Two things: one is money and other is my current 2006 dual dual-2.66GHz Mac Pro is still sufficient for my needs.
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Whats keeping you from getting a new Mac Pro?
- Thread starter illegalprelude
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Price drops... sure, certain components have price drops like SSD. And the iPhone is a very rare exception. I think where INTERNATIONAL buyers USED to see price drops was due to the currency value versus the dollar. The reason the price has jumped so dramatically internationally lately is the worldwide currency values are falling all over versus the US Dollar.
I had a bunch of people tell me oh prices go up all of the time. The thing is here in the US, the price always stays the same. The speed bump update corrects the price so buying after an update gets best value as prices then drop per component price of Apple, and then they put a nicer component in the computer and they do this continuously ALWAYS seemingly keeping the price CONSTANT here (in USA)... although products like the Mac mini have to yield Apple some hefty PERCENTAGE margins, those components used for two years couldn't have cost much at the end of the two years before the update. Heck, even now, they cannot. Apple's pricing model works because of the Mac OS X. Without that, competition would force a different model. Apple really has an excellent model for APPLE SHAREHOLDERS...
Ok, I will bite here. Never seen a nice Gateway in all of my years but then haven't seen one for a few years. The thing is, when I go to Gateway.com, for $799 I don't see anything buy a Core 2 Quad CPU and nothing like the specs you quoted.
AND, I don't see how on earth you can state that the Gateway with an i7 chip competes and even beats a true server Xeon chip? Really? How does this beat the Mac Pro?
Please explain further? I just don't see it even assuming you could run OS X on the Gateway (NOT - I know that), but my point is the reason people buy Mac Pros isn't because they're cheaper than a Gateway or Dell. The reason is they're true professional machines. Sure, it costs a hell of a lot of money, but a professional is using it for his livelihood when he buys an Octacore Dual 2.93 GHz Nehalem CPU Mac Pro. I don't know how possible the Gateway or anything competes.
So, explain it to me like I don't know anything, because I don't see anything you are talking about for $800 when it comes to Gateway. And I don't see a single computer on the market competing with the Octacore Dual Xeon Nehalem 2.93 GHz Mac Pro. No matter how skewed the results could be...
Please do explain... what I am missing.
Time.
Im always out, in class or doing something else. I would love a Mac Pro but the time I sit down and use it is less then I use my Air.
If I dont get girlfriend then maybe but I if I, forget about. I wont even have time to install all my darn applications.
Im always out, in class or doing something else. I would love a Mac Pro but the time I sit down and use it is less then I use my Air.
If I dont get girlfriend then maybe but I if I, forget about. I wont even have time to install all my darn applications.
Man I'm trying to justify the purchase of the mac pro but even with the 20% student ADC discount.. I still find the 2.66ghz model (the one I really want) is still $4000.
On the one hand, you can just get a 400-800 cable, but on the other hand, I see where you're coming from. It's super convenient, and I even have a little stand that I keep next to my tower on the floor for when I hook up cameras or whatever.
Yeah well it sucks looking for adapters (they get lost easy) and if you leave them plugged in, you run the risk of someone walking by and snapping it off, ruining the port.
Could get all new cables, but thats allot of cables to replace.
I hope everybody knows about signing up for ADC, which costs $499 in the US.
Base quad-core 2.66GHz w/3GB RAM, 640GB disk - $1999 (compare to $2499)
Move to 2.93GHz for $2399 ($2999)
Base octo-core 2.26 w/6GB RAM, 640GB disk - $2639 (compare to 3299)
Move to 2.66 for $3759 ($4699)
Move to 2.93 for $4719 ($5899)
...and of course you get a copy of Snow Leopard with the ADC.
Looks like you save from :$500 to $1180 by becoming a developer. Even more if you're silly enough to buy memory, drives, monitors and extra graphic adapters from Apple. Actually, you get about 20% off the rest of the stuff. Easy to save as much as $4000 on a loaded Mac Pro.
Base quad-core 2.66GHz w/3GB RAM, 640GB disk - $1999 (compare to $2499)
Move to 2.93GHz for $2399 ($2999)
Base octo-core 2.26 w/6GB RAM, 640GB disk - $2639 (compare to 3299)
Move to 2.66 for $3759 ($4699)
Move to 2.93 for $4719 ($5899)
...and of course you get a copy of Snow Leopard with the ADC.
Looks like you save from :$500 to $1180 by becoming a developer. Even more if you're silly enough to buy memory, drives, monitors and extra graphic adapters from Apple. Actually, you get about 20% off the rest of the stuff. Easy to save as much as $4000 on a loaded Mac Pro.
For reference,
Dell quad-core Xeon 2.66GHz, 4 GB RAM, 750GB disk = $2436 (T7400)
Move to 3GHz for $2798
Dell octo-core Xeon 2.33GHz, 4 GB RAM, 750 GB disk = $2570
Move to 2.66 for $3175
Move to 3.00 for $3899
NOTE: This is NOT Nehalem, which runs twice as many threads as these processors. The Dell systems all have a 256MB NVS 290 graphics adapter and 16xDVD writer, no monitor.
The quad-cores seem well-priced, even at Apple list (no ADC). But remember that Apple is shipping Nehalem, Dell is still shipping last-generation Xeons that do NOT have hyperthreading, full QPI, DDR3, etc.
