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mac pro
I want to get rid of my G5’s and pick up a Mac Pro. I’m using FCP and AE a lot with beta sp and have an Aja LHe and also want to move into HD.
Looking at these options. I heard that computer 2 is faster, is this true?
1) Used: Mac Pro 8-core Xeon 2.8GHz, 2GB, 320GB SATA, 16x DL SuperDrive, 256MB Radeon HD 2600 XT $2,899 CDN
2)New: MacPro / One 2.66GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon 3GB / 640GB / Bluetooth / NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512MB $2,749CDN
I would like to sell my G5 Quad and Dual and trade it in for one of these machines.
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14 Replies
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Well the 8 core machine is going to be the faster of the two, but you’ll need 16 gigs of RAM…2 gigs per core. without it you have a sluggish boat anchor. with it you have a rocket with 8 apps open at a time while you check your email and download files while AE renders and Compressor compresses and DVDSP builds a disc and Toast burns one.
Really.
Rich Rubasch
Tilt Media -
FCP doesn’t use the extra cores, so for FCP the choice is irrelivant. For AE, the previous post is spot on. Check out barefeats for a good comparison of benchmarks of mac pros. For AE you want as many cores as possible and 2GB per core.
moody glasgow
smoke/flame -
what do you think about the Nehalem processor compared to last years processor? I will look into the ram price. I heard that Nehalem processor is a lot faster than last years stuff.
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The 2.93 ghz 8-core is smoking fast, but will cost you at least $6K. So it depends on how much you want to spend.
Oh I forgot to mention that the new 4-core systems only have 4 memory slots, another reason to stay away from it.moody glasgow
smoke/flame -
[moody glasgow] “FCP doesn’t use the extra cores, so for FCP the choice is irrelivant”
This is currently true, but I think the consensus is that when Apple finally release FCS3 and Snow Leopard, this could/should be a different story. Plus we can already make use of multiple core processing with Compressor, and I don’t know an FCP user who doesn’t use Compressor.
Personally I’d want to be buying the machine that I know will hold up better in the months and years to come. As people have said here before, spending a little (or quite a lot) more on hardware isn’t a bad thing because our business should be covering those costs long before they’re replaced. If it won’t then it probably makes more sense dry hiring a top suite as and when it’s needed.
All the best,
Alex -
[johnsabbath d’urzo] “I want to get rid of my G5’s and pick up a Mac Pro. I’m using FCP and AE a lot with beta sp and have an Aja LHe and also want to move into HD. “
If you’re running an G5, unless you’re running a G5 Quad 2.5 with PCIe architecture, you’re running the AJA Kona LH which will not work in a new Mac Pro. Please tell us which Mac you are running to confirm whether it’s an AJA Kona LH or LHe.
As for the new machine, get the fastest machine you can afford with a minimum of 8GB matched RAM.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
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I have an LHe. I saw a used 8 core (older technology) for $2800 and the new quad core with an open box was the same price. Which one is a better buy?
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[johnsabbath d’urzo] “I have an LHe. I saw a used 8 core (older technology) for $2800 and the new quad core with an open box was the same price. Which one is a better buy? “
The only used machines I purchase are the refurb units directly from Apple with an AppleCare warranty. Other than that, I will not touch any open box or used items.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
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[walter biscardi] “Other than that, I will not touch any open box or used items. “
Actually I quantify that further, I will purchase a used machine, but only from someone I know and trust.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
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why wouldn’t you get a used machine? Actually I never picked up a used on either i always bought mine new. Is there anything I should look out for? what is the reason that you don’t buy used? this is coming from a store as a trade in, should i trust it?
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