Is the new Mac Pro too exclusive? We set up a similar computer for Windows and this is its price

Yesterday I was discussing with a friend the cost of the new Mac Pro as a result of the price of the Apple Pro Display XDR and its controversial support that we must pay separately by paying a convincing 1,000 euros. A discussion that got me thinking how much would it cost to build similar hardware for Windows

This is how we are going to review the components that the Mac Pro looks like in its basic version and we are going to look for something similar to use in Windows and build a tower with similar features. We save, yes, the 480 euros that the four extra wheels that the Mac Pro offers as an option cost.Let's get down to business.

Building a Mac Pro for Windows

Starting with the basic Mac Pro that we can find on the Apple website at a price of 6,499 euros (the most expensive can reach the almost 63,000 euros) we are going to create a similar computer for Windows. Design aside, of course, these are the components to look for:

• 3.5 GHz 8-core Intel Xeon W Processor, Turbo Boost up to 4 GHz
• 32 GB (4 x 8 GB) of ECC DDR4 memory.
• Radeon Pro 580X graphics with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory
• 256 GB SSD Storage
• Magic Keyboard
• Magic Mouse

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Looking for hardware similar to that offered by the Mac (with all that that entails) let&39;s start by looking for a cool tower. It will not be the same, but if you want to attract attention you have to look for something curious and that is the case of this Corsair for 99.99 euros."

Once we have the tower, we start looking for something like the motherboard and here we move on dangerous ground, since there is no a clear equivalent to hold on to, since Apple has its own boards. Since we want to use an Intel Xeon SoC and DDR4 RAM, we have chosen this one from Gigabyte for 520 euros.

The next component is a power supply and we have chosen this 750 watt one so that our equipment is well cooled. The price? We found it for 99.99 euros on Amazon. At this point we have almost 720 euros and we already have the structure on which to build our PC.

Regarding the processor, we are going to look for one similar to the 8-core Intel Xeon W at 3.5 GHz that mounts the Mac Pro and we are left with the Intel Xeon W-3223 Processor at 3.5 GHz. On the Intel page we find the specifications of a processor that is around 795 dollars, which is 711 euros in exchange and that also offers 8 cores at 3 , 5GHz.

Regarding storage we opted for a brand like Samsung and the SSD Samsung 860 Pro SSD Series 256GB which is priced at 94.61 euros at PcComponentes. For its part, the RAM will be from HyperX FuryM, four 8 GB memory modules each of the DDR4 type at 2666 MHz to complete the 32 GB of RAM that the Mac Pro has. We found it on Amazon for 282 euros.

Continuing with the graphic section, we can find the same graphics card, models presented by AMD. In PcComponentes we have the AMD Radeon RX 580 GTS XXX Edition 8GB of type GDDR5 for 169.90 euros.

We are missing a keyboard and mouse If we want to use the same ones from Apple we find the Magic Keyboard for 99 euros or 139 euros if we want numeric keyboard and Magic Mouse for 71.99 euros.But if we want alternatives we can opt for the Logitech Craft, a wireless keyboard with Disc Selector for 159 euros and the wireless Arc Touch Mouse from Microsoft for 67.62 euros.

Doing the math

We reached the end and it's time to do numbers and for that we are going to stay with the Logitech keyboard and Microsoft mouse to add a distinctive touch.

• Tower Corsair for 99.99 euros
• Gigabyte motherboard for 520 euros
• 750 watt power supply for 99.99 euros
• Processor Intel Xeon W-3223 at 3.5 GHz for 711 euros
• SSD Samsung 860 Pro SSD Series 256GB for 94.61 euros
• AMD Radeon RX 580 GTS graphics for 169.90 euros
• Memory RAM HyperX FuryM for 282 euros
• Mouse Arc Touch Mouse from Microsoft wireless for 67.62 euros
• Logitech Craft Keyboard with Selector Dial for 159 euros

In total, with this configuration we have with us an essential team at the base at a price of 2,204.01 euros. It may lose something in performance due to the great synchronization that Apple has in its equipment by combining hardware and software in an excellent way, but we do think that we have a margin of almost 4,400 euros left to improve the equipment of our custom PC, we see how we can, for that price, achieve a machine with much more power at a lower cost.

It is true that there are many more expenses to be added such as distribution, development, design, research…but it is also true that the price difference is notorious .