Buy New Mac Pro or wait and possible update in 6 months? [Archive]

Greenhoe

Mar 3, 2009, 11:46 PM

Mr. Giver '94

Mar 3, 2009, 11:51 PM

Honestly I'd get it now. If you're always waiting for a possible boost/revision you'll never get anything. :D

If it's what will be useful for you, go for it.

Keniff

Mar 3, 2009, 11:52 PM

zer0tails

Mar 4, 2009, 12:03 AM

what if Apple upgrades it in a year's time like before? :D happy waiting!

Keniff

Mar 4, 2009, 12:12 AM

what if Apple upgrades it in a year's time like before? :D happy waiting!

"But What If"

"But What If"

"But What If"

You can't go through life saying "But What If"!

You need to 'Seize the Day' and get on with it....

Just my humble opinion

BConvery

Mar 4, 2009, 01:33 AM

I'm looking to buy one of the New Mac Pros although I would like the config higher end config although I don't like such a low clock speed, I currently have a MBP which has been doing great, but i've been waiting for this update for some time, I was wondering do you think apple may bump up the specs with a minor upgrade to the mac pros in 6 months or so or do you think we will have to wait till a year or so for the new models.

No disrespect to the OP....but what number would make you "feel good"? Its a completely different architecture so its comparing apples (no pun intended) to oranges. At least wait for the Barefeats comparison to look at the tasks that you need done and then decide.

I'm jumping in because I tired of the single frame rates while playing Wow and the wait with the iPhoto and iMovie stuff we do. A lot of peoples' livelihoods depend on their Mac's.....I just depend on it for my eff off time, which is as important to me as the time I put in at work.

My $.02

Icaras

Mar 4, 2009, 06:05 AM

You can't go through life saying "But What If"!

You need to 'Seize the Day' and get on with it....

Or in my case, sieze the day and be in massive amounts of debt :(

thedarkhorse

Mar 4, 2009, 03:03 PM

6 months? ha
try a year or more.

The Ditch

Mar 4, 2009, 03:07 PM

I don't understand the waiting mentality, if it's been a year or more and there is definitely a update coming wait. On the other hand, you're ALWAYS going to be waiting, there is always something newer and better that's going to be coming out, so where do you draw the line?

Outsider

Mar 4, 2009, 03:09 PM

6 months? ha
try a year or more.

Don't take my word for it but I can see Apple lowering the prices by 10-20% in the fall and spec bumping the machines.

E5520 2.26GHz -> E5530 2.4GHz
X5550 2.66GHz -> X5560 2.8GHz
X5570 2.93GHz -> W5580 3.2GHz

and on the Quad:
X3550 2.66GHz ->X3560 2.8GHx base with optional 3.2GHz and official support for 16GB (4x4GB)

Tallest Skil

Mar 4, 2009, 03:32 PM

I'm looking to buy one of the New Mac Pros although I would like the config higher end config although I don't like such a low clock speed, I currently have a MBP which has been doing great, but i've been waiting for this update for some time, I was wondering do you think apple may bump up the specs with a minor upgrade to the mac pros in 6 months or so or do you think we will have to wait till a year or so for the new models.

The market for the Mac Pro counts on manufacturers not to outdate their system in any less than 9 months to a year.

Thus, the Mac Pro is updated far less than any other model would be.

Therefore, we will not see another update of any sort whatsoever to the actual hardware of the machine until Westmere in Q2 2010.

Bubba Satori

Mar 4, 2009, 03:44 PM

Maybe new ACDs will be out by then. :mad:

jjahshik32

Mar 4, 2009, 04:20 PM

I'd wait, the current prices are outrageous.

Chaos123x

Mar 4, 2009, 04:22 PM

I would just pick up last years model.

That way you never get that sinking my mac is out of date feeling.

Because it would already be out of date.

A much better deal too. :cool:

jessica.

Mar 4, 2009, 04:22 PM

I'd wait, the current prices are outrageous.

Seriously doubt this will change.

OP: Less than 24 hours after a major update comes you want to ask "buy now or wait"? You belong over at www.dell.com.

Chaos123x

Mar 4, 2009, 04:33 PM

Seriously doubt this will change.

OP: Less than 24 hours after a major update comes you want to ask "buy now or wait"? You belong over at www.dell.com.

