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Apple Computing Products:
macOS - Desktop Hardware
Would like some advice on Mac Pro purchase
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<blockquote data-quote="pigoo3" data-source="post: 1483049" data-attributes="member: 56379"><p>I got an awesome price on the 2009 8-core 2.26ghz Mac Pro I purchased (after some serious negotiation)...and that's why I bought it!<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> In fact...I drove 100 miles (each way) to get it!!! And yes...even roughly 2 years later the price I paid would still be a good price. I actually sold it for about $300 more than I paid for it...which included a ram upgrade from 4gig to 12gig. </p><p></p><p>The reason why I'm trying to steer you away from this exact model is (the 2.26ghz cpu). From a design & logic board architecture standpoint it's a great computer...but the 2.26ghz cpu's were just too slow...unless you know that the software you will be using will be able to take advantage of the 8-core (16 virtual cores)...otherwise it really won't be much faster than a core 2 duo 2.26ghz MacBook. </p><p></p><p>My 2009 "Nehalem" 8-core 2.26ghz Mac Pro had a Geekbench score of just over 12,000 (it should be listed in the Mac-Forums benchmark thread). At the time it was/had one of fastest (or the fastest) Geekbench score of all the scores in the thread!<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> It is possible to upgrade the cpu's in this Mac Pro from the 2.26ghz cpu's...to 2.66 or 2.93ghz cpu's...but it REALLY is still cost prohibitive. This is why I'm recommending that you get at least the 2.66ghz version right away...and not the 2.26ghz model.</p><p></p><p>Again...the 4,1 Mac Pro's I think are a great "bang for the buck" model at this time...but only if someone knows that the software they will be using can take advantage of all 8 cores (16 virtual cores)...and when that sort of software isn't being used (such as Safari, e-mail, some games, etc.)...that it have a cpu speed of at least 2.66ghz...since the 2.26ghz might be a bit on the slow side.</p><p></p><p>You asked for some recommendations...so I posted what I think...which includes my personal experiences with a 4,1 Mac Pro. Buying a Mac Pro is not a small-budget sort of thing...and $1200-$1300 is not a big budget. Yes you could relatively easily get a Mac Pro 1,1; 2,1; or 3,1...but some of these models do have some bottlenecks in terms of:</p><p></p><p>- EFI type (32 vs. 64 bit)</p><p>- video card "flexibility"</p><p>- cost of ram upgrades</p><p>- total max. ram</p><p>- ease of upgrading the cpu's (just expensive)</p><p>- compatibility with Mountain Lion</p><p>- etc. etc.</p><p></p><p>Purchasing a Mac Pro older than Mac Pro 4,1 can be done with a $1200-$1300 budget...but there may/will be some drawbacks.</p><p></p><p>Good Luck,<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>- Nick</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="pigoo3, post: 1483049, member: 56379"] I got an awesome price on the 2009 8-core 2.26ghz Mac Pro I purchased (after some serious negotiation)...and that's why I bought it!:) In fact...I drove 100 miles (each way) to get it!!! And yes...even roughly 2 years later the price I paid would still be a good price. I actually sold it for about $300 more than I paid for it...which included a ram upgrade from 4gig to 12gig. The reason why I'm trying to steer you away from this exact model is (the 2.26ghz cpu). From a design & logic board architecture standpoint it's a great computer...but the 2.26ghz cpu's were just too slow...unless you know that the software you will be using will be able to take advantage of the 8-core (16 virtual cores)...otherwise it really won't be much faster than a core 2 duo 2.26ghz MacBook. My 2009 "Nehalem" 8-core 2.26ghz Mac Pro had a Geekbench score of just over 12,000 (it should be listed in the Mac-Forums benchmark thread). At the time it was/had one of fastest (or the fastest) Geekbench score of all the scores in the thread!:) It is possible to upgrade the cpu's in this Mac Pro from the 2.26ghz cpu's...to 2.66 or 2.93ghz cpu's...but it REALLY is still cost prohibitive. This is why I'm recommending that you get at least the 2.66ghz version right away...and not the 2.26ghz model. Again...the 4,1 Mac Pro's I think are a great "bang for the buck" model at this time...but only if someone knows that the software they will be using can take advantage of all 8 cores (16 virtual cores)...and when that sort of software isn't being used (such as Safari, e-mail, some games, etc.)...that it have a cpu speed of at least 2.66ghz...since the 2.26ghz might be a bit on the slow side. You asked for some recommendations...so I posted what I think...which includes my personal experiences with a 4,1 Mac Pro. Buying a Mac Pro is not a small-budget sort of thing...and $1200-$1300 is not a big budget. Yes you could relatively easily get a Mac Pro 1,1; 2,1; or 3,1...but some of these models do have some bottlenecks in terms of: - EFI type (32 vs. 64 bit) - video card "flexibility" - cost of ram upgrades - total max. ram - ease of upgrading the cpu's (just expensive) - compatibility with Mountain Lion - etc. etc. Purchasing a Mac Pro older than Mac Pro 4,1 can be done with a $1200-$1300 budget...but there may/will be some drawbacks. Good Luck,:) - Nick [/QUOTE]
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Apple Computing Products:
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Would like some advice on Mac Pro purchase
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