Keep Mac Pro 2ghz w/ 8gb RAM or get iMac 2.8

[errol]

The mac pro (2.0ghz - base model of previous generation) is used primarily as a desktop publishing machine, connected to a 2407 24" Dell, with 8gb of RAM. There are 2 WD 250gb drives in a RAID 0, and a 500gb samsung spinpoint acting as a daily backup drive. Quark 7.31, Photoshop CS3, and Acrobat are the primary apps being run.

My question is this, would we see any benefit in getting a iMac 2.8 or am I just nuts? I would imagine that there might be some clock speed benefits of the 2.8, but with a 4gb max RAM limit (not to mention its laptop ram), I don't know if that's a good idea. FW800 might be an okay alternative but is obviously not as fast as internal SATA for backups, etc.

I heard benchmarks of the Mac Pro 2ghz are pretty bad, but I would hope that the RAM and the RAID would help.

 

[tersono]

I'd stick with the Mac Pro - the iMac is a great machine, but it's not going to be enough faster to be worth the effort of swapping, and the MP is far more expandable.

 

[errol]

Swapping isn't too bad with Migrate Assistant

 

[ricgnzlzcr]

Keep the mac pro. It sounds like you're just lusting after the iMac. In a few years you will be able to upgrade the mac pro beyond the iMac.

 

[goldenlotus]

Yeah def keep the Mac Pro. The iMac uses a laptop hardrive which is going to be a lot slower than the SATA drives you've got now.

 

[ziwi]

Yeah def keep the Mac Pro. The iMac uses a laptop hardrive which is going to be a lot slower than the SATA drives you've got now.

I believe you are incorrect. The iMac is mostly laptop components for MB and Processor, but the HD is not the 2.5" variety - especially when they can give you 1Tb.
http://www.apple.com/imac/specs.html#specs

 

[iSee]

Yeah def keep the Mac Pro. The iMac uses a laptop hardrive which is going to be a lot slower than the SATA drives you've got now.

iMacs don't use laptop hard drives, but I'd still keep the MP.

 

[goldenlotus]

I believe you are incorrect. The iMac is mostly laptop components for MB and Processor, but the HD is not the 2.5" variety - especially when they can give you 1Tb.
http://www.apple.com/imac/specs.html#specs

Okay my mistake.

 

[pbkiller]

Keep the Mac Pro. Just the fact that its more user upgradeable than the imac.... And a Dual core processor will never beat a Quad system...

Just my 2 cents...

 

[errol]

Keep the Mac Pro. Just the fact that its more user upgradeable than the imac.... And a Dual core processor will never beat a Quad system...

Just my 2 cents...

Will the highend iMac in the near future sport a quad core processor I wonder?

 

[je1ani]

Will the highend iMac in the near future sport a quad core processor I wonder?

people speculate Q4 08/Q1 09