Need Opinion

[verdejt]

Okay I've read alot of stuff but still would like some general opinions. Here is my scenario. I have a mid2010 27" iMac with a faulty video card which causes it to lock up and reboot frequently. It has an i7 quad core. So because if this I swiped my kids 2009 core2duo 21" iMac. To say this computer is slow is an understatement. I want to get a new computer that will last me a couple of years at least and currently money is tight (kid getting ready to go to college). I am looking at a 2010/2012 MacPro with either an 6 or 8 core processor, I have seen a number of these on eBay for pretty cheap (under 800 bucks). I primarily do lots of spreadsheets and desktop publishing and some GoPro video editing. Not really interested in 4k stuff as of yet. I like the idea of being able to upgrade hard drives/RAM easily. Plus I think I can add cards for thunderbolt and usb 3.0 and upgrade it Bluetooth 4.0 fairly easily. So my questions are these: 1. Will the purchase of the MacPro model described be faster than the core2due and i7 I currently have? Given the tasks I perform. 2. Will it last me at least 5 years or longer? What I don't want is another slow ass failing computer after a couple of years. I really hate the spinning beach ball and the lag when working on complex desktop publishing or video projects (even with enough RAM). My first Mac was a Mid2007 iMac that lasted until about a couple of years ago. Now it just sits on a desk collecting dust. The 27" I was thinking about setting it to target display mode and using it as a monitor for the MacPro. On a side note what video card would I need to get to support Mojave. Welcome all thoughts and opinions.

 

[tsialex]

If you want a single processor Mac Pro, go with a 4,1/2009 and flash yourself the 5,1 firmware, they're the same hardware wise and will cost you 400ish.

With the amount you will economize, invest on the suggested by Apple GPUs for Mac Pro: RX560/580. Even the most basic 2009 Mac Pro will turn rounds on a iMac 2009 with C2D.

You can upgrade processor/RAM/drives on the cheap with a Mac Pro, go for a X5680 and lots of RAM as you need more processor power/RAM.

 

[Naimfan]

Find the cheapest 2.4 GHz 8 core you can. Put 32 GB RAM and a SSD in it. Use and enjoy.

Upgrade to 12 core 3.33 GHz when needed (3.46 currently not worth price difference).

Upgrade GPU as needed.

 

[pl1984]

Given your application requirements I would recommend looking into a later model iMac.

 

[handheldgames]

Will it last 5 years or longer.
The hardware will easily last another 5 years considering your current uses.

Will Apple continue to provide software updates for 5 years?
Probably not, Maybe yes? Considering that Apple appears to be dumping intel cpu's and LTE hardware by 2020, it's hard to tell. At worst case you would be stuck on 10.14 without having to use a hack to install the OS.

 

[skizzo]

take note that you will not ever be able to add Thunderbolt connectivity to a cMP model. the protocol didn't exist when cMP's were manufactured and there is no way to retroactively get your motherboard to understand a Thunderbolt PCIe card

to your specific questions, yes the cMP is faster and will last 5+ years given you take care of it

 

[verdejt]

I'm ok with no Thunderbolt right now. I just picked one up on eBay. I got a 2010 eight core (2x2.4ghz) , 32Gb Ram, 256gb ssd with 1.0 tb hard drive, with nVidia GTX760 video card for $600.00 with free shipping.

 

[Razzerman]

Congrats on your machine. Sounds like a bargain

Cheers,

Razzerman

 

[verdejt]

The only downside is the video card hasn’t been flashed for Mac. It’s ok because I’m going to replace it with a metal capable once Mojave is released and hopefully a complete list of compatible video cards.

 

[pl1984]

I'm ok with no Thunderbolt right now. I just picked one up on eBay. I got a 2010 eight core (2x2.4ghz) , 32Gb Ram, 256gb ssd with 1.0 tb hard drive, with nVidia GTX760 video card for $600.00 with free shipping.

Congratulations, it sounds like a nice system for a very reasonable price. I am interested in shipping. I know shipping G5's has been problematic where the handles and "feet" end up damaged. Have Mac Pro owners experienced shipping damage?

 

[verdejt]

I’ll let you know when it arrives how it made it.

