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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 :)

Ready to purchase a new Mac Pro tower

Joe Carney

Joe Carney

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The question I have is...
Is it worth it to get the dual 6 core over the dual 4 core?
Hope this is the right place to ask this.
Plus I hope there will be a Thunderbolt add in card for it soon.
 
Joe Carney said:
The question I have is...
Is it worth it to get the dual 6 core over the dual 4 core?
Hope this is the right place to ask this.
Plus I hope there will be a Thunderbolt add in card for it soon.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't hold your breath over hopes for a Thunderbolt card, especially since you are contemplating buying a new MacPro when the newest model--which will certainly include Thunderbolt--is expected to be released in the coming weeks. Besides, it's my understanding that Thunderbolt goes direct to the motherboard, so adding it with a card is not an option, as I understand it. Are six cores better than four? Not if you're using the current release of FCP. But, again, if you can hold out for a week or two, FCPX promises to make efficient use of all cores.

Pull up your socks and try to wait a bit longer.
 
Thanks, I wasn't goiing to buy until July anyway. I was planning on using Adobe Production Premium plus some other stuff, not FCP.

Are you sure there is an update coming soon?
 
If you're waiting until July the new models *might* be out, in which case any advice you get now may well be null and void.

Assuming you've got the current version of Adobe (CS5 or 5.5) you'll definitely see some benefits from the extra cores, at least in After Effects. I don't use Premiere, so I couldn't tell you about any multi-core enhancements there.
 
Rumours of a new form factor Mac Pro persist, but when it could come out is unclear - there won't be any new processors suitable until the end of this year, but perhaps Thundebolt+new case+better pricing of existing processors might lead to an earlier release.

I think it's too hard to call - I've decided to shelve any plans of new systems this year - although I may pick up a couple of bargain/used ones to keep on trucking. I can always sell 'em on.

One things for sure - Thunderbolt needs motherboard support, so will NEVER be available as a card for current machines. However, as it's really just a 4xPCIe connection, there's a lot less reason to hang on for it than on laptops and iMacs.
 
I would hold off buying any new Mac hardware until OSX Lion shows up in July. Word on the street is that several new Macs will be introduced around this time (but my guess is that new Mac Pros won't show up until fall).

Lots of rumors and conjectures about this over on the LA Final Cut Pro User Group.
 
KETCH ROSSi said:
We picked up a new iMac 27", the works, just to get us by till the new Mac Pro's come out, if really in need of a system now you could do the same... ;)
Click to expand...

I was thinking just that. Since it's looking like 2012 for the Epic-S, no need for a Red Rocket at this time. Unless someone comes out with a thunderbolt interface for the iMac.
Only negative on the new iMacs is the graphics card is a mobile one, half the processing power of the desktop version. But still no slouch.
 
It's still a pretty decent machine. And several companies have already announced that they will be making Thunderbolt PCIe enclosures, so in theory you might even be able to run a Rocket on an iMac soon.
 
Ben Brainerd said:
If you're waiting until July the new models *might* be out, in which case any advice you get now may well be null and void.

Assuming you've got the current version of Adobe (CS5 or 5.5) you'll definitely see some benefits from the extra cores, at least in After Effects. I don't use Premiere, so I couldn't tell you about any multi-core enhancements there.
Click to expand...

Having worked at adobe for many moons I can easily say that Premiere is the best adobe app for using all the system resources you can throw at it. It uses all the cores all the time. If you have a cuda card it will max out your graphics card and cores. So the more cores and ram your machine has the more we will use.

Cheers

Dave
 
Hey Joe,

I have the 6-core and have since last October. Fantastic machine and perfect balance between price and speed.

Thunderbolt is great but if you need a powerful machine to do some real work in the next say 4-6 months, I wouldn't wait.

Then again, if your main function isn't post and you don't need its speed and power every day, Ketch's suggestion of a temporary iMac is a good one.
 
jimhare said:
Hey Joe,

I have the 6-core and have since last October. Fantastic machine and perfect balance between price and speed.

Thunderbolt is great but if you need a powerful machine to do some real work in the next say 4-6 months, I wouldn't wait.

Then again, if your main function isn't post and you don't need its speed and power every day, Ketch's suggestion of a temporary iMac is a good one.
Click to expand...
Yes, something to consider. Thanks.
 
9 to 5 Mac is reporting that the new Mac Pros and Mac Minis with Thunderbolt will launch in August, but it's just a rumor for the moment. The timing makes sense, though.
 
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