Have a 1,1- worth upgrading to 2008?

[Abbas]

I have the original 1,1 Mac Pro with two dual core 2.66GHz CPUs and 6GB of RAM. Sadly Mountain Lion does is not supported and I have found a used 2008 with two quad-core 3.0GHz and 12GB RAM for sale for about $1600.

My current Mac Pro 1,1 has a 240GB SSD and a 2TB WD Black along with the NVIDIA GTX580 that I can move to this new Mac if I buy. Question is, it it worth the upgrade?

Will the two quad-core 3.0GHz with 12GB RAM be faster than the 2009 Nehalem based models?

 

[paulrbeers]

I have the original 1,1 Mac Pro with two dual core 2.66GHz CPUs and 6GB of RAM. Sadly Mountain Lion does is not supported and I have found a used 2008 with two quad-core 3.0GHz and 12GB RAM for sale for about $1600.

My current Mac Pro 1,1 has a 240GB SSD and a 2TB WD Black along with the NVIDIA GTX580 that I can move to this new Mac if I buy. Question is, it it worth the upgrade?

Will the two quad-core 3.0GHz with 12GB RAM be faster than the 2009 Nehalem based models?

Yes it would be faster than some 2009 models (just the quad cores) but not by much.

http://browser.primatelabs.com/mac-benchmarks

Question is whether it is worth $1600. You can buy a refurbed 2010 w/ quad core from Apple for about 1800 and that can be upgraded to a hex core when you need it plus the memory is a lot cheaper.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC560LL/A

Frankly I wouldn't pay more than about 1200 for that computer, but that's just me (1000 for the base 2008 Mac Pro and maybe 200 more for the 12GB of RAM).

 

[mrgossett]

I'm doing much the same thing right now. I have a 1,1 that I upgraded to basically a 2,1 with a processor and firmware upgrade. It has an SSD boot drive and new upgraded data and Time Machine drives. It's been a great machine, but I can never easily upgrade the OS past 10.7, and that sticks in my craw every time I use it. I have a 2011 Macbook Air with 10.8 (which I like), and I like to keep both my machines on the same OS. So I found and have just yesterday bought a used/refurb 2010 Mac Pro 2.4 8-core on Megamacs at a special price. I'm going to stick my present SSD, data drives, and video card in it, and it'll be good to go for hopefully a pretty long time with OS upgrades. I don't want to wait for the 2013 Mac Pro, and I'm not sure that I would even want one if it doesn't have the easy upgradability and Superdrive support that the current Pros have. I can sell my old one on eBay, and probably not have a huge out-of-pocket difference.

 

[Abbas]

I live in the Middle East so can't really take advantage of any Apple special offers and such. On top of that, we generally have higher prices on all Mac equipment compared to the US.

Another option I was thinking of was waiting for the new Ivy Bridge based iMac

 

[thekev]

Yes it would be faster than some 2009 models (just the quad cores) but not by much.

I don't agree. The 2.8 2008 model is maybe marginally faster if you're stressing all 8 cores. The gpu options from that era were rather poor and are not supported or barely supported in a lot of software. Ram is ridiculously expensive. It was slightly less of an issue at that time as we didn't have the rush of 64 bit applications until SL. I don't see trading in one old computer for another if he's looking to run the latest OS, especially if it would cost him that much. The mac pros are great, yet this is still an older computer, and it may eventually need repairs which aren't likely to be available for many years (4 years old now, I give it 2 more).

I live in the Middle East so can't really take advantage of any Apple special offers and such. On top of that, we generally have higher prices on all Mac equipment compared to the US.

Another option I was thinking of was waiting for the new Ivy Bridge based iMac

I've heard about that with the Middle East 🙁. As much as I'm not an imac fan, I'd say a 2012 imac is a better idea than a 2008 era mac pro if you're determined to run the latest OS. Beyond that $1600 is a lot for a computer with an unknown history and no warranty. If you owned a 2008 already I'd say keep using it as you already have it. I just don't suggest buying a potentially 4 year old computer from someone else, especially when it's not likely to solve your problem for more than a year or two longer.

You still haven't mentioned what you do.

 

[Abbas]

Thanks for your response. On the "work" side, I use the Mac Pro with some Photoshop and some video encoding for the web. On the personal side, I use it for Diablo 3 and Civilization 5. My wife uses the same computer for iPhoto (she has almost 10,000 photos now). Other than that, it is used as an everyday computer for web, emails, docs etc.

