is it still worth it to get a mac pro?

gdeusthewhizkid · Dec 6, 2012, 04:35 PM

hey guys,

Im a music producer on my spare time. I already own a mac mini and a macbook pro. I use logic express 9 on macbook pro and logic 8 on mac mini. I have a ton of virtual instruments I use and it seems to choke up my systems. Thinking of upgrading to a mac pro refurbished. One of my photographer buddies swears by the new mac mini for his photo studio. What would you guys suggest. I was thinking of staying portable with macbook air or new macbook pro..

MisterKeeks · Dec 6, 2012, 04:38 PM

It depends on which one you get. There are a lot of times when the new Mac Mini would outrun one of the older ones. However, good luck with expandability with the Mini.

beto2k7 · Dec 6, 2012, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdeusthewhizkid

hey guys,

Im a music producer on my spare time. I already own a mac mini and a macbook pro. I use logic express 9 on macbook pro and logic 8 on mac mini. I have a ton of virtual instruments I use and it seems to choke up my systems. Thinking of upgrading to a mac pro refurbished. One of my photographer buddies swears by the new mac mini for his photo studio. What would you guys suggest. I was thinking of staying portable with macbook air or new macbook pro..

Someone will correct me if Im wrong but afaik. Photography = disk intensive, Audio = processor intensive. So the point your friend makes is basically invalid for your needs. If you can get your hands on a 2009 Mac Pro and upgrade it to Hex processores by flashing the firmware.

My 2 cents.

Jake0604 · Dec 6, 2012, 04:40 PM

Yes a Mac Pro is still worth it

phoenixsan · Dec 6, 2012, 04:54 PM

a big array of instruments requiere big datasets, hence, lots of RAM. And if you want the capacity to customize a computer with multiple setups, the Pro can be for you. But I conceded, outdated....

Regarding to RAM, by example, my Pro can go up to 64 GB (Apple supported) and 128 GB (unsupported). Low end Pros as the Quad Core can go up to 32 GB (Apple) and 48 GB (non Apple), with the Hexa Core up to the same quantities.

If needed, no point in waiting for the hypothetical "Mac Pro 2013"

mokeiko · Dec 6, 2012, 05:10 PM

I agree, the MacPro is still worth it.

mokeiko

Lesser Evets · Dec 8, 2012, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterKeeks

It depends on which one you get. There are a lot of times when the new Mac Mini would outrun one of the older ones. However, good luck with expandability with the Mini.

"Older Ones" = Mac Pro 1,1?

If that's what you meant, you are dead wrong. I have a new mini here next to my 1,1 (mod CPU) and I can say there is NOTHING the mini does as fast as the Mac Pro 1,1.

Minis aren't bad, but they are single processor cheapies. Those devices jam and wait as you do anything. The Pro will let you work far more smooth than a mini ever could.

Unless you have little money, get the Pro. However, the Pros might upgrade to something akin to a new generation of computers in about 6-12 months.

24Frames · Dec 8, 2012, 07:13 AM

You would be much better off getting a 15-Inch MacBook Pro. Make sure that it has a 2nd or 3rd Generation Intel Quad-Core i7 and fit it with at least 8GB, but preferably 16GB of RAM and you have a great system.

If hard drive speed ever becomes an issue you can add an external USB 3.0 or TB drive.

I am running Logic Pro 9 and Ableton Suite 8 on a 17-Inch MBP (early 2011) and it runs fine and I use at least 100 plug-ins per song of those maybe 16-24 are CPU intensive Virtual Instruments.

The Mac Pro is a waste of money for what you want to do.

Postscript: if you ask in this forum most people will tell you to buy a Mac Pro!

mokeiko · Dec 8, 2012, 01:50 PM

Postscript: If you ask in this forum most people with MacBook Pros will tell you to buy a MacBook Pro!

Lesser Evets · Dec 8, 2012, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 24Frames

Postscript: if you ask in this forum most people will tell you to buy a Mac Pro!

Had to end it with an ass troll.

Mac Pro > MacBook Pro. Sure, you can run Logic Pro on any Mac. It will work. It will work better on a Mac Pro, no competition.

Unless you want USB3 and TB. In that case, use another Mac or wait up to a year to get the upgrade. If he doesn't have the cash or needs mobility, he shouldn't get a Pro.

thekev · Dec 8, 2012, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beto2k7

Someone will correct me if Im wrong but afaik. Photography = disk intensive, Audio = processor intensive. So the point your friend makes is basically invalid for your needs. If you can get your hands on a 2009 Mac Pro and upgrade it to Hex processores by flashing the firmware.

