G5 Mac Pro ... What would you do?

[tpthai2]

I would greatly appreciate advice on which G5 Mac Pro would best serve my studio needs. Using an 002R,
two Glymph Firewire drives, PT 7.4. I think the Quad would be fine. It's the proper configuration to specify when I order it that I need help with. I am currenty in S.E. Asia where a Quad Mac pro will run $3,000+. Can't make a mistake with prices like that. Amy suggestions on what the best configuration would be with my set up? Thank you

[Windshore]

I would suggest getting the cheapest 8core now that they are available. Since you're using the 002, you'll need all the horsepower you can get if you want it to last you a few years. Price for the BASIC Mac Pro 8core is about $2800. The 2 GB of RAM will get you by to begin with, if you want to buy more later, it's easy to install.

I would recommend upgrading the hard drive to 750GB as the basic 320 will fill up pretty fast and it's a pain to replace the system drive a year or 2 down the road.

You can add hard drives or other features later for relatively cheap.

[Phil Jeffers]

I would greatly appreciate advice on which G5 Mac Pro would best serve my studio needs. Using an 002R,
two Glymph Firewire drives, PT 7.4. I think the Quad would be fine. It's the proper configuration to specify when I order it that I need help with. I am currenty in S.E. Asia where a Quad Mac pro will run $3,000+. Can't make a mistake with prices like that. Amy suggestions on what the best configuration would be with my set up? Thank you

Sorry to be a stickler - but a G5 is not a Mac Pro. G5's were the last of the Apple manufactured CPU's before Apple began placing Intel processors in their machines. They are known as PowerPC’s (or PPC). The Mac Pro lines are known as IntelMacs. They require different OS and different software versions. The Intel Mac's require Universal Bineries code/script (or UB).

[Phil Jeffers]

P.S. and yes - get the fastest CPU you can afford and stick and extra 2-3GB of RAM in it. An internal SATA is best for audio apps (or with the Mac Pro x 2 or x 3 "media" drives.)

[tpthai2]

DUC posters, Thanks fop your comments. Phil, I don't know why I said "G5" Mac-Pro of course.

I would agree as I look deeper into the purchase. I was under the impression that the 8 core was not yet certified for 7.4? Any comments appreciated and thanks again.

[tpthai2]

Thinking about this: Would it be advisable to use the 8 core Mac Pro, wipe Leopard and load Tiger?

Is it the Leopard OS that is the problem with LE 7.4 or the 8 core Mac Pro hardware?

Thanks ...

[lwilliam]

I don't think the latest MacPros will run Tiger. Someone on another thread mentioned they tried and it wouldn't load.

That's kind of where everything is in limbo with PT 7.4 right now. If you can wait another month or so, then you'll know which models will work with 7.4, or maybe 7.5.

You can also gamble and get one of the 8-cores and hope that Digi will certify it soon. A number of people are running 7.4 just fine with Leopard and the MacPros that were introduced about 6-8 months ago. The likelihood is very high that the low-end 8-core will work with PT at some point. There are just no guarantees as to when.

[rosemeister]

Get an 8 core and run windows for a couple of months. No big deal. When PT is approved, just switch over.

[tpthai2]

Thanks for your comments ... seems best to wait a bit and see how Digi deals with it.

[vdz415]

i have a g5 quad and it works very fast well with pro tools le 7.4cs2 no problem at all.
the g5 quad ram is expandable to 16gb of ram
and 4gb of ram is recommended for music recording so 16gb is way more then enough memory.
my quad g5 has been more reliable then my new macbook pro
and from the new apple benchmarks quad g5 vs quad core intel mac and the 8core
the g5 could hang with them still
i had a g5 dual 2.0ghz which ran great too with pro tools le 7.4cs2
but i wanted a new computer with a pci-e slot cause i'm planning to upgrade to pci-e version of pro tools hd so that
digidesign making software for the g5 system i can just use those pci-e cards in whatever mac system that is out and hopefully it still be pci-e.

you can find a deal on g5 everyonce in a while on craigslist or ebay.. just have to wait till some wealthy guy who dont know jack about computer or someone in need of money sells there mac quick on the internet..
i picked up mines in the excellent condition quad g5 5gb ram + nvidia 7800gt graphic card + bt pro tool keyboard for the same price i sold my dual 2.0ghz which was a killer deal.