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Apple Announces New Mac Pros With Up to 12 Cores, SSD Options
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I think that we can conclude the following:
*If you are in need of a workstation class machine with server grade parts and as many cores in a desktop as possible, like OSX, and have no use for SATA 3/USB 3/Bluray, then the 12 core Mac Pro is somewhat near competitively priced and may be the machine for you
*In all other cases, its hugely overpriced for your needs and doesn't have many of the features that consumers and professionals can get elsewhere for much, much less. In this case, get an iMac or (if you value money or performance over aesthetics, OSX, and iLife) build a PC
Apple is making their Mac Pro more and more of a niche product with every revision. While some might say that I'm just complaining, I don't feel that way. I'm just sharing my opinion regarding how I feel that Apple can improve their product offerings and gain my future business. Apple has no obligation to serve me, but if they want me (and many like me) to purchase their machines, then they will have to make a few changes. Either way, I'm continuing to buy computers. Whether it is an Apple or not is up to if they can offer a machine that meets my needs at a fair price.
*If you are in need of a workstation class machine with server grade parts and as many cores in a desktop as possible, like OSX, and have no use for SATA 3/USB 3/Bluray, then the 12 core Mac Pro is somewhat near competitively priced and may be the machine for you
*In all other cases, its hugely overpriced for your needs and doesn't have many of the features that consumers and professionals can get elsewhere for much, much less. In this case, get an iMac or (if you value money or performance over aesthetics, OSX, and iLife) build a PC
Apple is making their Mac Pro more and more of a niche product with every revision. While some might say that I'm just complaining, I don't feel that way. I'm just sharing my opinion regarding how I feel that Apple can improve their product offerings and gain my future business. Apple has no obligation to serve me, but if they want me (and many like me) to purchase their machines, then they will have to make a few changes. Either way, I'm continuing to buy computers. Whether it is an Apple or not is up to if they can offer a machine that meets my needs at a fair price.
Dell may be crap, but he does have a point. Yes, there is a difference in quality (both in the OS and the machine itself), but the question is whether the marginal additional quality is worth the additional cost. In my opinion, a definite no.
Can you do all that 3-D rendering stuff on Windows? Does Windows have the same quality software packages as OS/X? The real question is how much $$$ does it take set up a Windows machine with enough hardware and software to match a Mac Pro.
Huh? Of course you can do 3D rendering on a Windows machine. In fact, I would say that most 3D rendering is done on PCs. While Windows does tend to have more issues than Mac, the situation has greatly improved with Windows 7 and the same programs are generally priced lower for the PC than Mac (there is also a greater selection). As far as cost, it would really depend on your specific needs, but in general you can buy a PC that will serve your needs equally as well as a Mac Pro for hundreds (and in some cases over $1000) less.
As has been stated over and over and over.... Error Correction Codes RAM is supported by Xeon, not by i7. Some people don't think they need it.... therefore they shouldn't pay for it. An iMac is perfectly suitable. Some people think they need it, therefore they are willing to pay for it. Comparing i7 to Xeon is therefore like comparing a film camera to a digital camera (they both take photos!) A pickup to a Smart Car (they both get you places!), a bicycle to a motorcycle (they both park in small spots!), a freezer to a fridge (they both make your food cold!), a BBQ steak to a fast food burger (they're both beef!), Sushi to fish sticks (they're both fish!), Christopher Plummer to William Shatner (they're both Canadian actors!)....
etc etc
They are NOT the same... which one suits your needs is something only you can decide. And which one suits my needs is none of you business, and I don't need you to insult me if I choose that I would, if it's OK with you, use a server class CPU because I feel that my photographic art work is worth protecting from memory errors. Thank you very much.
Are you sure about that? I thought a hackintosh system was only possible and stable with the lower end processors. Your saying the fastest processor, two chips on one board is stable as a hackintosh?
I've also heard that High End PC's that would compete with a mac pro would be comparably priced. Is this still true?
Anyone can answer that if you know.
No Chisholm The Dumb ASS is you
Those of us whom complain about No USB3.0, NO FW 1600, NO Blue-Ray Playback, No Blue-Ray Authoring, No Multiuser Editing, No Real 3D Comp application, awful QTX, awful Compressor, Limited hardware options and I could go on and on. do it for a Reason and a dam good one. Apple used to care about everything Mac. now it just cares about the iToys. and your suggestion about cards. well I have to inform you (I almost bet you do not own a Mac Pro) that Mac Pros only have 4 Slots Actually 3 because you have to have a Graphics Card or you have no computer. in the world of pro users it is almost certain that those slots are already full. in fact I wish apple would stop being so greedy and use/or make Logic Boards with the standard 7 or so slots. in fact Just now I had to pull one card to test another one I just purchase.
