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Mac Pro 6,1 lovers...how do you feel about the Mac Studio?
- Thread starter kfscoll
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I bought a used 6,1 a couple years ago (12-core / 64GB / D300) to replace my aging 5,1. It got me through the last couple years of my graphic design career.
Now that I'm retired but still doing the occasional print job, and lots of digital illustration, the Mac Studio looks like a great little item that might last for some time (once the 6,1 is EOL'd).
I just need to decide whether the 32GB RAM will be enough, but I've got at least a year to figure it out, as I won't be buying anything till 2023.
It's nice to know Apple hasn't forgotten us mid-level desktop users.
Now that I'm retired but still doing the occasional print job, and lots of digital illustration, the Mac Studio looks like a great little item that might last for some time (once the 6,1 is EOL'd).
I just need to decide whether the 32GB RAM will be enough, but I've got at least a year to figure it out, as I won't be buying anything till 2023.
It's nice to know Apple hasn't forgotten us mid-level desktop users.
mp6,1 owner and did what you did with upgrades over the years. Love the Mac Pro 2013 EVEN though I suffered through all of the issues with it over the years... but still love the form and still a decent computer...
I upgraded to the M1 Max MacBook Pro as my replacement for the mp6,1 (though still use it also). My bank account and wife (especially) cannot be talked into affording it though I have looked at "how" to buy it a few times a day since it was released a few days ago with no resolve (LOL). I suffered also with a maxed out MacBook Pro 2018 (with that cost too) within a few years in-between (said to my wife "This is it..no more buying...") At least for awhile..
The MacBook Pro M1 Max does EVERYTHING and more for what I need (video and audio work). If...I knew this was coming out, I MAY have passed on the MacBook Pro and bought this as my mp6,1 upgrade (maybe not - hard to decide now having it). The look of the Studio...eh.."ok"..nothing to "wow" or write home about..I may be in the few, but I liked Jony's designs.
Would have LOVED it if Apple used the same mp6,1 form and put the Studio insides into it and finally call the mp6,1 what it was originally intended when it came out in 2013-2014 and call the concept "Finally Completed", but no such luck. Close in concept...but no cigar.
Since I have the MacBook Pro 2021, it gives me some time to save up and calm down my wife who I have to be very cautious with when talking about anything "New" that comes out with Apple. :0. When I can afford this "Beast" Studio the specs will be even better (in a few or more years to come).
As far as the monitor...I NEEDED this last year coming from an Apple Thunderbolt and Cinema (s) Monitors as my eyes are too tired with the glares of Apple Monitors and the screens (Nano options from what I heard makes the monitor look so..so..if you are doing video work), so I also pass on this now too. My LG 27UL850 does MORE than the job, especially at $550! Matt finish (no glare) ports, (looks good) and even a USB-C input, making screen viewing look wonderful. Also...looks good next to my Mac Pro 6,1.
Like you I did exactly the same with cpu, ram and disk. Crazy what I paid for 1tb ssd back in the day (around 800 i think) but its starting to show its age and its also getting a tad flaky. I decided to also order a mac studio but I did not bother with the Ultra, instead going with the base with a 64gb ram and 4tb ssd upgrade. I debated the ultra for the TB4 extra ports and compared it with more disk and decided it was overkill for me. Im excited to get my hands on it. My SD3 stuff eats up a huge amount of disk so I felt more ssd was my biggest need. I wanted 8tb if possible but I couldnt justify the extra money for that.
returning to this, I was interested in Studio but this decision I had put off because I was happy with my maxed out 5,1. That changed in the weekend when it stopped booting.
Looking at Studio, I’d be paying a lot for something that locks me in to a spec. So I ended up ordering a Mac Pro 7,1:
Xeon W 3245 16 core 3.2ghz
48GB DDR4 ECC memory
Radeon Pro W6800X 32GB GDDR6 memory
1TB of SSD storage
I feel that should keep me going for many more years. Until it arrives I’m using my 6,1 full time.
Looking at Studio, I’d be paying a lot for something that locks me in to a spec. So I ended up ordering a Mac Pro 7,1:
Xeon W 3245 16 core 3.2ghz
48GB DDR4 ECC memory
Radeon Pro W6800X 32GB GDDR6 memory
1TB of SSD storage
I feel that should keep me going for many more years. Until it arrives I’m using my 6,1 full time.
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Perhaps the 12C 5,1 has a worn out NVRAM chip? If so, new ones are very cheap, though require soldering. Or buy a MATT card for £50. Will need a previous dump of your old ROM to work fully (iMessage etc.) though. If that's the issue, you'd get the 5,1 up and running as a backup machine. Or if totally dead maybe it's the PSU.
WWDC is soon and may reveal the AS MP. Though doubtless it'll cost a fortune and have limited expandability.
WWDC is soon and may reveal the AS MP. Though doubtless it'll cost a fortune and have limited expandability.
This is the post explaining the checks I did:
It would sometimes start in old Mojave but frequently restarting. Given I’m badly injured and on crutches I couldn’t be bothered swapping CPUs out to verify those. Didn’t want to make this change so soon. Hope the new one is fine.
I’ll be interested in what Apple does next.