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omegasyn

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 16, 2007
102
0
New York
So I've placed and canceled my order over 4-5 times and can't decide between the 2.93 quad core or the 2.26 oct core. Someone convenience me to purchase one1111221

I am making my final decision tomorrow night.
 
So I've placed and canceled my order over 4-5 times and can't decide between the 2.93 quad core or the 2.26 oct core. Someone convenience me to purchase one1111221

I am making my final decision tomorrow night.

What are you doing with it? Film creation? Pirating music? Watching porn? Photo editing?
 
Go with the 2.93 quad if you mostly use single threaded apps and want applications like Photoshop to be the fastest they can be. However, you also have to take into consideration the 8GB RAM limit (and 4GB sticks are out of the question due to their high price).

Go with the 2.26 octo if you need more raw power for encoding video faster, or using more apps simultaneously, or if you need more plugins in Logic etc.

I have the same dilemma as you, as I want my machine to be super fast in every situation and also being able to take 16GB of RAM. But I'm not paying $5000+ for a bare computer.

It will be interesting to see how the 2.26 octo with 16GB RAM compares to the 2.93 quad with 8GB of RAM with single threaded apps. If the difference is not too great, I'll go with the 2.26 octo and give it 16GB of RAM. If not, I'll take the quad.
 
Go with the 2.93 quad if you mostly use single threaded apps and want applications like Photoshop to be the fastest they can be. However, you also have to take into consideration the 8GB RAM limit (and 4GB sticks are out of the question due to their high price).

Go with the 2.26 octo if you need more raw power for encoding video faster, or using more apps simultaneously, or if you need more plugins in Logic etc.

I have the same dilemma as you, as I want my machine to be super fast in every situation and also being able to take 16GB of RAM. But I'm not paying $5000+ for a bare computer.

It will be interesting to see how the 2.26 octo with 16GB RAM compares to the 2.93 quad with 8GB of RAM with single threaded apps. If the difference is not too great, I'll go with the 2.26 octo and give it 16GB of RAM. If not, I'll take the quad.

Well thats the thing, I do not have the luxury of waiting as I am trying to obtain a mac pro before the end of this weekend.

Guess I'll go with the octo core as I do tend to leave a lot of windows and browsers opened.
 
... Guess I'll go with the octo core as I do tend to leave a lot of windows and browsers opened.
That's what I did, and that was one of my reasons-why. Also, years from now, I'll be able to add more RAM than with the quad.

As far as processor speed is concerned, at least some folks here on this forum believe that the processors may even eventually be upgradable.
 
Though it may change after the Barefeats numbers come out.....I'm going to get a 2.93 quad. I don't use my Mac for making movies or pictures professionally like most on these boards do. I do,however, want to wait as long as possible between major computer purchases. I have a dual 2.7 G5 that is 4 years old and is showing it's age.

I play Wow (a lot....too much actually) and a few other games and it also will be used for light PS work and iPhoto/iMovie work. The new MP is prolly way more machine than I need, but I'll still be using it 4-5 years from now. Based on what I saw today, I'm thinking I'm gonna flash a 1GB 4870 card too....as long as they'll work. That should keep me set for quite a long time...

YMMV
 
I want to edit full HD videos in FCP and pictures in PS CS4 so
I think I'm going for the 2.26 8-core.
 
I vote for octo-core no matter what the core clock speed because it has 8 memory slots instead of 4. But it depends on what apps you run as to whether the extra cores and extra memory slots benefit you personally.
 
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