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Mac Pro 6,1 or Mac Pro 5,1 - Which one?

T

terpsy

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 17, 2016
5
0
Ok, I have the choice between the 2 machines :

Mac Pro 6,1
6 Core 3.5GHZ
32GB Ram
500GB SSD
D500 with 3GB Ram

Mac Pro 5,1
6 Core 3.46GHZ
16 GB Ram
512GB SSD and (2) 1TB Western Digital Drives
USB3 Card

I also have a Nvidia GTX 1050ti to use in the Mac Pro 5,1

I am mainly a windows guy, so I think bootcamp would be better on the 5,1
It has more storage and options I can upgrade easier on that part

Would I see a big difference in Graphics from the AMD D500 to the GTX 1050ti?

I do game, Mainly blizzard titles that are local versions for the Mac.

thank you for your help in this decision.
 
If you're mainly a Windows guy, why bother with Macs if I may ask? I mean, at this point both those options are pretty outdated, and if you'll just be using Windows anyway, why not just get a PC?
 
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I am getting the machine for free, and instead of setting up Bootcamp, I was going to see if OS X could scratch my itch and deliver
 
terpsy said:
I am getting the machine for free, and instead of setting up Bootcamp, I was going to see if OS X could scratch my itch and deliver
Click to expand...


Right. Well, if it were me I'd take the 6.1 because of the better CPU and more modern design. It may be outdated as well, but not as much as the 5.1 and is still being sold so can still get support. It's also got Thunderbolt 2 for much improved expandability.

The 5.1 does have the advantage in upgradability internally. You will be limited in PCIe speeds though (of course you also will with Thunderbolt). Your Geforce card won't run Apple software as well as the AMD chips in the 6.1 but with games it will likely run better. In Bootcamp games can use both AMD chips though so that may help the AMD chips. Crossfire is going away slowly though so who knows in the future. And generally macOS games don't use multiple GPUs. Only pro software does. This is because unlike with crossfire in Windows, the driver doesn't lift the load, and the developer needs to write the code for multi-GPU support explicitly.
I think the DX12 version of Civ 6 actually does do explicit multi-GPU, however, obviously that's again a Windows concern.

Blizzard games generally don't require that intense GPU power though. And the AMD chips are very sufficient for gaming both on macOS and Windows, if you're not expecting 4k, which you wouldn't be with the 1050 anyway.

PS. How are you getting a Mac Pro for free? I want one too....
 
I got it as it was being retired

And, I have the option to swap for a 5,1 instead
 
Yeah in this case I'd hang onto the 6,1, and maybe sell it if you're allowed to. Different story if you're spending your own money though.
 
If you game, and want the option of vr, I'd take the 5,1 and get a slightly beefier graphics card. But blizzard titles would run pretty well on the 1050. Nice to have a choice of cast offs though; congrats whatever you choose.
 
I'd lean toward the 6,1, especially if you're looking to try MacOS as a daily driver. The old 5,1 Mac Pro's are still great machines, but I don't believe they support some of the newer features in MacOS, like Night Shift, Continuity, or Airplay. You can also still upgrade the CPU in the 6,1 to something even more powerful. That 5,1 looks like it's maxed out in the CPU department unless you spend a decent sum on a dual CPU tray. You do get more to play around with on the 5,1, and the option to drop pretty much any modern GPU in is a big plus. What year is the 5,1? Is it a W3690 CPU?

The D500 is a Tahiti LE GPU, so it's a little old. I believe it will perform somewhere around a 7950/R9 280, so I don't think you will really notice a difference between it and the 1050ti. With the D500 being semi-custom and based on something much older than the 1050ti, direct comparisons could be a bit challenging. The 6,1 has dual D500s, and I believe they can run in crossfire in Windows, which would make a big difference on supporting titles.

https://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/2556/firepro-d500

Also, that 32GB of RAM is a huge plus. RAM is quite expensive right now!
 
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terpsy said:
The Mac Pro 5,1 is a Mid 2012 model
Click to expand...