Damn thats harsh! :eek:

bilbo--baggins

Mar 4, 2009, 04:33 PM

Buy now and they'll bump the speed or drop the price in 3 months, wait for an update and they'll change nothing for more than a year. You cannot win!

nateDEEZY

Mar 4, 2009, 04:46 PM

Seriously doubt this will change.

OP: Less than 24 hours after a major update comes you want to ask "buy now or wait"? You belong over at www.dell.com.

I laughed.

Buy it if you need it.

Wormy23

Mar 4, 2009, 08:50 PM

kaks

Mar 4, 2009, 08:56 PM

wait if you can. If you do everything you need with your MBP for now, then wait.

I can see apple upgrading the 2.26 to the 2.66, maybe with snow leopard release, or in july? That is you wont need another 1000 for the upgrade.

Intel is suppose to announce the 8 core chips this month, (if they havent already and i missed it). Until i know that it wont be until next year that the 8 core chips will start shipping im rethinking of buying one myself :). Even though im soooooo tempted :P.

Besides until people get the new one and start using it, benchmarks start showing up dont buy. Give it 2-3 weeks and then decide.

Its a very very very fast machine. And im guessing youll be using it for a couple of years before you consider a new one. Just wait and hear the initial reviews and opinions and then decide...that is 2-3 weeks?

If you need it for now though, buy it. I would if i needed it now, honestly. Wouldn't wait :).

(i probably need it, in 2-3 months so mostly thats why im waiting to be completely honest, i went to the apple store today and was toying with the idea - it looks awesome (design wise only since the new one wasnt on display ;p).

kaks

Mar 4, 2009, 08:57 PM

apfhex

Mar 4, 2009, 09:12 PM

Less than 24 hours after a major update comes you want to ask "buy now or wait"?
I thought this was funny too. Not meaning to be mean but the major update lots of people were waiting for JUST CAME OUT. If we see another update this year it will be just incremental bumps, not another new architecture like this. If you have to ask "buy now or wait" after every update this big, you're going to be waiting the rest of your life.

However, if you don't NEED a new machine this minute, it couldn't hurt to wait a few weeks just to see what people are saying, but I wouldn't wait any longer if I had already been waiting for a big update like this. I waited what felt like a long time for the original Mac Pro to come out since I wanted an Intel machine and could afford to wait the little extra time for it to come out. And the machine was top-of-the-line for quite a while too. In fact it still doesn't feel very old.

Keniff

Mar 4, 2009, 10:01 PM

I'd wait, the current prices are outrageous.

To be honest, I don't think it's changed that much, in August 2002 I got a 'G4 Dual Optical' with a 17" apple flat screen, and with a minor memory upgrade, I think it cost me about £2,300 UK Pounds ($3,250usd/€2,580 euros).
Click Here For The Spec (http://www.macupgrades.co.uk/store/machine.php?name=powermac-g4-dual-optical)

And now I can get a MP Quad-Core with a 24" apple flat screen for £2,534.00 UK Pounds ($3,570usd/€2,840 euros)

So, in 6 and a Half Years, I'm going to get a better/faster machine, with a bigger/nicer screen, that will hopefully last me just as long for roughly, a couple of hundred more.

But you know what I really want?
To find a caring home or a use for my beloved old G4. :)

jjahshik32

Mar 4, 2009, 10:08 PM

To be honest, I don't think it's changed that much, in August 2002 I got a 'G4 Dual Optical' with a 17" apple flat screen, and with a minor memory upgrade, I think it cost me about £2,300 UK Pounds ($3,250usd/€2,580 euros).
Click Here For The Spec (http://www.macupgrades.co.uk/store/machine.php?name=powermac-g4-dual-optical)

And now I can get a MP Quad-Core with a 24" apple flat screen for £2,534.00 UK Pounds ($3,570usd/€2,840 euros)

So, in 6 and a Half Years, I'm going to get a better/faster machine, with a bigger/nicer screen, that will hopefully last me just as long for roughly, a couple of hundred more.

But you know what I really want?
To find a caring home or a use for my beloved old G4. :)

What more do I want?? I want a 2.66ghz version of the 8 core nehalem Mac Pro + 24" LED ACD for $3500-$3600. Not the quad which isnt even a gainstown true server grade and only can take 8gb of RAM... c'mon for God's sake.. 8gb of ram limitation?? I mean even the new 17" mbp can do 8 or the imacs.

