Just wondering what you guys think. I'm about to purchase a Mac Pro and I'm torn between a Mac Pro 2008 3.0GHz 8-core or Mac Pro 2010 4-core 2.8GHz. I do lots of 3D animation and graphic design and I'm wondering if the technology is about even from the 2008 model 8-core and the newest Mac Pro 4-core 2.8. I know the graphics card is much better then the 2008 one so just wondering what you guys recommend. Thanks.
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Mac Pro 2008 3.0GHz 8-core or Mac Pro 2010 4-core 2.8GHz??
- Thread starter airwolfheli
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Id go with the 4-core 2010 mac pro. Nehalem architecture is much faster and more efficient. Graphic design requires a faster gpu anyways.
Yeah, that does make more sense. Plus it's under Apple's warranty. Thanks for the advice.
According to Geekbench the 2008 Mac Pro is going to be about 13% faster. You can upgrade the Graphics card in the 2008 model very easily, thus I would recommend that, plus you get 8 RAM slots vs. the 4 that you would get on the 2010 model.
But then I don't get a warranty and I'm at the mercy of the owner whether something is wrong with it or not. At only 13% faster, that's not worth the risk, to me, of getting a dud machine from an ebayer.
You'll obviously be making the decision on which one to get. Personally I'd rather have an 8 core machine with more RAM slots for expandability than a 4 core one with less speed and RAM slots. And Mac Pros are extremely reliable, I have one and have never had any trouble with it
(As opposed to the MacBook Pro which I've had nothing but trouble with)You'll obviously be making the decision on which one to get. Personally I'd rather have an 8 core machine with more RAM slots for expandability than a 4 core one with less speed and RAM slots. And Mac Pros are extremely reliable, I have one and have never had any trouble with it
So would most people agree that I'd be better off buying a 2008 8-core Mac Pro on Ebay and be ok? My whole business depends on this computer since I have pretty demanding clients.
Yes, I would if your choice and business depend on your computer. Get that 2008 8-core Mac Pro and keep your clients happy.
If you were utilizing 100% of the CPU cores for prolonged periods the older model offers 10% or so more power, but you probably aren't going to be - most users wouldn't. It doesn't have anything else going for it other than perhaps price. The 2010 model doesn't off much more: higher total memory capacity (4 memory slots, but bigger DIMMs are available), much more memory bandwidth and an upgrade path - can put a 3.2GHz+ 6-core processor in.
If you were asking should you upgrade from the older one to the new I certainly wouldn't recommend the 2010 model, but do you really want to be running your demanding business on a computer that came out 3 years ago and has no warranty? What happens if it dies in 3 months? Can you afford to write it off?
If you were asking should you upgrade from the older one to the new I certainly wouldn't recommend the 2010 model, but do you really want to be running your demanding business on a computer that came out 3 years ago and has no warranty? What happens if it dies in 3 months? Can you afford to write it off?
that's a very good point. Warranty is extremely important to me along with the fact the RAM is better.
no upgrading the cpu is diy here is the thread (my upgrade)
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1122551/
you don't need to do this now as to the gray area about warranty.
Step 1
buy the machine below with a full 1 yr warranty
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC560LL/A?mco=MTkyMTM1OTY
step 2
buy ram
https://www.superbiiz.com/detail.ph...-8GB-512x4-ECC-REG-Samsung-Chip-Server-Memory
142 a stick for 8gb buy 3 or 4 sticks
https://www.superbiiz.com/detail.ph...t-DDR3-1333-4GB-256x8-ECC-Hynix-Server-Memory
52 a stick for 4gb buy 3 or 4 sticks
step 3 buy an ssd
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Intel-SSDSA...e_Internal&hash=item588da5ee19#ht_2405wt_1250
step 4
buy a cpu and get a diy guy to put it in
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Intel-Xeon-...EN_Servers&hash=item230e914a2e#ht_3265wt_1250
note step 3 and 4 may not be needed
1 and 2 you need to do