After 8 Years Moving Back To Windows PC from iMac

Recently my Mid-2011 21″ iMac showed its age. No longer able to get Apple OS updates it was time to retire the faithful machine. I beleive this is the longest I have ever had a primary computer still working at my level of expectations. However, as I started looking at a replacement/upgrade I grew sour on Apple’s stance of denying self-repair on their machines. In my old iMac I upgraded the memory after I purchased it. I found the memory cheaper elsewhere and the install was simple, a few screws at the bottom of the monitor case and pop them in. In my research for the new iMac I was going to do something similar, upgrade it myself with cheaper components and not paying for the install. I hit YouTube and looked for a How-To video on memory upgrade on the 4k iMac, this is what I found. ( –

I started to look at pre-build PCs. What I found is they were either too cheap, cheap components, lack luster parts or they were over priced. I used to build all my PCs so I looked into building my replacement to what I wanted and needed. The main focus for my new PC was video editing. I have a Phantom 4 Pro and hope to get other 4k drones and I need an editing machine that can do that inside of 8 hours than my iMac took.

I started by looking at what the iMac model I would want and priced that out. I then started to look at the PC side and realized that I could build something far more powerful, easier to build and maintain and for far cheaper than what an Apple would cost. I could no longer stand the fact that if I had a problem with an iMac I had to take it in for repairs, unacceptable. Now I can run to the PC parts store, get what I need and swap it out or upgrade as needed.

Here is a comparison of what the base model iMac was compared to what I built. Everything in the PC column was purchased individually. It may seem overwhelming at first but it’s easier than you think.

iMac – https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/imac/21.5-inch-3.4ghz-1tb

I initally looked at NewEgg to get everything but I researched and found my area brick store had the same stuff for the same price, so I supported the local shop – MicroCenter: https://www.microcenter.com/

iMac 21.5″  4K Display	Custom PC	Advantage
3.6GHz quad-core 7th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Turbo Boost up to 4.2GHz	AMD Ryzen 7 2700x – 3.7Ghz, Boost to 4.3Ghz, 8 Core w/LED	PC
16GB 2400 MHz DDR4	16GB 2133 DDR4 LED Enabled	PC (Memory cheaper)
Radeon Pro 560 with 4GB video memory	Radeon RX580 8GB video memory w/LED	PC
256GB SSD ($100 up charge)	256GB SSD and 2TB 7200 RPM (both less than $150)	PC
MacOS (included)	Windows 10 Pro (purchased)	Even
Apple Case with Monitor	NZXT 500i clear glass, LED case	PC
Apple	Asus x480-Pro w/LED	PC
Built In 21.5″	27″ LG 27UD58 4K Monitor	PC
Build In	Dual channel 801.11ac Wireless card	PC
Built In	650W Power supply	PC
$1,999 per Apple website	Approx. $1500 (That includes the OS and monitor)	PC

At the end of the day I am very pleased with my move back to the Windows world. (let the arguments begin)

Apple products are premiere, they work, they are pretty and they are expensive. Apple’s stance of designing out the ability to self-maintain and self-repair their products have pushed me away. They are gret designers but they don’t know everything and don’t know best.

If you are in the market for a new PC and have an interest in building one, I would recommend it. It’s far easier than it was 10 years ago, you learn about your computer in ways you normally don’t and you appreciate it far more than a box you buy from a retailer.