Keniff

Mar 4, 2009, 10:26 PM

What more do I want?? I want a 2.66ghz version of the 8 core nehalem Mac Pro + 24" LED ACD for $3500-$3600. Not the quad which isnt even a gainstown true server grade and only can take 8gb of RAM... c'mon for God's sake.. 8gb of ram limitation?? I mean even the new 17" mbp can do 8 or the imacs.

Jeezus, that's all I hear from you people,

I Want, I Want, I Want! ;)

So, you have to do as I do...

Do some more paper rounds (daily news paper delivery, door to door, on a bicycle), and save up the money!

I have two on the go at the moment, outside of my normal hi-end/wall street video graphic design job *COUGH* (65K per year).

And they're both up hill....!!

;):)

jjahshik32

Mar 4, 2009, 10:33 PM

Jeezus, that's all I hear from you people,

I Want, I Want, I Want! ;)

So, you have to do as I do...

Do some more paper rounds (daily news paper delivery, door to door, on a bicycle), and save up the money!

I have two on the go at the moment, outside of my normal hi-end/wall street video graphic design job *COUGH* (65K per year).

And they're both up hill....!!

;):)

No matter how much money I save even if I have enough money in the savings already with the additional 6k to spend for the mac pro.. I still cant justify myself to pay that much for the 2.66ghz or 2.93ghz!

Its not the money.. its just me.

Keniff

Mar 4, 2009, 10:42 PM

No matter how much money I save even if I have enough money in the savings already with the additional 6k to spend for the mac pro.. I still cant justify myself to pay that much for the 2.66ghz or 2.93ghz!

Its not the money.. its just me.

True, and as mentioned in a few other threads, you only see a 10% difference.

ccuk

Mar 5, 2009, 04:45 AM

These Mac Pro updates are a joke.

I am intrigued by the 8 core chips. Two 8 core chips in a Mac Pro would certainly be a welcome update if the supposed benefits in Snow Leopard to utilise that many cores actually exist and work as advertised.

They are expected at the end of the year.

Tallest Skil

Mar 5, 2009, 07:42 AM

Pika

Mar 5, 2009, 07:53 AM

Dont buy these machines now! Wail till Steve Jobs come back. He might bring surprises.

jessica.

Mar 5, 2009, 07:56 AM

Dont buy these machines now! Wail till Steve Jobs come back. He might bring surprises.

Is Kool-aid refreshing even in the early springtime? I'm just curious.

Seriously, the OP is off his rocker and anyone telling him to wait belongs in the same category as the guy who refuses to buy a new MacPro because the case wasn't redesigned.

ccuk

Mar 5, 2009, 08:56 AM

Beckton is also expected to be $4,000 at its cheapest. Still want it?

Nice sarcastic response, totally unnecessary given 16 cores vs 8 cores is clearly going to see a performance boost. Not to mention the hyperthreading, so 32 simultaneous threads on a 16 core machine vs 16 on the 8 core machine. That is a performance increase worth paying for. This current interim update which is merely to transition onto the Nehalem architecture is a joke.

Still don't want it?

Is Kool-aid refreshing even in the early springtime? I'm just curious.

Seriously, the OP is off his rocker and anyone telling him to wait belongs in the same category as the guy who refuses to buy a new MacPro because the case wasn't redesigned.

Waiting for 16 cores is in no way the same as crying over the case being the same.

Buy an older 2008 Mac Pro at a discounted price, or wait for the 16 Core behemoth that is due to arrive later in the year/early next year is my advice.

Tallest Skil

Mar 5, 2009, 08:58 AM

Buy an older 2008 Mac Pro at a discounted price, or wait for the 16 Core behemoth that is due to arrive later in the year/early next year is my advice.

They're not GOING to use Beckton, Gulftown has SIX cores per processor, not eight, and Westmere won't even be out until Q2 2010 at the earliest!

Quu

Mar 5, 2009, 09:04 AM

According to Intel they will be ready to roll by Q4 2009 with 8 Core processors (16 threads with HT). We can expect Apple to ship these in Q1 2015. :rolleyes:

When Intel showcased its code-named Nehalem microprocessor at Intel Developer Forum Fall 2007, the company indicated plans to ship its eight-core Xeon microprocessors in 2008.

“At the largest configuration that we'll ship in 2008, they'll be an eight-core product. Eight core on one die, and each core will have two threads. So, each eight-core die will be supporting 16 threads,” said Paul Otellini, chief executive officer and president of Intel Corp., at that time. See that big 2008 there? - Are they really going to delay it 2 years? no. 2009 Q4 is the current estimate.

ccuk

Mar 5, 2009, 09:12 AM

They're not GOING to use Beckton, Gulftown has SIX cores per processor, not eight, and Westmere won't even be out until Q2 2010 at the earliest!

