Mac Pro Musical Chairs- which of these for DP?

[Killahurts]

I'm hoping some of you guys can give me some advice.

My 2006 Quad Core has been a great computer, but I've been asking more and more of it, and it's starting to buckle. I have fairly large templates for composing, including 75-100 tracks of MIDI that power mainly virtual instruments, and maybe 20-30 auxes with VE Pro returning from the slave machine, plus auxes for OB gear. I have to use a lot of audio tracks (30-50), even in addition to the MIDI/VI tracks (which I don't like to render until the very end, if at all). All audio tracks and VI auxes have plug ins applied, but I have a UAD Quad card and a TC Powercore express card to help with those. Though I was pushing it, It was all working reasonably well until my console died, and I went ITB with 5 Euphonix controllers.

So I went and purchased a new Mac Pro yesterday- 8 Core 2.4 GHz. (It will have at least 16GB RAM). The RAM speed is 1066 MHz.

I would have to spend $1500 or $2700 more to get the 2.66G or 2.93G, respectively, which I didn't think was a good value. They do have 1333MHz. RAM though. Besides, $1500 more gets me a 2.66 12-Core.

I also have a 2008 "Harpertown" 8-Core 3.2 GHz. 16GB RAM (800 MHz.) machine in my video editing room. That machine is actually more than I need for the type and amount of video work I do. Even though it's a couple years old, it's still a really fast computer at 3.2 GHz.

The new machine I got is going to replace the either the DP machine or the video machine. Of those 2, I want the one that is most powerful with DP, to be the DP machine. Either is fine for the video stuff.

So you see my dilemma, what is more important to DP, faster clock speed, faster RAM, or the new Westmere processors?

The new 8-core is still in the box. I suppose I could just vomit and get the 12 core , but she's about to kill me as it is.

[Killahurts]

Oh I forgot to mention- low buffer settings are a top priority for me. I need to keep that at 256 or lower.

[HCMarkus]

I lust for the 6 core 3.33 gHz.

[Killahurts]

Would that be what I want instead of the other options I listed above? It's only a little more than what I paid already..

I wonder why Apple doesn't list the 6-Core on their site?

[billf]

Would that be what I want instead of the other options I listed above? It's only a little more than what I paid already..

I wonder why Apple doesn't list the 6-Core on their site?

It is listed, but I think you have to go into the configuration part of the store to see it. If you select a quad-core to configure, you should see an option for the 6-core.

[Killahurts]

Yeah, I finally called Apple and they told me, but thanks!

So after exhaustive research and may differing opinions, I have come to the conclusion that for my needs, the 6 core may be the way to go. It's got the clock speed, which seems to be what matters most for audio apps.. I can't be totally sure because I don't know anyone who runs DP and has tried both.

[Killahurts]

I took the 8-core back yesterday and got the 12-Core 2.66 in it's place. I was going to get the 6-Core machine, but then I saw this comparison:

http://www.barefeats.com/wst10.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The 12 just seemed worth the extra $$ to me, for the power it will provide. I'll start with 12GB RAM- 8 GB from Apple, and 2 more 2GB sticks from Mac RAM Direct, or some other RAM seller (suggestions?).

[n2mpujack]

I took the 8-core back yesterday and got the 12-Core 2.66 in it's place. I was going to get the 6-Core machine, but then I saw this comparison:

http://www.barefeats.com/wst10.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The 12 just seemed worth the extra $$ to me, for the power it will provide. I'll start with 12GB RAM- 8 GB from Apple, and 2 more 2GB sticks from Mac RAM Direct, or some other RAM seller (suggestions?).

OWC for ram. Check towards the bottom of this page for the dual hex core (12 core) ram options.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/M ... 333-memory" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Plus they'll take you old ram in trade for the new ram.

[Killahurts]

I took the 8-core back yesterday and got the 12-Core 2.66 in it's place. I was going to get the 6-Core machine, but then I saw this comparison:

http://www.barefeats.com/wst10.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The 12 just seemed worth the extra $$ to me, for the power it will provide. I'll start with 12GB RAM- 8 GB from Apple, and 2 more 2GB sticks from Mac RAM Direct, or some other RAM seller (suggestions?).

OWC for ram. Check towards the bottom of this page for the dual hex core (12 core) ram options.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/M ... 333-memory" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Plus they'll take you old ram in trade for the new ram.

Yep, that's exactly what I did! They had an awesome deal on 24 GB.

Too bad I went with Apple's Upgrade to 8GB. You go from 6 GB to 8GB for $150, but they replace the 6 (useless) 1GB chips for 4 2GB sticks. Get 2 more 2GB sticks, now you're at 12GB.. but I changed my mind and went for the whole enchilada.

But the good news is OWC will let me trade in the Apple RAM, like you said. I think I'll get $14 each, so that's $56. Helps make things a little better.

[HCMarkus]

I stopped by Mac Performance Guide yesterday. Lloyd has updated his testing to include the 6 core 3.33 Mac Pro and his OWC-enhanced 12-core 3.33. This is thus an excellent test with which to compare core number performance impacts.

http://macperformanceguide.com/Reviews- ... tudio.html

Although the test uses Logic, not DP, the results should at least be indicative of what DP users can expect in relative performance between the 6 and 12 core Macs. Interesting to note that, at 192k sampling rate, the 12 core essentially doubled the 6 core's capability, but at lower rates the difference diminishes. Unfortunately, Lloyd did not test the 12 core at 44k. It is possible that the 12 core's significant advantage at 192k may be reduced to a dead heat at 44k, judging from the apparent trend indicated by the 96k test results.

As a person who works at 44 and 48k exclusively, these results reaffirm my feeling that the 6 core is the machine for me... now if only I could afford it!

[rob fetters]

Hi Everyone, and happy holidays,

I was asking a similar question 6 weeks ago and went for the 6-core during a quick break in my work. Immediately I was plunged into a trial by fire doing 3 fast turnaround projects, 2 of which were postscores to 3 minutes of picture. I had a few crashes early on ( auto save @ 5 minutes is a godsend ), but it felt like things just started to adjust themselves and all's cool. I've since read on other threads that I shouldn't have used "Migration" from my old MacBookPro, and that I should boot up at 32-bits to use the 32-bit NI VIs I employ. Nonetheless, at 64-bits the 32-bit VIs are working fine. I hope I'm not whistlin' in the dark, but so far I'm very happy with my new 'puter. I'm gonna upgrade to 7.22 asap.