Mac Pro 3,1 question

[jeeplj8]

So I got the second processor and heat sink installed! I am debating on selling the computer as is now with 8gb of ram and getting around $700 or so for it and buying a newer 2010 quad core 2.8 Mac Pro. Not sure if I want to hold off for an 8 core for more memory capacity or just get the quad and eventually upgrade it to the 6 core? Or I could just throw an ssd and graphics card in mine and wait for the 5,1's to get cheaper or just get a nMP

If you can get 700 for it as is, then I would do that and look toward a 5.1 machine. Frankly, I would think the value as is is closer 400, so really jump on that.

I have a 3.1 2.8 8 core. I just dropped around 450 in upgrades, but can all be moved if need be to newer machine.
1) 240gb Crucial M500 SSD ($140 local computer store) placed in bay one. no drive sled, just used some foam black to create a nice secure cushion. boots super quick.
2) 32GB Crucial brand server memory (160 on ebay) it is the 667 mhz stuff, but you cannot find much less buy 800mhz for nearly that price and is a 5% speed difference.
3) Asus Nvidia 650ti GTX video card (150 minus 15 rebate), no boot screen for now (might flash it later). Not noticing huge difference in performance, but older 2600 was causing kernal panics, so really just got enough GPU to handle what I was already doing. runs so much cooler than with the stock 2600.

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I have a guy offering to sell his Mac Pro 2008(3,1) to me for $650. It's the 2.8 Octo 8 Gigs of ram 1TB HDD. He said he upgraded the video card to run FCPX. Is this a good deal? I'm coming from a 2006 dual quad 3.0 with 4 gigs of ram.

what specific card is it? You can technically run FCX on some lower end cards, just not well.

IMHO that is too much. Unless it is a pretty high end card, I think 500 is decent, but not good price. I have seen several 3.1 machines with better RAM and drives going for 500 on CL and still not selling.

 

[weaverra]

what specific card is it? You can technically run FCX on some lower end cards, just not well.

IMHO that is too much. Unless it is a pretty high end card, I think 500 is decent, but not good price. I have seen several 3.1 machines with better RAM and drives going for 500 on CL and still not selling.

I don't know, but I will ask. I remember when he bought is about a year ago. He said he paid $300 for it.

 

[weaverra]

what specific card is it? You can technically run FCX on some lower end cards, just not well.

IMHO that is too much. Unless it is a pretty high end card, I think 500 is decent, but not good price. I have seen several 3.1 machines with better RAM and drives going for 500 on CL and still not selling.

The problem I have right now is the market in northern Alabama is very slim and not a lot of options other than eBay. I think the fire sales on Mac Pro's has probably subsided for now. Compared to the offer that I have now on the table, eBay would be a more expensive option. I only have $650 with about $75 for some memory and am in need of a computer now. I am looking to put myself in a position in the next two years to buy a newer faster model. I really don't have to money to pour into a 4,1 system to upgrade it. I think an Octo 2.8 will out perform a 4,1 2.66 quad with the limited budget that I have. I have priced some memory on eBay for the 3,1 and could possible throw 8 more gigs of ram in there for around $75 depending on the configuration. I assume it's a 4 x 2GB configuration as it come from Apple brand new when the guy bought it. I'm not buying until the 14th so I have time to look around. I think it might be the HD 5770.

 

[weaverra]

what specific card is it? You can technically run FCX on some lower end cards, just not well.

IMHO that is too much. Unless it is a pretty high end card, I think 500 is decent, but not good price. I have seen several 3.1 machines with better RAM and drives going for 500 on CL and still not selling.

With the upgrade potential what if I got a stock 2009 quad 2.66 with 6 gigs of memory for the same price? $650+$30 shipping