I want to thank everyone for their suggestions. Another option has popped up that has turned out to be a compromise between Option 1 and 2. It's also closer to me than either option I posted about would have been. It's a 12 core 3.33GHz with 24 GB of RAM, 240 GB PCI-E SSD running High Sierra, 120 SSD ml running 10.14 Mojave, 120 GB SSD running Catalina 10.15.6 and a 2 TB hard drive. It has a GTX-680 Metal video card Mac edition. I think this will be a good compromise.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
MP 1,1-5,1 Choosing between two different 5,1 models. Which should I get?
- Thread starter thetommyboy2k
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
GTX 680 is not supported anymore with Monterey, so, think about the cost of the GPU upgrade. GPU prices are beyond insane right now, while storage are near the lowest since the pandemic started.
Memory prices are rising fast too, so, GPU and memory are things that you have to prioritize over storage. Also, no one in the right mind buy used storage unless dead cheap.
Btw, also look at early-2009s, you can upgrade it the same way you upgrade mid-2010s or mid-2012s.
Memory prices are rising fast too, so, GPU and memory are things that you have to prioritize over storage. Also, no one in the right mind buy used storage unless dead cheap.
Btw, also look at early-2009s, you can upgrade it the same way you upgrade mid-2010s or mid-2012s.
Thank you for letting me know. Honestly, I think I'm going to leave it OS-wise, as is. It will have three different macOS versions, High Sierra, Mojave and Catalina on it. I don't care about going beyond that for now, if ever. Not interested in Big Sur and Monterey. In the meantime, if it ever becomes a concern, hopefully, by then, GPU prices will come down. The next investment after getting the Pro will be to upgrade the RAM to the max. I don't care about the triple channel performance boost. I want to try to put 128 GB. I'm one who would rather have the maximum amount of RAM in a computer and not use it rather than wait until I need it and end up giving an insane amount because of a certain type of RAM getting way more expensive down the road.
Storage wise, I'll be good with this option. Storage won't be a concern with this one. As of now, I'll be using it as a general purpose computer (which the Pro is way overkill for) with an option to use it for other things later.
Don't buy any of that old crap. It was good machines 10 yrs ago. It is a very long time tech-wise.
You are just asking for trouble. Old tech is old tech. You throw your money away.
An M1 Mac Mini is a lot better option.
My maxed out 2013 iMac was a great machine once. It do some daily stuff today, not more.
I would give it away to some close nerd when the new larger iMac or M2 Mini Pro comes.
But Apple will get it as trade in. Nothing else are worth the time..
Doesn’t matter what specific you think you get, it’s still OLD tech. It’s not worth anything.
Whatever M1 or newer options that comes is a lot better choice.
You are just asking for trouble. Old tech is old tech. You throw your money away.
An M1 Mac Mini is a lot better option.
My maxed out 2013 iMac was a great machine once. It do some daily stuff today, not more.
I would give it away to some close nerd when the new larger iMac or M2 Mini Pro comes.
But Apple will get it as trade in. Nothing else are worth the time..
Doesn’t matter what specific you think you get, it’s still OLD tech. It’s not worth anything.
Whatever M1 or newer options that comes is a lot better choice.
Last edited:
Storage is expendable, HDDs are usually reliable up to 3-years old, after that you are in the ascendent part of the MTBF curve. Old SSDs are not reliable, you need to know the SMART status. Think that all the storage installed is shot and you will have to buy new.
Mac Pros are frequently used with workflows that destroy hard disks/SSDs over time, like video editing, software developing or VMs. Don't ever trust old, or even worse, second-hand storage.
Any chart available for "snappiness" ?
In real world, performance depends on software being explicitly written for a specific CPU. What software is written today for M1 chips?
Not exactly. Each Nehalem / Westmere CPU has three memory channels and having 6 memory channels in a machine is a real benefit, if you use them properly (6 x 8GB for example).
Most software is written for M1 nowadays.
And regarding memory channels; M1 is 8 channel
OP: If i understand correctly, your needs would be running a youtube channel / video editing?
I strongly suggest you check out Luke Miani's YT channel - apart from reviewing new Macs he loves experimenting with purchases of old macs and testing them to see, how relevant they are for today's needs. Very informative channel.
