Which Mac pro

[skasol]

I want to buy a macro that equals or best iMac 3.4ghz 27" . There are so many different models out there. Looking at eBay for used mac pro. I want the upgradability of it. Can't really afford the 12 core model but 8 and 6 core I am game. Any recommendation?

[Peteman100]

How do you plan to use the computer?

[hammten]

Stick with a 2009 or 2010 model if you can, they are both identically upgradeable (2009 needs a hack) and can scream!

[skasol]

Thank you. I plan on using it for photography as well as handbrake and ur basic Internet. Which processor specific for 2009? 8 core, I know there are xeon, westmere, nehalem, etc. Not sure which is which. I definitely want something that is better than the iMac 3.4 or I would just buy an iMac instead. Which Mac pro processor and speed will do that for me. I would like to do some gaming as well. Thank u.

[ashman70]

What is your budget? The main advantage of a Mac Pro over an iMac is its upgradeable and that it is not tied to a specific monitor, it can hold up to six hard drives (no optical drive) and you can upgrade the CPU's and video card. All of this carries a price tag of course. For the type of usage you have described I think a new Mac Pro would be overkill so you could look for a used model from 2007 and up, any dual CPU system with 4GB of RAM or more will be more then adequate for your needs. As far as gaming is concerned the Xeon CPU's are not the best suited CPU for gaming, this is where an iMac will outshine a Mac Pro, as well, most Mac Pro's, with the exception of the newer models, don't have the best graphic cards for gaming, although they can be upgraded. In my opinion, unless you are dead set against an iMac, I think it would be the best suited machine for your needs.

[jonnymo5]

Depends on the software you are running. From what you described the 3.4 iMac may be the fastest for you. At least without having to venture outside the Apple ready upgrades. I don't see anything that you would need the Pro for.

[skasol]

Originally Posted by ashman70

What is your budget? The main advantage of a Mac Pro over an iMac is its upgradeable and that it is not tied to a specific monitor, it can hold up to six hard drives (no optical drive) and you can upgrade the CPU's and video card. All of this carries a price tag of course. For the type of usage you have described I think a new Mac Pro would be overkill so you could look for a used model from 2007 and up, any dual CPU system with 4GB of RAM or more will be more then adequate for your needs. As far as gaming is concerned the Xeon CPU's are not the best suited CPU for gaming, this is where an iMac will outshine a Mac Pro, as well, most Mac Pro's, with the exception of the newer models, don't have the best graphic cards for gaming, although they can be upgraded. In my opinion, unless you are dead set against an iMac, I think it would be the best suited machine for your needs.

I understand that the macpro may be overkill for me, I just don't really like to wait on things to happen on my computer I come from a pc world that I left many years ago when I bought my macbook pro, as you can see now I got a new i7 2.0 that I like, now I just want something desktop wise that I can upgrade on my own, replace HD, Memory, Video card etc. I do think the imac is suitable for me except I don't care for a glossy screen, and it seems that used mac pro's are selling on ebay at a decent price, I can get a mac pro and a 30" cinema display (instead of the 27") for a few more dollars over the imac 27", if I was to get the imac 27" I was going to get the highest model they had. 27" 3.4ghz, SSD drive + 2TB hard drive. I have a lot of movies and pictures that I like to store and play around with with photoshop, aperture, lightroom. I am also going to be bootcamping for some gaming and work software. the imac turns me off because of the screen being glossy and the fact that I could pay a little more from the model I was going to get and get a mac pro that I can update/upgrade as I please.

[skasol]

Originally Posted by jonnymo5

Depends on the software you are running. From what you described the 3.4 iMac may be the fastest for you. At least without having to venture outside the Apple ready upgrades. I don't see anything that you would need the Pro for.

I would probably update as I see it fit for my needs. I kind of want to wait to see if there is a new mac pro that has thunderbolt but also want to get something right away as I have most of my pictures store on external harddrives right now since I got rid of my gaming pc 2 years ago.

[Flynnstone]

The best reason for a Mac Pro for me, is that fact that its easy to upgrade hard drives.
I "tinker" much less with my Macs. "They just work" & I like to keep it that way.
I have a G5 Power Mac. I've upgraded hard drives. Pondered (slightly) about upgrading CPU & video. But never bothered.
I have a 24" iMac. Just recently upgraded the hard drive to a 2T drive.
Power Mac / Mac Pro win on the easy of this upgrade!
My Power Mac is getting a little long in the tooth. But still works.
Next computer will be an iMac. Pondered a Mac Pro for the hard drive space, but an iMac with external firewire drives works. Looking forward to Thunderbolt drives when available. And ... Apple screens are great!

[Flynnstone]

Originally Posted by skasol

I would probably update as I see it fit for my needs. I kind of want to wait to see if there is a new mac pro that has thunderbolt but also want to get something right away as I have most of my pictures store on external harddrives right now since I got rid of my gaming pc 2 years ago.

I can't imagine the new Mac Pro's not having Thunderbolt.

[derbothaus]

Get the 3.33GHz Hex with 5870 GPU. Fastest "gaming" Mac you can get.
Basically an i7-980X.
It embarrass's the iMac in games and it doesn't sound like you need too many cores to get what you need done.

http://www.barefeats.com/imac11b.html

Watch the core to GHz ratio's as the i7 part of the iMac is faster than all the 2007, 2008 and more than half of the 2009 Mac Pro's. The slow clock speeds with many cores will feel even slower still.

Some will say to buy a dual 2009+ at any speed and upgrade the processor. That is up to your level of technical comfort but may be the best bet price wise.

[skasol]

Originally Posted by derbothaus

Get the 3.33GHz Hex with 5870 GPU. Fastest "gaming" Mac you can get.
Basically an i7-980X.
It embarrass's the iMac in games and it doesn't sound like you need too many cores to get what you need done.

http://www.barefeats.com/imac11b.html

Watch the core to GHz ratio's as the i7 part of the iMac is faster than all the 2007, 2008 and more than half of the 2009 Mac Pro's. The slow clock speeds with many cores will feel even slower still.

Some will say to buy a dual 2009+ at any speed and upgrade the processor. That is up to your level of technical comfort but may be the best bet price wise.

Thank you, I am still confused there are so many different processor combinations out there. which is the processor for 2010, 2009? which is what everyone seems to recommend. thank you in advance all for your help

[jamatfu]

Similar boat - ready to make the switch to Mac from being a long-time Windows guy, though I have worked with my wife's iMac frequently. Tired of being a constant hardware tinkerer, but do want to retain the ability to drop in extra internal drives, which has pushed me to the Mac Pro. I do daily Photoshop/Illustrator/Lightroom work, and light (non-professional) video editing a few times a month for my church on top of some small-time coding/development work. I do plan to grab Xcode and learn iOS development, though.

Bottom line, I've been waiting for a few months watching the Mac Pro refresh forums with frustration regarding the release schedule of Sandy Bridge and I'm getting impatient. I'm not missing out on any work b/c I don't have the machine, so it isn't production-critical, but I'm anxious to jump in and learn me some Mac! I'll be in the market for the entry-level Mac Pro, which I'll top off with some OWC memory and drives from my Win7 box. Should I hold out for the NEXT entry-level Mac Pro (whenever that is!) or just be happy with a quad-core Nehalem now and move on? I see the buyer's remorse coming with the new MPs are finally announced, but I could do a lot of playing/learning in that timeframe too!

Anyone else in the same boat? Advice?