Want a $50k Mac Pro Cheese Grater? Get a $60 PC Cheese Grater!
by Dr. Ian Cutress on January 14, 2020 4:00 PM EST
One of the more bemusing aspects of 2019 was the launch of the new Mac Pro. Powered by Intel’s Xeon W CPUs, it offered a range of options such that the most buoyant of budgets could splash out on a fully equipped $50k+ system from the fruit company. The chassis was a doozy: nicknamed the cheese grater, because it had a holey and angled design such that you could grate cheese on it. Some reviewers even did that in there reviews – no joke. The only problem with this case is that it is only available for Macs. Phanteks' gaming brand, Metallicgear, has the solution if you want it for PC, and it’s much cheaper.
This cheese grater is called the Metallicgear Neo Pro, and currently in the last stage of design before retailing later this year in March/April. The concept from Phanteks has, for lack of a better phrase, turned into a cheap knockoff, intentionally. Apple’s case is machined aluminum for that premium feel – this Neo Pro is by contrast a plastic design, hence its ability to be only $60.
The circular vents are different to the Apple design, and the feel of the material is definitely different. Not only this, but Phanteks is thinking on making a set of wheels for it – a steal at $395 (they’re not actually making wheels, that’s a joke). However at a distance, you would be none the wiser, for at least the first few seconds.
The chassis design fits an ATX motherboard, and the idea is to ship the black model first with two black fans. The side panel is tempered glass, and the power supply bay is covered compared to the rest of the design. The front IO panel is on the top of the case, with two USB ports and audio outputs. More details to come when Phanteks is ready to ship.
Part of me wants this case, just to build a more powerful system in it than the top-end Mac Pro. Either that, or fill it with more than $50k of hardware, just to see if it is possible.
Images provided by Phanteks - ours weren't that great.
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29a - Thursday, January 16, 2020 - link
I've been using Windows daily for over 25 years and have never got even one virus.Korguz - Friday, January 17, 2020 - link
same here...otonieru - Friday, January 17, 2020 - link
Only stupid user infected by virus, malware and spamware.Korguz - Friday, January 17, 2020 - link
" And you’ll end up with a crappy discounted virus prone inferior system that’s insecure and running Windows 10 instead of macOS" yea sure.. and on average, that would cost A LOT more then a non apple made hardware.. no thanks.. i refuse to pay the apple tax. IF one is smart, and cautious where one goes, the " virus prone interior system " as you call it.. is a moot point. part of the reason why apple isnt targeted by viruses, malware and such, is because of the market share apple has, WHY would one who makes viruses, malware and such go after a market that is only say 40% of the user base, when more damage and headaches could be caused by going after 60% of the market ? if the market share was the other way.. i think it would be different....Karmena - Friday, January 24, 2020 - link
40% sure there would be viruses and malware etc. MacOS does not command that much of the market. Try 16% according to this: https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/desktop...Also, it is nearing the threshold where it could become interesting.
Zanthroa - Tuesday, May 19, 2020 - link
HMMMMM, Overpriced Mac with 1 or 2 generations old hardware for work or a much cheaper windows based PC that will outperform the mac (Even as a hackintosh mac!) Wow!!!! how about using that mac for your games? Just like Gus here?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzRrgZUnbFY
Have fun fraggin!
close - Tuesday, January 14, 2020 - link
True. People keep laughing at the $35000 Mac Pro because they are blissfully unaware that it's a completely different beast from the $600 PCs that they buy in Walmart. $18000 worth of RAM! Shocking! Until you realize it's marginally more expensive than the cheapest similar modules available on eBay. Or the $7500 Xeon CPU.Building a Mac Pro equivlent will be 10% cheaper at best but probably with caveats that will cost you more than that.
I find these clone-components the pinnacle of kitsch. Even worse than the unicorn-vomit-LEDs that adorn every "respectable" PC nowadays. You're screaming "I actually wanted that but couldn't get it".
Operandi - Tuesday, January 14, 2020 - link
Yeah, this is the most tasteless nonsensical thing I've seen in awhile. Trying to be a Mac Pro ripoff while also cashing in on the RGB tempered glass trend; this thing has a real identity crisis going on for sure.Also, random fun fact there is Dune Pro which is a pretty legit Mac Pro copy. It still demonstrates 0 originality in its design so it dosn't win many points for me but the build quality is there.
tipoo - Tuesday, January 14, 2020 - link
I had a bet when I saw the Dune Pro for the first time that it would cost less than the wheels on the Mac Pro.I was right, almost by double.
kaidenshi - Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - link
> Dune ProMy first thought upon seeing this is how eBay will soon be filled with "Mac Pro" computers at 1/10th Apple's retail price, and when you get it you find it's the Dune Pro case with a basic $200 i3 build and a Hackintosh version of macOS installed on a spinning hard drive.