Is it really dumb to purchase a mac pro now?

[nanofrog]

Here's an example:

smalldog.com has it for $2499.99USD New.
Apple refurb base model for $2399.00USD (scroll down)

Both offer free shipping.

 

[Matsta]

• QPI will replace FSB, and gives increased bandwidth.

• DDR3 ECC (up to triple channel)

• If Apple pairs two chipsets, you get all PCIe slots at PCIe 2.0 x16. Not just electrically.

• Return of hyperthreading

Quite a bit of information is now available.
Here's a couple of quick links..
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=1025
http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3326&p=9

A search or two should reveal much more.

I guess, also that the New Mac Pro's will be using Socket LGA 1366, which is different to LGA 771, so in about a year or so, everyone will be starting to move over. So if you wait till January, you will have a more futureproof system, and therefore will retain its value better if want to sell it in the future.

 

[nanofrog]

I guess, also that the New Mac Pro's will be using Socket LGA 1366, which is different to LGA 771, so in about a year or so, everyone will be starting to move over. So if you wait till January, you will have a more futureproof system, and therefore will retain its value better if want to sell it in the future.

Yes, the Nehalem architecture uses the LGA1366.

As for "future proofing", that's arguable as the technology always changes, and a computer depreciates in value.
Much like cars. Only faster.

 

[onestream]

To buy or not to buy? A classic Bates 4000 decision!

 

[Quash]

Of you can wait by all means wait until the next model. I was facing the same decision last year and by waiting 3 more months i got more then double the cpu power for the same money.

It will be updated in January and you will get 2x 4core nehalum cpu's which will be considerately faster. And more important will have a faster memory interface.

So if you can wait, wait! Not that the current mac pro is too slow, it's insanely powerful.

But a new generation will be faster and thus last longer and thus will be a better investment.

 

[wheezy]

I just bought a refurb of the current standard config (2.8 Quad x 2) for $2600 total, including tax and overnight shipping. (It'll be here tomorrow!) I do photography and am excited about the 4 HD bays and loads of RAM I can put in there. I probably could have waited until January, but when the money is in my pocket it burns real hot.

I'm stoked. I expect it to be pretty future proof as well, hoping for a solid 4-5 years of use.

 

[Josh-H]

Would love to purchase from the refurb store... but Australia doesnt have one.....

 

[nanofrog]

Would love to purchase from the refurb store... but Australia doesnt have one.....

Hmm...You had to go and make things difficult...

I checked smalldog.com, and though they will accept international orders, they are under an agreement not to ship internationally.

Unfortunately, I've no idea what else to suggest, unless you know someone in the US you trust enough to receive the computer, then reship to you.

 

[sushi]

To buy or not to buy? A classic Bates 4000 decision!

Funny. Thanks for sharing.

I'm stoked. I expect it to be pretty future proof as well, hoping for a solid 4-5 years of use.

You realize that the day a computer is released it is already obsolete in pure technical terms. Accept it.

As for Mac computer longevity and use, I still use a PowerBook 15 that is almost 6 years old and a PowerMac G4 that is 7 years old. They both still do what I need them to do.

 

[HooHar]

I just bought a refurb of the current standard config (2.8 Quad x 2) for $2600 total, including tax and overnight shipping. (It'll be here tomorrow!) I do photography and am excited about the 4 HD bays and loads of RAM I can put in there. I probably could have waited until January, but when the money is in my pocket it burns real hot.

I'm stoked. I expect it to be pretty future proof as well, hoping for a solid 4-5 years of use.

How are you going to spec it up Wheezy ?
How much RAM?
What size drives?
Scratch drive?

 

[sash]

I guess the real question is - will the mac pro drop in price prior to an update to sweeten the deal?

I believe, Apple has never dropped its price for Mac Pro before the major upgrade. They're squeezing out of the current model everything it gets (it's already relatively low-priced on the introduction point, so this strategy is absolutely reasonable). The new machine will have pretty much same price on day 1.

sash

 

[Josh-H]

Ok I caved...

I cant stand it any longer - I am ordering the mac pro tomorrow morning first thing. Then as soon as it arrives I am drop kicking the POS dell desktop I have been living with down the st.

2.8 Ghz Quad Core w/ 8 Gig Ram w/ Nvidia 500mb Video Card, Wi Fi card, 3 x 500 Gig Hard Drives w/ apple raid card to run in RAID 5.

Obviously - since I dont have stupid tatooed on my forehead - I will be buying the RAM and HD's aftermarket. ;-)

 

[liquid stereo]

Improved memory performance

I am waiting. I have one job I need to process that I really need the extra RAM of the current Mac Pros. My current machine is a 2x2 GHz G5 with 6GB.

I do a fair amount of parallel computing (hand-written code utilizing MPI) and the memory performance of the current Intel machines leaves a lot to be desired.

Anyone know where I can find some technical details about the upcoming chips, memory layout/controllers and motherboards?

Cheers!

I cant stand it any longer - I am ordering the mac pro tomorrow morning first thing...

 

[nanofrog]

I cant stand it any longer - I am ordering the mac pro tomorrow morning first thing. Then as soon as it arrives I am drop kicking the POS dell desktop I have been living with down the st.

2.8 Ghz Quad Core w/ 8 Gig Ram w/ Nvidia 500mb Video Card, Wi Fi card, 3 x 500 Gig Hard Drives w/ apple raid card to run in RAID 5.

Obviously - since I dont have stupid tatooed on my forehead - I will be buying the RAM and HD's aftermarket. ;-)

If you haven't ordered it yet, ditch the Apple RAID Pro card.

You can do better, and for less money.