Worth it to buy a Mac Pro 1,1?

[R3k]

Maybe I should just continue to borrow computers for photo work and save up for a 2009 Mac Pro.

We're running 2 x 2009 Quad core Mac Pro's here that have been upgraded with 3.33ghz Hex Core processors. 32gb Ram, 2 x GT 120 video cards driving 2 x 2560 monitors and a 720p tv. Upgraded SSD system drives make a big difference.

Still work great on El Capitan using Logic X with large projects. Still, id be looking for even newer if i needed a system, but i guess price is a big factor for you.

 

[monokakata]

I ran into the young man this morning. The 1,1 is still going. He says that gaming is OK but obviously (his phrasing) you can't play "high standard" games on it. He's still pleased with it because it does what he wants.

In Fall 2016 it's going to be 10 years old. I got it almost as soon as they went on sale, in 2006.

 

[bsamcash]

I thought I would update everyone on what I decided to do.

I ended up going with the 2009 Mac mini for 80 USD. It's the early 2009 Mac mini 3,1 with 2 Ghz Core 2 Duo with 2 GB RAM. I replaced the aging hard disk with a 256 GB SSD and installed El Capitan without any issues. I plan to stick 8 GB RAM in it in the next week or so, but for now it's running impressively well! My main use for it will be photo editing and I've already tested a decently sized RAW in Pixelmator and it was very smooth and responsive. I haven't tested out Photoshop yet because I want to figure out how to update my license without being forced to use Creative Cloud. But for now I am very happy. 1080p video runs well, Safari is snappy, Youtube is being friendly. For 80 USD this was an amazing deal!

 

[R3k]

I thought I would update everyone on what I decided to do.

I ended up going with the 2009 Mac mini for 80 USD. It's the early 2009 Mac mini 3,1 with 2 Ghz Core 2 Duo with 2 GB RAM. I replaced the aging hard disk with a 256 GB SSD and installed El Capitan without any issues. I plan to stick 8 GB RAM in it in the next week or so, but for now it's running impressively well! My main use for it will be photo editing and I've already tested a decently sized RAW in Pixelmator and it was very smooth and responsive. I haven't tested out Photoshop yet because I want to figure out how to update my license without being forced to use Creative Cloud. But for now I am very happy. 1080p video runs well, Safari is snappy, Youtube is being friendly. For 80 USD this was an amazing deal!

Grats.

 

[ChrisA]

Re-purpose the MacPro chassis as a Skylake mATX Hackintosh machine; would result with something more practically useful.

And the way I read Apple license (may only run Mac OS X on and Apple labeled computer) I think it would actually be a legal Mac. It is a real Mac Pro, just with an upgraded mother board. At least that is my literal reading Apple's license.

Or you could run Linux on the old Mac. It will run OK on 4GB.