To be perfectly honest that is not what I am reading/hearing, unless you have personal sources inside Intel.

And Apple will use Beckton if they have any sense because it is a big step up in terms of memory bandwidth, cache and speed.

Tallest Skil

Mar 5, 2009, 09:19 AM

To be perfectly honest that is not what I am reading/hearing, unless you have personal sources inside Intel.

Um... Gulftown has been said to only have six cores, Westmere itself is being pushed back... I don't really know how to validate this any more than this, because it is simply common knowledge.

And Apple will use Beckton if they have any sense because it is a big step up in terms of memory bandwidth, cache and speed.

Well, Apple must have no sense, then, because they have never used any of the 7xxx series before.

They never used Tigerton or Dunnington. They stayed with Clovertown and Harpertown.

Apple doesn't use the -tons. Apple uses the -towns.

And they're using the 3500 series for some reason now. That's a step in the OTHER direction.

Oh, also...

I'll be hanged before I believe that customers will be duped into purchasing DDR3 FB-DIMM2 RAM.

iMacmatician

Mar 5, 2009, 09:29 AM

we will not see another update of any sort whatsoever to the actual hardware of the machine until Westmere in Q2 2010.Bingo.

And even then we have to consider the possibility of it being a minor update like the Clovertown update.

To be perfectly honest that is not what I am reading/hearing, unless you have personal sources inside Intel.What are you reading/hearing then?

See that big 2008 there?I believe that it was a misquote on Otellini's part (my word choice here isn't that good), at least that's what I heard the day after the IDF. And Beckton has always had a H2 2009 release date. Now it may be Q1 2010.

And when will we see 8-core EP CPUs (the ones that the Mac Pro uses / will use)? Both Westmere (2010) and Sandy Bridge (2011) EPs will be 6-core. Haswell (2012/2013) will apparently start at 8 cores (http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/191/1051191/intel-word-day).

longball11

Mar 5, 2009, 09:34 AM

wow u expect too much already

Willis

Mar 5, 2009, 09:39 AM

...snip..
I waited what felt like a long time for the original Mac Pro to come out since I wanted an Intel machine and could afford to wait the little extra time for it to come out. And the machine was top-of-the-line for quite a while too. In fact it still doesn't feel very old.

I have to agree here. My original Mac Pro I bought in October 06 and it still performs just as well as it did back then. Admittedly, it does need a Ram upgrade, it's just getting round to it!

Just buy now. It will feel amazing for years to come

Digital Skunk

Mar 5, 2009, 09:52 AM

It's always best to buy Apple products just after they're announced. They won't drop prices until the new spec bump and who knows when that could be. Also, Apple got these processors from Intel before ANYONE else got them. They're brand-spankin' new! Best time to buy is now!

Right. For the reason you mention above, and also because The former machines go on the refurbed market. So, one can buy new now, or buy old with a plentiful supply of machines that were top notch a few hours ago.

Is Kool-aid refreshing even in the early springtime? I'm just curious.

Seriously, the OP is off his rocker and anyone telling him to wait belongs in the same category as the guy who refuses to buy a new MacPro because the case wasn't redesigned.

This is also very true. Besides the fact that the OP should buy one model or the other RIGHT NOW, waiting is just going to have users spilling into "Official waiting for ___________ Mac Pro threads" where people gripe about not having an update three weeks after a new release and not having a case redesign so the Mac Pro can have cup holders and options for pink and clear panels.

As for the 16 core and 32 core debate. What looser really thinks they will be using such power NOW? I can tell you know, that I am a poor media production guy and I T A X the hell out of quad core Mac Pros with 16GB of RAM and so forth and so on.

Having 8 cores with HT would be right what I need, right now, and along with the promises of snow leopard I'd be set for another 4 years. Skip all the 12 and 16 core mumbo jumbo unless you are folding...... space/time that is. :)

Quu

Mar 5, 2009, 09:52 AM

Bingo.

And even then we have to consider the possibility of it being a minor update like the Clovertown update.

What are you reading/hearing then?

I believe that it was a misquote on Otellini's part (my word choice here isn't that good), at least that's what I heard the day after the IDF. And Beckton has always had a H2 2009 release date. Now it may be Q1 2010.

