Mac Pro.. 2.6 with 4gb or 3.0 with 2gb

[adamfilip]

Im about to order a Mac Pro for my company

what would serve me better a mac Pro 2.6 with 4gb ram or a Mac pro 3.0 with 2gb ram.

i could always ad ram later (but it would prob be much later)
I do heavy illustrator, indesign and Photoshop work right now on a PC (p4 3.0 HT)

 

[wmmk]

Im about to order a Mac Pro for my company

what would serve me better a mac Pro 2.6 with 4gb ram or a Mac pro 3.0 with 2gb ram.

i could always ad ram later (but it would prob be much later)
I do heavy illustrator, indesign and Photoshop work right now on a PC (p4 3.0 HT)

don't even get the mac pro until CS3 comes out. then find people who have configs like you mentioned do some PS/illustrator benchmarks. anyway, i'd guess the 2.66 with 4 gigs RAM, but that's just me.

 

[kylepro88]

Go with the better CPU, the RAM is easier to upgrade. Besides 2GB RAM and 3Ghz will give you amazing results besides the point. I bought a standard 2.66Ghz w/1GB of RAM and I can open 20 programs lol. Handbrake encodes a 3min h264, 720x480, 1000kbs, in 40seconds. No worries mate, just go with the better cpu.

-Kyle

 

[adamfilip]

at home I use a Dual 2.0 G5 with 3gb and its about the same speed as the PC 3.0 HT with 3gb i use at work

so if the Mac Pro will seem about the same speed with non native apps.
it should be fine. and i can just jump into windows if i need too.

and when native cs3 comes out.. I should be golden

 

[GoCubsGo]

and when native cs3 comes out.. I should be golden

I wonder if we see the MacBook Pro upgrades before then!!

 

[fivetoadsloth]

It depends on your needs id go with the 2.66 ghz with 4 gig of ram but as stated the ram ismuch easier to upgrade than the processor so in the long run the 3 ghz with 2 gig of ram wouldf be better. Either way it will be inanely fast and faster qhwn cs3 comes into the picture.

 

[suneohair]

While it may be easier to upgrade memory than it is to do a cpu(at least in the Mac Pro which doesnt look too bad if you have the service manual) the 3.0Ghz upgrade is very overpriced.

2.66Ghz with 4GB of third party RAM, sell the 2x512MB on eBay (which will bring about $250).

In a year maybe dump out the cash for some quad core Xeons

 

[Transeau]

3.0 with 1G...

CPU's are $800+ each right now... if you go with 2.6 or 2.0, you could find yourself wanting more later... $1600 is a bit much post-purchase.

Memory is / will be cheap. I paid $545 for 5GB. (4x1G + 2x512M)

 

[suneohair]

3.0 with 1G...

CPU's are $800+ each right now... if you go with 2.6 or 2.0, you could find yourself wanting more later... $1600 is a bit much post-purchase.

Memory is / will be cheap. I paid $545 for 5GB. (4x1G + 2x512M)

You can't simply look at the price per CPU. You have to look at the cost of the 2.66 in comparison to the 3.0

(prices from newegg.com)
Two 2.66Ghz CPUs right now would be: $1431
Two 3.0Ghz CPUs would be: $1734

A difference of roughly $300. If you look at the 2.0Ghz and the 2.66Ghz the difference is closer to the $800.

2.66 is the sweet spot. It has also been shown that the increase in performance between the 2.66 and the 3.0 is negligible.

Also, you wouldnt be spending $1600 post purchase if you consider you could see of the 2.66 CPUs.

The memory is cheap, but the 3.0 upgrade is a ripoff. It has been shown by anandtech that the chances of popping in a quad core later is likely.

So go for the best bang for your buck. Which would be the 2.66 stock, add after market RAM, sell 2x512MB and use your Mac Pro for a few years. If you feel like you need more oomph, i am sure the quad cores will be priced vry nicely and by then apps should be taking full advantage of that power. It will run like a brand new Mac.

 

[Chundles]

Never, EVER sell your Apple-installed RAM, especially on the Pro machines.

If you ever need to take it in for Apple Care you will need to take the machine back to factory-shipped conditions to allow them to rule out bad 3rd party RAM as a culprit. If you don't have the original RAM and they can't rule out the 3rd party stuff then you won't be covered.

You're not going to void the warranty installing 3rd party RAM but any problems caused by that RAM aren't covered by Apple Care.

Keep your Apple RAM somewhere safe.

 

[iBookG4user]

For my MBP, I opted for the lower clock speed and more RAM. It will get a higher Price/Performance ratio most likely. More RAM is always better. (except if it's the difference between a single and dual core or a dual core and quad core)

 

[IlluminatedSage]

hell it's my thoughts are that you can go either way.

if you really want speed. depends on if you could wait a month or two. if so. the new quad core chips are coming out. which can mean either single chip quad core model, or possibly a machine with 8 core for cpu in total.

also, it could mean an adjustment in pricing. so... if you want you can save some money there right now.

Additionally, if you want to save some money, you can right now buy direct from apple refurbished mac pro's. at a great discount. which who knows the refurbished units could come down when the new models come.

Adobe suite is coming very soon, so ignore those naysayers. get the computer. adobe will catch up this spring.

 

[adamfilip]

my work is buying the machine for me as my main machine at the office

upgrades are few and far between. soo im leaning towards the 3.0 as it might be easier to get a ram upgrade later. I wish the Quad cores were out now. but of well.

 

[minnesotamacman]

3.0 with 1G...

CPU's are $800+ each right now... if you go with 2.6 or 2.0, you could find yourself wanting more later... $1600 is a bit much post-purchase.

Memory is / will be cheap. I paid $545 for 5GB. (4x1G + 2x512M)

Can you tell me where you paid $545 for your memory. I haven't found anything close.

 

[Mundy]

I went with the Mac Pro 2.66 and 4 GB of RAM.

The extra $800 for a 5% increase in performance on the 3.0 GHz model (according to MacWorld) wasn't for me.

And this thing is so sickeningly fast, I don't know if I could tell the difference anyway.

 

[Willis]

Get the 3.0ghz and 2Gb ram.

I read a benchmark with CS2 and it showed that the 3ghz is about just as fast as a Quad G5.

When CS3 does come out, you'll be laughing.

 

[I'mAMac]

If the new chips are coming out in a month or so that would be good. I would just wait till they came out and buy a mac pro that is out now. The price would go way down, and I don't need 8 cores (though I could lways put them in later ). Just look at the iMacs after C2D came.

 

[FF_productions]

Im about to order a Mac Pro for my company

what would serve me better a mac Pro 2.6 with 4gb ram or a Mac pro 3.0 with 2gb ram.

i could always ad ram later (but it would prob be much later)
I do heavy illustrator, indesign and Photoshop work right now on a PC (p4 3.0 HT)

The 3.0 Mac Pro is faster than the Quad G5 at Photoshop tasks, giving you a hint of how fast this machine is..even with Rosetta running.

The 2.66 Mac Pro is neck-in-neck with the Quad G5, introduced at a price much lower than what the Quad was introduced for.

Photoshop LOVES ram, FAST hard drives, and FAST processors.

I'd get the 3.0 Mac Pro, the top of the line, and then add ram slowly as you can afford it.