There are more videos on custom Mac pro builds (before M1's came out, though...)
Luke was so impressed with M1 iMac, he decided to sell his older (10.000$ when new!) iMac pro, which speaks volumes about these new machines. If you'd need it for the same purposes he uses, maybe finding a good new or used M1 machine (Mini, MBP, iMac) would be a better long-term solution (think about software upgradeability too).
PS: sorry to hear about your C-19 experience, stay well!
I strongly suggest you check out Luke Miani's YT channel - apart from reviewing new Macs he loves experimenting with purchases of old macs and testing them to see, how relevant they are for today's needs. Very informative channel.
Luke was so impressed with M1 iMac, he decided to sell his older (10.000$ when new!) iMac pro, which speaks volumes about these new machines. If you'd need it for the same purposes he uses, maybe finding a good new or used M1 machine (Mini, MBP, iMac) would be a better long-term solution (think about software upgradeability too).
PS: sorry to hear about your C-19 experience, stay well!
I've said repeatedly I will not consider a Mac mini. Not trying to be ugly, just stating what I've already said more than a few times. I appreciate you suggesting it. It probably is a much better option performance-wise. Not denying that, but the Mac mini is not something I'm interested in.
The way I'm approaching this now is to use this one for as long as I can and in the meantime, I can attempt to save up for a new Mac Pro. When I've run the course with the 5,1, I can run a Linux distro on it and get even more use out of it if I wanted to use it as a secondary machine.
I have no doubt the new M1's will beat the brakes off the 5,1's, but two things... 1) I don't want a Mac mini. I had a very bad experience with one of the early Intel Mac mini's. Lasted a year and a half, then completely crapped. At the time, I said I would never have another Mac, simply because of that. I've softened a lot since then. Even had that not happened, I still prefer a desktop with upgradability. I'm decidedly old-school and proud of it. Separate monitor, separate tower. 2) The new Mac Pro's ain't cheap by any stretch of the imagination. It will take me a long time to save up for one. In the meantime, this will more than work for my needs.
Thank you. I actually came full circle and am now working at a Covid-19 testing site. I use iPad's every day to get people's info entered prior to getting their tests. I feel like I'm really helping others in my own way. It's been a roller coaster of a year. I lost two of my furbabes, one in May and the other on the 7th of this month. I have three others and they're taking things very hard. I just try to keep their spirits lifted as much as I can.
I've actually watched several of Luke Miani's videos. They are very informative. I really like his videos.
You had mentioned in the beginning of your reply about my needs... running a YouTube channel/video editing. For now, I'll be using it as a general purpose computer. I have a VERY crappy HP 19.5" all-in-one computer with the teal back on it. It's by far the worst computer I've ever owned. I want to get away from it and Windows so bad. Windows is having what I call an identity crisis. It's a hodgepodge of trying to be a smartphone/tablet/PC OS that it doesn't do very well at any of them. Can't make up its mind what it wants to be. At some point, I'm considering trying to have my own YouTube channel and do some video editing, but not anyway soon.
Hey, we all just want to help you here. I hear you, but I don’t understand it.
We all know Macs are not cheap, that’s why they are wort keeping awhile. And buy as new as you can at least if you can’t afford split new.
Don’t get stucked on the figures. I say it again, 10 yrs old tech is crap no matter what you think you get.
Good luck ???
We all know Macs are not cheap, that’s why they are wort keeping awhile. And buy as new as you can at least if you can’t afford split new.
Don’t get stucked on the figures. I say it again, 10 yrs old tech is crap no matter what you think you get.
Good luck ???
One word of caution, you are buying a used Mac.
Do you trust how the seller has set up the installs?
There could be keyloggers or anything on there.
Wipe the drives and re-install the OS.
OP: considering you don't need a strong computer immediately, have you thought about buying a 4+ years old used Intel MBP? Luke just did a video on that not while ago, for around 500$ you can get a very solid Mac, that will be great for general purposes (and still adequate for video editing). That way you immediately save more money for a stronger, newer desktop model in the future + once you have a new Tower, also retain the flexibility of having an additional laptop .
