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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

New Mac Pros are here!

I know two of you were fighting about who was the first one to order...but who was the first one to get one after they found out that the local Apple store had already gotten them?!

Read 'em and weep!

I will try and give a report tomorrow after I get things installed, files copied over, and some tests run (anyone wanna know some RedCine export speeds?!)

Matthew
 
Curran Giddens said:
http://eshop.macsales.com/MyOWC/Upgrades.cfm?model=286&type=Memory&TI=4620&shoupgrds=Show+Upgrades

OWC has "Apple Certified" RAM (Netlist) for the new machines. It costs $80 more then the OWC brand RAM, but at least if for some reason I have to call AppleCare, I can say I am using "factory" modules.
Click to expand...

All I was saying is to be careful with third-party modules at this point. We're dealing with a new system with a new chipset and new CPUs. Most likely those modules still work just fine, but there's a chance they may not.

And the OWC modules are normally just fine. Although, I prefer the Mushkin and Crucial ones because they can usually be had for a bit less. OWC just slaps their label on modules from Crucial and PNY anyway.

I'm planning to buy third party RAM for my MAC Pro when I order here in a another couple weeks. I can put the full 16GB in there for less than what Apple wants for 8GB. :umm:

Oh, and if you do call Apple or bring in the system for service under AppleCare. They won't care about the other RAM in there. It's fully allowed under AppleCare to install / upgrade the RAM, HDDs and peripheral cards on your own. However, if your problem is due to using faulty RAM, then they won't cover it unless the RAM is from Apple.
 
joelnet said:
Yeah - I think 8800Gt's are about $250. You should be able to toss one in any time you like and not wait 3-5weeks unless Apple is reworking the drivers during those 3-5weeks.
Click to expand...

Uh... No.

You can't just install any 8800GT card. You need one that has the proper EFI ROM. So you have to wait for Apple or some authorized third-party to supply one. Or you can find out who is supplying Apple with their 8800GT and buy appropriate card and then replace the BIOS with the proper EFI image. If you can find the right ROM image and a flash utility for that card.

Apple usually has these cards available through their parts system, but often charge an arm and a leg. Some models, like the Quadro, they will offer for sale as an upgrade through the Apple store, don't know if they will with the 8800GT.
 
Jeff Kilgroe said:
You can't just install any 8800GT card. You need one that has the proper EFI ROM. So you have to wait for Apple or some authorized third-party to supply one.
Click to expand...

Well that just sucks doesn't it? Hmmm.... the 8800GT sure sounds like a cool card, it would be nice to have it working in there.
 
If apple doesn't announce new monitors next week, what is a good alternative to the 30" display? I've heard a 30" Dell is just as good and much cheaper. Does anybody have any other monitor advice?
 
This is interesting, it looks like the Canadian prices have come down. Base model is still $100 more, but all upgrades seem to be on par with the US site. All except the apple displays that is... Maybe we will see something next week???
 
The Dell 30" displays are nice. I'm staring at two of them right now.

If I were to make a guess about when we'll see new Apple displays, I'm thinking sometime later this year. If they do something now, it would be a cosmetic re-design rather than a functional one, just due to the current panel offerings on the market. It will probably be a while yet before we see LED backlight systems in larger (greater than 17") displays and we've been seeing a push to get pixel sizes down on mainstream displays for higher resolutions, it's coming. Looks like there were some interesting products shown at CES this week that could translate into new displays at some point in the next 6 to 12 months.

I'll be buying a new Mac Pro shortly... But I'm not buying a new display of any type until I go to NAB and see what RED is cooking up.
 
Thanks Jeff, I'll have to get something before NAB, my dueling 17" CRT's just won't cut it on my new Mac Pro, but one instead of two 30" displays is probably a good idea until NAB.
 
Mac Pro Performace Test: http://www.primatelabs.ca/blog/
The new Mac Pro 8 cores 2.8GHz is compared with the old Mac Pro 8 cores 3.0 GHz. Conclusion: the new one is faster in almost every area at more affordable prices.

Mac Pro buying advice for graphic cards: http://www.primatelabs.ca/blog/2008/01/mac-pro-performance-january-2008/http://barefeats.com/york2.html
In this article it's also mentioned that the 8800GT is NOT compatible with the older Mac Pros.
But no words about which graphics is best for REDCINE ;-)
 
Is the 3.2GHz model worth the extra $800? or would that money be better spent on RAM in a 3.0 GHz model? When working with REDCINE and RED footage in FCP of course.
 
JustinGD said:
Is the 3.2GHz model worth the extra $800? or would that money be better spent on RAM in a 3.0 GHz model? When working with REDCINE and RED footage in FCP of course.
Click to expand...

I spent the extra $800 for the 3.2GHz model because it's better/faster then my friends 3.0GHz 8-core, even if it's only by 1.1 - 1.3x.