I don't agree. The 2.8 2008 model is maybe marginally faster if you're stressing all 8 cores. The gpu options from that era were rather poor and are not supported or barely supported in a lot of software. Ram is ridiculously expensive. It was slightly less of an issue at that time as we didn't have the rush of 64 bit applications until SL. I don't see trading in one old computer for another if he's looking to run the latest OS, especially if it would cost him that much. The mac pros are great, yet this is still an older computer, and it may eventually need repairs which aren't likely to be available for many years (4 years old now, I give it 2 more).



I've heard about that with the Middle East 🙁. As much as I'm not an imac fan, I'd say a 2012 imac is a better idea than a 2008 era mac pro if you're determined to run the latest OS. Beyond that $1600 is a lot for a computer with an unknown history and no warranty. If you owned a 2008 already I'd say keep using it as you already have it. I just don't suggest buying a potentially 4 year old computer from someone else, especially when it's not likely to solve your problem for more than a year or two longer.

You still haven't mentioned what you do.

 

[ashman70]

A 2008 Mac Pro 3,1 can run the latest GPU options from Apple, so a 5770 or 5870, so not sure what your comments about GPU is all about, unless your specifically referring to the original GPU's which if you are, makes no sense since the OP has upgraded parts in his 1,1.

I would look for a 2009 Mac Pro 4,1 if you can find one. The upgrade options in terms of CPU are vast and the memory is DDR3 which is much cheaper then the old DDR2. While the 3,1 is a nice machine, it has no CPU upgrades possible and has expensive RAM.

 

[thekev]

Thanks for your response. On the "work" side, I use the Mac Pro with some Photoshop and some video encoding for the web. On the personal side, I use it for Diablo 3 and Civilization 5. My wife uses the same computer for iPhoto (she has almost 10,000 photos now). Other than that, it is used as an everyday computer for web, emails, docs etc.

The only thing there that benefits "significantly" past 4 cores is video encoding. That is the one area where an 8 core might be faster. In terms of overall speed, you'd be significantly better off with a 2009 quad than a 2008 8 core considering what you use. As I mentioned I don't really like imacs, but I think the current mac pro at current pricing levels is kind of expensive, and the one you were considering isn't at all worth it. Whenever someone I know asks me what to buy these days I'm never really sure what to suggest, as they all have something significant that I dislike. Stuff like photoshop is really quite easy on modern hardware. It relies on ram more than cpu power. Things like liquify, puppet warp, etc. are being rewritten to take advantage of OpenCL which isn't so much cpu dependent either. Things I really like about the mac pros is that they're likely the most reliable overall when comparing new machine to new machine. They have much better options for addon hardware via PCI additions and internal drive bays. They're extremely quiet. I don't necessarily think that they're the only way to go in a new machine today. If you note the machine in ashman's signature, if you had that today, I'd say stick with what you have. I just wouldn't buy that from someone else at this point.

A 2008 Mac Pro 3,1 can run the latest GPU options from Apple, so a 5770 or 5870, so not sure what your comments about GPU is all about, unless your specifically referring to the original GPU's which if you are, makes no sense since the OP has upgraded parts in his 1,1.

I would look for a 2009 Mac Pro 4,1 if you can find one. The upgrade options in terms of CPU are vast and the memory is DDR3 which is much cheaper then the old DDR2. While the 3,1 is a nice machine, it has no CPU upgrades possible and has expensive RAM.

It still costs more after you buy a used computer. How much do you really want to sink into a 4 year old machine that could be phased out in a year or two? The 5870 had issues under certain OS revisions too. I remember it wasn't stable under Lion in that machine on the early builds. Either way it's $400 or so from Apple on an older second hand machine, and when it comes to determining what does or doesn't make it into the next OS revision, they calculate on hardware of that era. I remember those cards wouldn't support OpenCL. It came up on this board with one of the FCPX updates. Anyway the 4,1 isn't a bad idea, as you can make it appear to be a 5,1 meaning that it should be possible to use it on the current OS much longer. The cheaper memory is also a big advantage as you mentioned.

 

[Abbas]

I would love to get a 4,1 or a 5,1 but they are insanely expensive and very limited as far as second-hand market is concerned here in Dubai where I am. This 3,1 was posted by someone today and offers like these are far and few which is why I was tempted.

