I have a quad core 08 Mac Pro that runs fine but I never use it. Any fun ideas on what to do with it?
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What should I do with my 08 MP?
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Send it to eWaste?
Seriously, it's 8 years old. It will never support PCIe 3.0. It can't support newer instruction sets. Only four DIMM slots and four PCIe 1.1 slots. Crippled by Apple's proprietary EFI and GPU strategies. Incredibly power-hungry electronics.
Haha this is pretty cool, but is it a bench or a table. If its a bench, i feel sorry for those legs at the bottom... They will squish like pancakes lol
donate it to someone or a school/library/organization that would use and appreciate it. and then offer free tech support cause they will need it.
Obviously you can still use it as a computer, but the problem is that you're already saying you already don't use it any more, which implies you have something better.
You could use it as a file/iTunes/media/backup server, but it's kind of big and inefficient for that purpose.
Honestly I think the best responses in this thread are to sell it or give it away someone who has a purpose for it and will make use of it.
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Bench. Here's the story:
http://gizmodo.com/this-bench-is-built-using-two-power-mac-g5s-1649709456
I agree, I don't think those handles are up to the task of supporting people. Maybe a kid's bench.
You could use it as a file/iTunes/media/backup server, but it's kind of big and inefficient for that purpose.
Honestly I think the best responses in this thread are to sell it or give it away someone who has a purpose for it and will make use of it.
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Bench. Here's the story:
http://gizmodo.com/this-bench-is-built-using-two-power-mac-g5s-1649709456
I agree, I don't think those handles are up to the task of supporting people. Maybe a kid's bench.
Why would anyone suggest a hackintosh when you want to know what to do with you old school MP?
Build a hackintosh into the old MP's case? There are people who do that, but it's a serious effort.
I got one, this will be a fast and cheap build.
Buy two of these E5 8 core processors ($160)
Get a a socket 2011 dual motherboard (new on ebay) ($208)
Get a basic case or gut your mac pro one. ($50)
Get a powersupply ($50)
Get an RX480 for basic gaming (or better if you game more) ($240)
Get used 64gb of used ram off ebay (or spend more for the faster 1600mhz one) ($120)
and after your all done you'll have a really fast 16 core 32 thread computer with an xenon that can run windows 10, or turn it into a hackintosh. It'll cost you about $828 for all of that but if you have a few of the items already (case, powersupply, ram) it'll bring the cost down.
18586 CPU benchmark
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I thought the "it's more than 2 seconds old-buy a new one" mentality was mostly absent in the MP sub-forum. Apparently I was wrong.
I'm still using a 1,1(2006) as my main office computer. Your 3,1 remains a useable and Sierra can be made to run on it provided that you use an appropriate GPU upgrade.
If you can't find a use for it, you could easily find someone who would buy or take it from you who does want to use it-likely as their main computer. These old workhorses aren't dead yet, despite what Apple may want you to think.
I'm still using a 1,1(2006) as my main office computer. Your 3,1 remains a useable and Sierra can be made to run on it provided that you use an appropriate GPU upgrade.
If you can't find a use for it, you could easily find someone who would buy or take it from you who does want to use it-likely as their main computer. These old workhorses aren't dead yet, despite what Apple may want you to think.
if you cant find a use for I would recommend selling it rather then scrapping a very capable machine. even a Quad core 3,1 can fetch a good $200 on eBay. a 3,1 is still a very capable mac especially if you buy a second CPU and Heatsink for it and upgrade it to dual Quad cores. I am sure there are many people who would love a 3,1 they are good starter Mac Pros (and with a little work can run Sierra you dont even have to change any of the hardware sierra supports all the GPUs el-cap does) and @AidenShaw the 3,1 has 8 Ram slots and has 2 x16 PCIE 2.0 slots as well as the 2 4x 1.1 slots.... it also has Harpertown (Penryn) CPUs that do have SSE4. which is more then the Mac Pro 2,1 im using which only do SSSE3 (and because of that i cant run sierra, but a 3.1 can)
Turning it into a case compatible with a hackintosh set of components takes some work. But, it's doable if you do it right.
See the tonymacx86 Mac Pro case mods and the Completed Mods forum sections. I, too, have a 2008 Mac Pro and eventually plan to make a case mod. Here's some "classic" informative threads (some might have old PC components, but the case mod techniques and procedures are still valid):
- Mooner's HackPro (Gigabyte Z68MX-UD2H-B3 in Mac Pro case)
- neilhart's Mac Pro Hack
- Mac Pro mod, Worklog
Enjoy the reads.
Poor person with a large solar panel array on their shopping cart....
Assuming all poor people are homeless...?
I'll clarify; I meant a person unable to afford a new computer where a 2008 MP would be a major step up. I've done it with old cars in the past, gave one not worth a whole lot to a single mom who's car just died and she needed a car to get to work and keep the rent paid and kids fed.
No, but the hyperbole meant to point out that older cMP systems are power hogs. A non-homeless poor person might be having trouble paying the electric bill - so a "gift" of one of the most power-hungry PCs ever made might not be a blessing.
Very gracious of you. But on theme, gifting your Yukon XL to the single mom is different than giving her your Corolla.
This assumes you have a Corolla to give. What's better for her situation...a Yukon XL or no vehicle at all?
There's always http://photos.mercurynews.com/2016/08/06/the-vintage-computer-festival/#4
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The right answer could be "no vehicle", if they can't afford to feed the Yukon.