Help me get over my issues in regards to buying a MacPro

[peskaa]

Bah, ignore this lot

Get the Mac Pro with the stock GT120. You won't be gaming under OS X, and under Windows you can run any card you want basically. Simply go and buy an off-the-shelf PC card of whatever kind you like and use that under Windows.

Case in point, my Mac Pro has a 2600XT and a GT120 for OS X use, and when I boot into Windows I use a GTX 275 to drive the 30" display for games. Works great, and cost a fraction of the EVGA 285 for Mac.

 

[Tesselator]

First off, i am not a troll!

Anyways, what is making my move to the MP difficult right now are the following:

1. Hardware pricing, especialy adding HDD and memory is not even remotely competative..yes, i know i can go 3rd party, but its almost insulting.
2. 4 core mobo is gimped -Why no option, for a fee, to have MP 8 core mb without 2nd CPU…that way I have an upgradeability path for adding cpu or more than 4 slots of memory
3. GTX 285 not part of BTO, so I have to pay for the throwaway gt120 vcard and my gtx is considered an accessory, so not supported by apple or included in apple warranty
4. No announced refresh schedule is frustrating given the 10-16 month duration for any changes to the MP bto options…most companies refresh once a quarter, or have a fairly consistent schedule, apple has neither, thus increasing the fear/frustration level that the once in a year refresh might occur 2 weeks after I pay 4k for my computer
5. Seeing the lack of support for some MP video card options that are less than a year old for Snow Leopard further compounds my fears.

1. Solutions:
   Buy a 2008 system,
   Build a Hackintosh,
   
   Reasons:
   Apple is stupid.
   
   
2. Solutions:
   Buy a 2008 system,
   Build a Hackintosh,
   
   Reasons:
   Apple is stupid.
   
   
3. Solutions:
   Build a Hackintosh,
   
   Reasons:
   Apple is cheap, small, & stupid.
   
   
4. Solutions:
   Build a Hackintosh,
   Go for Windoze or Linux
   
   Reasons:
   Apple is lazy & stupid.
   
   
5. Which cards are those?

And perhaps the best answer so far is this: https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/8420455/

That said you've managed to hit on all the pertinent bad points. There are of course some good points. Well to the 2008 systems anyway. In 2009 most of those were blown away. The main reasons to go for a Mac Pro IMO are the OS and the case design. That's about it. In 2008 and prior we could also include Good Price and Fair Warrantee in that list. The prices in 2009 kill both of those leaving us with only the two former. So it's on you. Either go for a 2008 system with slightly reduced specs or build a hackintosh. Or, drink more cool-aid and tell yourself that a supported OS X installation and an Apple case is worth $2000 extra.

 

[Dae]

Bah, ignore this lot

Get the Mac Pro with the stock GT120. You won't be gaming under OS X, and under Windows you can run any card you want basically. Simply go and buy an off-the-shelf PC card of whatever kind you like and use that under Windows.

Case in point, my Mac Pro has a 2600XT and a GT120 for OS X use, and when I boot into Windows I use a GTX 275 to drive the 30" display for games. Works great, and cost a fraction of the EVGA 285 for Mac.

Do you have to reconnect your display though?

 

[nanofrog]

Bah, ignore this lot

Get the Mac Pro with the stock GT120. You won't be gaming under OS X, and under Windows you can run any card you want basically. Simply go and buy an off-the-shelf PC card of whatever kind you like and use that under Windows.

Case in point, my Mac Pro has a 2600XT and a GT120 for OS X use, and when I boot into Windows I use a GTX 275 to drive the 30" display for games. Works great, and cost a fraction of the EVGA 285 for Mac.

Or get a PC version and:
A. Flash it with EFI firmware.
B. Use injectors

Either way, you get a better card at a good price.

The original card can be used for another display, possibly Open CL, or just kept as a spare, assuming it's not sold off.

1. Solutions:
   Buy a 2008 system,
   Build a Hackintosh,
   
   Reasons:
   Apple is stupid.
   
   
2. Solutions:
   Buy a 2008 system,
   Build a Hackintosh,
   
   Reasons:
   Apple is stupid.
   
   
3. Solutions:
   Build a Hackintosh,
   
   Reasons:
   Apple is cheap, small, & stupid.
   
   
4. Solutions:
   Build a Hackintosh,
   Go for Windoze or Linux
   
   Reasons:
   Apple is lazy & stupid.
   
   
5. Which cards are those?

And perhaps the best answer so far is this: https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/8420455/

That said you've managed to hit on all the pertinent bad points. There are of course some good points. Well to the 2008 systems anyway. In 2009 most of those were blown away. The main reasons to go for a Mac Pro IMO are the OS and the case design. That's about it. In 2008 and prior we could also include Good Price and Fair Warrantee in that list. The prices in 2009 kill both of those leaving us with only the two former. So it's on you. Either go for a 2008 system with slightly reduced specs or build a hackintosh. Or, drink more cool-aid and tell yourself that a supported OS X installation and an Apple case is worth $2000 extra.

Yep.

Apple's been drinking way too much of Steve's Kool Aid again.

 

[peskaa]

Do you have to reconnect your display though?

Originally, yes. Now I use a DVI switch to just toggle between cards. However, for the significant savings possible swapping a cable isn't too much of a chore.

Or get a PC version and:
A. Flash it with EFI firmware.
B. Use injectors

Either way, you get a better card at a good price.

The original card can be used for another display, possibly Open CL, or just kept as a spare, assuming it's not sold off.

Also a choice, if you're happy flashing/hacking and you get a compatible PC cards, as not all can be flashed or injected.

 

[nanofrog]

Also a choice, if you're happy flashing/hacking and you get a compatible PC cards, as not all can be flashed or injected.

It does require research to find the right card & method, but it's definitely an option if one's willing.