Advice on my planned Mac Pro configuration

[StevenCNYC]

I'm migrating from PC to Mac. I've had my XP desktop for over six years. Part of my motivation in getting a Mac Pro is to have a more future-proof computer that I can again keep for a long time. Also, I do amateur photography and use PhotoShop and LightRoom and would like ample power and RAM for them (I shoot in RAW on a Canon 40D so the files can be largish).

I'm a bit of a novice, but I have gotten lots of advice and feel like I have a pretty good configuration. I would like to get some further opinions and perspective. Also, I have a couple lingering questions.

My plan is to get two 1TB drives and configure them in a RAID 1 for data security.

Here is what I have in mind:

Two 2.26GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
12GB (6x2GB)
1TB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
1TB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
ATI Radeon HD 4870 512M
Two 18x SuperDrives
AppleCare plan.
AirPort Extreme
ProCare
VMWare Fusion
MS Windows (Vista 64 bit) (to run MS Office and some other programs that I already have as PC versions and need for work)

While I'd welcome general feedback, my key questions are:
1) Is the 2.26 octo good enough? Why would I want to spend $1400 to upgrade to 2.66?
2) I have seen advice about getting a third HD as a boot disk if you have a RAID. Is this important?

Otherwise, I'm excited to be switching to Mac and to get a great machine that should last me a long time with plenty of room to expand RAM or otherwise adapt to future needs.

Thanks!

Steven

 

[Tallest Skil]

Don't buy HDDs from Apple. Keep the stock 640GB and buy three MORE 1TB drives for LESS than the cost to get the first drive upgraded and add an additional one.

 

[KBS756]

I'm migrating from PC to Mac. I've had my XP desktop for over six years. Part of my motivation in getting a Mac Pro is to have a more future-proof computer that I can again keep for a long time. Also, I do amateur photography and use PhotoShop and LightRoom and would like ample power and RAM for them (I shoot in RAW on a Canon 40D so the files can be largish).

I'm a bit of a novice, but I have gotten lots of advice and feel like I have a pretty good configuration. I would like to get some further opinions and perspective. Also, I have a couple lingering questions.

My plan is to get two 1TB drives and configure them in a RAID 1 for data security.

Here is what I have in mind:

Two 2.26GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
12GB (6x2GB)
1TB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
1TB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
ATI Radeon HD 4870 512M
Two 18x SuperDrives
AppleCare plan.
AirPort Extreme
ProCare
VMWare Fusion
MS Windows (Vista 64 bit) (to run MS Office and some other programs that I already have as PC versions and need for work)

While I'd welcome general feedback, my key questions are:
1) Is the 2.26 octo good enough? Why would I want to spend $1400 to upgrade to 2.66?
2) I have seen advice about getting a third HD as a boot disk if you have a RAID. Is this important?

Otherwise, I'm excited to be switching to Mac and to get a great machine that should last me a long time with plenty of room to expand RAM or otherwise adapt to future needs.

Thanks!

Steven

i also believe u can get 16 gb (8x2gb) for 290ish from http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Mac-Pro-Memory

instead of upgradin through apple