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  #1  
Old 04-27-2022, 01:29 PM
Carl Lie Carl Lie is offline
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Default Moving from Mac Pro 5,1 to 7,1

Curious how HDx users are making out with the 7,1 mac pros. I was planning to wait for the new Apple Mac Pro but am now thinking about going with the latest ones. Perhaps a 12 core.

I have a 12 core cheesegrater on High Sierra and it's getting old in the tooth

Thx

Carl
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  #2  
Old 04-27-2022, 01:47 PM
sleiweke sleiweke is offline
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Default Re: Moving from Mac Pro 5,1 to 7,1

I'm loving mine. I moved from the exact computer you have now to a 12 core Mac Pro Rack about 2 years ago. It's been amazing. I'm glad I did it.
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  #3  
Old 04-27-2022, 02:39 PM
Carl Lie Carl Lie is offline
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Default Re: Moving from Mac Pro 5,1 to 7,1

Quote:
Originally Posted by sleiweke View Post
I'm loving mine. I moved from the exact computer you have now to a 12 core Mac Pro Rack about 2 years ago. It's been amazing. I'm glad I did it.
Thanks. Any issues regarding HDx cards? I though I read somewhere I need a special power cable.

C
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  #4  
Old 04-27-2022, 02:47 PM
BScout BScout is offline
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Default Re: Moving from Mac Pro 5,1 to 7,1

A 12 core 7,1 vs a dual-processor 5,1 isn't really a boost in power (you can check the numbers.) The 5,1 dual-processors still hold their own compared to many later Mac Pros. (The other features though: noise, power consumption, heat production, faster bus speeds like thunderbolt, might be a more important concern for you.)

HDX cards work fine in the 7,1
Depending on which slots you use for the cards, you *might* need a different power cable. The top ones don't need it. The bottom ones do need it.
I have been able to put together a 6 card HDX system together in a 7,1 though (and a project used 5 of those cards for DSP)
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  #5  
Old 04-27-2022, 03:00 PM
basehead617 basehead617 is offline
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Default Re: Moving from Mac Pro 5,1 to 7,1

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Originally Posted by BScout View Post
A 12 core 7,1 vs a dual-processor 5,1 isn't really a boost in power (you can check the numbers.)
I assume you're talking about numbers of some logic or PT benchmarking session?

The raw benchmarks like PassMark's have the Xeon W-3235 at 2.25x faster than a Dual Xeon X5675, which I believe was the highest end 5,1 cpu.
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  #6  
Old 04-27-2022, 03:02 PM
Carl Lie Carl Lie is offline
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Default Re: Moving from Mac Pro 5,1 to 7,1

Quote:
Originally Posted by BScout View Post
A 12 core 7,1 vs a dual-processor 5,1 isn't really a boost in power (you can check the numbers.) The 5,1 dual-processors still hold their own compared to many later Mac Pros. (The other features though: noise, power consumption, heat production, faster bus speeds like thunderbolt, might be a more important concern for you.)

HDX cards work fine in the 7,1
Depending on which slots you use for the cards, you *might* need a different power cable. The top ones don't need it. The bottom ones do need it.
I have been able to put together a 6 card HDX system together in a 7,1 though (and a project used 5 of those cards for DSP)
Thank you. This is helpful as well. I haven't been updating PT due to being on High Sierra and I would like thunderbolt for transfers. I'm not sure when Avid will make use of Apple's ARM chips.

My current computer has been awesome for the most part. I was hoping for more power though. I need to look into that.

C
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  #7  
Old 04-27-2022, 03:03 PM
protoolsuserman protoolsuserman is offline
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Default Re: Moving from Mac Pro 5,1 to 7,1

I'd hold out if I were you. They're about to bomb in price.

Soon you'll be able to get a 28core intel for around 2k.

The new Mac pro is coming soon so the intel will be last year's fad that apparently no one will want

Think power pc to intel but now it's intel to Arm chips.

Either way the hdx and avid software will work flawlessly on either system. Avid really have put such a lot of time and work in to making sure their products just work! Very impressed even 16 years later I'm still a happy avid customer!

Hold out on the Mac, you'll thank me.


l
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  #8  
Old 04-27-2022, 03:14 PM
Carl Lie Carl Lie is offline
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Default Re: Moving from Mac Pro 5,1 to 7,1

Quote:
Originally Posted by protoolsuserman View Post
I'd hold out if I were you. They're about to bomb in price.

Soon you'll be able to get a 28core intel for around 2k.

The new Mac pro is coming soon so the intel will be last year's fad that apparently no one will want

Think power pc to intel but now it's intel to Arm chips.

Either way the hdx and avid software will work flawlessly on either system. Avid really have put such a lot of time and work in to making sure their products just work! Very impressed even 16 years later I'm still a happy avid customer!

Hold out on the Mac, you'll thank me.
l
Funny. I paid $1,500 for this machine to replace my original 6 core. You're probably right that some will get rid of them for the new Mac Pro. Thanks!
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Last edited by Carl Lie; 04-27-2022 at 03:26 PM.
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  #9  
Old 04-27-2022, 03:38 PM
sleiweke sleiweke is offline
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Default Re: Moving from Mac Pro 5,1 to 7,1

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl Lie View Post
Thanks. Any issues regarding HDx cards? I though I read somewhere I need a special power cable.

C
The power cable I had on my HDX card in my previous Mac, worked in the new Mac Pro
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  #10  
Old 04-27-2022, 04:27 PM
LDS LDS is offline
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Default Re: Moving from Mac Pro 5,1 to 7,1

There is a bunch of atmos sessions here that were mixed on a 7,1 12-core machine using DAPS and DAB that won't play at all on an old 10-core 6,1 or 12-core 5,1 machine in the same software configuration. Bringing HDX into the fray obviously changes the outcome a little, but as far as native performance goes, the newer 7,1s are definitely a substantial step up. By the time you toss HDX2 and a dedicated video card into those old machines, firewire becomes the fastest means of transferring files... that is how old they are. It makes it frustrating, because they are still real workhorses.

I have definitely considered snapping up a 7,1 machine if prices drop a bit over the next 12 months. I'm not sure they will get as low as $2k in the immediate years. There fear-of-missing-out doesn't seem as rampant in professional circles as it does in the consumer arena. I would anticipate at least a good 3 or 4 years of use before 7,1 users start finding themselves in the predicament that Apple Silicon users face now with varying software support.
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