2.26GHz 8 core Mac Pro vs. 2.66GHz 8 core Mac Pro

[jjahshik32]

No matter how many times I compare and spec out which model to buy, I keep coming back to the 2.66GHz 8 core model (I only want the 8 cores not the quads).

Anyway, just looking at various benches the 2.66GHz looks very close in the results to the 2.93GHz 8 core and turbo boost pushes the 2.66GHz up to 2.93GHz.

I know its $1400 more than the 2.26GHz model but anyone here make the jump from a 2.26GHz to the 2.66GHz (8 cores) and noticed the huge jump in performance?

I just can never shake off the low clock speed of the 2.26GHz even when its turbo boosted up to 2.53GHz with 1 core working.

 

[surflordca]

No matter how many times I compare and spec out which model to buy, I keep coming back to the 2.66GHz 8 core model (I only want the 8 cores not the quads).

Anyway, just looking at various benches the 2.66GHz looks very close in the results to the 2.93GHz 8 core and turbo boost pushes the 2.66GHz up to 2.93GHz.

I know its $1400 more than the 2.26GHz model but anyone here make the jump from a 2.26GHz to the 2.66GHz (8 cores) and noticed the huge jump in performance?

I just can never shake off the low clock speed of the 2.26GHz even when its turbo boosted up to 2.53GHz with 1 core working.

Never tested it but myself I don't think the extra cost is justified for the extra speed...

 

[macz1]

It depends entirely on what you plan to do with your mac pro. In computationally intensive tasks (rendering, hand brake) you will probably feel the 17% clock difference if you work on large projects and have tight time constraints. For almost everything else, the money is better spent on a fast hard drive or SSD, which will increase the "snappyness" of your machine in a much more noticeable way in my opinion....

 

[DeepCobalt]

I have the 2.66 octad and love it!

 

[jjahshik32]

Thanks guys I just went ahead with the 2.26GHz Mac Pro, I just couldnt justify the $1400 extra. I'm sure the 2.66GHz is a beast on its own but the 2.26GHz is more than enough a beast for me!

 

[Keniff]

Just buy what you can afford

 

[lemonade-maker]

Thanks guys I just went ahead with the 2.26GHz Mac Pro, I just couldnt justify the $1400 extra. I'm sure the 2.66GHz is a beast on its own but the 2.26GHz is more than enough a beast for me!

You wont even notice. 17% faster for a single app like handbrake that just sits there and churns hardly justifies the cost difference. Faster at setting up handbrake could make up that difference.

Put in a bunch of ram and a decent raid0 and the machine is perfect.

 

[alphaod]

Just went through a day using my new computer; yes it's fast. It's a lot faster than I envisioned; I think it's safe to say it would have been sufficient to buy the 2.26 8-core MP.

I just encoded a movie in 25 minutes a process that usually takes 3 hours on my laptop at the same settings. I think I would have been satisfied saving about $2000 if it meant waiting 10 more minutes.

 

[Plutonius]

Just went through a day using my new computer; yes it's fast. It's a lot faster than I envisioned; I think it's safe to say it would have been sufficient to buy the 2.26 8-core MP.

I just encoded a movie in 25 minutes a process that usually takes 3 hours on my laptop at the same settings. I think I would have been satisfied saving about $2000 if it meant waiting 10 more minutes.

I'm curious. What work will you be doing on your Mac that made you come to the decision of getting the 8 core over a quad ?