:nerd:
 
The Q? for this system configurations are more then a few, but the ones that I'm a bit confused with, are this 3 below.

A) SPEED: 2.8 VS. 3.0 VS. 3.2 HOW MUCH IS PLANTY

B) MEMORY: HOW MUCH IS PLANTY

C) GRAPHIC CARDS: ATI VS. NVIDIA ( I LIKE TO BE ABLE TO USE 3 0R 4 30" MONITORS )

B) HARD DRIVES: 1TB 7200RPM VS. 300GB 15000RPM DRIVES

I know that we are all hoping to get more detailed info on this system preferable configuration for FCS 2, REDCINE, SHAKE users such as my self, so I hope that some of our very own REDUSERs experienced Pros will be able to guide those of as that know less.

Ciao,

KETCH ROSSI
www.KETCHFRAME.com
 
Hi Ketch... Here's my thoughts to your questions:

A> 3.0GHz is the sweet spot. Obviously every little bit helps, but I would put that additional $800 toward extra RAM or drives first.

B> 8GB+, you get get an 8GB kit from Crucial for about $900 vs. $1500 from Apple. Edit: Crucial currently doesn't have modules compatible with the new Mac Pro. PNY has modules with the same specs, but they haven't done compatibility testing yet and don't offer them for sale with the proper heat spreaders.

C> For more than two 30" monitors, you will need two video cards. The ATI 2600HD is the only card that Apple supports multiple configurations of. Overall, it's not as powerful as the 8800GT, but it's what you need to run 3 or 4 of those 30" displays. We don't have the answers yet about performance with REDCINE and if the nVIDIA drivers are still a problem or not.

D> This is a bit tricky, depends on what you want to do with the system. I'm going to recommend the 750GB or 1TB SATA drives and not SAS. Unless you're using this system as a server or want to keep your workspace RAID all in the same box. But that's kinda hard... You would do better to skip the Apple RAID card and just get one or two internal hard drives and then spend your money on a nice eSATA or FC connected external RAID. But it's a tough call -- depends on what you want to do and how you want to do it. Apple's prices on hard drives are too high - I wouldn't buy more than one drive from them. OTOH, those 300GB SAS drives are very hard to find right now, I wonder if Apple will have enough quantity for their orders?

If I were ordering a Mac Pro today, here's what I would get:

3.0GHz

2GB stock RAM (I'll had another 8GB from Crucial or PNY)

8800GT video - unsure about REDCINE performance, but it's the best choice for some of my other software (Modo, Maya). Don't need to spend the extra on the Quadro. I'm sure Apple will fix any nVidia driver issues soon.

Single 750GB HDD -- I'll be adding a second 750GB on my own and then attaching the system to an eSATA RAID.

Single optical drive. I'll add a blu-ray drive in the second bay as soon as FCS supports it.

Wireless Keyboard and I'll throw away that Mighty Mouse crap and get a Logitech.

Applecare.
 
I do agree with your suggestions Jeff, but I have to say that in previous systems configurations had turned out a pain not getting the system built completely strait from Apple, granted their prices on HD and RAM are creasy high but at list I don't have to shop around not even knowing if they will work fine.

I don't have the time to built a system piece by piece and therefore I prefer to pay a little extra ( a lot with Apple) and get the entire system configuration in one shot, most importantly insuring this way that I don't buy 3rd party items that again may not work properly or not meet the new MAC specifications.

My set up station will have to include 3 30" monitors and a fourth larger HD flat TV screen for viewing, so as you mentioned I guess the ATI cards will be the only way to go on this system, unless getting the NVIDIA card with a separate AJA component would do the same in a much better image quality support.

I want a system to use for Dailies, RedCode Raw Editing, FX and Photo Editing, therefore using FCP6, COLOR, MOTION, REDCINE, SHAKE, APERTURE, DXO, TIFFEN FX and normal Mac activities.

For Sound Tracks and 3D rendering I will no doubt want to use Individuals Studios set up specifically for each individual applications as I believe the Sound Tracks and 3D Renderings will be extremely difficult and demanding both on Hard were and Space.

I guess for now will try to postpone the purchase a few more days, but again I was in need of a new system months ago and waited because the news of this system coming available.

At this point I hope as the rest of as here that Rob soon gives as heads up on our best configuration for RED.

I will hate to finally after two years get my first RED and not have a station to process the footage on, well I could use my MacBook Pro but is getting very cranky lately with all the different programs I have been installing.

As far as the Hd inside the system I definately want to fill up the tower, as space when traveling must be well used, the question remaines of how effective would the 300GB @ 15000 vs. the 1TB @ 7200, mostly because all the G Drive FW 800 max out @ 7200 and this is why I'm not sure about the benefits of going with the 15000rpm Drives.

This will be an investment that must be good for at list a couple of years so I want to build it as best as possible from the begin.

Ciao,

KETCH ROSSI
 
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