How often do you upgrade your Mac Pros?

[wesk702]

I'm going about every 5-6 years. This new one is probably gonna last me 6 or more I hope. How often do you guys upgrade?
I'd imagine with all the pros and prosumers, you hate reinstalling apps and plugins all over again just as much as I do. And of course having to pay extortion prices from certain plug in companies just for a menial update to work with your new hardware.

 

[ActionableMango]

Did you mean "replace" instead of "upgrade"?

Because I've upgraded my Mac Pro on average more than once a year since buying it in 2010: memory, CPU, video card, USB3 card, SSDs, and HDDs.

 

[BenClement1978]

I Upgraded my GPU Ram Storage.. all depends on the price and needs..

 

[snberk103]

About 4 years. I like to have my Mac Pro under warranty, so… when the 3 years is up I start shopping. It may take awhile to find what I want… so up to 4 years.

This last upgrade I just moved the old system HDD over to the new Mac Pro along with a couple of the data HDDs and started it up. Didn't even bother with migration assistant. I think there were a couple of applications that needed to be relicensed… but it was essentially seamless. Over time I moved the data from the old HDDs to some newer ones. Both for speed and for reliability.

 

[AidenShaw]

3 years, like clockwork

I'm going about every 5-6 years. This new one is probably gonna last me 6 or more I hope. How often do you guys upgrade?
I'd imagine with all the pros and prosumers, you hate reinstalling apps and plugins all over again just as much as I do. And of course having to pay extortion prices from certain plug in companies just for a menial update to work with your new hardware.

Every 3 years. Corporate policy is to replace desktops and laptops when they go out of warranty. Period.

 

[wesk702]

Every 3 years. Corporate policy is to replace desktops and laptops when they go out of warranty. Period.

Very nice

 

[k-hawinkler]

I went in March from a Dual 2.5 GHz PPC to a 6-core nMP.
That makes it 9.5 years. I also have a 2009 17" MacBook Pro.
For me a main benefit of Mac Pros are their I/O capabilities.

 

[m4v3r1ck]

3-5 years

Bought a MP 3.1 in 2008 and upgraded the HDD's, maxed out RAM, PC GPU, PCIe SATA-3 with SSD's. Came across a 'new' (open box, never used) 2012 MP 5.1 that could be covered by Apple Care, so I took the plunge at a very reasonable price. Moved all the upgrades from the MP 3.1. to it.

Future upgrades: 3,46Ghz CPU's, RAM, USB3, Flashed GTX-6/7xxx 4/6GB, PCIe mSATA SSD. At least I'm covered for the coming 3 years with having a GREAT and nicely upgradable MP. Happy with it!

 

[crjackson2134]

I'm going about every 5-6 years. This new one is probably gonna last me 6 or more I hope. How often do you guys upgrade?
I'd imagine with all the pros and prosumers, you hate reinstalling apps and plugins all over again just as much as I do. And of course having to pay extortion prices from certain plug in companies just for a menial update to work with your new hardware.

Do you mean replace, or are you literally talking about upgrades?

 

[goodcow]

Every 3 years. Corporate policy is to replace desktops and laptops when they go out of warranty. Period.

Are corporations eligible for four-year AppleCare like the education market?

 

[Sko]

I misinterpreted the question.

I upgrade my trusty MacPro 1,1 every other year with RAM, CPU, GPU or SSD, whatever is the weakest part. I plan to keep it another three years minimum. Best purchase I ever made.

 

[Frost7]

My Pro desktops have gone like this:

1. Mac Plus

2. Mac II

3. Mac IIx

<Long gap>

4. PowerBase 180 (Power Computing)

5. SuperMac S900 (UMAX)

6. PowerMac G4 Digital Audio 733 MHz
6a. Stock GeForce 2 MX to GeForce 4 Titanium 4600
6b. Added 120GB HDD alongside 60GB HDD
6c. 733 MHz 7455 to 1.42 GHz 7457
6d. 1.42 GHz 7457 to Dual 1.8 GHz 7447

7. PowerMac G5 Quad
7a. Stock GeForce 6600 to QuadroFX 4500
7b. Added 1.5TB Barracuda alongside stock 250GB HDD
7c. Stock 4GB RAM to 16GB ECC RAM
7d. Replaced stock 250GB HDD and 1.5TB Barracuda with 1TB Velociraptor and 2TB Constellation ES.2

<Another long gap>

8. (Planned and budgeted) Haswell Xeon Mac Pro

 

[AidenShaw]

Are corporations eligible for four-year AppleCare like the education market?