But if you guys don't think that it would offer a significant upgrade from my current 2 x dual core 2.66- especially since I will be equipping it with the same SSD and GTX580 graphics card, then I might just hold out until newer iMacs are released or someone wants to sell a 4,1 or later used Mac Pro in Dubai.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. Much appreciated.

The only thing there that benefits "significantly" past 4 cores is video encoding. That is the one area where an 8 core might be faster. In terms of overall speed, you'd be significantly better off with a 2009 quad than a 2008 8 core considering what you use. As I mentioned I don't really like imacs, but I think the current mac pro at current pricing levels is kind of expensive, and the one you were considering isn't at all worth it. Whenever someone I know asks me what to buy these days I'm never really sure what to suggest, as they all have something significant that I dislike. Stuff like photoshop is really quite easy on modern hardware. It relies on ram more than cpu power. Things like liquify, puppet warp, etc. are being rewritten to take advantage of OpenCL which isn't so much cpu dependent either. Things I really like about the mac pros is that they're likely the most reliable overall when comparing new machine to new machine. They have much better options for addon hardware via PCI additions and internal drive bays. They're extremely quiet. I don't necessarily think that they're the only way to go in a new machine today. If you note the machine in ashman's signature, if you had that today, I'd say stick with what you have. I just wouldn't buy that from someone else at this point.



It still costs more after you buy a used computer. How much do you really want to sink into a 4 year old machine that could be phased out in a year or two? The 5870 had issues under certain OS revisions too. I remember it wasn't stable under Lion in that machine on the early builds. Either way it's $400 or so from Apple on an older second hand machine, and when it comes to determining what does or doesn't make it into the next OS revision, they calculate on hardware of that era. I remember those cards wouldn't support OpenCL. It came up on this board with one of the FCPX updates. Anyway the 4,1 isn't a bad idea, as you can make it appear to be a 5,1 meaning that it should be possible to use it on the current OS much longer. The cheaper memory is also a big advantage as you mentioned.

 

[thekev]

I would love to get a 4,1 or a 5,1 but they are insanely expensive and very limited as far as second-hand market is concerned here in Dubai where I am. This 3,1 was posted by someone today and offers like these are far and few which is why I was tempted.

But if you guys don't think that it would offer a significant upgrade from my current 2 x dual core 2.66- especially since I will be equipping it with the same SSD and GTX580 graphics card, then I might just hold out until newer iMacs are released or someone wants to sell a 4,1 or later used Mac Pro in Dubai.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. Much appreciated.

It's definitely an upgrade, but I thought the issue was running the latest OS? I don't place a lot of confidence in Apple supporting older mac pros at a software level for longer than the expiration of Applecare including the 2008. In my opinion used macs often sell for way too much.

 

[GermanyChris]

Being that I converted My 1,1 to a 3,1 then proceeded to sell it and build a hackintosh I'd say no...but then I'm always playing with stuff..

If I wouldn't/couldn't afford a new MP the 3,1 is the one I'd land on 64bit EFI, PCI v2, and DDR2 800 seals the deal.

 

[Abbas]

How is the Hackintosh treating you? Does everything work? Like Time Machine backups, OpenCL, Games etc. etc. ? I could possibly put together a pretty loaded machine.

Being that I converted My 1,1 to a 3,1 then proceeded to sell it and build a hackintosh I'd say no...but then I'm always playing with stuff..

If I wouldn't/couldn't afford a new MP the 3,1 is the one I'd land on 64bit EFI, PCI v2, and DDR2 800 seals the deal.

 

[GermanyChris]

How is the Hackintosh treating you? Does everything work? Like Time Machine backups, OpenCL, Games etc. etc. ? I could possibly put together a pretty loaded machine.

Actually a work colleague needed a computer seriously bad so I sold it to him as a Windows box...

The hack was better with the Z77 board over the the P67 but yes everything worked well. I even got the email survey asking me how I liked my new Mac. It's not for the feint of heart though, getting it built and booting is easy, it's wake from sleep (with functional usb), USB 3, and some other niggles that include that it's not a Mac.

But I'm a glutton for punishment so I'm building a HTPC hackintosh with this Silverstone case. A 530 Celeron, GT 430, my old p67 board, and a supersexy 630 pure power 80+ bronze dead silent Power Supply.