Advice wanted for my next Mac Pro

[h9826790]

Or, should I start watching the CPU usage on my 2008 MP and base an upgrade on how much CPU I currently use? I've honestly not paid any attention to this and when I checked it just now I've got approximately 80% of my CPU idle.

IMO, you should check that before you made the decision.

If you want to check it, you may just do your normal work on the computer for 15 min, and the open terminal then type "sysctl -n vm.loadavg".

There will be 3 numbers displayed. They are the load average, which means how many cores demanded in your workflow. The 3 numbers corresponding to the demand of the last 1min, 5min, and 15min.

If any of that 3 numbers are >8, than means you can benefit from the Hex core CPU (12 threads). However, lets say the number never go above 8 (e.g. only 5.29). Then most likely you can't even fully utilise all 4 cores (8 threads), spend extra money for the Hex may be a waste.

Of course, you may repeat the same process with your most demanding job. Then it will tells if you can ever benefit from having more cores.

 

[Neeznoodle]

If your Mac Pro 3,1 2008 system is starting to do strange things it's more likely to be software than anything else or possibly a failing graphics card. You don't detail these 'strange things' - what troubles you?

It is doing things like freezing. When this happens I might be able to move my mouse but not always. Even if I can move my mouse I am unable to do anything else and have to power down by pressing and holding the power button.

There have been times when I turn on the machine and I get a grey screen that doesn't go away. I don't see the Apple logo and have to press and hold the power button to turn it off.

The spinning ball is more common these days then I would like and that is very annoying.

You mention 'all new memory'. Not sure why you would need 'new' memory but used 32GB (8x4GB) of 667 FB-DIMMs cost peanuts to max out the 3,1. This RAM is only 4% slower when benchmarked versus the expensive 800MHz parts & you will see no difference in real life.

Some of my memory was failing (I had the red light and was able to see in my "About This Mac" that one of the cards was dying). The memory was inexpensive so I decided to replace it all instead of just one card, just in case any of the other memory cards were soon to go - they were all seven years old.

You don't tell us what graphics card you have but if you still have the stock AMD Radeon 2600 then you could upgrade to a much faster card that will deliver great OpenCL performance for Photoshop. A used GTX570 is the best bang for the buck.

I have the ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT 256 MB. How easy or difficult is it to upgrade the graphics card?

Anyway, the most important factor which keep the cost at minimum is to do that by yourself. The upgrade is super easy. I never install any CPU that require heatsink until I upgrade my 4,1 (the last CPU I installed was the 486DX), and I can finish it in 20min easily. All you need is just some reading (or watching on youtube), that may save you 50% of your cost.

The only things I've replaced in my Mac Pro are the hard drives, memory cards, and Superdrive. Those were very easy to replace. As a complete novice, is upgrading the CPU doable, even if I watch a video on YouTube? I'm not opposed to doing something like this, but I don't want to accidentally damage my computer out of ignorance.

If you want to check it, you may just do your normal work on the computer for 15 min, and the open terminal then type "sysctl -n vm.loadavg".

There will be 3 numbers displayed. They are the load average, which means how many cores demanded in your workflow. The 3 numbers corresponding to the demand of the last 1min, 5min, and 15min.

If any of that 3 numbers are >8, than means you can benefit from the Hex core CPU (12 threads). However, lets say the number never go above 8 (e.g. only 5.29). Then most likely you can't even fully utilise all 4 cores (8 threads), spend extra money for the Hex may be a waste.

This is excellent advice! It looks like I don't have much of a demand. My three numbers are 2.05 2.08 2.00. I'll continue to check this throughout the day. This is incredibly helpful in my decision making process.

Thank you to everyone for your input on this. It is really helping me.

 

[Neeznoodle]

If you have an SSD plugged into a drive sled then an Apricom Velocity PCIe card or similar will give an extra boost to performance as any modern SSD will be throttled by the SATA-II bus of the drive sled.

This is Greek to me. Yes, my SSD drive is plugged into one of the four drive sleds. The rest of what you said I don't understand. Help?

 

[lowendlinux]

It is doing things like freezing. When this happens I might be able to move my mouse but not always. Even if I can move my mouse I am unable to do anything else and have to power down by pressing and holding the power button.

There have been times when I turn on the machine and I get a grey screen that doesn't go away. I don't see the Apple logo and have to press and hold the power button to turn it off.

The spinning ball is more common these days then I would like and that is very annoying.



Some of my memory was failing (I had the red light and was able to see in my "About This Mac" that one of the cards was dying). The memory was inexpensive so I decided to replace it all instead of just one card, just in case any of the other memory cards were soon to go - they were all seven years old.



I have the ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT 256 MB. How easy or difficult is it to upgrade the graphics card?



The only things I've replaced in my Mac Pro are the hard drives, memory cards, and Superdrive. Those were very easy to replace. As a complete novice, is upgrading the CPU doable, even if I watch a video on YouTube? I'm not opposed to doing something like this, but I don't want to accidentally damage my computer out of ignorance.



