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Guys and Gals,
I am going to finally toss the towel in and upgrade my nearly four year old Quad G5. I do a lot of video encoding (for football as I am a coach) and generally run a lot of apps simultaneously. I am a big data user (my excel files are huge.) I was thinking of buying a 8-core for future software and looking on eBay tonight, but apple has had so many different models over the last year it is really confusing. Where should I start. I can afford pretty much anything but want a good deal!!!! Now that I got a job, I can buy more Apple products! |
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*AD SPACE FOR SALE*
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Cleveland-ish, OH
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Why not check the refurb store and see what they got to offer? Everyone here raves about it, though I've never really used it.
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Veteran Member
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BTW, do I go with "Nehalem" processors or not? Now that I got a job, I can buy more Apple products! |
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Sneaky Punk
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Nehalem (Core i7 server grade chips) chips are the newest generation Intel CPUs in Mac Pros.
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Fishhead Family Reunited
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Slightly Off Center
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Why not? You'd be getting a machine with a full 1-year warranty (and you can grab a cheap AppleCare plan from Amazon) just as if it were new. |
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Fishhead Family Reunited
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Slightly Off Center
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http://www.apple.com/macpro/features/processor.html
Given the advances in the newest generation, I wouldn't even think of advising a client in your situation to buy an earlier generation. And, a used current-generation machine on eBay would not match the value of the refurb you found. Replace the first pair of the 1 GB chips RAM with 4 GB chips and bask in the glory of a 14 GB machine taking advantage of Snow Leopard and 64-bit. That would be a screamer. That's what I'd advise a paying client to do. |
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First, do I really want to spend the extra $2000+ for Nehalem? I plan to keep the computer for several years, and speed is very important to me esp. in video encoding as I mention, I do a lot of it for high school sports. You mention not to go for one of the earlier generation machine on eBay (which is exactly what I was looking at last night.) But what about one of the slower Nehalem machines like: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Nehalem-Appl...ht_2864wt_1167 or http://cgi.ebay.com/8-Core-Mac-Pro-2...ht_1114wt_1167 or (I would show him a much reduced bid): http://cgi.ebay.com/NEWEST-Mac-Pro-8...#ht_3194wt_927 Would not a 2.26 machine be sufficient or would you go for the 2.93 machine? Now that I got a job, I can buy more Apple products! |
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According to Mac Buyers, perhaps I should hold off for a month or so:
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OK Mr. Sunshine!
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Toronto
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When's the next CPU coming out? Unless it's soon, It could easily be another half year until they bother releasing an update...
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meh
Join Date: May 2004
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Yeah, the current Mac Pro didn't get come out until March as noted in the buyers guide. The Mac Pro seems to be updated in the January-April time frame seeing how that is when new Xeons come out it seems.
giggity |
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
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i'm in a similar position as well, using a dual 2.0 g5 and am looking to get into the new mac pros, this thing eats up ram and runs poorly quickly, my 13" unibody macbook flies in comparison. when's the next expected refresh and will it have serious upgrades or price drops? don't mean to hijack, but we're in a similar position so i didn't want to replicate threads (also wondering when the damn new displays will appear too, unbelievably overdue).
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Sneaky Punk
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The next generation chips wont be too much different speed wise, IIRC. The primary change is the shift to 32nm dies, with the main advantage being lower power consumption.
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Fishhead Family Reunited
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Slightly Off Center
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Yeah, I wouldn't expect an update anytime before the end of this calendar year. The recent MacPro update interval has been a bit longer than the average they show from combining the MacPros with the PowerMac G5s.
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¡Damned!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Purgatory
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I'm in the same boat, but looking to go a slightly different direction than you. I'm thinking a maxxed-out 17" MBP will be sufficient, with a single 30" screen as opposed to my two 24"s.
I'm not sure, honestly. I acquired a silly 13" MBP over the weekend, and I have to say, if it wasn't for the glossy fucking screen and the fucked-up color profile I'd be completely in love with this thing. Never since my Pismo have I had such an affection for a machine. And that's saying something....a lot of something. Still, it's a stop-gap. The few tests I've done reveal that we're way fucking behind, brother. My Quad and yours are not long for this world. Snow Leopard and this stupid little laptop kick the shit out of our Quads. So it goes. |
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Mr. Vieira
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
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Wait...they changed the name of the 13" MacBook to MacBook Pro, but they're not offering a matte display option (like they do on the 15" and 17" models)?
Reminds me of the old 12", 15" and 17" PowerBook G4 days...where the little one always got left out/behind, even though it shared the same model/family name. I was hoping they'd not revert back to that sort of thing. Is there any (good) reason on earth this 13" model - now called "Pro" by Apple, and positioned alongside the other two - comes in glossy only? |
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Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Paris, France
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I have one of those silly 13-inch MacBook Pros you mention, 709. Though mine might be even sillier depending on which one you got. However, it's damn quick at normal tasks like photo editing. The only things I don't like so far are the extreme thinness of the screw-on bottom panel (I'll dent it for sure) and the glossy display - though the panel behind the shininess is actually pretty good.
