We need cheaper Macs with PCIe (Request to Apple)

Mac pros are completely overpriced. I understand there's a lot of design involved, but come on... 1500 dollars for 12Gb of ram? That's insane.

I built myself a hackint.... ahem... a full pc with 12Gb and it cost me just a little more than that.

[zephonic]

Originally Posted by jcschild

exactly
single Xeon systems is nothing more than marketing. and the sad thing is people buy it...
had a guy on the phone arguing with me over this very thing last week.

But you can't stick an i7 in a MacPro because it's a different socket?

[MarkyGoldstein]

The current Mac Pro line is too heavy too, I want an lighter medium sized variation of this beast.

[jcschild]

Originally Posted by zephonic

But you can't stick an i7 in a MacPro because it's a different socket?

uhh no same socket 1366...

[zephonic]

Great, so if you'd get a used MacPro you could conceivably stick an i7 in there?

[MarkyGoldstein]

These current Mac Pro's are ok for strong guys with big cars. But myself and my studio and my public transport only life demand for a lighter PCIe machine... actually that would look pretty much like a mid-sized Office PC, yes.

[SBX-80]

Originally Posted by jcschild

uhh no same socket 1366...

i7 and i5 iMacs use 1156.

[SBX-80]

Originally Posted by zephonic

Great, so if you'd get a used MacPro you could conceivably stick an i7 in there?

No. At least not the same i7 that's used in the iMac. There's different versions of the i7 chip which works on different motherboards.

[zephonic]

I posted the Q on a few Mac fora and although the socket is the same (1366) you'd need to take off the heatsink of the i7. Theoretically possible, but perhaps not very practical. It might affect performance/stability.

If this were the route to take, better go Hackintosh all the way. Or Windows.

[sampemberton]

Originally Posted by MarkyGoldstein

I would love to see an additional Mac line priced between the Mini and the Mac Pro, with PCIe, but without the bigness in everything of the Mac Pro. Affordable midfield pricing.

Totally agree.. the express card was a good idea as the UAD Solo is pretty cool and i would buy one. BUT only my macbook pro has one.. my main music computer (iMac) doesnt, No PCIe slot either.. so this new light peak looks pretty exciting! Providing its not just another technology that will get discontinued. Again.

[zephonic]

I'm basically thinking they should price the single-CPU entry-level MacPro at $1999. And the RAM they use now is regular sticks so there's no reason why we should fork out $1275 for 3x4GB. That is just wrong.

If I were to buy a new one now I'd go with a barebone and just spec it out myself. Literally saves >$1000.

[Jfalikman]

I'm basically thinking they should price the single-CPU entry-level MacPro at $1999. And the RAM they use now is regular sticks so there's no reason why we should fork out $1275 for 3x4GB. That is just wrong.

If I were to buy a new one now I'd go with a barebone and just spec it out myself. Literally saves >$1000.

The ram used in mac pros are ECC . hence the price.
you can always check OWC . i think they sell 12GB of 1066 RAM 220$