To me, that’s worth quite a bit as well!

    Nice work.

    motherduce had this to say on Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 17
  • This, of course, was quite a bold statement since Dell is generally considered to be the cheapest PC maker around, while Apple is known (incorrectly at this point in time) for selling hardware at premium prices.

    Here’s the thing.  When have Mac fanatics ever argued that Macs were more expensive than Dells.  This goes back years, with them always insisting that comparably equiped Dells were more expensive.

    Oh, but THIS time, we mean it?  Does that mean all the other times were bullshit?

    And Dell is not used in these examples because they are the cheapest, but rather because they are the most well-known brand.  In fact, several manufacturers, notably eMachines, are almost always less expensive.

    Beeblebrox had this to say on Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 2220
  • Beeb,


    I was so disappointed in your comment. After reading my entire post, you respond with that?

    That’s all you got?

    Some lame-ass gripe about how “Mac fanatics” argue about the price of Dells?

    I mean, really, you wasted your time posting about this? Sorry, but that is just sad. What your post should have said was:

    “I can’t find anything to complain about in this article so I will resort to my favorite complaint about Mac fanatics regardless of how off topic it is.”

    What’s a matter, I didn’t write anything that seemed to agree with your prejudices? We had to scrape the bottom of the insult barrell to find something to comment on?

    As for eMachines, go and configure a eMachine workstation to the same specs as the Dell mentioned here. If its cheaper let me know and I will gladly revise my article.

    toodles

    James R. Stoup had this to say on Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 122
  • Slots:  7 is overkill, no matter which way you split it.  I was a long-time PC user who assembled my own boxes exclusively and never came anywhere near using 7 different cards, especially since NIC and sound cards are almost always on the motherboard these days rather than individual cards which take up slots.

    Bays:  A floppy drive?  What’s that?  In all seriousness, one can get an external floppy drive for less than $20.  Using 3 optical drives is only really useful if you copy a lot of discs on-the-fly (1 drive to another without using the HD as a go between), and want to read a 3rd disc at the same time.  I can honestly say that rarely do I need to read a CD or DVD from the disc itself as most software can be run after you’ve read the disc exactly once (games and movies are the notable exception).

    Ports:  The extra USB ports on the Dell are not mutually exclusive I/O ports individually, but are really nothing more than an internal USB hub.  A good USB hub which has 7 (or more) ports can be bought for less than $30.  You’re kidding about PS/2 and serial ports right?  These haven’t existed in the Mac world in ages because the technology is dated (and was in 97 when Apple stopped using them).  I would bet that, except for the occasional ancient keyboard and mouse setup, few use PS/2 (and no one except someone who hasn’t bought a printer in at least 6 years uses serial ports anymore), even in the el-cheapo PC world which hardly makes them an advantage.

    So for less than $50, I can get the same (or more) ports and a floppy drive which match the *useful* specs from the Dell (that is if one considers having a floppy useful), while a Dell user must spend at least $30 to get the FW 800 capabilities plus, and be forced to use Windows (unless they use an alternative).

    The Mac Pro is the clear winner here, no questions.

    For once, we Mac users can have our cake and eat it too.  We have a superior system, at a much better price.

    e:leaf had this to say on Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 32
  • You forget to mention that the Dell can have faster processors than the mac pro. You can go up to 3.73ghz and not only that, you can choose the speed of the second processor as well. Now that I am seeing this for the first time, I don’t get why apple couldn’t do that. There’s no reason for them not to have the fastest processor as a BTO, but also being able to choose 2 different speeds would be a great addition.

    mynameisjesse had this to say on Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 12
  • Ok, maybe I should have tried putting 2 different processors on dell.com before posting that comment. I retract the part about being able to use 2 different speeds. smile

    mynameisjesse had this to say on Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 12
  • 1) Uhh… those would be cubic inches, not square inches….  smile

    2) e:leaf said “...and no one except someone who hasn’t bought a printer in at least 6 years uses serial ports anymore….”