I understand the advantages of glossy over matte, but in practice it's just a pain in the arse to have to reposition things (mostly my head) all the time to avoid specular highlights. Jcoley2: if there's one area where Nehalem is significantly faster than Penryn, it's encoding video. Just so you know. |
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Formerly Roboman, still
awesome Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Portland, OR
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Mr. Vieira
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
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It should've been there the day it got renamed MacBook Pro. What's all this "waiting and hoping" crap?
Apple's bad about doing this whole staggered, "delayed completeness/consistency" thing as it is. Yes, I'm sure they'll put the matte option on the 13". In time. Dragging it out for no good reason. Doesn't help 709 and countless others. |
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Formerly Roboman, still
awesome Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Portland, OR
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They're so much more consistent and "together" than any other company that when they're not it really bothers me. and i guess i've known it all along / the truth is, you have to be soft to be strong |
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¡Damned!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Purgatory
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I'll never get over the glossy screen, honestly, but this little thing feels good. Not "good," like O HAI MY NEW MAC FOREVR, but seriously good. I like it. Now, I haven't "liked" a Mac in a long time. Not that I'm not the unabashed fanboi...I am. I simply haven't found anything in the last few years that made me fall in love with [a goddamn machine]. I'll tell you what, though. This little silly 13" is my thing. I fucking love it. No, I can't do any real work on it. No, it's not optimal for anything that I do professionally. But goddamn if I don't want to wrap my arms around this thing like my Pismo and dream sweet, sweet dreams. It is a complete mistake that I even have one of these goddamn things. It is a blessing (non-religious, of course) that I do. So it goes. |
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Veteran Member
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OK, to bring the thread back to the original topic () what about one of those eBay listings above. I mean, how much faster is a 8-core nehalem 2.26 vs. some of those 2.6's I see out there vs. the newer 2.93's? I assume all three are Core i7 server grade chips--is that correct?
Now that I got a job, I can buy more Apple products! |
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Formerly Roboman, still
awesome Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Portland, OR
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I so know what you mean 709. Most Apple designs are in the "like but don't love" realm for me. They're visually pleasant and structurally sound, there's nothing necessarily wrong with them but there just isn't enough there for me to actually dig. Even my iPhone...I like it, but I don't love it, and I kinda wish there was a little more to it. But. The Power Mac G4 Cube, iMac G4, and MacBook Air are all just OMFG amazing. You'll note that these are among Ive's least simple designs. My Mac mini, which lacks the acrylic case and massive vent on the top, is unquestionably more simple than the Cube, but it's both less technically impressive and a less pleasing design, to me. My iMac G5 was much simpler than the iMac G4, but I would have traded it for the Dome in an instant. And the MacBook Air, with its wedged design and port trapdoor, is far less minimalistic than the MacBook Pro. I love simplicity. Simple things are sexy. Except...when they're boring. Apple sort of straddles the line between the two, sometimes. and i guess i've known it all along / the truth is, you have to be soft to be strong |
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¡Damned!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Purgatory
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You can get a perfectly modern machine, with warranty, for nearly ~200 bucks than you'd spend fucking around with some dimwit on eBay. I don't get it, honestly. Spend the extra coin, for fuck's sake. It's not that much. So it goes. |
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Veteran Member
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http://cgi.ebay.com/Apple-Mac-Pro-De...ht_3369wt_1167 What do you think this will ultimately trade at? Now that I got a job, I can buy more Apple products! |
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OK Mr. Sunshine!
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Toronto
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Wait, why didn't' anyone tell me that the 15" MBPs have antiglare again?!! Did you all think this was funny or something?!
Oh, and I'd never spend that much on a machine from eBay when I could get it from the Apple Store for a couple of hundred more. In fact, I just wouldn't spend that much on eBay, period. The only Mac I'd buy on eBay would be a cheap, out of date laptop or Mini, if I needed one for some reason. Do not be oppressed by the forces of ignorance and delusion! But rise up now with resolve and courage! Entranced by ignorance, from beginningless time until now, You have had more than enough time to sleep. So do not slumber any longer, but strive after virtue with body, speech, and mind! |
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¡Damned!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Purgatory
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¡Damned!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Purgatory
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Seriously. A refurbished octo is your best bang for the buck.
Anything you argue beyond that and you're just being offish. First you say you can afford anything, then give links to crap bullshit. Honestly. Get your shit together. So it goes. |
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Veteran Member
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Sorry, I did not mean in 2012, I meant in the auction this week. I agree what it is worth 4 years in the future is irrelevant.
Last edited by jcoley2 : 2009-09-10 at 20:05. |
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¡Damned!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Purgatory
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I found a "2.93GHz 8-Core Intel Xeon "Nehalem" processors for $900 less than new" at the Apple Store. That's a fucking good deal. So it goes. |
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