Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Please review my MacPro

J

jzphoto

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 8, 2015
13
0
I'm not sure if this machine is outdated and if I'd see big speed bumps with a new lower level macpro or maybe iMac 5k. Your expert opinions would be much appreciated.

Mac Pro (Mid 2010)
2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
250 GB SSD Start Up
20 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC RAM
ATI Radeon HD 5770 1024 MB
Yosemite 10.10.3

I mostly run Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop

Thanks for any help.
 
jzphoto said:
I'm not sure if this machine is outdated and if I'd see big speed bumps with a new lower level macpro or maybe iMac 5k. Your expert opinions would be much appreciated.

Mac Pro (Mid 2010)
2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
250 GB SSD Start Up
20 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC RAM
ATI Radeon HD 5770 1024 MB
Yosemite 10.10.3

I mostly run Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop

Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...

You have not begun to update/upgrade with what you have. A number of thorough threads on just what is possible with base 2010.

3.4GHz 6-core
48GB RAM nice for LR/ PS
PCIe-SSD blade for scratch and/or system 1300MB/sec
PCIe SATA III w/ SSDs (2)
GTX 970(s)
 
My 2014 MacBook Pro runs Lightroom so much faster than my mid 2010 Mac Pro.

Seeing the difference made me think I was missing some major advances.

What would be the biggest bang for the buck if I did upgrade the mac pro?

Again I'm mainly looking to speed up Lightroom.

Thanks.
 
jzphoto said:
My 2014 MacBook Pro runs Lightroom so much faster than my mid 2010 Mac Pro.

Seeing the difference made me think I was missing some major advances.

What would be the biggest bang for the buck if I did upgrade the mac pro?

Again I'm mainly looking to speed up Lightroom.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

You're pretty much set for RAM and SSD, so the upgrade would be both a higher end GPU and CPU. The Hex CPU Lynn mentioned - which is a W3690 or W3680 (which is what I'd go with, you won't notice the difference between the two) - will be a very noticeable improvement over your stock quad core, and if LR and PS are GPU accelerated (I don't know as I don't use them) then speeds will skyrocket.

Just be sure to get a GPU with two six pins - not one with an 8 pin. I wouldn't trust it no matter what anyone says.

Let us know if you decided to upgrade and how much of an improvement it made, I'd be curious to know (I'm sure it will be pretty great).
 
I'll look into the CPU and GPU upgrade ie cost of upgrade vs new say iMAc 5K.

FYI Lightroom 6 does use the GPU but not previous lightroom.
 
jzphoto said:
My 2014 MacBook Pro runs Lightroom so much faster than my mid 2010 Mac Pro.

Seeing the difference made me think I was missing some major advances.

What would be the biggest bang for the buck if I did upgrade the mac pro?

Again I'm mainly looking to speed up Lightroom.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Apple/Samsung OEM blade PCIe-SSD, spend the money to get rid of bottleneck in IO. Never hurt to have a better GPU next. And 3.4GHZ CPU is inexpensive. Makes more sense than selling and buying iMac.

The nMP with its 4x 1200MB/sec SSD is able to feed data thru memory so well. Your MBP has a 2x variety SSD PCIe.
 
3.4GHz 6-core

What brand and supplier would be good for this purchase?

I think I'll try this upgrade first.
 
On my 2012 5,1 my ancient 960GB Crucial M500 SSD runs much better on a PCIe Apricorn Velo Duo x2 than it did plugged into the MP's SATA2 bus. Depending on sales going on that can be a $100.00 deal.

For a while I had another M500 plugged into the Velo Duo with Aperture libraries on it. Aperture really flew on an SSD. I was going to move my current Photoshop project over to it but I needed the SSD for another machine.

I still may pick up another SSD for current projects.
 
Define "so much faster"
Smoother animation and window drawing, faster loading speed, shorter rendering times?
Different symptoms indicate different bottlenecks.

If I had to guess it would be the SATA2 SSD vs the SATA3 in the Macbook Pro.

Lynn's suggestions would turn it into a real screamer at a fraction of the cost of a nMP.
 
New CPU infracture has certain things that older technology doesn't (like Airplay video) - but if you trick out your MP with minimal cost, you're going to see such a jump that it will surprise you that it's a 5 year old computer.
 
Is your photos in the SSD? If the photos are not there, you can't take benefit from it. LR deal with a bunch of photos at the same time. Putting the photos in a low IOPS HDD will give a big hit to the overall performance.
 
Yes, it's outdated and only getting more so, and yes, you would see a nice speed bump with a nMP or iMac 5K. Whether that speed bump is a good value to you compared to upgrading your old Mac, that's harder to say without knowing your budget, priorities, and expectations (which are very subjective). There are a lot of differences between a cMP, a nMP and an iMac.

If you're really just looking for advice on how to upgrade what you have, you've come to the right place. You appear to be new here, so just keep in mind that most of the folks here pushing for the upgrade-route tend to, uh, spin things to put these upgrades in the best light (the anti-nMP crowd pretty much rules this forum).

