Mac Pro ....Which One should I get ?

tommypenngotti · Post by **tommypenngotti** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:45 pm

My G5 Power PC is getting to old and left in the dust. I want to get a used Mac Pro but am unsure which is best for the $800-$1200 range for using DP (Obviously the newer the better) I'm settled on getting at least 8GB's of memory.

Is there a huge difference in processor speed with : Intel core Duo vs Intel Xeon Dual Core vs Quad Core?

This is one of the towers I'm looking at :

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/sys/2911286862.html

Dual Core 2.66 / 9GB Memory/Snow Leopard 10.6.8/

Curious how long before this box is outdated etc.....thanks in advance

kgdrum · Post by **kgdrum** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:46 am

I looked at the ad & can't see what year the MacPro is from.the fact that the year is not mentioned, I suspect it's a 2006 or '07
I'd avoid anything before 2008,so you can run in a 64bit Kernel and if you can get newer I'd go newer ........
If I was buying now I'd be aiming for a 2009 or 2010 MacPro as they will be hyper-threading capable(even better) , it might cost a bit more but these are better machines and adding Ram on a '09 or newer MacPro is cheaper than a '08.
When you start running one of these in the 64bit Kernel you will want to add and use more Ram IMO.

bayswater · Post by **bayswater** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 6:07 am

It looks like the MacPro 1,1 if you match up the specs to the listings in MacTracker. This app is handy for situations like this.

http://www.mactracker.ca/

MIDI Life Crisis · Post by **MIDI Life Crisis** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 7:38 am

What kg said. Make sure- SURE! - that it can boot in 64 bit or you will not be a happy camper when DP 8 is released later this Spring.

tommypenngotti · Post by **tommypenngotti** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:58 am

how do you know if a Mac Pro can boot in 64 bit?

BTW - that tower I was looking at was a 2007 and now looks as though I'm gonna pass -

When is DP8 coming exactly? I might as well just cruise on what I have for a bit ....

thanks guys!

kgdrum · Post by **kgdrum** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:54 am

Most MacPros 2008 or newer will usually boot up in the 64bit Kernel.
When booting,holding the 6&4 keys will boot the 64bit capable Mac into the 64bit Kernel.
This might be a good link to check out:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3770

MIDI Life Crisis · Post by **MIDI Life Crisis** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 10:11 am

A few early 2008 machines don't. I think mine may be at the bottom end (Mac version 3,1) but I don't know definitively which early 2008 machines are 64 bit capable.

tommypenngotti · Post by **tommypenngotti** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:38 am

I missed the 64 bit kernel memo , what is the advantage ? thanks

kgdrum · Post by **kgdrum** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:43 am

Being able to utilize more than 4gigs of Ram in DP8 as well as other 64bit apps.
You should do an Internet search about the advantages of this it's discussed in numerous contexts and threads.

tommypenngotti · Post by **tommypenngotti** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:10 pm

question - when you do the manual 6 and 4 button boot up into 64 , does it stay in 64 until computer gets shut down? What about if it goes into sleep mode?

this way :

How to boot into 64-bit mode PERMALINK

I recommend testing first, using the two-finger dance approach, below, because rebooting without it gets you right back into 32-bit mode.

Some older Macs with 32-bit firmware cannot boot into 64-bit mode. That’s life.

The two-finger dance — wired keyboard only (not wireless)
Hold down the '6' and '4' keys when the Mac starts up (until the Apple log). After starting up in 64-bit mode, check About This Mac…, click More Info, then click on Software. In 64-bit mode there will be a “yes” next to “64-bit Kernel and Extensions”.

FutureLegends · Post by **FutureLegends** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:31 pm

Here we go again... People, you can use 64bit apps AND MORE THAN 4GB RAM even if your computer can't boot in 64bit kernel!!!

But to be future safe I would try to get one that can boot in 64bit.

tommypenngotti · Post by **tommypenngotti** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:58 pm

I get that 32bit can work 64 bit apps , but how well? I'm sure it's all dependent on how much extra stuff is running , plug ins etc.....thanks for your advice though

I think you hit the nail when you said eventually companies will move past 32bit

bayswater · Post by **bayswater** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:09 pm

FutureLegends wrote:Here we go again... People, you can use 64bit apps AND MORE THAN 4GB RAM even if your computer can't boot in 64bit kernel!!!

But to be future safe I would try to get one that can boot in 64bit.

So why are we restricted now? I don't get it. You seem to be saying suggesting there are no real benefits to 64 bit operation.

FutureLegends · Post by **FutureLegends** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 6:18 am

With 32bit kernel, EVERYTHING except the kernel runs in 64bit (in Lion at least). The kernel controls memory and drivers etc. It usually doesn't need to use more than 4gb of ram to do that. (it will eventually when we start using hundreds of GBs of ram).
In most cases the 32/64bit kernel thing is a none-issue* and people have made more of it that necessary. There seems to be some slight performance gain by running full 64bit, but it's not that much.

* Until hardware manufacturers stop providing 32bit drivers at least

However, newer machines use faster memory, faster buses, faster everything mostly. And RAM is at least three times as expensive for the Mac Pro 1,1 models compared to the currently shipping models! So loading up an older Mac Pro with enough ram to really gain from 64bit apps will be really expensive.

So it will probably be worth paying a bit more to get a newer model and it will make you future proof.

FutureLegends · Post by **FutureLegends** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 6:28 am

bayswater wrote:So why are we restricted now? I don't get it. You seem to be saying suggesting there are no real benefits to 64 bit operation.

Because DP is not 64bit

Other than that we aren't really restricted. Except that ram is really expensive for the early Mac Pros.
There's real benefits to 64bit operation, it's just that you don't have to start in 64bit kernel to enjoy 64bit operation and that's where the confusion is.

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