Visalia Direct: Virtual Valley
\nDecember 5, 2011 Deadline
\nJanuary 2012 Issue<\/p>\n
The Desktop Computer is Dead. Long Live the Desktop!<\/strong><\/p>\n Prognosticators keep telling us the \u201cDark Tower\u201d personal computer is dead. The experts have predicted the year of the handheld, netbook, tablet, all-in-one and media computer. Each of these smaller devices was supposed to mark the end of the tall tower or hulking desktop computer<\/a>.<\/p>\n Yes, for many people the huge tower is dead. If you want to type and surf the Web, you can use almost any new computing device. But for many of us the desktop computer not only lives, it is essential to our work (and play).<\/p>\n Most of my students are content with inexpensive notebook or netbook computers. Some of my colleagues at the university use iPads with portable keyboards. The average computer user does not need a huge tower next to his or her desk. For most people, a $2500 computer is an unnecessary expense.<\/p>\n But, I know some people willing to spend $10,000 or more on a computer. Sometimes, a lot more. From architects to programmers, with millions of gamers between, there are \u201cpower users\u201d for whom inexpensive computers are not up to the task.<\/p>\n Does anyone need a $15,000 computer? Yes, some people do need these computers. But, the truth is that most Windows computers costing more than $5000 are used for gaming. The high-end Mac Pro market is dominated by video and audio production.<\/p>\n The Maximum PC Christmas 2011 issue included their annual \u201cDream Machine\u201d Windows PC<\/a>. The estimated price was $12,000. Once you start using high-end components, the price of a power user system skyrockets. Of course, the system also screams through tests (literally thanks to a liquid cooling system and six fans).<\/p>\n I am sometimes asked why the Mac Pro and Alienware Aurora<\/a> Extreme towers are $3000 computers. Many people assume it is the \u201cApple Tax\u201d for buying the cool case for the iSnobby crowd. As I\u2019ve written before, when you break down systems from similar vendors, the pricing is only slightly more for the Apple. You cannot buy a \u201clow-end\u201d Mac Pro or Alienware PC.<\/p>\n Let us imagine you want to build a \u201cpower\u201d system. Money is no object because you\u2019re going to create the next great animated feature film. Or maybe you just want to own the fastest gaming system in the neighborhood.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a power user, you\u2019re going to want the latest central processing unit (CPU) from Intel or AMD<\/a>. The top Intel CPU, the i7-980X is $1500 from several online retailers. That\u2019s just a CPU, not a complete computer. One chip. Most power users want two CPUs<\/a>. The current Mac Pro uses two Zeon E5620 CPUs, which cost $500 each online. The extreme Mac Pro can be ordered with two Xeon X5670 chips, which can be found for $1600 each online. Two would cost $3200.<\/p>\n Chip prices alone start to explain why Mac Pros and high-end Windows machines are so expensive. And these chips have to go somewhere.<\/p>\n If you purchase the best chips, you also need a great motherboard. I\u2019m a fan of MSI and Gigabyte motherboards. Expect to pay $300 to $500 for an \u201cextreme\u201d motherboard to house your blazingly fast CPU.<\/p>\n