This is excellent advice! It looks like I don't have much of a demand. My three numbers are 2.05 2.08 2.00. I'll continue to check this throughout the day. This is incredibly helpful in my decision making process.

Thank you to everyone for your input on this. It is really helping me.

There's your problem.

The card isn't hard pop out in affair just find a Mac card, buy from MVC, or flash one yourself though I think the second option is the best.

 

[h9826790]

The only things I've replaced in my Mac Pro are the hard drives, memory cards, and Superdrive. Those were very easy to replace. As a complete novice, is upgrading the CPU doable, even if I watch a video on YouTube? I'm not opposed to doing something like this, but I don't want to accidentally damage my computer out of ignorance.

Unless you intend to be a careless person, it's not that easy to damage the computer.

Watch few youtube videos should be good enough. The procedure is very straight forward.

 

[Neeznoodle]

There's your problem.

The card isn't hard pop out in affair just find a Mac card, buy from MVC, or flash one yourself though I think the second option is the best.

Which card do you mean? What does MVC stand for? And what does it mean to "flash" it?

 

[lowendlinux]

Which card do you mean? What does MVC stand for? And what does it mean to "flash" it?

1) Your card is old and on it’s last legs and is more than likely failing. If you’ve kept up with OS updates it’s not greatly underpowered for running much more than the desktop.

2) MVC is MacVidCards he’s a member here and his website is: http://www.macvidcards.com/index.html and you can search him on ebay.

3) To flash a card means to put a different ROM on it i.e. give it new memory that a Mac can read vs. a PC. Mac’s and PC’s boot differently you need that memory so your Mac will see the card as it’s booting.

You can use un-flashed cards in your Mac but they will only come alive once the OS is loaded which means during boot options.

 

[Neeznoodle]

1) Your card is old and on it’s last legs and is more than likely failing. If you’ve kept up with OS updates it’s not greatly underpowered for running much more than the desktop.

Do you mean the video card?

2) MVC is MacVidCards he’s a member here and his website is: http://www.macvidcards.com/index.html and you can search him on ebay.

Thank you!

3) To flash a card means to put a different ROM on it i.e. give it new memory that a Mac can read vs. a PC. Mac’s and PC’s boot differently you need that memory so your Mac will see the card as it’s booting.

I just replaced all the memory in my Mac. How can I tell if it is flashed or not? Or, are you talking about the memory for the video card?

 

[lowendlinux]

Do you mean the video card?



Thank you!



I just replaced all the memory in my Mac. How can I tell if it is flashed or not? Or, are you talking about the memory for the video card?

Your graphics card the thing that you attach your monitor to.

RAM doesn’t need a ROM (RAM=Random Access Memory ROM=Read Only Memory)

 

[Neeznoodle]

Okay, I'm looking on the MVC website. I don't think I need a super powerful video card so which of these would likely be the best choice for me?

Nvidia GT 120 - Dual DVI - 512 MB ($90)
Nvidia GT 120 - Dual DVI - 1 GB ($95)
Nvidia GT 120 - DVI HDMI - 1 GB ($100)

I don't know what the difference is between dual DVI (although I do know this will allow for two monitors, which I don't need) and DVI HDMI.

My monitor is:
DELL P190S
Resolution: 1280 x 1024 @ 60 Hz
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)

 

[lowendlinux]

Okay, I'm looking on the MVC website. I don't think I need a super powerful video card so which of these would likely be the best choice for me?

Nvidia GT 120 - Dual DVI - 512 MB ($90)
Nvidia GT 120 - Dual DVI - 1 GB ($95)
Nvidia GT 120 - DVI HDMI - 1 GB ($100)

I don't know what the difference is between dual DVI (although I do know this will allow for two monitors, which I don't need) and DVI HDMI.

My monitor is:
DELL P190S
Resolution: 1280 x 1024 @ 60 Hz
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)

DVI is probably how you have you’re monitor connected now

 

[Neeznoodle]

Yes, that is what it looks like.

 

[lowendlinux]

Yes, that is what it looks like.

So pick how many you want and order based on that.

 

[Neeznoodle]

Sounds good, but I don't know what I want. I don't know if one will be more powerful than I will need. It is just a matter of $10 between the three so I might be overthinking this, but I have no knowledge whatsoever when it comes to graphic cards.

 

[lowendlinux]

Sounds good, but I don't know what I want. I don't know if one will be more powerful than I will need. It is just a matter of $10 between the three so I might be overthinking this, but I have no knowledge whatsoever when it comes to graphic cards.

Why not ask MVC?

 

[Neeznoodle]

Well, that's a good idea! I'll do that now.

 

[pat500000]

I am definitely not a hands on guy when it comes to upgrade...i was wondering if anyone here is in LA..who could help me? I do want to upgrade 4,1-5,1

 

[Neeznoodle]

I just bought theNvidia GT 120 DVI HDMI with 1GB.