Build yourself a Windows-powered iMac Pro clone

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  • Processor: Intel Xeon E5-2620 V4 2.1GHz 8-core

    Processor: Intel Xeon E5-2620 V4 2.1GHz 8-core

    We're going to build a system that's as close as we can get to the base $4,999 iMac Pro. It's won't be exactly the same, but it will be very close. Prices listed will be averages, and if you search around you may find better deals.

    At the heart of the iMac Pro, as well as out iMac Pro clone, is an Intel Xeon processor. Here we have eight cores running at 2.1GHz, backed up by 20 megabytes of L2 cache.

    This silicon is perfect for heavy workloads.

    Price: $420 | More info

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Motherboard: Asus X99-E-10G WS

    Motherboard: Asus X99-E-10G WS

    This board gets us a lot for the price:

    • Dual Intel 10G LAN ports
    • Up to 128 gigabytes of RAM in eight slots, with DDR4 3333+MHz support
    • 4-Way PCI-E Gen3 x16 link supporting NVidia GeForce SLI and AMD CrossFireX on demand
    • U.2 and M.2 drive support
    • Easy overclocking

    Price: $650 | More info

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • RAM: Kingston ValueRAM 32G 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM ECC Registered DDR4 2133 (PC4 17000)

    RAM: Kingston ValueRAM 32G 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM ECC Registered DDR4 2133 (PC4 17000)

    Eye-watering price for a stick of RAM, but you can always add more if the budget allows.

    Price: $300 | More info

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Storage: Samsung 960 EVO M.2 1TB

    Storage: Samsung 960 EVO M.2 1TB

    We need a terabyte of fast storage, so we have to go for the Samsung 960 EVO M.2, a rock-solid, super-reliable drive that will make sure this build doesn't have any bottlenecks.

    Price: $450 | More info

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Graphics card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB GDDR5X

    Graphics card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB GDDR5X

    This is where we have to make a deviation from the iMac Pro because Apple has announced that it will be powered by AMD's Vega graphics chip, but cards featuring this GPU aren't out yet, so we're going with the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti as an alternative.

    Price: $780 | More info

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 1200 P2 220-P2-1200-X1 80+ PLATINUM 1200W

    PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 1200 P2 220-P2-1200-X1 80+ PLATINUM 1200W

    This system is going to need a powerful and stable PSU to make sure that it can deliver the performance where it's needed. The EVGA SuperNOVA can not only deliver the watts when they are needed, but it's also highly energy efficient and comes with a 10-year warranty.

    Price: $330 | More info

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Case: NZXT H440 STEEL Mid Tower Case

    Case: NZXT H440 STEEL Mid Tower Case

    Unless you're going to run all the parts in a cardboard box, you need a case, and the NZXT H440 has a lot of features that I like:

    • Plenty of cooling
    • Space for 11x 3.5-inch or 8x 2.5-inch drives
    • Sound dampening
    • Rolled edges so you don't rip your hands to shreds when building or upgrading it)

    OK, it doesn't look like an iMac; I think it looks better.

    Price: $120 | More info

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Display: Dell UP2715K 27-inch Widescreen 5K

    Display: Dell UP2715K 27-inch Widescreen 5K

    This display isn't encased in brushed aluminum, and we can't shove all the other components into it, but this display makes an awesome centerpiece to this build.

    • Pin-sharp 5120 x 2880 8ms display
    • IPS technology
    • 1.074 billion colors
    • 2x DisplayPort
    • Mini Display Port
    • USB3.0 Hub with three ports
    • Adjustable height, pivot, swivel, and tilt

    Price: $2,000 | More info

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D9DX i4 3U 92mm

    CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D9DX i4 3U 92mm

    That Xeon chip doesn't come with a cooler, so we need to add one to the build. This Noctua is not only efficient, but it is also low-noise, which means your PC won't sound like Air Force One taking off.

    Price: $55 | More info

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Thunderbolt ports: Asus ThunderboltEX3 add-on card

    Thunderbolt ports: Asus ThunderboltEX3 add-on card

    If you want Thunderbolt ports, you'll need a Thunderbolt add-on card since there are no Thunderbolt ports on the motherboard. However, if you don't need these ports, fee free to leave the card out of the build.

    Price: $80 | More info

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Peripherals: Apple peripherals

    Peripherals: Apple peripherals

    Apple's iMac Pro ships with a Magic Keyboard which features a numeric keypad, and a choice of Magic Mouse 2 or Magic Trackpad 2. However, you're free to choose whatever suits your needs.

    Price: Around $200 for Apple peripherals

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Operating system: Windows 10 Pro

    Operating system: Windows 10 Pro

    The final piece of this PC is a copy of Windows 10 Pro.

    Price: $140 for OEM, $199 for retail copy

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • So, how does this compare to the iMac Pro?

    So, how does this compare to the iMac Pro?

    While there are clearly design differences, and we can't get out hands on any AMD Vega GPUs, from a hardware perspective this system ticks most of the boxes -- it's a Xeon-powered PC with 32-gigabytes of RAM, a terabyte of fast M.2 storage, and a spectacular 5K display.

    But what's the price?

    Believe it or not, the final price for this system comes in at more than the base iMac Pro -- $5,500 plus change. You can probably do better than this by shopping around (these prices listed are averages), and if you are able to do with a 4K display instead of a 5K unit, then you're looking at quite a saving.

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

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Like the look of Apple's new iMac Pro workstation, but you're a Windows user so macOS is a no-go zone for you? No worries! You can get all the power and performance of the iMac Pro while still being able to run Windows.

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Processor: Intel Xeon E5-2620 V4 2.1GHz 8-core

We're going to build a system that's as close as we can get to the base $4,999 iMac Pro. It's won't be exactly the same, but it will be very close. Prices listed will be averages, and if you search around you may find better deals.

At the heart of the iMac Pro, as well as out iMac Pro clone, is an Intel Xeon processor. Here we have eight cores running at 2.1GHz, backed up by 20 megabytes of L2 cache.

This silicon is perfect for heavy workloads.

Price: $420 | More info

Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

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