4 years ago when i was moving, i just needed a new computer quickly and even though I didn't consider laptops at first, got a good deal on a base MBA - that I still use regulary and works just fine. Couple of times when i was in need I even used it for some video editing and 3d stuff, and it ran surpisingly well (not great, but not bad either).
PS: This topic reminds me of an experience i had some 7 years ago:
Was working in a company (3D stuff, rendering) on a OK-ish desktop i7 PC machine, when boss surprised me one day and brought me a used HP Z-800 Tower (he got a great deal for a used dual-Xeon machine with lots more RAM and Quadro card). Even though it was quite old, on paper it looked like a BOMB. Sure enough I replaced my i7 machine with the beast only to find out,... performance was almost the same (roughly about 5% stronger)
4 years ago when i was moving, i just needed a new computer quickly and even though I didn't consider laptops at first, got a good deal on a base MBA - that I still use regulary and works just fine. Couple of times when i was in need I even used it for some video editing and 3d stuff, and it ran surpisingly well (not great, but not bad either).
PS: This topic reminds me of an experience i had some 7 years ago:
Was working in a company (3D stuff, rendering) on a OK-ish desktop i7 PC machine, when boss surprised me one day and brought me a used HP Z-800 Tower (he got a great deal for a used dual-Xeon machine with lots more RAM and Quadro card). Even though it was quite old, on paper it looked like a BOMB. Sure enough I replaced my i7 machine with the beast only to find out,... performance was almost the same (roughly about 5% stronger)
Yeah, this is why they still need Rosetta 2
Adobe has a list with apps that run natively on M1, but is still a work in progress.
with how many RAM modules? M1 is used in laptops for a reason.
iMac M1 (2021) is £1449 - £1649 at Curry's with 8GB RAM while iMac Pro (2017, Xeon) is £2749 - £3199 with 32GB RAM. Also for a reason.
Woooow, didn't know currys had the iMac Pro so cheap......
The 8 core model (£2749) is £3800 on Apple refurb store.
edit: that is a damn good price, considering a 6 core i7, 1tb ssd, 32gb ram (crap gpu) Mac mini is £2200 from Apple.
Last edited:
Have you considered a 5K iMac? They go for about $850 on eBay and will be much newer and supported longer than a 5,1.
I too have a great deal of nostalgia for the Mac Pro (had a 1.8 Ghz PowerMac G5 in high school) but for longevity and budgetary concerns, a newer iMac is probably a better choice.
They’re also upgradable RAM and CPU wise (they use a socketed CPU).
I too have a great deal of nostalgia for the Mac Pro (had a 1.8 Ghz PowerMac G5 in high school) but for longevity and budgetary concerns, a newer iMac is probably a better choice.
They’re also upgradable RAM and CPU wise (they use a socketed CPU).
I may wipe the drives and reinstall the OS. Don't see a need, but I may. Thanks for the info.
I don't care for laptops either. I'm strictly a desktop guy. Separate monitor, separate tower. Not a fan of the iMac's either. Had a couple of them in the past albeit it's been a while. I haven't had good luck with AIO's. Especially the current PC I'm using, which is an AIO 19.5" HP white with teal backing.OP: considering you don't need a strong computer immediately, have you thought about buying a 4+ years old used Intel MBP? Luke just did a video on that not while ago, for around 500$ you can get a very solid Mac, that will be great for general purposes (and still adequate for video editing). That way you immediately save more money for a stronger, newer desktop model in the future + once you have a new Tower, also retain the flexibility of having an additional laptop .
4 years ago when i was moving, i just needed a new computer quickly and even though I didn't consider laptops at first, got a good deal on a base MBA - that I still use regulary and works just fine. Couple of times when i was in need I even used it for some video editing and 3d stuff, and it ran surpisingly well (not great, but not bad either).