    Alas.  If only it were true.  I’m not trying to explain, justify, or condone this, but there are lots and lots of black boxes out there which do very specific tasks which are set up through a good old-fashioned serial port (under Windows)(only).

    For example, consider the Shure P4800 and its cousins, the DFR11 and DFR22.  Programmed via a RS-232.  Since it is impossible to purchase a portable computer with RS-232 today, Shure also has a lengthy tutorial on using a USB-to-RS232 converter on the website.  Sigh.

    Shure is not the only offender in this.  The PC brain is a perplexing puzzle.  Double sigh.

    M. T. MacPhee had this to say on Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 7
  • We had to scrape the bottom of the insult barrell to find something to comment on?

    I might ask the same about the subject of your article.  You couldn’t find anything else to write about than the same article you yourself have probably written six times already? And that doesn’t include the thousands of other exactly identical articles comparing [Apple product] with [Dell product].

    And like any other useless, pointless comparison, the numbers can be manipulated and interpreted however the author wants.  What a shock that Mac-bots always seem to find the numbers that make the Mac cheaper.

    But a person grounded in reality (that would be me) will note that no comparison is ever exactly the same.  And even if it were, what difference would it make?  If the Dell were cheaper, as even you admit while denying at the same time, would you buy one?  No.  And do you really think that comparing $4000-5000 systems is going to make a difference to someone shopping for the best price?  No.

    Beeblebrox had this to say on Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 2220
  • You forget to mention that the Dell can have faster processors than the mac pro. You can go up to 3.73ghz and not only that, you can choose the speed of the second processor as well.

    Also, and more importantly IMO, you can get a slower PC for a lot less.  And that’s really a key in comparing prices.  The Mac Pro is a high end system.  Price comparisons like this are only so useful and have other variables, depending on the user.  I, for example, would have to add the cost of Windows to a Mac Pro purchase, which offsets the cost.  But at that price range, it’s not as big an issue as it is in the lower end PC market.

    Beeblebrox had this to say on Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 2220
  • Pardon the interruption but J.R.S.‘s comparisons of the new Mac Pro base capabilities with those of a comparable Dell model is very valid and a good one.

    The Mac Pro is positioned to intrude into the very territory that the Dell Precision currently occupies - the corporate IT & creative departments.

    Now that these corporate IT folks can finally have a machine “cheaper” than a Dell equivalent, and runs ALL x86-based OSes, that in itself can tilt the decision makers. Add to that the machine is engineered and backed by Apple is another plus.

    Not that the Dell is inferior in any way. It is very powerful in its own regard BUT - as J.R.S.‘s and Phil Schiller’s declarations, the Mac Pro comes with a bang for your $2499 base price compared to a comparable Dell model. You want more? Configure that basic up to the full blown > $15,000 fully configured version (that would be mostly for the 16GB FB-DDR DRAM).

    So, keep in mind, folks. The Mac Pro is destined to the professional creative crowd. That’s the area where eMachines do not belong so it is not worth comparing to. Neither is Gateway or Micron PC or Sony. You are only looking at HP or Dell in that market segment.

    If you want one for your net browsing or blogging pleasure, no one is holding you back. Pick one up at the Apple Store today.

    Robomac had this to say on Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 846
  • The MacBook Pro was also cheaper at the time it was released, although I doubt this is the case right now.

    And you’re right, Beeblebrox.  Comparing two pro-level systems doesn’t matter much to a lot of people.  However the reason articles like this keep appearing is because people continue to argue that Macs are unjustifiably more expensive than PCs.  Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren’t, but it’s your money to do with as you please.

    Andrew Harden had this to say on Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 19
  • Wouldn’t it be nice if Apple would release a low-end desktop case Mac?

    As Beeb points out, these are Mac Pros so are machines that many folks will never buy.

    Please Mr Jobs, can I have a desktop Mac with free bays and slots in my price range? smile

    Chris Howard had this to say on Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 1209
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