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Old 01-29-2019, 02:28 PM
mkallis mkallis is offline
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Default Mac Pro 5,1 2009 with Xeon 12-core a good choice?

My 2008 iMac is constantly giving me CPU overload errors in larger sessions. I'm looking to upgrade but don't have a lot of $. I'm considering the system (specs below) at $1,500. I have the PT subscription plan and would like to keep it current. Should this system do the job and last me a few years? Would the $ be better spent on something newer? Thanks all!

Mac Pro 5,1 2009
Two Intel Xeon 3.46 GHz (X5690) Matched Pair HEX (6) Core CPUs.
128GB (8x16GB) PC3-8500 DDR3 Memory
ATI Radeon 5870 512MB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 Video
500GB Crucial SSD system hard drive
2x 1.5TB 64mb cache Western Digital SATA hard drives
Mac OSX Mojave
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Old 01-29-2019, 02:29 PM
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arche3 arche3 is offline
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Default Re: Mac Pro 5,1 2009 with Xeon 12-core a good choice?

That computer is a beast. Yes. It's a great choice.
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Old 01-29-2019, 02:29 PM
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arche3 arche3 is offline
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Default Re: Mac Pro 5,1 2009 with Xeon 12-core a good choice?

But need new graphics card. Get a radeon pulse.

I'm not even sure the current 5870 card is comparable with Mojave?
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Old 01-29-2019, 03:12 PM
tclash tclash is offline
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Default Re: Mac Pro 5,1 2009 with Xeon 12-core a good choice?

I have a single hex-core 3.46GHz in my 2009 Mac Pro and it runs big mix sessions without breaking a sweat. The 12-core version should be plenty!

The main limitation with these machines is no Thunderbolt.

I put a flashed 7950 in mine to run Mojave. Can't verify if the 5870 supports it or not.
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Old 01-29-2019, 05:29 PM
Oliver M Oliver M is offline
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Default Re: Mac Pro 5,1 2009 with Xeon 12-core a good choice?

I run a 12-Core 3.46 GHz, it runs great but a 6-Core will do just fine. If you need lots of RAM then get a 12-Core as it contains more RAM slots. Other than that I would save the bucks to get better cards/more RAM, whatever.
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Old 01-29-2019, 05:50 PM
tclash tclash is offline
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Default Re: Mac Pro 5,1 2009 with Xeon 12-core a good choice?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oliver M View Post
I would save the bucks to get better cards/more RAM, whatever.
I would second that. Plus, if you find a stock single-processor 2009 or 2010 (4,1 or 5,1) it's super easy to put in a hex-core 3.46 for about $120.
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Old 01-30-2019, 06:07 AM
mkallis mkallis is offline
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Default Re: Mac Pro 5,1 2009 with Xeon 12-core a good choice?

So I just found out that there’s kind of a dealbreaker with this machine unfortunately. I need something with thunderbolt 2 so I can run an Aplollo Twin MKII. Does anybody know if any of the pre-trashcan Mac pros have thunderbolt 2?
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Old 01-30-2019, 06:16 AM
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Southsidemusic Southsidemusic is offline
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Default Re: Mac Pro 5,1 2009 with Xeon 12-core a good choice?

No cheesegrater Mac Pro (pre 2013) has Thunderbolt. You would need to rebuild a PC or get a newer Mac or ditch the Apollo unit for USB or FW
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Old 01-30-2019, 07:31 AM
TrackerLe TrackerLe is offline
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Default Re: Mac Pro 5,1 2009 with Xeon 12-core a good choice?

If you are searching for an old MacPro... Be sure, that is a Mac Pro 5.1 (2010 or 2012)... The 2009 MPs are Mac Pro 4.1, where the processor upgrade is more difficult... As said before in this thread. The classic Mac Pro has no Thunderbolt. It is possible to upgrade it with an USB3.1 Card and with the actual firmware, you can use NVME SSDs as Boot Disk on a PCIe Carrier Card...But important, there is and will be no thunderbolt on this mac.
One of my Computers is a Mac Pro 5.1 2010 12 core with 64gb Ram and SSDs and a Usb3.1 Card and HDN PCIe. Its a very good system and stable and my flashed gtx 980 works fine.



Don´t forget, that this year a new Mac Pro will come and will be showed at the WWDC.



At last, if you really want a classic Mac Pro, be sure its a 5.1 with westmere Cpus and no 4.1 with nehalem Cpus...
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Old 01-30-2019, 08:48 AM
samtrino samtrino is offline
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Default Re: Mac Pro 5,1 2009 with Xeon 12-core a good choice?

Unfortunately there's no way to add TB to Mac Pros 5,1 and earlier...
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