It wouldn't matter for us - we could get 5 years for our Dells and HPs, but we go with the standard 3-year warranty.

When you have over 20,000 desktops and laptops, support costs are reduced if you push out older systems (fewer combinations of hardware to support).

 

[flowrider]

Upgrade can mean different things, at least it could have before the nMP. My 5,1 is certainly upgraded from it's stock configuration. I believe the OP means how many times do you CHANGE your Desktop Macintosh. My route has been

1. Mac Plus
2. Mac SE/30
3. Mac IICI
4. Mac Quadra 700
5. Power Mac 8500
6. Power Mac G4
7. Power Mac G5
8. Mac Pro 3,1
9. Mac Pro 5,1

I've also owned a Power Book 100, Power Book G4 and currently an MBA. I won't even mention my horrid experience with the iPad (Damn, I hated that thing).

All My machines (except the rotten iPad) were upgraded to some extent.

Lou

 

[dwbattle]

I follow the same basic schedule regardless of type/brand of computer.

I upgrade video cards and hard drives at the 2 year mark. I also sometimes add more RAM.

I replace the computer at the 3-4 year mark.

 

[gugy]

I used to update every 3 years because of Applecare but this year with the nMP, I might keep my current 12 core 2010 for another year or two.
Considering adding some more RAM on OWC Accelsior to improve performance.

The main reason is financial and also because I want to wait a bit until the nMP is more battle tested and potential bugs will be fix down the road. Still, I am looking to get this machine sometime in the near future.

 

[wesk702]

Do you mean replace, or are you literally talking about upgrades?

Sorry, I meant replace. Too late to update the title now,but both topics interest me.

 

[crjackson2134]

Sorry, I meant replace. Too late to update the title now,but both topics interest me.

I upgrade SOMETHING on my Mac Pro every couple of months.

----------

Upgrade can mean different things, at least it could have before the nMP. My 5,1 is certainly upgraded from it's stock configuration. I believe the OP means how many times do you CHANGE your Desktop Macintosh. My route has been

1. Mac Plus
2. Mac SE/30
3. Mac IICI
4. Mac Quadra 700
5. Power Mac 8500
6. Power Mac G4
7. Power Mac G5
8. Mac Pro 3,1
9. Mac Pro 5,1

I've also owned a Power Book 100, Power Book G4 and currently an MBA. I won't even mention my horrid experience with the iPad (Damn, I hated that thing).

All My machines (except the rotten iPad) were upgraded to some extent.

Lou

You need to change your user name to MadMacs

 

[Wardenski]

I generally upgrade things when I need to. I bought a PC 5870 in 2010 (Pro 2008) when I wanted to play games on my new 1900x1200 screen, 8800GT wouldn't cut the mustard.

Bought SSDs in 2012 because I wanted to plus had issue with existing HD.

So maybe every 2 years.

Won't be upgrading anymore. I will buy a new PC when either my Mac Pro dies or I want to do some serious gaming with the latest GPUs. I don't play that many games to justify that at the moment though. I have no idea when I will be buying my next computer.

 

[Tutor]

Home To Computers Of The Past And Present Because Applications Rule.

I'm going about every 5-6 years. This new one is probably gonna last me 6 or more I hope. How often do you guys upgrade?
I'd imagine with all the pros and prosumers, you hate reinstalling apps and plugins all over again just as much as I do. And of course having to pay extortion prices from certain plug in companies just for a menial update to work with your new hardware.

I keep and use my computers until they die an unresurrectionable death. I have currently operable at least one of almost every then top of the line Mac sold since the mid-80s. I haven't "replaced" whole systems. Each subsequent purchase has been to supplement. Business needs determine the timing of my supplementations. I do replace parts to make repairs and to enhance system performance.

I install on subsequent acquisitions only software that really benefits substantially from the latest system hardware acquisition. I, too, hate reinstalling apps, plugins, etc., as well as having to purchase upgrades where there is no real benefit. Over time I have noticed that some really great applications didn't survive the system changes. Applications rule. That's why, even presently in addition to running my MacPros and WinLinTels (mostly self-builds since 2010), I occasionally still run my Ataris, Amigas w/ Video Toaster add ons and vintage Macs.

 

[Tutor]

Upgrade can mean different things, at least it could have before the nMP. My 5,1 is certainly upgraded from it's stock configuration. I believe the OP means how many times do you CHANGE your Desktop Macintosh. My route has been

1. Mac Plus
2. Mac SE/30
3. Mac IICI
4. Mac Quadra 700
5. Power Mac 8500
6. Power Mac G4
7. Power Mac G5
8. Mac Pro 3,1
9. Mac Pro 5,1

I've also owned a Power Book 100, Power Book G4 and currently an MBA. I won't even mention my horrid experience with the iPad (Damn, I hated that thing).

