Are you guys doing this mod ONLY to run in Windows for gaming? Through Bootcamp? Or as a VM? Really, really curious. I think it's cools when those of you have the nuts to attempt this type of
major surgery...especially those of you with the newer 09/10 MPs. OP, if I understand correctly is modding an '06, is that correct?
Regardless, just curious if I'm the only one wondering WHY in the world you are doing this to a 4-6 thousand dollar Mac Pro...only to game in the Windows environment? Isn't it a bit cheaper to buy a high-end, i7 Windows gaming rig then doing these modifications and the time spent doing them?
Please, don't take this wrong...because honestly, If the answer is YES, I'm going to do the same thing to my early '08 dual quad 3.0ghz MP> I, too, am an avid flight sim dork...been playing MS Flight sim since it was available ONLY on my Apple IIE
LOL. I think that was before MS had their own, truly available OS...so their releases were to Apple...anyway I digress. My experiences with Flight Sim X from MS and X-Plane 9 have been excellent...and I'm still using an 8800GT that came with my MP. I'm using 16gigs of RAM...does that make the big difference?
I actually sold a quad core (previous to the i3/5/7 series) Intel machine with the exact same 8800gt card...as my MP, in it's current config, ran circles around my Windows box. Literally...a low/slow flight out of a high rez market like Seattle...and through downtown at 12-1500 feet, decent settings (high to very high...and a target of 60fps)...I would draw from 12-16 fps on the Windows machine....same settings, would triple to quadruple the
actual framerates on the MacPro. Again...same 8800gt, but double the RAM. An extremely playable 35-60fps, depending on building, ground, and other traffic considerations.
I've been just as happy with the performance with X-Plane running strictly on OSX.
I've not played Crysis...even though I bought it based on hype (I've not unwrapped it since purchase
)...and there are few other games that I've played...however, FSX (and every other generation before it), always tended to push the envelope of currently available hardware...and hardcore sim geeks (myself included) would often buy new hardware on the release of the sim, just to be able to play the damn game! LOL.
Anyway...sorry for the lengthy babble...I guess I'm just curious why those of you that have undertaken this experiment have actually done so, especially if it's just available to utilize under Windows. Why not JUST buy a Windows machine? Is it even faster on the Mac Pros because of the extreme processing power? Dual Quads, Dual Hex's et al? Or do you do it for the challenge?
What happens in OSX? Is it only one card that's being utilized with no issues or bugginess? Again, I'm on an '08...worth on the used market for about 2-2.5k. Starting to get close to the end of the warranty, etc. Soooo...to make a move like this that WILL in fact considerable increase the gaming speed on the ONE real game (MSFSX) that I still do take advantage of....as well, creates NO issues on my OSX tasks (FCP, Premier, PS, Aperture, After Effects, Cinema 4d, Motion, etc). I'm in!!!! However...if there is not a considerable difference in picking up say an "IBuyPower" rig for 15-1700 bucks with the new architecture to play these games and NOT have to modify my MP machine... yet the cost is similar...what's the upside?
Don't you have to buy Mac approved GPUs? Almost a thousand bucks! What about the wires, and new PSU? Time spent doing the mod? (7-10 hours as far as the OP....not sure what you bill out, but I suspect...as most of us are pretty technically savvy, $30 an hour doesn't seem to low or high...) Maybe $300. Time spent trouble shooting? Possibly none, I suppose if done right. Just seems like it's
almost a wash??? Am I wrong? Again...are these Procs (Xeon twin quads, etc) that much faster than some of these i7 rigs, etc available on the Windows side?
Really, I don't want to come across as disagreeing with the process, but I'm truly ignorant to the Windows side of the coin and have been for the past 4 or 5 years, since making my switch to Mac. Again, other than the casual boot into Windows to play FSX.
Maybe that's way too many questions...but I guess I'm just wondering if it's worth it for performance sake? Or if it's more the challenge? Or...maybe it's as simple as not wanting two machines in the same area (space consideration)?
Thanks for any insight....I've been carefully considering a bump to the new Mac Pro 12 core...because of the intense video editing and compositing we've been rapidly becoming involved with over the last two years (We have 3 Mac Pros...same config, early 08 Dual 3g Quad cores, 16gigs RAM and 6TB storage, and ALL with the 8800gts. We are carefully considering our next update. To sell all of the MPs as they currently sit. Upgrade a couple to the new nVidia FX (4000?) card....the other to a 5870. OR...we are going to sell all three, buy two 12core and a single Dell Precision (to try out Adobe CS5 with Cuda, and more for me....to be able to get the most out of my flight sim program). However...if this mod can be pulled off on my end, I may keep the last MP (08)....and do this modification, as to have the best of both worlds
Thanks for getting this far...to the few that did, I appreciate it!!!! After reading through this thread I have Many Many questions!!!
And, lastly...are you guys talking about cutting a hole in the outside of the MP? The steel? If so, I'm OUT! LOL...can't deface this beautiful cheese grater. I wouldn't feel right
J
