Decision Please Help!!!!

3.33GHz 6c; there is no reason to get the 2.4GHz 8c except for the RAM slots, and it'll be slow than the former. The 2.8GHz 4c is still fast, but it's bad value.

And there is no 2008 8c Nehalem; those are Harpertown CPUs

The Mac Pro was just released last month, and Sandy Bridge isn't expected for whole another year.

 

My suggestion would be:

Intel Xeon 6-Core 3.33GHz Westmere (nothing else added): £2959.00
2x4GB RAM sticks from Crucial (http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=AEED9527A5CA7304): £279.64
Total: £3238.64
Savings: £20.36
Reason: The reason in this case is not saving the 20 pounds, but getting two 4GB RAM sticks from Crucial instead of four 2GB RAM sticks from Apple. This means that you will have two RAM slots free and can add another one or two 4GB sticks in the future to upgrade to 12GB or a total of 16GB RAM.

I wouldn't recommend going with the 8 core, since
A) It's slower than the 6 core for most uses (due to the slower clock speed, 2.4GHz vs. 3.33GHz)
B) It has two processors = two fans = more noise

 

Lots of folks in the same boat with this confusing lineup from Apple... Some benchmarks started popping around (e.g. these), which seem to indicate that the 2010 3.33 6-core is comparable performance-wise to the 2009 2.93 8-core. I've just saw a refurbished 2009 8-core at the Apple Store (France) which sells, with warranty, for the same price as a brand-new 6-core.

Very confusing times for people in the market for a Mac Pro.

 

I use similar software but mostly photoshop. I have a 2.93GHz quad core 2009 and i will be upgrading RAM and will buy a SSD.

You will notice the speed increase from the 6 and 8 core when using Final Cut Pro, but benchmarks have proved Photoshop and Logic run slower with more than 4 cores. Maybe CS6 will take advantage of 6 or 8 cores....

 

A Mac Pro from 2008 can indeed be faster than a Mac Pro from 2010. It all depends on the configuration and clock speed (for example a high clock speed 2010 6 core vs. low clock speed 2010 8 core = 2010 6 core wins most of the time due to higher clock speed, whereas high clock speed 2008 8 core vs. low clock speed 2010 8 core = 2008 8 core wins due to higher clock speed. The 8 core from 2008 was clocked at 2.8 or 2.9 GHz I think, whereas the only 8 core option available this year is the 2.4 GHz one :/

 

budget pro

I am in the same boat as you, (same apps) I went with the base 2.8 quad and will be upgrading the processor to the new 3.47 or used 3.33 hex chip once apple care is about to run out. after selling the old cpu the price for a sweet hex core is alittle more wallet friendly.

I'd love to get a hex now, but it simply aint in the cards.

 

I don't quite see how the OP is torn. The choices are so far apart from each other.

If on a budget one would say iMac - maxed out with processor it is about $200 les than the base pro but faster than it. THat creates an issue if the person 'needs' the pro to be faster than the iMac - if not and what they need are the bays - their own monitor, more RAM, etc. then they would be satisfied with the base MP.

The second option is the hex which is significantly more expensive than the base.

The third is really just out there when comparing to the base.

So either go with the 3.2 quad to gain an equal bang for buk upgrade and be faster than top of line iMac or splurge and go Hex paying the Hex premium.

I think the entry Mac pro folks would really be thinking of the 2.8 with an upgraded gfx card or the 3.2 with standard gfx card - to that I say proc as the gfx card is easier to upgrade in the future.

 

It's going to be a while (if ever) before FCP, CS5, etc really take advantage of ~6 cores.

Get what you can afford NOW and then use the money saved to upgrade later IF/WHEN the programs you use actually use ~6 cores efficiently. JMO ~~~

Also, I'm of the opinion that the 3.2 Quad is the best "buy" in the MP lineup. Again........ JMO!

cheers
JohnG

 

Not sure what you mean by that question. ???

Applecare will cover HW failures but Apple does have the right to exclude repairs if the HW was "abused" by the customer. Dropping a MP down a flight of stairs would probably fall into that category.

The "upgrade" I was referring too was a sell then buy approach. i.e. sell the 2010 and buy the next gen MP in 2-3 years.

JohnG

 

with the 2010 mac pro's the base model has the same mother board as the hex core, so most of the new westmere xeon's will work, if you're in doubt make sure to get a chip that is in 2010 mac pro to avoid problems.

replacing cpu is not considered a user upgradeable part, so it will void the warranty. I will wait awhile for the cpu prices to drop when new one's come out and also to make sure my mac doesn't have any problems. if you're worried about swapping cpu's don't be it takes less then 5 minutes.