Which Mac Pro 5,1 to buy?

[Benny_Cha_Cha]

Ive always wanted more processing power out of my 6 core 3.33. I'd def buy a 12core now if I was to do it again.

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by Benny_Cha_Cha

Ive always wanted more processing power out of my 6 core 3.33. I'd def buy a 12core now if I was to do it again.

I just wish Apple had allowed having two of those 3.33 GHz cpu's in a dual cpu machine. IIRC they didn't allow it.

[john1192]

http://www.ipowerresale.com/buy/mac-...-core-westmere


here it is ..

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by john1192

http://www.ipowerresale.com/buy/mac-...-core-westmere


here it is ..

Thanks. I thought originally Apple didn't have a BTO with dual 3.33 cpu's? Guess I remember wrong (which happens at my age )

[Trainwreckmusic]

i have wrestled with this decision since I purchased my PT 10/11/12 perpetual license in december.

But I just cant bring myself to invest $1700 in a 2010 used Mac Pro that will never support thunderbolt and is built with what is now 6 year technology and parts with a 90 day warranty. Or a 2012 Mac Pro for additional $700. If I want more than a 90 day warrenty add another $297 for a grand total of $2697.
That is for a base unit with 16Ghz DDR3 Ram & 1TB 7200rpm HHD.
Start adding more RAM , SDD’s and other upgrades….Well how fat is wallet?

As good as the Mac Pro 5.1 are. They are still limited to what the 4-6 year old mother board will support in the future.

I decided on going with a custom built hackentosh PC built using the newest generation motherboards ,processors and DDR4 -Ram & SDD’s. All new components with a 2 year parts /1year labor warranty that can support 4k graphic cards thunderbolt 2,0. and what ever new technologies that are developed in the near future,


As much as loved my Apple products in past.
Apple focus as a company has changed from building the very best computers & OS’s in the world.
To now building computers and OS aimed directly at consumers to integrate & sync their iphone, ipod, ipad, iwatch
( Which you should buy at least one new one every year)
The Mac OS is now platform for promoting itunes, Icloud ,Apple pay, Apple TV, Apple music and the App store..
The reality is new computer sales generate less than 10% of Apples annual revenue today. The number of new mac pros sold today is pretty insignificant in the big picture.

Today Avids focus is no longer on providing the best DAW for users at all levels anymore. But now is on high end studios & production houses that buy large HD systems & S6 consoles.
Avid’s priority is switching all users from top pros to mid level and home studios to subscription and support plans that generate a never ending revenue stream and with planed obsolescence built in.

I never thought I would ever stop using Apple computers or Protools.
I loved them both at one time and saw myself as a loyal customer for life.
But both companies have pretty much left me no other option.

Like a lot folks I will be switching to Cubase or Studio One (probably both) and run them on a PC. I will have a drive on my computer dedicated Protools.
But I am making a deliberate move to phase Mac & PT out of my work flow.
For good.

Remember when Motorola & Blackberry dominated the cell phone market? Compaq, Gateway computers, AOL , MySpace, RCA ,Zenith, Eastern,
PanAM & TWA airlines?

I am sure that Apple will survive. But Avid and Protools may one day be a part of the above list.

Buy and use what works & makes you happy.

But I personally am going to buy from companies that offer excellent products, service & value their long term customers.

YMMV
TWM

[SDDP]

Originally Posted by supersoundie

Cant say if all the posts have made me think clearer or has put me in more of a dilemma. Can the people recommending the 12 core tell me why they are saying so?

I dont really need a very low buffer size as its not very crucial to my workflow. I am never recording live and only performing sound edits and a little bit of mixing. Also, the 12 core 3.33 rig is too far out of my budget and the max I will be able to go for is the 2.66.

I bought the last tower, just when they were phasing them out when the trash cans came into play. I bought a 12 core Westmere. Since PT11 is now 64bit and can finally see and utilize all cores.

Here's my analogy on the 6 vs 12.
Think of it as a 6 cylinder 333hp car vs a 12 cylinder 266hp car.
The 6 can be pretty fast and quick and get you through turns..BUT that 12 cylinder can pull and get you through the toughest uphill battles with out breaking a sweat, with massive amount of torque. Torque being the ram, since PT11 can now see and use more than 3GB, I installed 40GB. And my system purrs.

[supersoundie]

So I made the purchase, after consulting you guys and some of my work friends, it was the 2.93 ghz 12 core with 24gb ram. Along with it I also bought a highpoint rocketraid 620 so I can put my 2x 2TB internal hdd's to work at 6gb/s raid, the macpro on its own can only support 3gb/s. Additionally I also bought a usb 3.0 pcie 4 port card to add usb 3 support. Theres also a 480gb ssd on which my OS and applications live.

I just got it about an hour ago and gonna hook it up and post some after purchase thoughts, please let me guys if you want specific hardware tests, I am not running avid hd hardware and will be running PT 10.3.8 primarily with a bit of PT11.

[john1192]

be aware that RAID's are not compatible with Pro Tools .. or if they are i have never heard it .. maybe someone is doing it .. but i highly doubt it .. a PCIe SSD Card running at 6/gbs is the only way i know to get that to work ..

but i will be happy to stand corrected if someone chimes in ..

good deal on your purchase .. not sure why the 2.93 .. would log to hear your reasoning ..

cheers john

Originally Posted by supersoundie

So I made the purchase, after consulting you guys and some of my work friends, it was the 2.93 ghz 12 core with 24gb ram. Along with it I also bought a highpoint rocketraid 620 so I can put my 2x 2TB internal hdd's to work at 6gb/s raid, the macpro on its own can only support 3gb/s. Additionally I also bought a usb 3.0 pcie 4 port card to add usb 3 support. Theres also a 480gb ssd on which my OS and applications live.

I just got it about an hour ago and gonna hook it up and post some after purchase thoughts, please let me guys if you want specific hardware tests, I am not running avid hd hardware and will be running PT 10.3.8 primarily with a bit of PT11.

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by john1192

be aware that RAID's are not compatible with Pro Tools .. or if they are i have never heard it .. maybe someone is doing it .. but i highly doubt it .. a PCIe SSD Card running at 6/gbs is the only way i know to get that to work ..

but i will be happy to stand corrected if someone chimes in ..

good deal on your purchase .. not sure why the 2.93 .. would log to hear your reasoning ..

cheers john

I do remember hearing something about RAID configs and PT but can't remember if it's hardware or software RAIDS that are a no-no. Darryl - you out there?