Is a Mac Pro 1.1 worth it?

[kmonie360]

I recently started with a new company who use Mac pros (I'm a web designer). I've always used PC, but I like my set up at work and my pc just died.

I don't want to dump a bunch of money into a home set up but I just wanted to run it by some people who know macs before I decided to pull the trigger.


I run photoshop, illustrator, browser and a text editor at the same time.

Local guy selling for $500

Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro1,1
Processor Name: Dual-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed: 3 GHz
Number Of Processors: 2
Total Number Of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 1.33 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MP11.005C.B08
SMC Version (system): 1.7f10
Serial Number (system): G864503VWS4
Hardware UUID: 00000000-0000-1000-8000-0017F2022AB6
HD: 232.57GB

Also has a 2.66GHz with 3GB for the same price

What do you guys think.

 

[paulrbeers]

I bought the 2 x 2.66 ghz model locally for less than $400 about 4 months ago. It can't run Mt Lion (without a hack), but it's still a nice machine. Plus you can get it to an octocore 2.66ghz for about $100 (on ebay). The biggest drawback to the 2008 and older Mac Pros is the expensive memory. Check ebay for this as well (might as well go used just in case it dies).

 

[Neodym]

The amount of Ram in that machine (2 GB) is probably way to small for halfway decent work. Factor in the cost for a memory upgrade (FB-DIMM 667MHz) to at least 8GB (better 12-16 for your work) and then compare with other offers.

Your description of the offer also doesn't mention any graphic card - judging from the rest of the specs it might be the standard 7300GT, which is pretty mediocre to say the least, though that's again depending on your setup (e.g. which and how many monitors). The good thing is, that it's a passively cooled card and thus quiet. If the machine however runs an X1900 card, then prepare for higher noise leves (or replace with something more unobtrusive).

Finally the 250GB hard drive is not much when working with huge data files - other offers may include 1 or 2TB drives already.

Having a SSD in there would be a welcome bonus (i even read that some like to use a dedicated SSD as scratch disk for Photoshop with good results), though those are pretty affordable nowadays.

 

[GermanyChris]

I just bought a 1,1 upgraded with a pair of 2.66 4 cores, 8GB RAM, 4870, 240GB Vertex Plus and 3x1TB greens. For 672 euro..

Take that as another data point

 

[bearcatrp]

If the seller won't come down to at least 400, suggest you pass. Look for at least a 2008 mac pro.