My 2 cents.

That's basically correct, although I'd check the price of a refurbished hex prior to flashing a used machine. It's $2500 for a refurbished unit now. The cpu is $600. If the difference was only a few hundred, I'd just purchase the refurb unit rather than one with unknown history.

mokeiko · Dec 8, 2012, 08:34 PM

Sorry, delete my post. Made a reply to wrong user. My age is showing.

mokeiko

benwiggy · Dec 9, 2012, 12:04 PM

If you can afford the current MacPros, then sure, why not. However, new (redesigned?) MacPros are rumoured next year, and the 2012 MacMinis, MBPs and iMacs have impressive benchmarks that match or better some recent MacPros. (Except the 8 and 12-core, but they are very expensive.)

Use Activity Monitor to see whether it is the CPU or the RAM -- or even the disk -- which is causing the choking in Logic. I've got 16Gb and a Fusion drive in my new 2.6Ghz i7 mini, and Logic 8 absolutely screams.

gdeusthewhizkid · Dec 10, 2012, 03:56 PM

I saw this for refurbished unit for $700. what do you guys think?

Mac Pro 2.66GHz Two Dual-Core 2GB 250GB Super Drive Intel Xeon 2007

should i pull the plug and get this...

nilk · Dec 10, 2012, 04:37 PM

That sounds like it's a Mac Pro 1,1 (which came out in 2006, but continued to sell in 2007). Note that this machine is not supported by Mountain Lion. You can hack Mountain Lion to run, but who knows if the next version of OS X will work. Also, what video card is important. If it is a nVidia GeForce 7300 GT you will more than likely want to upgrade it, because it will be a drag even if you don't do anything graphically heavy (I had that card, and I upgraded to the unsupported $250 ATI 5770 and it made a huge difference). The OS X drivers for the 7300GT don't even support OpenGL which was part of the problem. You will probably also want to upgrade the CPUs to get the most out of it (would be a different story if this was the 2 x quad 3.0GHz CPUs). Also, how much RAM? If it has something minuscule like 1 or 2GB, you'll want to spend money on RAM, and it's not that cheap for this machine.

So, to me it's sounding like it's more trouble than it's worth. I have a Mac Pro 1,1 that is running strong, but I've done some unsupported upgrades and hacks to keep it going. About to do a CPU upgrade.

Jake0604 · Dec 10, 2012, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdeusthewhizkid

I saw this for refurbished unit for $700. what do you guys think?

Mac Pro 2.66GHz Two Dual-Core 2GB 250GB Super Drive Intel Xeon 2007

should i pull the plug and get this...

I have seen 2008 8-core Mac pro's go on ebay for only a couple hundred more than that, so no I don't think you should get this.

Dec 6, 2012, 04:35 PM	#1
gdeusthewhizkid macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NY\|NJ	is it still worth it to get a mac pro? hey guys, Im a music producer on my spare time. I already own a mac mini and a macbook pro. I use logic express 9 on macbook pro and logic 8 on mac mini. I have a ton of virtual instruments I use and it seems to choke up my systems. Thinking of upgrading to a mac pro refurbished. One of my photographer buddies swears by the new mac mini for his photo studio. What would you guys suggest. I was thinking of staying portable with macbook air or new macbook pro.. __________________ Mac Mini, 13" MBP, iPhone 4S, iPad 2 32G
	0

Dec 6, 2012, 04:38 PM	#2
MisterKeeks macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2012	It depends on which one you get. There are a lot of times when the new Mac Mini would outrun one of the older ones. However, good luck with expandability with the Mini. __________________ Core Duo 1.83 Mac Mini, Dual 2.7 Power Mac G5, Dual 1.8 Power Mac G5, Dual 1.25 MDD G4, 1.6 GHz iMac G5, 900 MHz iBook G3, 800 MHz iMac G4, 500MHz iMac G3, 400MHz iMac G3
	0

Dec 6, 2012, 04:40 PM	#4
Jake0604 macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Vulcan	Yes a Mac Pro is still worth it __________________ Main: 2010 Quad-Core 2.8GHZ Mac Pro, 16GB RAM, 3TB HD,1TB HD, 250GB HDD, 128GB SSD, Gigabyte GTX 650 Ti 2GB OC, USB 3.0 Card
	2

