Dual G5 2.0GHz & 23" Display Cost?

[methodmano]

A guy I know at school is selling the following set-up for $2400:

He bought it in Fall '03. No Apple Care.

Dual 2.0GHZ G5
2.5GB ram
128mb ATi 9800 Pro videocard
SuperDrive (not sure on the specifics of this)
160 GB hard drive
G5 Keyboard (used, so not completely clean)
Logitech MX510 Mouse (best mouse IMO 1600DPI precision)
ADC/DVI switch

23" Cinema Display (aqua plastic, not aluminum)
No dead pixels. Very little light leakage.

Boxed retail copy of Tiger (os 10.4)

$2400 seems a little high, but it's been a while since I've bought a new/used computer. Please let me know your thoughts on how much this is actually worth. Thanks.

[Brad]

Actually, that's a very good deal!

Consider, for example, that a brand new basic Dual 2.0 GHz G5 today costs US$1999 and has far less memory and half as many slots for memory. A new 23" screen costs $1499.

So, that's $3498 so far and still doesn't include everything he's offering!

I'd say jump all over that deal while it's still an option.

[methodmano]

True, but those come with warranties. The display he's selling is also the old plastic model, not the new aluminum ones. The components are also 2 years old.

[kscherer]

Yeah, when you buy used computers, they tend to be, well, used! Thus, you are getting a significantly lower price than if you bought all of those components new. Chances are, if the machine lasted this long without trouble, it will last a long time. I agree with Brad, and that's coming from a retail standpoint. If we were buying that setup, we'd pay maybe $2000 for the whole thing and resell it for $2750.

In other words, its a great deal.

[methodmano]

It seems like the set-up would have depreciated in value more than that over 2 years. Most systems I've seen that are 2 years old have depreciated by about 50%. This would take this system to ~$1800. I'm not sure he would go for this though. Do Apple products depreciate less than other systems? I find that difficult to believe.

[MCQ]

It seems like the set-up would have depreciated in value more than that over 2 years. Most systems I've seen that are 2 years old have depreciated by about 50%. This would take this system to ~$1800. I'm not sure he would go for this though. Do Apple products depreciate less than other systems? I find that difficult to believe.

Yep, they typically depreciate at a slower pace.

Purchase price two years ago for the Dual G5 would have been around $3500 I think, factoring in the memory and Radeon 9800.

Even if you depreciate it 50%, that gets you to $1750. Add in a 23" Display... depreciated at 50% of the current Cinema Display... that's $750.

$2500 right there.

Not sure where you're getting that $1800 number from. That setup did not cost $3600 two years ago.

[methodmano]

Good point. I forgot to factor in that the Dual G5 2.0GHz back then was top of the line (whereas it is the lowest of the line at the Apple store now). I guess I'd be better off comparing the offer price to what I could get today for a similar system new. Thanks for the info!

[holbox]

I've got almost exactly the same outfit I bought in Feb. (except a 20" Alum Display).

Have $3,959 in it.

Get it as cheap as you can, but it doesn't sound way out of line. I love that model.
It's premium with a capital "P".

There'll be no new computer in this house for years to come ......

[holbox]

Good point. I forgot to factor in that the Dual G5 2.0GHz back then was top of the line (whereas it is the lowest of the line at the Apple store now). I guess I'd be better off comparing the offer price to what I could get today for a similar system new. Thanks for the info!


PS: The new 2.0 GHz won't take up to 8 GB ram like this one will! :cool:

[sunrain]

That's a great deal. I'd jump on it.