And when will we see 8-core EP CPUs (the ones that the Mac Pro uses / will use)? Both Westmere (2010) and Sandy Bridge (2011) EPs will be 6-core. Haswell (2012/2013) will apparently start at 8 cores (http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/191/1051191/intel-word-day).

If all that is true then its sad because the Mac Pro will be seriously behind everyone else. Other OEMs and self builders will have 8 core XEON's in there machines before Apple.

Tallest Skil

Mar 5, 2009, 09:54 AM

If all that is true then its sad because the Mac Pro will be seriously behind everyone else. Other OEMs and self builders will have 8 core XEON's in there machines before Apple.

Yeah. Behind. Because people go out and buy Beckton machines like they're candy corn.

TuffLuffJimmy

Mar 5, 2009, 09:55 AM

No disrespect to the OP....but what number would make you "feel good"? Its a completely different architecture so its comparing apples (no pun intended) to oranges. At least wait for the Barefeats comparison to look at the tasks that you need done and then decide.

I'm jumping in because I tired of the single frame rates while playing Wow and the wait with the iPhoto and iMovie stuff we do. A lot of peoples' livelihoods depend on their Mac's.....I just depend on it for my eff off time, which is as important to me as the time I put in at work.

My $.02

You're buying a Mac Pro for iMovie, iPhoto and WOW? oh jeeze....

Digital Skunk

Mar 5, 2009, 10:01 AM

Yeah. Behind. Because people go out and buy Beckton machines like they're candy corn.

HA!!!!! goes along with the guy TuffLuff is quoting.

You're buying a Mac Pro for iMovie, iPhoto and WOW? oh jeeze....

I just ignored this statement brother.... there's no hope for posters like that.... besides, they will most likely pull the , "I have the money, I do what I want! :mad:" argument out.

Tallest Skil

Mar 5, 2009, 10:04 AM

I just ignored this statement brother.... there's no hope for posters like that.... besides, they will most likely pull the , "I have the money, I do what I want! :mad:" argument out.

The founding fathers said that those with the power to make a change have the responsibility to do so.

And aren't these people the reason we're in this global financial crisis?

It is our duty to force them to see how idiotic their mindset is.

Quu

Mar 5, 2009, 10:06 AM

Yeah. Behind. Because people go out and buy Beckton machines like they're candy corn.

I guess I'm out of touch with the recent advances in the xeon line. Why is Intel pushing the 8 core date back so far?

Tallest Skil

Mar 5, 2009, 10:08 AM

I guess I'm out of touch with the recent advances in the xeon line. Why is Intel pushing the 8 core date back so far?

Beckton is a very, very small percentage of sales. It's a specialty market for the highest-end servers.

We've never seen a 7xxx series Xeon in a Mac Pro, so we won't see Beckton in the Mac Pro.

Now, I can't believe that I'm the first to notice this, but the XServe was NOT updated, even silently.

Could we see a Beckton XServe? Probably not.

Quu

Mar 5, 2009, 10:11 AM

Perhaps the XServe is proving a challenge temperature wise?

Digital Skunk

Mar 5, 2009, 10:12 AM

The founding fathers said that those with the power to make a change have the responsibility to do so.

And aren't these people the reason we're in this global financial crisis?

It is our duty to force them to see how idiotic their mindset is.

HA! Very true, and yes, these bastards did cause the economic crisis, and worst yet tried saying that it was the average consumer's desire to buy on credit things they couldn't afford/save money that they actually earned that caused it... :rolleyes:

Beckton is a very, very small percentage of sales. It's a specialty market for the highest-end servers.

We've never seen a 7xxx series Xeon in a Mac Pro, so we won't see Beckton in the Mac Pro.

Now, I can't believe that I'm the first to notice this, but the XServe was NOT updated, even silently.

Could we see a Beckton XServe? Probably not.

The Xserve is also a specialty market for high end Apple users that just want a rack mountable Mac Pro with a few server based options. So I also doubt there will be such a high end chip in the that machine.

iMacmatician

Mar 5, 2009, 10:18 AM

If all that is true then its sad because the Mac Pro will be seriously behind everyone else. Other OEMs and self builders will have 8 core XEON's in there machines before Apple.Beckton is in a different market from Gainestown.

