buy a used mac pro

[kungfupandabat]

hi i was just wondering if this was a good deal http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/sys/3208595766.html
if i do choose to buy it, it will only be for music production. just didnt know if this was a good deal or not. thanks in advance.

 

[El Awesome]

It's a 2007 model, that means it is pretty old by now.
It's still a pretty fast machine probably, but if you want to be a bit futureproof, then go with a 2009+ model. There you have more and better upgrade choices.

 

[kungfupandabat]

thank you, so how do you know what model year it is?

 

[paulrbeers]

It's a 2006 due to specs. It won't run mountain lion without a hack. Not exactly a beast in the power department anymore.

EDIT: Just for comparison. I just picked up a 2006 Mac Pro (virtually stock) for less than 400. This one has more RAM (can be bought on Ebay for about $100), a larger hard drive (maybe $100 more) and an Old 20" Apple Display (maybe $200?). At best I wouldn't pay more than $800 for this package....

 

[karsten]

check out something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/MB871LL-A-M...e_Desktops&hash=item1c2a48a099#ht_1370wt_1413 it's a 2009 so it's a little more future-proof.

 

[DPUser]

check out something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/MB871LL-A-M...e_Desktops&hash=item1c2a48a099#ht_1370wt_1413 it's a 2009 so it's a little more future-proof.

If the picture in the Ebay ad is the actual Mac being sold, it is not a 4,1. The processor tray is different.

I do concur that a 4,1 would be a better idea than older Macs, but 4,1's cost more, too. I just bought one myself, with the intention of flashing to a 5,1 (see Netkas) and upgrading the CPU to a 6 core 3.33 Westmere. Current Geekbench Score for my 4,1 (with the 4 core processor, lots of RAM and an SSD) is 8500+. Expected score with 6 core: just shy of 14,000.

 

[karsten]

If the picture in the Ebay ad is the actual Mac being sold, it is not a 4,1. The processor tray is different.

I do concur that a 4,1 would be a better idea than older Macs, but 4,1's cost more, too. I just bought one myself, with the intention of flashing to a 5,1 (see Netkas) and upgrading the CPU to a 6 core 3.33 Westmere. Current Geekbench Score for my 4,1 (with the 4 core processor, lots of RAM and an SSD) is 8500+. Expected score with 6 core: just shy of 14,000.

i'm pretty sure that is a 2009. http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/how-to-install-mac-memory-965756?artc_pg=2

 

[paulrbeers]

If the picture in the Ebay ad is the actual Mac being sold, it is not a 4,1. The processor tray is different.
.

It's a 4,1. The 1,1's - 3.1's had two memory "cards" stacked where the processor tray is.

 

[DPUser]

My mistake.