Perhaps Chisholm you use your mac pro for E-Mail and I understand if that is a reason for you not to care about the shortcoming of the Mac pro if that is so I would strongly recommend you to buy a netbook. or if you are a Mac Fanboy buy one of the iToys and PLAY with it. ohh and stop undermining our efforts to wake up Apple from it's lazy (consumer) Nap I am Sick and tired of paying premium and getting much less then that. we need top of the line and cutting edge technology. because that is what we are paying for. for crying out loud a consumer laptop at walmart can play Blue-Ray Movies and my 5,000.00 Dollar Computer Cannot, Man there is something wrong with that.(do not even start with the streaming crap) at the current price of Mac Pros should be playing Holographic Discs but no there is not even USB 3.0 way to go Stevo, way to go. you Greedy Bastard. or should I say iGreedy Bastard
ohh and by the way I do think it is ridiculous to say that you would not buy a computer for pro use because the case has not change in years. so what? is the case going to speed up rendering times? or is some how going to help me playback 4K Footage?
Sorry if I offended some one but I just had to get it out of my chest. I just hope not to get as disappointed when Final Cut Studio 3 finally gets out. or I will have to think rally hard about buying anything apple. I Just Do not see apple's usual Commitment for the Pro Market anymore.
Those of us whom complain about No USB3.0, NO FW 1600, NO Blue-Ray Playback, No Blue-Ray Authoring, No Multiuser Editing, No Real 3D Comp application, awful QTX, awful Compressor, Limited hardware options and I could go on and on. do it for a Reason and a dam good one. Apple used to care about everything Mac. now it just cares about the iToys. and your suggestion about cards. well I have to inform you (I almost bet you do not own a Mac Pro) that Mac Pros only have 4 Slots Actually 3 because you have to have a Graphics Card or you have no computer. in the world of pro users it is almost certain that those slots are already full. in fact I wish apple would stop being so greedy and use/or make Logic Boards with the standard 7 or so slots. in fact Just now I had to pull one card to test another one I just purchase.
Perhaps Chisholm you use your mac pro for E-Mail and I understand if that is a reason for you not to care about the shortcoming of the Mac pro if that is so I would strongly recommend you to buy a netbook. or if you are a Mac Fanboy buy one of the iToys and PLAY with it. ohh and stop undermining our efforts to wake up Apple from it's lazy (consumer) Nap I am Sick and tired of paying premium and getting much less then that. we need top of the line and cutting edge technology. because that is what we are paying for. for crying out loud a consumer laptop at walmart can play Blue-Ray Movies and my 5,000.00 Dollar Computer Cannot, Man there is something wrong with that.(do not even start with the streaming crap) at the current price of Mac Pros should be playing Holographic Discs but no there is not even USB 3.0 way to go Stevo, way to go. you Greedy Bastard. or should I say iGreedy Bastard
ohh and by the way I do think it is ridiculous to say that you would not buy a computer for pro use because the case has not change in years. so what? is the case going to speed up rendering times? or is some how going to help me playback 4K Footage?
Sorry if I offended some one but I just had to get it out of my chest. I just hope not to get as disappointed when Final Cut Studio 3 finally gets out. or I will have to think rally hard about buying anything apple. I Just Do not see apple's usual Commitment for the Pro Market anymore.
Westmere is basically a Nehalem shrunk onto the 32nm process.
It will have six cores, cache enhancements and better energy efficiency, and will be announced in 2010. Also it will be socket-compatible with the 5500, so server vendors can use existing server boards and plug Westmere processors straight in.
Kiss, kiss, socket 1366.....on my 2009 Mac Pro (5500 series).
It will have six cores, cache enhancements and better energy efficiency, and will be announced in 2010. Also it will be socket-compatible with the 5500, so server vendors can use existing server boards and plug Westmere processors straight in.
Kiss, kiss, socket 1366.....on my 2009 Mac Pro (5500 series).
I'll re-phrase.
Dell is crap. Apple is even crappier.
OS/X is not Windows. Windows is no OS/X.