The octo-cores come at a premium, but with the ADC, they're still in the ball park. Like I said, TWICE as many threads means the octo-cores can run 16 simultaneous threads. Doesn't really compare...
Dell quad-core Xeon 2.66GHz, 4 GB RAM, 750GB disk = $2436 (T7400)
Move to 3GHz for $2798
Dell octo-core Xeon 2.33GHz, 4 GB RAM, 750 GB disk = $2570
Move to 2.66 for $3175
Move to 3.00 for $3899
NOTE: This is NOT Nehalem, which runs twice as many threads as these processors. The Dell systems all have a 256MB NVS 290 graphics adapter and 16xDVD writer, no monitor.
The quad-cores seem well-priced, even at Apple list (no ADC). But remember that Apple is shipping Nehalem, Dell is still shipping last-generation Xeons that do NOT have hyperthreading, full QPI, DDR3, etc.
The octo-cores come at a premium, but with the ADC, they're still in the ball park. Like I said, TWICE as many threads means the octo-cores can run 16 simultaneous threads. Doesn't really compare...
HP
quad Xeon 2.66, 4 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD = $3130
For 2.83GHz, $3430
octo Xeon 2.33, 4 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD = $3269
Move to 2.66 for $4129
Move to 2.83 for $4729
But that's still not Nehalem Xeon...
quad Xeon 2.66, 4 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD = $3130
For 2.83GHz, $3430
octo Xeon 2.33, 4 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD = $3269
Move to 2.66 for $4129
Move to 2.83 for $4729
But that's still not Nehalem Xeon...
I really don't see how adding a small chipset on the motherboard would add that much to the cost, and with the price of the mac pro it should really come as standard for those who need it, and those who don't have any spare PCIe slots. Most of the current new X58 motherboards have the 6 channel sata chipset on there along with an additional chipset that adds another 2 to 4 sata channels.
The dimensions. I would happily pay the 2500 euros of a Mac Pro if it was half the size, with similar processors, only a couple of hard drive bays etc. So my new 2,26Ghz Mac Mini is on the way. This one is too small and simple for my needs but I save 1500 euros while I wait that Apple release the MacOS to be installed in any PC.
The quad core Mac Pro is more akin to the T3400 as they both use single socket processors. Based on Dell's current prices a system like the 2.66GHz Mac Pro would work out at around $2000.
Nothing, my 8 core 2.26 machine will be here Wednesday. 12GB of OWC memory and a WD 1TB RE3 drive was ordered separately and should arrive the same day.
Kool! Tell us how that works out!
I can easily afford the 2.26GHz but the 2.66GHz is what I really want. The QuickPath interconnect seems to be faster in speed compared to the 2.26GHz version. I think it was 5.2 vs. 6.4.
You're getting yours a day ahead of me.
I ended up getting the 8G RAM upgrade from Apple, then ordering an additional 8G RAM from OWC (actually saves about $50 doing it that way). I've seen the reports of the new MP doing better with 6 sticks or RAM instead of all 8, but I'll be using it for music, so I'll probably end up using the full 16G of RAM....until 4G RAM prices drop, anyway.
I don't need a MacPro... sure, it would be nice... but my 3 years old Macbook is doing the job. I've bought myself a Nikon D90 instead of another computer... I think it's a good compromise
Agreed. Next year, and for the next several years, I'll be drooling over future models. However, I've used a Mac since '96, and this will be my third one. I make 'em last, and why shouldn't I? They're great machines.
What's stopping me from a new Mac Pro?
Well, I'm deliberating. Now I'm just trying to determine how much future software I may run on it, and what processor setup I'll be looking to have. As an educated guess, I'd be favoring the nehalems, but the price scale is a little steep, as the 2.26 seems to be a lateral move from the 2008 2.8. If (and I really hate saying "if") the 2.66 was priced just a touch over the 2.26, I'd have one ordered one by now.
As it is, I'm just spinning and trying to work out my finances to justify that midrange 8 core. But I DO need an Intel chip Mac for upcoming work. . .
Well, I'm deliberating. Now I'm just trying to determine how much future software I may run on it, and what processor setup I'll be looking to have. As an educated guess, I'd be favoring the nehalems, but the price scale is a little steep, as the 2.26 seems to be a lateral move from the 2008 2.8. If (and I really hate saying "if") the 2.66 was priced just a touch over the 2.26, I'd have one ordered one by now.
As it is, I'm just spinning and trying to work out my finances to justify that midrange 8 core. But I DO need an Intel chip Mac for upcoming work. . .
The low end CPU has enough power for my needs, and the 2.66 commands a substantial price premium that I can't justify paying.
FWIW, this chart says all the Gainestown CPUs have 6.4 GT/s transfer speeds, while this chart says the E5520 is 5.86 GT/s versus 6.4 for the X5550. I have found several other articles that suggest all the Gainestown CPU's share the higher of the two speeds. Since Intel hasn't published official specs yet, it's probably anybody's guess.
I am not a system designer, so I am not going to attach importance to specific low level chip metrics without a solid understanding how the whole of the system interacts and exactly what effect that metric has on the performance of the system. It's easy to point at a number and say bigger must be better, but things usually aren't that simple. Then there's that number with a dollar sign in front of it. That one I understand pretty well.