Beckton is for the EX segment, where Tigerton and Dunnington were/are. A PC maker who did not go for Tigerton/Dunnington is not likely to go for Beckton. And yes, these CPUs have lately had more cores than lower-end CPUs. Plus I doubt many "self builders" will want to go for CPUs that, as Tallest Skil says, will cost over $4000 (:eek:). That's $16,000+ for just the 4 CPUs. I think there will be cheaper Becktons, but they are likely to have reduced cores/cache. Even with Dunnington, only the top-end model ($2721) has all 6 cores and 16 MB L3 cache.

Gainestown and Gulftown are / will be for the EP segment, where the Mac Pro (and those Dell workstations everyone is pointing to) is right now. These chips are the successors to Woodcrest, Clovertown, and Harpertown, all used in the Mac Pro and the Dells.

iMacmatician

Mar 5, 2009, 10:25 AM

I guess I'm out of touch with the recent advances in the xeon line. Why is Intel pushing the 8 core date back so far?Who knows. Probably because it's massive (2.3 billion transistors, close to 700 mm^2 I think) and expensive.

thelongmorrow

Mar 5, 2009, 10:43 AM

Having 8 cores with HT would be right what I need, right now, and along with the promises of snow leopard I'd be set for another 4 years. Skip all the 12 and 16 core mumbo jumbo unless you are folding...... space/time that is. :)

Well im waiting for intel to come out with the flux compacitor and apple to come out with the new delorean PRO case design. Then I can travel into the future and know what Apple will be coming out with next! :p:p:p

HoppyToad

Mar 5, 2009, 12:08 PM

It's always best to buy Apple products just after they're announced.

Except when they launch a new product line like the iPod or iPhone. In that case, you can bet the farm that there will be a significantly improved model and big price drop after half a year, and a collective scream of buyer's remorse will be heard around the world.

Markleshark

Mar 5, 2009, 12:58 PM

Sorry, but the 'I have the money and can spend it on what I want' argument is a pretty darn strong one.

You have no right to say what someone should buy based on what they'll use it for.*

* Buying a Hamster simply to shag it is the exception that proves this rule.

michaelsviews

Mar 5, 2009, 06:06 PM

I'm looking to buy one of the New Mac Pros although I would like the config higher end config although I don't like such a low clock speed, I currently have a MBP which has been doing great, but i've been waiting for this update for some time, I was wondering do you think apple may bump up the specs with a minor upgrade to the mac pros in 6 months or so or do you think we will have to wait till a year or so for the new models.

Take this the proper way but this/your thread has been beaten to death on this site, whether its a Mac Pro or a MBP.

Take a good hard look at your BUDGET & then NEEDS, Not wants, and go from there. Take into the consideration the current economic situation. I do not mean this to be mean but you mite find some awesome deals in the market place or craigslist in the mean time, while your figuring out the best choice

michaelsviews

Mar 5, 2009, 06:11 PM

apolloa

Mar 5, 2009, 06:19 PM

Keniff

Mar 5, 2009, 08:09 PM

Nice sarcastic response, totally unnecessary given 16 cores vs 8 cores is clearly going to see a performance boost. Not to mention the hyperthreading, so 32 simultaneous threads on a 16 core machine vs 16 on the 8 core machine. That is a performance increase worth paying for. This current interim update which is merely to transition onto the Nehalem architecture is a joke.

Still don't want it?

Waiting for 16 cores is in no way the same as crying over the case being the same.

Buy an older 2008 Mac Pro at a discounted price, or wait for the 16 Core behemoth that is due to arrive later in the year/early next year is my advice.

And with all respects, later this year/early next year, there'll be somebody like you saying, "Wait! cause later this year/early next year, Apple are releasing a 32 Core" ;)

ccuk

Mar 6, 2009, 04:46 AM

And with all respects, later this year/early next year, there'll be somebody like you saying, "Wait! cause later this year/early next year, Apple are releasing a 32 Core" ;)

No... because the current intel processor roadmap doesn't show anything like that.

Buying an older stock octo 2.8 for roughly £1600 or second hand for £1,000 ish makes a lot more sense than the 2.26 octo at £2,500. Then subsequently skipping the current gen of Mac Pros for the as correctly pointed out Gulftown based Mac Pro which will have 12 cores late on this year or early-mid 2010; intel fab permitting :P Nicely corrected Tallest Skil :)

This isn't about a want, its about money. And the price per performance just isn't there in my opinion. There has to be something out of this world amazing about the new Xeons to be twice as fast as Harpertown. I just don't see value in the new Mac Pro.