Is a 2008 model worth buying?

[goMac]

You just summed up exactly what I said.
Me:
"The mixed 32/64 environments started after G5 release (10.3 had 64-bit addressing "bridge" of sorts but no 64-bit apps) and didn't finalize until Snow Leopard."

And you:
"When the G5 was released, Apple did a special G5 only release of OS X Panther. It featured a 36 bit memory addressing (which could address way more memory than the G5 could max out at), and features that allowed an application to take advantage of 64 bit memory and addressing."

Saying that it does not work that way "at all" is a little much. Where is the division?

"...and features that allowed an application to take advantage of 64 bit memory and addressing"
This was my "bridge" you called it "features".

I think my distinction is that apps could use the 64 bit features. So yes, you could have 64 bit apps at launch with the G5. XCode grew a 64 bit PowerPC compile switch and everything.

Most developers didn't do it *cough*Adobe*cough* but they were perfectly able to. Developer laziness in adopting 64 bit is entirely different than 64 bit apps not being possible.

 

[b01189]

I had purchased an 08 MP about 9 months ago to use simply as a render work horse for Aftereffects and FCP it works wonderful for that purpose. I paid about $1,400 and have been very happy with my purchase thus far.

 

[dcweeks]

If one were to buy the 2010 refurb singe CPU quad core machine, could that be upgraded later on to dual CPU with 12 cores?

 

[derbothaus]

If one were to buy the 2010 refurb singe CPU quad core machine, could that be upgraded later on to dual CPU with 12 cores?

Not cheaply. You need the dual socket daughter board. You can get it up to Single W3690 3.46GHz Hex.
If you truly plan on getting dual 6-core pay or wait it out for a referb 8-core 2.4GHz as it has the dual socket tray.

 

[eurekor]

07 MP(2.1) 2x Dual Core 3Ghz

I bought one last month with 8Gb RAM, 2TB HD and 2x Monitors. I use it for programming iOS, OSx using ObjC, Cocoa, OpenGL with occasional video, photoshop work. It runs OS X 10.7.3 Lion.

This MP is stable, quiet and fast enough for all my needs. I am so happy with it that I intend to keep it for next 20 years or more.

 

[dcweeks]

Not cheaply. You need the dual socket daughter board. You can get it up to Single W3690 3.46GHz Hex.
If you truly plan on getting dual 6-core pay or wait it out for a referb 8-core 2.4GHz as it has the dual socket tray.

Ohhh wowwwww... I hadn't noticed the change in design to that daughter board and it is quite sexy. I want that. I need that. I must have that. Reminds me of my HP server. That is on the 2009 and 2010 models?

I'm just exploring making the jump back to Mac after a decade away but I think now is the time! It sure would make it a lot easier if there were an announcement about the Mac Pro platform soon.

 

[WardC]

Only the new Mac Pro (the one that came out last month) with Ivy Bridge and the dual Thunderbolt ports is worth buying right now, in my opinion. The technological advances of the new model outshine the older models by far.

It's nice that they are available in 16 cores and up to 4.2GHz as well. My only wish was that the RAM could be upgraded past 128GB. The new AMD/ATI HD 7980 card that is included is a nice bonus as well.

/endaprilfoolsjoke.

/justkidding

 

[Phildo]

Find a 2009.
- DDR3 RAM is much cheaper.
- SATA instead of ATA for DVD burner - a second SATA burner is cheaper than ATA.
- Replacing the processor with a W3680 gives an exceptionally good benchmark score.