All My machines (except the rotten iPad) were upgraded to some extent.

Lou

Do you maintain a museum? I do.

 

[reco2011]

Upgrade can mean different things, at least it could have before the nMP. My 5,1 is certainly upgraded from it's stock configuration. I believe the OP means how many times do you CHANGE your Desktop Macintosh. My route has been

1. Mac Plus
2. Mac SE/30
3. Mac IICI
4. Mac Quadra 700
5. Power Mac 8500
6. Power Mac G4
7. Power Mac G5
8. Mac Pro 3,1
9. Mac Pro 5,1

I've also owned a Power Book 100, Power Book G4 and currently an MBA. I won't even mention my horrid experience with the iPad (Damn, I hated that thing).

All My machines (except the rotten iPad) were upgraded to some extent.

This list made me realize how much money I've spent on computers over the years:

1. LC II
2. Quadra 660a/v
3. Powerbook 520
4. PowerMac 6100
5. PowerMac 8100
6. PowerMac 9500 - Purchased for my brother
7. PowerMac G5 (7,2) - Purchased for my brother
8. MacBook (1,1)
9. MacBook (2,1)
10. MacBook (2,1)*
11. MacBook Pro (7,1)
12. MacMini (1,1)
13. MacMini (6,2)
14. MacBook Air (4,1)
15. MacBook Air (6,2)*
16. MacBook Pro Retina (10,1)*
17. MacPro (1,1)
18. MacPro (5,1)*
19. iBook G3 (4,3)*
20. PowerBook G4 (3,2)
21. PowerMac G5 (1,1)*
22. PowerMac G5 (9,1)*

* Denotes current system

This is what I can remember off the top of my head. And it excludes all my PCs, Suns, SGI's, and AS/400 systems. I need help!

 

[Riwam]

I won't even mention my horrid experience with the iPad (Damn, I hated that thing).

All My machines (except the rotten iPad) were upgraded to some extent.

Lou

.....................
What made you hate so much the iPad?
What generation was it Lou?
I have been using an iPad 2 for a couple of years now and for many daily things like internet, mails, Wikipedia, different apps, etc., I find it very useful.
Using it in bed, for instance, or when I am looking for some data, like an address, a train connection, the life of a movie person etc. and am in a hurry, it is much quicker, lighter and convenient than any notebook or desktop.
Almost no waiting time for booting like a computer.
It simply does not do things a computer can do, but is not intended to do it...
I do not entirely love it, mainly because the iPad 2 is still heavy and somehow uncomfortable to hold in my hand for a long time, but find it very, very useful.


----------

I'm going about every 5-6 years. This new one is probably gonna last me 6 or more I hope. How often do you guys upgrade?
I'd imagine with all the pros and prosumers, you hate reinstalling apps and plugins all over again just as much as I do. And of course having to pay extortion prices from certain plug in companies just for a menial update to work with your new hardware.

......................
I endorse the opinion of others that every 3 years is a reasonable timetable mainly because of Apple Care.
I had a MP 1.1 from End 2007 which for reasons I don't know worked terribly bad. Was lucky Apple replaced it mid 2011 by an 8 core mid 2010 MP, and sold it end of last year with still 1/2 year of Apple Care.
Now I have a nMP 6core 1TB D500 and hope to keep it for the 3 years of Apple Care with hopefully no problems.
Since I am 69 y.o. don't make plans for any far future...

 

[flowrider]

.....................
What made you hate so much the iPad?

What generation was it Lou?

Since I am 69 y.o. don't make plans for any far future...

It was a Generation One machine. I had a screen cover and BT Keyboard (so three separate pieces), but it just wouldn't do what I wanted and having the remote keyboard was also a drag. I sold it on Craig's List and bought an 11" MBA - and I absolutely luv that machine. It's a real computer by golly, not a damn toy

Physical keyboards are important to me. I don't like virtual ones. That's the main reason I don't own an iPhone, I have a Motorola Droid3, that has a slide out keyboard.

Oh, BTW, I'm 75, so I have you by six years. I look ahead to tomorrow, and hope I'll be around to see it

Lou

 

[brentsg]

I'm still milking my 2010 refurb.

I replaced the CPU and video card. I've put my SSDs on PCI cards to get SATA3. I am about to add a USB3 card.. I think this is it though, not much else I can do but I don't know what I'll do for my next machine. The nMP is more than I need and too expensive.