Regarding the new MacPros/Apps/RAM

[commentarycrew]

I plan on buying the new MacPro with Two 3.0GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon (8-core)
I want to know how much RAM I would need if I have these apps:

Photoshop cs3
Illustrator cs3
Logic Studio
Final Cut Express
Office 2008
Pro Tools

I'm probably gonna get the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 512MB also. I will obviously be recording music and editing movies. Would 4GB of RAM be sufficient? Would apps work smooth enough?
This is quite the investment, and I want to do it right. I appreciate anyone with info / suggestions.

 

[Father Jack]

I would recommend 4 Gb minimum
8 (or more) would be nice.

 

[commentarycrew]

I would recommend 4 Gb minimum
8 (or more) would be nice.

Would I see a big difference if I added 1 to make it 5GB or maybe 6GB?

 

[mcarnes]

Might get more value if you got two 2.8Ghz and 8GB RAM (3rd party).

 

[CanadaRAM]

Your applications are all 2-D -- the performance difference between the stock ATI 2600 card and the 8800GT will be minimal.

 

[Father Jack]

Would I see a big difference if I added 1 to make it 5GB or maybe 6GB?

With the software you list, probably not.
As suggested by MCARNES your ram will be quite a lot cheaper if you buy from a 3rd party supplier (like Crucial). Adding ram to the Mac Pro is very simple.

 

[commentarycrew]

Appreciate all your help, is there a difference in performance between apple's RAM, and the compatible RAM found at Crucial.com? I apologize for my lack of RAM knowledge.

 

[aaronw1986]

Appreciate all your help, is there a difference in performance between apple's RAM, and the compatible RAM found at Crucial.com? I apologize for my lack of RAM knowledge.

No difference.

 

[G4DP]

The New Mac Pro has different ram. Crucial does not have any compatible with the new systems.

Just spoke to a crucial agent, she said hopefully early next week.

 

[commentarycrew]

All you guys rock.

 

[diddykiddy]

mac pro ram

There can be benefits from installing ram in different configurations, see the attached table (which I think is from somewhere else on this forum - I honestly can't remember where I got it from exactly). You can squeeze extra performance out of your system with a good config.

The optimum configs are the left-most column, listed top to bottom for each size (1gb, 2 gb etc). You must install RAM in pairs into each bank.

this chart also refers to the last revision of MP - i.e. pre-penryn but should be a good guide for the new ones. I'm probably going to buy a stock 2gb ram machine and then add 4gb 3rd party RAM (crucial.com/uk in my case).

can't wait until after MWSF to order mine !! (waiting to see what happens with displays!). Good news that crucial are getting the 800Mhz FB-DIMMS in soon.

diddy.