Good luck!

jzphoto said:
I'm not sure if this machine is outdated and if I'd see big speed bumps with a new lower level macpro or maybe iMac 5k. Your expert opinions would be much appreciated...
Click to expand...
 
SDAVE said:
New CPU infracture has certain things that older technology doesn't (like Airplay video)
Click to expand...
and speed

- but if you trick out your MP with minimal cost, you're going to see such a jump that it will surprise you that it's a 5 year old computer.
Click to expand...

no you won't.. there's not an upgrade you can do to make an old mac pro run faster than a new one.

you might see a jump in your geekbench high score but when you sit there and use the thing, the new mac(s) will be faster.
 
flat five said:
and speed



no you won't.. there's not an upgrade you can do to make an old mac pro run faster than a new one.

you might see a jump in your geekbench high score but when you sit there and use the thing, the new mac(s) will be faster.
Click to expand...

If you're pushing it like I am, a lot of times at 95-100% cpu usage, you will see an improvement. But sure, if you're browsing facebook all day long and doing minimal tasks, just get something else.

New CPU's generate less heat, have faster throughput and better single core performance....but don't dismiss the older cMP's, they're still beasts.
 
SDAVE said:
If you're pushing it like I am, a lot of times at 95-100% cpu usage, you will see an improvement.
Click to expand...

95-100% of a single core or process more-likely-than-not.. can't get faster cores in cmp than a nmp.

basically.
more cores help for thing that are showing you a progress bar (other than data moves etc).

fast cores help eliminate beach balls.

beach balls suck.. progress bar type operations, you can plan for them.

But sure, if you're browsing facebook all day long and doing minimal tasks, just get something else.
Click to expand...

huh? :rolleyes:
 
flat five said:
95-100% of a single core or process more-likely-than-not.. can't get faster cores in cmp than a nmp.

basically.
more cores help for thing that are showing you a progress bar (other than data moves etc).

fast cores help eliminate beach balls.

beach balls suck.. progress bar type operations, you can plan for them.



huh? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I don't know, I have a maxed out 2010 MP with a GTX780 for CUDA at home. It's faster than an nMP (6core, whatever else they have) i use at this job. I also need CUDA...but that's a different area.
 
You might have heard that an "anti-nMP crowd" rules this forum! Sounds like a Rumor! :eek: Since you are new let it be known that this "subculture" will not let you leave until you get well researched information! The objective is to perform certain tasks, with certain software, with certain hardware on which ever computer is needed! :D This includes nMPs!:eek:
 

Attachments

  • Protest.png
    Protest.png
    551.3 KB · Views: 173
  • Like
Reactions: scott.n
SSDs contribute more of a speed gain speed than the processor, most users and systems are waiting on IO. The only way to have 1000MB/sec or faster use to be

Two PCIe SATA III controllers and 4 x 250GB or 500GB SSDs /
Late 2013 6,1

Until now, with XP941 256GB or higher, or ... SATA Express meets the '09 MacPro - Bootable NGFF PCIE SSD which I call a game changer.

Not to overlook the fact users want GTX's and have the option of 4k and 5k support now as well as nice GPU which only sips watts (GTX 970).
Or those that want 6 core or 12-core can do so without spending $3000 extra to get 3.3/3.4GHz.
 
IowaLynn said:
SSDs contribute more of a speed gain speed than the processor, most users and systems are waiting on IO. The only way to have 1000MB/sec or faster use to be

Two PCIe SATA III controllers and 4 x 250GB or 500GB SSDs /
Late 2013 6,1

Until now, with XP941 256GB or higher, or ... SATA Express meets the '09 MacPro - Bootable NGFF PCIE SSD which I call a game changer.

Not to overlook the fact users want GTX's and have the option of 4k and 5k support now as well as nice GPU which only sips watts (GTX 970).
Or those that want 6 core or 12-core can do so without spending $3000 extra to get 3.3/3.4GHz.
Click to expand...

that's cool. the new macs are still faster though.
 
The problem with the newer Mac Pro, is the base model isn't really worth it because it won't be much faster. You're better off with a 5K iMac or whatever for the cost.

So upgrades in order would probably a much faster CPU as suggested. If you can score a dual-CPU tray, it would be the best since then you can get two faster CPUs. Then up your RAM (48GB) in three channel configuration. Finally since the Mac Pro only has SATA 3Gbps, you need to consider a PCIe based solution, may this be an Acorn adapter that gets you SATA 6Gbps for faster mainstream drives, or consider one of those fast PCIe solutions that are match for the drives in the new Macs. The graphics are should come last. Many good options on the market even without needing to get into flashing.

buster84 said:
Actually it was this, but the op never sent me a PM so he missed out. It was a full 8 core setup for 2010. These rarely ever pop up on ebay and if they do its for a 2009 not 2010. I guess it sucks to be late to the party :p LOL

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321748040610?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Click to expand...

Actually the OP can't send or receive PMs due to "newbie" status ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back