best choice for an upgradeable silver tower MacPro?
Moderator: James Steele
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best choice for an upgradeable silver tower MacPro?
hi all!
I know this has been asked and answered many times over in various threads, but I'm in a bind and will have to make a quick purcahse decision (today or tomorrow) so hopefully you'll forgive me for asking it again?
((btw, if anyone knows of a great thread that discusses this, could you please link?))
Bottom line, my trusty old MacPro 3,1 is dying - quickly - and I want to replace it with a silver tower MacPro (no dustbins, please) that will be cpu-upgradeable, later when I get the funds.
I know there have been many models (4,1's and 5,1's) discussed here as good/great upgradeable candidates, but if you have to pick one today, which one would it be?
many thanks for your answers and time.
I know this has been asked and answered many times over in various threads, but I'm in a bind and will have to make a quick purcahse decision (today or tomorrow) so hopefully you'll forgive me for asking it again?
((btw, if anyone knows of a great thread that discusses this, could you please link?))
Bottom line, my trusty old MacPro 3,1 is dying - quickly - and I want to replace it with a silver tower MacPro (no dustbins, please) that will be cpu-upgradeable, later when I get the funds.
I know there have been many models (4,1's and 5,1's) discussed here as good/great upgradeable candidates, but if you have to pick one today, which one would it be?
many thanks for your answers and time.
DP 9.52(OS 10.13.6), PTools 11.3.3, Sibelius 2021.12,
MacPro 5,1 mid-2010, 2 x 2.93Ghz 12 core, ATI Radeon HD 5870, 64 Gig RAM, 4 x >120G SSDs, 2 x 25" LCDs
couple o' hardware synths, loadza legal libraries
Kurz Midiboard, MOTU MTP AV
https://vimeo.com/71580152
"I always wanted to be a composer - and I am..."
"I never wanted to be a recording engineer - and I'm not..."
~me
MacPro 5,1 mid-2010, 2 x 2.93Ghz 12 core, ATI Radeon HD 5870, 64 Gig RAM, 4 x >120G SSDs, 2 x 25" LCDs
couple o' hardware synths, loadza legal libraries
Kurz Midiboard, MOTU MTP AV
https://vimeo.com/71580152
"I always wanted to be a composer - and I am..."
"I never wanted to be a recording engineer - and I'm not..."
~me
- mikehalloran
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Re: best choice for an upgradeable silver tower MacPro?
The 5.1 has the easiest upgrade path.
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- Gravity Jim
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Re: best choice for an upgradeable silver tower MacPro?
I concur. My 5,1 was a breeze to upgrade. Now it's a 12-core 3.33mhz / 32gb RAM / 2.5Tb of SSD storage fire-breathing dragon of a beast... GeekBench tests show it just about as fast as the best dustbin Mac.
Jim Bordner
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- HCMarkus
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Re: best choice for an upgradeable silver tower MacPro?
If you are looking to move to a duel CPU model, 5.1 is the best choice for upgrading. If you only need a single CPU 4.1 is just as good and it certainly less expensive
- buzzsmith
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Re: best choice for an upgradeable silver tower MacPro?
That's what I did, thanks to HC and another.HCMarkus wrote:If you are looking to move to a duel CPU model, 5.1 is the best choice for upgrading. If you only need a single CPU 4.1 is just as good and it certainly less expensive
I flashed the firmware from 4,1 to 5,1 and installed a 3.33 hex core.
Also using an SSD for the boot drive and upgraded to 32 gigs of RAM.
(2009 MacPro)
Still on 10.8.5 until I determine which (mostly non-audio) apps will be still functional...and have an opening to actually do it!
Buzzy
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- HCMarkus
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Re: best choice for an upgradeable silver tower MacPro?
Unless the reader is a fan of jousting or antique handguns, please interpret "duel" as "dual".HCMarkus wrote:If you are looking to move to a duel CPU model, 5.1 is the best choice for upgrading. If you only need a single CPU 4.1 is just as good and it certainly less expensive
HC Markus
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- James Steele
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Re: best choice for an upgradeable silver tower MacPro?
Is this just because of the hassle of de-lidding the CPUs or are there other reasons?HCMarkus wrote:If you are looking to move to a duel CPU model, 5.1 is the best choice for upgrading. If you only need a single CPU 4.1 is just as good and it certainly less expensive
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Mac Studio M1 Max, 64GB/2TB, MacOS 14.5 Public Beta, DP 11.31, MOTU 828es, MOTU 24Ai, MOTU MIDI Express XT, UAD-2 TB3 Satellite OCTO, Console 1 Mk2, Avid S3, NI Komplete Kontrol S88 Mk2, Red Type B, Millennia HV-3C, Warm Audio WA-2A, AudioScape 76F, Dean guitars, Marshall amps, etc., etc.!
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Re: best choice for an upgradeable silver tower MacPro?
or early Spielberg films?!HCMarkus wrote: Unless the reader is a fan of jousting or antique handguns,
DP 9.52(OS 10.13.6), PTools 11.3.3, Sibelius 2021.12,
MacPro 5,1 mid-2010, 2 x 2.93Ghz 12 core, ATI Radeon HD 5870, 64 Gig RAM, 4 x >120G SSDs, 2 x 25" LCDs
couple o' hardware synths, loadza legal libraries
Kurz Midiboard, MOTU MTP AV
https://vimeo.com/71580152
"I always wanted to be a composer - and I am..."
"I never wanted to be a recording engineer - and I'm not..."
~me
MacPro 5,1 mid-2010, 2 x 2.93Ghz 12 core, ATI Radeon HD 5870, 64 Gig RAM, 4 x >120G SSDs, 2 x 25" LCDs
couple o' hardware synths, loadza legal libraries
Kurz Midiboard, MOTU MTP AV
https://vimeo.com/71580152
"I always wanted to be a composer - and I am..."
"I never wanted to be a recording engineer - and I'm not..."
~me
- James Steele
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Re: best choice for an upgradeable silver tower MacPro?
Cheesegraters at 10 paces!
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Mac Studio M1 Max, 64GB/2TB, MacOS 14.5 Public Beta, DP 11.31, MOTU 828es, MOTU 24Ai, MOTU MIDI Express XT, UAD-2 TB3 Satellite OCTO, Console 1 Mk2, Avid S3, NI Komplete Kontrol S88 Mk2, Red Type B, Millennia HV-3C, Warm Audio WA-2A, AudioScape 76F, Dean guitars, Marshall amps, etc., etc.!
- HCMarkus
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Re: best choice for an upgradeable silver tower MacPro?
Yes. Also, nominally, you don't have to flash EFI, and get a better stock GPUJames Steele wrote:Is this just because of the hassle of de-lidding the CPUs?HCMarkus wrote:If you are looking to move to a duel CPU model, 5.1 is the best choice for upgrading. If you only need a single CPU 4.1 is just as good and it certainly less expensive