Windows Thinking of moving over to Mac Pro

[Loyd981]

Hello All:

I have a question I been using Protools for sometime on a Windows XP Dual core system with 4gbs of ram at home, but I am finding that the new Plug-ins are bigger and need more power to run them. At my work we have change over to Mac Pro 8 core systems for all areas of Video and they are fast, but my question is should I buy a 4 core or 8 core system, and is there anything I should get more of on the system. The only thing I use live is Vocals. Everything else I use Plug-ins. Also I heard that a new 6 core system is coming out?

Any help would be great.
Thanks
Loyd981

[nst7]

As for new ones coming out, the Mac Pros are pretty consistently updated once a year, and that's generally in March/April. The last ones came out last March, and here we are now in March. So I would definitely try to hold out if I were you.

[Loyd981]

Hey nst7:

Thanks for the reply. Maybe I will just wait and see what happens with the Mac Pro systems.

Thanks
Loyd981

[Obsidian Dragon]

Protools definitly works better with more processors. Given the need to reduce your playback engine by one of more processors to handle non-realtime plugins, the more you have to start with the better. Definitely wait to see what Apple comes out with but it may also be a good time to pick up a 8-core Nehalem MacPro for less than it is today. Remember that the Nehalem processors implement hyperthreading which allows Protools to see the 8 cores as as 16 processor cores!

[Loyd981]

Hey Obsidian Dragon:

That is a great point and thank you for your replay.

Loyd981