2x Quad core or 1x 2012 hex core?

[Dawoo]

Hey there, I would like to know which of the two mac pro specs is best? I would be primarily be using it for after effects rendering, 2d animation and video editing, maybe a little gaming.

I see that apple have stopped selling the 8 core, but would having the 2 processors instead of the one hex be beneficial for upgrading sometime in the future?

Cheers.

 

[24Frames]

None of those things needs a Mac Pro. You could do those just as well on an iMac, they will probably update them to Ivy Bridge when they release Mountain Lion.

If you needed extra processing power for After Effects rendering you could then add a Mac Mini server.

Out of the new models the 6-Core BTO and stock 12-Core look the best value for money. The BTO Dual 6-Core models are ridiculously overpriced compared to Dell's new Precision range and HP's 820.

I would recommend pricing up Dell and HP equivalents so that you know what the alternatives are in terms of price and performance.

 

[Dawoo]

No way I will be buying an iMac, had 2 die on me so desktop is a definite, plus I want a future proof machine incase I stumble into 3d work.

So the single hex core CPU is good value? With the 5870

 

[2LMedia]

None of those things needs a Mac Pro. You could do those just as well on an iMac, they will probably update them to Ivy Bridge when they release Mountain Lion.

I'm sorry, this is just silly. You don't talk someone down from a Mac Pro to an iMac when they are doing AE and video editing. If they want a Mac Pro, odds are they need the power in one box.

OP, I'd go with the Hex with a 5870. I use one of these in one of my suites and it's faster than the 8-cores we have in single thread apps and FCP as well as the fact it keeps up with the 8 cores just fine.

 

[estrides]

No way I will be buying an iMac, had 2 die on me so desktop is a definite, plus I want a future proof machine incase I stumble into 3d work.

So the single hex core CPU is good value? With the 5870

Famous last words. Get the best you can afford. But remember, future proofing a computer is virtually impossible. The haters will disagree, but it's true.

Definitely go with a MacPro. Hex core if possible.

 

[24Frames]

6-Core BTO is definitely the best value for money. For the GPU buying the standard card and looking at the NVidia alternatives (see other threads in this forum) might be a better option than paying over the odds for the BTO card.

But if you want a future proof machine don't buy a Mac Pro!

I do 3D work, I am fast coming to the conclusion that Windows 7 or Linux or a workstation either from one of the smaller specialised vendors or from Dell or HP is the way to go. None of the 3D apps use OpenGL 3.2 on OS X 10.7, they all use OpenGL 2.1. Things may or may not improve with Mountain Lion.

I see nothing wrong with doing video editing on an iMac or MacBook Pro. Of course for some work you need a workstation, but for many tasks you don't, and without more detailed information it isn't possible to say one way or the other.