I Really Need Help On This Mac Pro Choice!!!

[bm2amb]

Hi..

I am Tafe student & work as part time in Desktop Publishing & Web Design, also work as freelance do some Final Cut & Design stuff in Australia

My Macbook pro Core Duo 2.0Ghz seems its not enough to handle my application, especially I want to do some HD videos, take ages to render.

I only have around 3000 dollars budget. I can push up a little by save my lunch and dinner etc.....

Here is the difficault part that I really need you guys experience and suggestion.


1. New 2009 Mac Pro Quad Core - ADC Price $3699 + ADC Student $150 = 3849

# One 2.66GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
# 3GB (3x1GB
# 640GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
# NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 512MB
# One 18x SuperDrive
# Apple Mighty Mouse
# Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (English) and User's Guide

2.Refurbished Mac Pro Quad 2.66GHz Intel Xeon $2749.00

Two 2.66GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon processors
1GB (2 x 512MB) memory (667MHz DDR2 fully-buffered DIMM ECC)
250GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s 7200-rpm hard drive
16x SuperDrive (double-layer)
NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics with 256MB memory

Do you think buy a refurbished is a good idea ? Also, am I able to connect to dual screen on 7300gt ???

Thank you very much guys!!!

 

[eyefoniac]

I have always had a good experience with refurbs myself. Honestly, unless you need some of the extra power with the new one, I would go with the refurb. Good luck in your decision!

 

[Mackilroy]

The second Mac Pro is a perfectly fine machine, and of course cheaper (it's the MP I have), and you can connect two displays to the 7300 GT, but the newer Mac Pro is considerably faster. So, as eyefoniac said, unless you need the extra power, go for the refurb.

 

[bm2amb]

The second Mac Pro is a perfectly fine machine, and of course cheaper (it's the MP I have), and you can connect two displays to the 7300 GT, but the newer Mac Pro is considerably faster. So, as eyefoniac said, unless you need the extra power, go for the refurb.

But, What I'm concerning is , the 1GB RAM and 250GBHD, seems 1GB is not enough and is it very expensive to buy a 3rd party RAM for Mac Pro ??

Thanks guys!

 

[Mackilroy]

1 GB is low nowadays, yes, but third-party RAM is only expensive if you're buying DDR3 4GB sticks.

I've bought all my RAM from Data Memory Systems (direct link) and their RAM is very good for an excellent price. For the 2006 Mac Pro you can buy 8 GB of RAM for $176.

 

[PowerPaw]

The Mac Pro 2009 model looks to offer more than the 2.66GHz though arguable both will work well but how old is that refurb???

For the money we are talking about just under $1000 more after putting in enough RAM and a reasonable sized HDD. Old tech vs new, you have to decide if its worth it.

How old is that refurb?

 

[bm2amb]

The Mac Pro 2009 model looks to offer more than the 2.66GHz though arguable both will work well but how old is that refurb???

For the money we are talking about just under $1000 more after putting in enough RAM and a reasonable sized HDD. Old tech vs new, you have to decide if its worth it.

How old is that refurb?

Umm.. I'm not sure about that Refurb Mac Pro, its not saying on apple's site. According that 5150 CPU and Video Card should between 2006 - 2007 !????

Any Idea ?

 

[POLOgt]

2.Refurbished Mac Pro Quad 2.66GHz Intel Xeon $2749.00

Two 2.66GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon processors
1GB (2 x 512MB) memory (667MHz DDR2 fully-buffered DIMM ECC)
250GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s 7200-rpm hard drive
16x SuperDrive (double-layer)
NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics with 256MB memory

Do you think buy a refurbished is a good idea ? Also, am I able to connect to dual screen on 7300gt?

You can get that for so much cheaper, less then $2000 easy in the States. I don't know though about Australia.

 

[MCHR]

You can get that for so much cheaper, less then $2000 easy in the States. I don't know though about Australia.

This is a technical forum, isn't it? And we all know how to use an Internet, yes?

Do a search, check out currency exchanges, and see that $2749 AUS is $1883 USD today.

Like flippin little children around here.

 

[POLOgt]

This is a technical forum, isn't it? And we all know how to use an Internet, yes?

Do a search, check out currency exchanges, and see that $2749 AUS is $1883 USD today.

Like flippin little children around here.

I made a mistake, do not think your high and mighty because you caught one.

 

[rylin]

I made a mistake, do not think your high and mighty because you caught one.

His high and mighty what?
/me grins

 

[Mackilroy]

Oh, but he is high and mighty. Cross him and you're nothing but a dunce.

 

[bm2amb]

Here is an other question

according : Mac Pro offers four independent, 3Gb-per-second Serial ATA hard drive channels — twice as many and twice as fast as the previous generation — allowing you to install up to four 500GB drives

Does that mean I can only install 500GB HD ? 640 - 1TB won't work ???

 

[NightSailor]

I'd get the refurbished unit. You will be happy with it. And have money left over for upgrades.

 

[MCHR]

Oh, but he is high and mighty. Cross him and you're nothing but a dunce.

Don't kid yourselves. I'm as dumb as a stump on a LOT of things.

If I were really high and mighty, I'd be in a thatch hut in Tahiti bartending to tourists. Instead, I'm looking how to spend 5K on a frustrating Apple machine.

 

[Mackilroy]

Here is an other question

according : Mac Pro offers four independent, 3Gb-per-second Serial ATA hard drive channels — twice as many and twice as fast as the previous generation — allowing you to install up to four 500GB drives

Does that mean I can only install 500GB HD ? 640 - 1TB won't work ???

No. If that were the case neither of my 750 GB drives would work.

Apple's page only says that, because at the time 500 GB drives were the largest readily available. You can put any size SATA drive in there that you like, as long as it has the right connector.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

I only have around 3000 dollars budget. I can push up a little by save my lunch and dinner etc.....
1. New 2009 Mac Pro Quad Core - $3849
2.Refurbished Mac Pro Quad 2.66GHz Intel Xeon - $2749

I feel like you've kind of made the decision yourself. You say your budget is $3000. The new one is $849 over your budget; the refurb is $251 under. Now, I'm all for continuing to save money and all, but unless your meals are really expensive (like, REALLY expensive), it will be a long, hungry time before you save up that $849.