 

[kschendel]

I think you got a good deal assuming it arrives in good working order. Keep an eye out for a good price on a pair of X5680's or X5690's. The CPU upgrade on the 2010's is quite simple. That will buy you another good performance increment, maybe 50% faster on average.

 

[Naimfan]

I think you got a good deal assuming it arrives in good working order. Keep an eye out for a good price on a pair of X5680's or X5690's. The CPU upgrade on the 2010's is quite simple. That will buy you another good performance increment, maybe 50% faster on average.

Pairs of X5680s are currently in the neighborhood of $120-130; pairs of X5690s still right around $200; which makes the X5680 a no-brainer.

 

[verdejt]

So you have a link for the instructions

 

[kschendel]

A cpu upgrade link? How about this one:

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-2010-quad-2-8-photos-new-cpu-to-use.1122551/

I would probably use a soft cloth like a lens cloth rather than cotton swabs for cleaning off the thermal compound and prepping for the new compound. Also, 90% isopropyl alcohol will work for cleaning and prepping if you don't have the bespoke stuff the poster used. The new CPU drops in without applying any force (it's a ZIF, Zero Insertion Force socket). The poster spread the thermal compound himself but in general that's not necessary, apply a blob about the size of a pea in the middle and the heat sink will spread it. Either way works.

 

[verdejt]

Well it arrived today. When I opened it up all the pic cards had fallen out in shipping. So I'm not sure if any damage was done inside during shipping. When I opened it up I found more dust inside this machine than I have ever seen before. I would dare say there is more dust inside this than my whole house after 5 years of not cleaning ever. The only damage outside that I can see is the lower front right "leg" is damaged and that whole front part seems to have been pulled away from the frame. Any way can't complain too much for 600 bucks. It does have a Samsung EVO SSD 250Gb and a 1Tb hard drive with what looks like 32Gb of RAM. I will post more later once I get it all cleaned up and out. I'm afraid to even turn it on with as much dust as this machine has inside.

 

[verdejt]

Ok here is the latest update on my $600 2010 MacPro. After spending about 15 minutes getting all the dust out of it with a blower I put it all back together. It does in fact have 2x2.24Ghz Quad Core processors, 32Gb of RAM, a 250Gb Samsung EVO 840 SSD, 1Tb Western Digital Black HDD, Superdrive, I removed the Geforce 760 (PC) video card and installed a NVIDIA GeForce GTX680 with support for CUDA and Metal and 4K flashed for MAC (that was 225 on eBay). It had 2 other PCI cards installed but I removed them. 1. Decklink HD Extreme 3D+ and a Solarflare SFN5122F Dual-Port 10Gbe server adapter. I've tested a few of the ports and so far they seem to be working. The only downside like I said is the right front "foot" is bent and partially pulled away from the frame. I'm going to try this weekend (when I will have some real free time) and muscle it back into some sort of better shape. Later on I can purchase a new/used enclosure and swap everything over and it will be better than new. All in all I'm pretty happy with it so far. Of course I'm going to reload the OS with something a little newer. It's currently running El Capitan and I want to at least put Sierra if not High Sierra on it. Then once all is settled I intend to try the Mojave beta and see how it runs.
[doublepost=1531883762][/doublepost]Oh and I forgot to mention how heavy this sucker is.

 

[flowrider]

^^^^Neither the 2009 4,1 or 2010 5,1 cMPs came stock with 2.24Ghz CPUs. In fact I can't find a Xeon CPU with a socket to fit a cMP in that speed?

Lou

 

[skizzo]

^^^^Neither the 2009 4,1 or 2010 5,1 cMPs came stock with 2.24Ghz CPUs. In fact I can't find a Xeon CPU with a socket to fit a cMP in that speed?

Lou

my guess is that 2.24Ghz is a typo and meant 2.26Ghz which would be the E5520 CPU. Without looking it up, I do believe that was the base model for the dual 4 core (8 core total) machines

 

[pat500000]

Just get it.

 

[verdejt]

MacTracker lists 2 x 2.4 as a 8 core. There is also a listing for 2x 2.66. I did system report and it in fact has 2 x 2.4 ghz processors. Yes I fat fingered it. As I’m typing this I just scrolled up to read my post and there it was I wrote 2.24 instead of 2.4. I was thinking of getting a pair of 5780’s or 5790’s to upgrade the machine. Hopefully this weekend I can get some real time to reload software from scratch.