PS: This topic reminds me of an experience i had some 7 years ago:
Was working in a company (3D stuff, rendering) on a OK-ish desktop i7 PC machine, when boss surprised me one day and brought me a used HP Z-800 Tower (he got a great deal for a used dual-Xeon machine with lots more RAM and Quadro card). Even though it was quite old, on paper it looked like a BOMB. Sure enough I replaced my i7 machine with the beast only to find out,... performance was almost the same (roughly about 5% stronger)
In all seriousness man as I have a 2010 Mac Pro that I have loved near and dear for many years, but don't buy one. Those Xeons are too old to run anything truly modern and it takes a lot of painful hacks to get it running a modern macOS. You don't need expandability for a YouTube channel. Most M1 Macs are sufficient but if you want intel with a decent GPU and expandable get a 2019 iMac. Everything is upgradeable in those except the GPU.
Don't do it. They are great machines if you want to have fun, too old for actual professional development at this point. You would be better off with that budget around a 2017 iMac or a 2018 Mac mini.
Is there a sticky that covers how to wipe the drives? Where would I find the installers for High Sierra, Mojave and Catalina? I probably should wipe the drives myself.
I don't get the point you're making.
And how do you define a module? The M1 is a single, SoC MCM. But on the MCM there are two distinct DRAM chips connected to the Apple Fabric. Though I don't know the topology inside the DRAM chips. Regardless they're connected to an 8 channel interface. And a total bandwidth of just under 80GB/s; M1 Pro is of course 200GB/s and M1 Max 400 GB/s.
Now if my calculations are correct, a 6 channel DDR3-1333 Intel machine in an optimal setup has a bandwidth of around 70GB/s... BUT That's spread across 2 CPUs' memory controllers making it NUMA which is harder to get optimal performance out of. Each individual CPU has 3 memory channels which leaves it with only half the full bandwidth per CPU
They are available from Apple
How to download and install macOS – Apple Support (UK)
Download and install current or previous versions of the Mac operating system on compatible Mac computers.
Hey Tommy, sorry to hear you've had such a tough time of it recently. Hopefully a New Year will bring with it some better times.
I know how you feel about the Mac Pro. Although not really into 'vintage' things - I prefer new cars with all their mod cons to older vehicles without I am completely taken in by the 5,1 Mac Pro and how its put together and the engineering that went into it.
I showed it to friends of mine who I knew would appreciate good engineering and a couple of them wanted to buy it from me but it's not for sale!
The way I look at it; you have seen the many replies from those who have had experience and although at first it seems overwhelmingly negative for the cMP vs the later machines you will be under no illusion and at least understand the risks involved before you take the plunge.
I would view things such as storage & memory as 'consumables' as they are relatively cheap & easy to replace just by lifting that lovely latch and removing the well engineered side panel so I wouldn't let that influence my decision in any way as the first thing I would do is erase everything on the SSD and start afresh.
Adding memory is easy and although I could have put 128GB RAM in mine I went for the optimum 96GB ECC RDIMM which in reality is way more than I would ever need in any case as the most I have had in a computer is 32GB!
The graphics card although easy to replace is not really a cost-effective upgrade IMHO as prices have shot through the roof but I guess that depends upon which monitor(s) you are going to use with it.
As a stopgap I am running my Quadro NVS 510 into a couple of old Eizo Flexscan 4:3 monitors that I haven't used in years and that can only display 1280x1024 which means I can at least use my cMP until such times as a decent spec, reasonably priced monitor and/or graphics card drops into my lap. But I'm in no rush at the moment as I'm just enjoying using the Mac Pro.
Similar to you there has not been a Mac that Apple has made since @2012 that I really wanted. Sure a Retina display would have been a welcome upgrade to the machines I have here but the shortage of ports and other design decisions where Jony Ive always seemed to prioritise form over function have held me back and I no longer can afford to buy on a whim these days.
So go ahead and buy whichever one ticks the most boxes for you and enjoy your choice mindful you are dealing with 10 year old technology that has a finite life.
With the help, support & ideas these forums offer you will have every base covered should you want to take it to new heights.
Oh the 2012 would have been my ideal choice as its newer and has the fastest CPU's you can get but of course the 2010 already has NVMe SSD and is closer.
Tough call...let us know whether you took the 4 or 10 hour round trip or went for Option 3!
-=Glyn=-
Last edited:
The point is Apple knows better, that's the point
The cheaper system is never the better system