I think it comes down to your budget.
Since Amfeltec introduced a new option to put up to 6TB SSD in an 6,1 and sonnet’s new breakaway box for an external GPU - the 6,1 becomes very attractive if you are willing to spend that 2K pimp up down the line.
Withe the 5.1 however you have equally great options but on an older Platform. OSX Support will dwindle sooner, but the starting configuration you could have would be pretty good I guess. I use my 5.1 with windows 7 for that occasional Steam game, and I could not be happier. I heavily tuned up my rig the last two years and I had a blast upgrading it. With a strong NVIDIA gfx you can do VR. Since they sold many 5.1 machines, (the most of any pro machines) - there are great 3rd Party upgrades such as Angelbird and many others. And you can Not have an internal BlueRay Player on that 6.1 with up to 7 Spinners...

A tough choice
 
No doubt the 6,1. Get it, sell, it and buy three 5,1 Mac pros with the money :) Or buy one 5,1 and bank the > thousand difference.
 
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I myself prefer the 5,1 for the ease of expandability. Thru this forum I have been able to update my 5,1 MacPro referencing this thread (802.11ac, BT 4.0 and Continuity & Handoff are working on MacPRO 2010)

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...orking-on-mac-pro-2010-keep-updating.1748061/

With this upgrade I now enjoy airdrop, continuity, handoff, bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0 (with a pcie card) as well as 802.11 ac, but I also have the ability to expand easier with this case. I know I won't have Thunderport and built-in USB C but for what my 5,1 MacPro is I'm okay with. Bottom line is you got to go with what works best for you.
 
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A few days ago I bought a Mac Pro 6.1 (2017 model) having used a Mac Mini for the past 10 years or so. The main reason I stuck with the Mac Mini is that it's unbelievably quiet. I asked around various places and the general consensus was that a Mac Pro, whilst not as silent as the Mini, was definitely a quiet machine. The problem is - it's not.!

When I first power up, it's absolutely silent for the first 10-15 mins - at which point I hear some low-level fan noise. Over the next 20 mins it just gets louder and louder and eventually it sounds like there's an electric kettle boiling on my desk (except that it stays like that for the rest of the day!!) Can anyone confirm if that's normal behaviour?

It's still under warranty so I'm thinking about returning it to the vendor and asking for a replacement - or would I be better asking for a 5.1 maybe? (i.e. are the earlier models any quieter?)
 
johne53 said:
A few days ago I bought a Mac Pro 6.1 (2017 model) having used a Mac Mini for the past 10 years or so. The main reason I stuck with the Mac Mini is that it's unbelievably quiet. I asked around various places and the general consensus was that a Mac Pro, whilst not as silent as the Mini, was definitely a quiet machine. The problem is - it's not.!

When I first power up, it's absolutely silent for the first 10-15 mins - at which point I hear some low-level fan noise. Over the next 20 mins it just gets louder and louder and eventually it sounds like there's an electric kettle boiling on my desk (except that it stays like that for the rest of the day!!) Can anyone confirm if that's normal behaviour?

It's still under warranty so I'm thinking about returning it to the vendor and asking for a replacement - or would I be better asking for a 5.1 maybe? (i.e. are the earlier models any quieter?)
Click to expand...

All Mac Pro 6,1 are 2013 model, no 2017 model.

Did you check the CPU / GPU temperatures? (e.g via iStat or MacsFanControl).

Anyway, I don't think the 5,1 can be quieter than the 6,1.
 
Aaaargh!!! I feel SOOO embarrassed but I'll leave this here in case anyone else encounters the same problem...

I just took a look at the Mac Pro on my desk and realised it was... upside down !!!! :oops:
 
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johne53 said:
Strangely enough it works perfectly when it's the right way up !! :)
Click to expand...
Don't feel too bad. When mine is not in use I cover it with a cloth (to keep the dust out). One time I started to use it and noticed the fan started spinning faster and faster. I looked over at it and noticed I forgot to remove the cloth.
 
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