Dec 6, 2012, 04:54 PM	#5
phoenixsan macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2012	In my knowledge.... a big array of instruments requiere big datasets, hence, lots of RAM. And if you want the capacity to customize a computer with multiple setups, the Pro can be for you. But I conceded, outdated.... Regarding to RAM, by example, my Pro can go up to 64 GB (Apple supported) and 128 GB (unsupported). Low end Pros as the Quad Core can go up to 32 GB (Apple) and 48 GB (non Apple), with the Hexa Core up to the same quantities. If needed, no point in waiting for the hypothetical "Mac Pro 2013" __________________ Mac Pro 2010 3.06 Westmere version, 12 Core 64 GB RAM, 4 TB , iPhone 5 (black)
	0

Dec 10, 2012, 03:56 PM	#14
gdeusthewhizkid Thread Starter macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NY\|NJ	I saw this for refurbished unit for $700. what do you guys think? Mac Pro 2.66GHz Two Dual-Core 2GB 250GB Super Drive Intel Xeon 2007 should i pull the plug and get this... __________________ Mac Mini, 13" MBP, iPhone 4S, iPad 2 32G
	1

Dec 6, 2012, 05:10 PM	#6
mokeiko macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2007	I agree, the MacPro is still worth it. mokeiko
	1

Dec 8, 2012, 07:13 AM	#8
24Frames macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2012	You would be much better off getting a 15-Inch MacBook Pro. Make sure that it has a 2nd or 3rd Generation Intel Quad-Core i7 and fit it with at least 8GB, but preferably 16GB of RAM and you have a great system. If hard drive speed ever becomes an issue you can add an external USB 3.0 or TB drive. I am running Logic Pro 9 and Ableton Suite 8 on a 17-Inch MBP (early 2011) and it runs fine and I use at least 100 plug-ins per song of those maybe 16-24 are CPU intensive Virtual Instruments. The Mac Pro is a waste of money for what you want to do. Postscript: if you ask in this forum most people will tell you to buy a Mac Pro!
	0

Dec 8, 2012, 01:50 PM	#9
mokeiko macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2007	Postscript: If you ask in this forum most people with MacBook Pros will tell you to buy a MacBook Pro!
	3

Dec 8, 2012, 08:34 PM	#12
mokeiko macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2007	Sorry, delete my post. Made a reply to wrong user. My age is showing. mokeiko
	0

Dec 9, 2012, 12:04 PM	#13
benwiggy macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jun 2012	If you can afford the current MacPros, then sure, why not. However, new (redesigned?) MacPros are rumoured next year, and the 2012 MacMinis, MBPs and iMacs have impressive benchmarks that match or better some recent MacPros. (Except the 8 and 12-core, but they are very expensive.) Use Activity Monitor to see whether it is the CPU or the RAM -- or even the disk -- which is causing the choking in Logic. I've got 16Gb and a Fusion drive in my new 2.6Ghz i7 mini, and Logic 8 absolutely screams.
	0

Dec 10, 2012, 04:37 PM	#15
nilk macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Florida, U.S.	That sounds like it's a Mac Pro 1,1 (which came out in 2006, but continued to sell in 2007). Note that this machine is not supported by Mountain Lion. You can hack Mountain Lion to run, but who knows if the next version of OS X will work. Also, what video card is important. If it is a nVidia GeForce 7300 GT you will more than likely want to upgrade it, because it will be a drag even if you don't do anything graphically heavy (I had that card, and I upgraded to the unsupported $250 ATI 5770 and it made a huge difference). The OS X drivers for the 7300GT don't even support OpenGL which was part of the problem. You will probably also want to upgrade the CPUs to get the most out of it (would be a different story if this was the 2 x quad 3.0GHz CPUs). Also, how much RAM? If it has something minuscule like 1 or 2GB, you'll want to spend money on RAM, and it's not that cheap for this machine. So, to me it's sounding like it's more trouble than it's worth. I have a Mac Pro 1,1 that is running strong, but I've done some unsupported upgrades and hacks to keep it going. About to do a CPU upgrade. __________________ Mac Pro 2,1 w/ Xeon E5345's & ATI 5770 / Early '08 15" MBP / 2012 15" rMBP / iPhone 4S 64GB
	0

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