MacPro 2008 8-core vs. 2012 12-core

[Wolfie2112]

My 3,1 early 2008 8-core MacPro works fine.

But I am thinking of upgrading to a June 2012 12-core. I use a Tascam interface/console setup that wants FireWire, I have PCI cards I want to use, and so I'm not all that excited about the upcoming MacPros... I don't need Thunderbolt.

Do you mean PCI express cards? I pretty sure the Mac doesn't support PCI. If you're going to shell out for a 12 core, just wait a bit longer like the others have mentioned. I was informed by Apple the it will be released in late April (but that could be a nasty rumour). Even if it's Q3, the wait will be worth it...even if you then opt for the current systems since they will be discounted for sure.

[Gravity Jim]

I'm resurrecting this thread to ask:

My reading on the web indicates that, while its benchmark numbers are far, far better, a 12-core 2012 Mac Pro running at a slightly slower clock speed per core will probably not actually run my DAW any better/faster than my current 8-core 208 3,1 at 2.8ghz does.

Is this true, do you think? Will I actually get a greater performance boost by replacing my start-up/apps drive with an SSD? What if I replaced both the start up drive and my Samples drive with SSDs, but continued to record audio to a 7200 RPM HDD?

I'm looking at ways to continue to use my 8-core for another couple of years while still boosting performance.

EDITED TO ADD: Never mind... i think I have it figured out. More cores would allow for more VIs, maybe as much as 50% more with 4 more cores... but it won't improve DP's performance. SSD drives are nice but, aside from faster loading times, you don't really get a performance boost there, either, as far as I can tell.

So I guess I'll just use this machine the way I have it tricked out now until I'm ready for the little barrel-shaped Mac Pro.... maybe another couple of years.

[HCMarkus]

Although I can't offer any personal observation confirming how the two machines would compare when running DP, I suspect the newer 12 core would allow you to run more VIs and plugins, as DP is a highly multi-threaded application. That said, adding SSDs to your current machine would definitely make it more responsive... your suggested approach (SSD boot and sample drives, HD for audio) makes good sense.

You have two extra SATA ports on your 2008 motherboard, so you could add two SSDs in the optical bay... you'll need a power splitter and proper SATA cables. You could also add a SATA3 PCIe card such as http://www.ebay.com/itm/PCI-E-Express-S ... 4d004e4225 which will reportedly allow booting. I have the same or similar card but have never used it for my boot drive.

I have three SSDs sitting in my optical bay. I simply moved my optical drive to the lower bay and have the SSD's sitting on top of it, held in place with double-sided foam tape... plenty secure for a computer that sits in a machine room and is never moved. There is space behind the optical drive cage thru which cables can be threaded if you go with a PCIe card.

[HCMarkus]

Jim, do yourself a favor and at least try an SSD boot drive. The word "snappy" comes to mind, and I do mean snappy!

[daveyboy]

Jim, do yourself a favor and at least try an SSD boot drive. The word "snappy" comes to mind, and I do mean snappy!

Yes!! I put one in my 2008 8 core last year and it was like getting a new Mac.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Gravity Jim]

You talked me into it. Ill try one. Wold you do the boot drive or the Samples drive first?

And what drive do you recommend for a MacPro? I'd like one that fits the "drawers."

[mikehalloran]

If you really feel the need for speed, OWC has a PCIe SSD that breaks through the SATA 3.0 barrier.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/PCIe ... lsior/RAID

[daveyboy]

You talked me into it. Ill try one. Wold you do the boot drive or the Samples drive first?

And what drive do you recommend for a MacPro? I'd like one that fits the "drawers."

I went 512 gb crucial from Amazon boot drive. You'll need an adapter to make it work in the drawers. I bought a plastic thing but owc sells things that work too.

[Gravity Jim]

Mike, that looks like some freaky massive overkill for me.

I'm looking at Otherworld's line of Mercury drives right now. Good reviews. They've gotten bigger and cheaper since I last looked... I couldn't find one big enough to use as my sample drive a year ago, and now they've got plenty of them.

[rodger1811]

I have the 2008 8-Core Mac Pro and I have the 2012 12-core. The twelve core is significantly faster and it supports much more ram than the 8-core. Given the 64-bit world that we live in now, just having the ability to have more ram just might be worth the price of admission. My 8-core, 24MB machine purrs right along without problems and I don't suspect that you'd have future problems with that aspect.

[HCMarkus]

Mike, that looks like some freaky massive overkill for me.

I'm looking at Otherworld's line of Mercury drives right now. Good reviews. They've gotten bigger and cheaper since I last looked... I couldn't find one big enough to use as my sample drive a year ago, and now they've got plenty of them.

SSD Boot Drive is my recommendation for quick start up. You can get by with a smaller SSD than you will probably need to handle your sample data. Set your downloads folder to another drive (in Safari) to avoid filling up your SSD and consider putting your photos and most other data on another drive, too.

Look into the Intel SSDs if you want to go with a Sandforce controller. You can get more bang for your buck than you will with OWC (which are also Sandforce-based), and Intel developed custome firmware that has proven to be very reliable.

You will need an adaptor sled (OWC andothers sell 'em) if you want to insert an SSD in the Mac Pro drive slots. As noted in my prior post, the optical bay is ready (unless you have two optical drives installed) and the extra SATA ports are waiting for you on the motherboard. SSDs have no moving parts and don't produce much heat. No need to use a sled to house them.

[Gravity Jim]

Rodger1811, I've got 16GB of ram in my 8-core, which is plenty for my work. I'd like to be able to run more VI's, but I realized last night that a slight change in my work habits will make the expense of a new Mac a moot point.

So, I went for the SSDs. Research indicated that the best bang-for-buck among top-rated drives comes from the Samsung 840 series, so I got a 250 and a 500 to replace the start up drive and the sample drive, and a pair of adapter cradles that work great with the MacPros according to reviews.

To infinity and beyond.

[frankf]

Jim, what cradles are you using? I have an OWC Adaptadrive for SSD startup that didn't seat properly in Drive slot 1 in my 3,1 after mounting it in the Apple sled. Fit fine in slots 2-4 however. My 3,1 has much more zip to it now.


Frank Ferrucci

[Gravity Jim]

The cradles are the AdaptaDrive units by Newer Technology, just like yours. Reviews on Amazon were all 5-star positive, citing how easily they worked, how the solid metal construction made them really simple to get lined up, and specifically how great they worked with the MacPro sleds. One guy had trouble, so maybe he (and you) got a bad one.

I can always boot from Slot #2 if it won't seat right, but most users reported no problem.

[frankf]

I can always boot from Slot #2 if it won't seat right, but most users reported no problem.

Which is where mine is sitting. Thanks, Jim



Frank Ferrucci