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bunnspecial

macrumors G3
Original poster
May 3, 2014
8,376
6,511
Kentucky
I'm looking at a cMP on Craigslist and have asked the seller for more information about what specific model it is. I'm guessing it's a 3,1, but want to find out for sure.

In any case, here are the given specs:

2x3ghz Quad
20gb DDR-2 667mhz
GEForce 7300 GT
2x500gb+1x 2TB

And, the real attraction for me-it includes a 30" Cinema-a monitor that I've wanted for a long time.

The asking price is $750.
I'm figuring the working 30" is good for $400-500 based on what I've seen, so my inclination is to jump on it.

In any case, does anyone have any thoughts about how good of a deal this sounds like?
 
Thanks-looks like-based on that-it's a 2,1.

So, with that in mind, would you all consider a 2,1 with above listed specs and an included 30" Cinema a fair deal for $750?
 
Thanks-looks like-based on that-it's a 2,1.

So, with that in mind, would you all consider a 2,1 with above listed specs and an included 30" Cinema a fair deal for $750?

Run to the Appalachians to get away from any 32bit machine! Most here will advise to get a 4,1 and newer.
Here are links to cMP locations that include 1,1-5,1
http://www.usedmacs.us/?name=Mac-Pro&Scategory=1077648508
http://www.macofalltrades.com/Refurbished-Used-Apple-Mac-Pros-s/298.htm
http://www.dvwarehouse.com/Apple-Mac-Pro-c-5210.html
http://ibuildmacs.com/
https://www.powermax.com/productcategory/used-macs-mac-pro

If you post the desired use of the MP it will be easier for others to narrow down which model is doable.
 
Thanks-looks like-based on that-it's a 2,1.

So, with that in mind, would you all consider a 2,1 with above listed specs and an included 30" Cinema a fair deal for $750?

If you value the monitor at $400-500, I'd say it's a good deal. That should be a fun computer.
 
You'd want to figure out if it's truly a 2x3ghz Quad (8 cores total) or 2x 3GHz Dual (4 cores total) It makes a pretty big difference.

Because it has the 7300 and 667Mhz RAM, I'd also guess it's either a 1,1 or a 2,1.

If it's 8-cores, and you assume the monitor is worth $500, that's an okay price in my opinion, it's probably worth around $850, and being able to see something when you buy it (make sure there's no scratches or blemishes on the screen) is worth a lot.

If it's only 4 cores, It not a good deal in my opinion, the quad core cpus would cost $100+ for the pair, and is not an easy upgrade.

If it's a 2,1 You will NOT be able to run yosemite without hacks. It's possible and does run okay, but you would need to invest in a new video card, so keep this in mind.
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-2-1-and-os-x-yosemite.1740775/#post-19182723

Maybe ask if they'd sell just the monitor? Since that seems to be what you really want. Depending on your budget, getting a 4,1 does offer you a lot of room to upgrade, and getting a 3,1 allows you to run Yosemite without having to use the modified bootloaders.
 
Run to the Appalachians to get away from any 32bit machine! Most here will advise to get a 4,1 and newer.
Here are links to cMP locations that include 1,1-5,1
http://www.usedmacs.us/?name=Mac-Pro&Scategory=1077648508
http://www.macofalltrades.com/Refurbished-Used-Apple-Mac-Pros-s/298.htm
http://www.dvwarehouse.com/Apple-Mac-Pro-c-5210.html
http://ibuildmacs.com/
https://www.powermax.com/productcategory/used-macs-mac-pro

If you post the desired use of the MP it will be easier for others to narrow down which model is doable.

I've actually been talking to someone in the Marketplace about a lower spec 4,1, and I like the better compatibility that 64 bit EFI brings.

I did do some reading this evening on installing newer OSs(specifically 10.9, as I don't like 10.10) on 32 bit EFI machines, and although it sounds doable it looks like I'd be looking at a GPU upgrade at a minimum. It seems interesting to me that folks are getting 10.9/10.10 to run(albeit through hacks) on Intel GMA950s in Macbooks, iMacs, and Minis, and by most standards the GMA950 is a steaming pile of crap.

In any case, I'd be looking at this as a replacement for my office computer-a dual core G5 2.0(late '05). My requirements generally aren't that strenuous(primarily Office and Chemdraw) although I do occasionally do some molecular modeling and also sometimes heavy Photoshop work on images(lens distortion correction, etc). I'm getting along fine with the G5 and 95% of the time it's not a bottleneck. I've recently purchased a G5 Quad, primarily for my Apple collection but also as a potential replacement for the dual core.

I'm looking at a Mac Pro because I do want a desktop and the expandability that comes with it(specifically I want to have a big internal Time Machine drive, an SSD for the OS and programs, and a big platter drive data storage).

I'm also finding myself a bit limited now by 10.5.8. I'm a PPC hobbiest and will continue to be, but I'm finding increasingly that programs necessary for work(specifically communicating within the University systems) are requiring 10.7 or newer, and a small subset of those need something even newer than that. Our department shared printer doesn't even have drivers for anything older than 10.8. So with anything I buy, current OS compatibility(as I said, 10.9 for now) is a must, although I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get used to 10.10 for Office 2016.

So, it sounds like I might be best passing on this one, and continuing to work on the deal on the 4-core 4,1. It's probably going to end up being about $500(plus some more money to buy RAM from OWC or Crucial, as it's currently at 3gb), but considering the "nothing older than a 4,1" advice it's probably going to be the best option. Of course, the early '08 MBP I'm typing this post from is running great with 3gb of RAM and an SSD on 10.9, so maybe I don't need to go nuts over RAM either(or at least keep it conservative and only go up to 6 or 8).

The biggest attraction to the 2,1 is the 30", so perhaps I'll see if I can work out a deal on it separately. Of course, even though as a staff member and adjunct instructor, talking the department into buying the Mac I would want(probably a high end 27" iMac) is out of the question, but I think I could at least swing getting a couple of nice LED/IPS displays. As much as I've always lusted after a 30", a pair of 1920x1080 would actually give me a few more pixels of working area than a 30".
 
You'd want to figure out if it's truly a 2x3ghz Quad (8 cores total) or 2x 3GHz Dual (4 cores total) It makes a pretty big difference.

Thanks for the sum of the advice, and as I said in my previous(just posted) comment I may talk to them about the display separately.

The ad is a bit sparse on details, but they do phrase it as 2x4 cores. As per everymac.com, 3ghz and 8 cores was a possible configuration for the 2,1.

http://lexington.craigslist.org/sys/5056767940.html
 
I paid $700 for my 30" ACD three years ago I don't regret it at all so the 2,1 combo sounds like a deal but I'd probably part ways with the old MP.
 
Well, the 2,1 is gone so it looks like I really have no reason to not go after a 4,1.

Of course, my G5 Quad just got here and it's doing great :)
 
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