Am I smart or what?
Yes!!!Solid state drives and 1GB DDR5 ATI Cards!!!I'm now never going to go back to a cheap Windows machine. 
Apple says August.
It may mean next week or the last day of the month, but Im going to guess next week. Apple doesn't like to put stuff on their site unless it's available soon.
Most of the world operates without ECC ram without problems. I'm sure you'd be fine without it. Two designers in my company run 24 inch imacs. Aside from display problems (now fixed), they have been fine running photoshop. One of them routinely pushes that program and taxes that computer to hell and back.
Windows has more options in terms of 3d rendering. 3d studio Max and softimage come to mind. Plus all of the plugins are usually Windows only, or Windows and Linux compatible. Maya is actually decent on the mac, but only went to 64-bit recently. Still, as much as people complain about Autodesk, they beat Apple to 64-bit with their app.
And maya is way more complex to port than Final Cut.
In the 8-12 core range (not counting hyper threading) the macs are competitive on horse power but not on video cards.
in the 4 core range (base mac pro) Apple is not competitive at all, in any respect, save for the nice case. Compare it to other single Xeons or Core i7's, it doesn't matter. Apple's base offering is horrendously, hideously expensive.
That's it? A slight CPU upgrade, a "major" graphics update, and same price?
I'm glad I just bought a Nehalem Mac Pro (4,1) last week, open box for $2150!
I'm glad I didn't wait.
Question: can we install the new ATI cards (5770, 5870) in the current 4,1 Mac Pros?
Usually we should be able to, but with Apple wanting to snatch money from their most loyal customers, you never know....
I'm glad I just bought a Nehalem Mac Pro (4,1) last week, open box for $2150!
I'm glad I didn't wait.
Question: can we install the new ATI cards (5770, 5870) in the current 4,1 Mac Pros?
Usually we should be able to, but with Apple wanting to snatch money from their most loyal customers, you never know....
Yeah... I'm wondering though, can the 6-core CPU's plug right in and start working, w/o any software/firmware update?
Knowing Apple, if they CAN create a firmware/software limitation, they will.
Real upgrade-ability is bad for business.... :/
Compare the Mac Pro line to the Dell Precision line. Both Xeon platforms, the target markets are more aligned and the prices are more aligned.
The Inspiron/XPS line is targeted more for home use (like the Mac or mini).
If you are saying why can't you use home stuff for some business/pro uses? You can (if you want) ... it's an old argument.
Alot of big businesses/government use Dell's Optiplex line, it's not xeon based either. It gives expandability/flexibility and it' made with consideration for larger enterprises. (not really Apple's target market and I don't think they have a direct line that competes against this). If you priced out a loaded Optiplex, it be somewhere around the price of an iMac... but quad core is as far as you can go.
P.
My 2008 Mac Pro ain't broke I ain't fixing it with a bank account transplant.
So all the speculation has finally culminated in a new 2010 Mac Pro with much the same kit inside as the old Mac Pro except more, thinner cores and a bigger price tag.
Still a kick ass workstation that will kick your wallet's ass too.
The £1700 investment I made in 2008 is no slower or worse off for their arrival and I will continue to use my 3,1 Pro till it can't run OS X (insert latest feline here) anymore. I saved a fortune buying and inserting my own 16 GB of ECC RAM too.
For my part the addition of HD 5870 cards is of interest as my flashed PC derived HD 4870 1gb may break one day and the replacement will hopefully be a 5870 if Apple are kind enough to let them run on 3,1 architecture.
Gentlemen, start your BIOS ROM flashing engines ! I don't fancy paying Apple for one of their cards next time either.
So all the speculation has finally culminated in a new 2010 Mac Pro with much the same kit inside as the old Mac Pro except more, thinner cores and a bigger price tag.
Still a kick ass workstation that will kick your wallet's ass too.
The £1700 investment I made in 2008 is no slower or worse off for their arrival and I will continue to use my 3,1 Pro till it can't run OS X (insert latest feline here) anymore. I saved a fortune buying and inserting my own 16 GB of ECC RAM too.
For my part the addition of HD 5870 cards is of interest as my flashed PC derived HD 4870 1gb may break one day and the replacement will hopefully be a 5870 if Apple are kind enough to let them run on 3,1 architecture.
Gentlemen, start your BIOS ROM flashing engines ! I don't fancy paying Apple for one of their cards next time either.