MP 7,1 Mac pro 7,1 for home use.

[maser]

I'm currently using the 6,1 version of the mac pro and looking at getting the 7,1. I will be using it mostly for photo editing and everyday computing. Anyone else here using it as a desktop and not for Pro work? will it be over kill? Expendability is the main reason I am thinking of updating it. I have cables and external drives everywhere.

thank you

 

[Tekguy0]

Its totally overkill. Very expandable though. Too many cables can be solved with a thunderbolt dock or 2 or 3.

 

[orytek]

Do it if you like and can afford it.
My last 4 Macs over the years were Mac Pros and that isn't going to change now.
No regrets. The expandability and an external monitor is a must for me and so I decided to just deal with the expense.
I've got rid of all my old spinners and everything is new including nvme ssd's contained inside the Mac Pro, except a small external usb-c Lacie4TB for TimeMachine.

 

[maser]

Performance wise, noticeable difference between the 6,1 and 7,1? I currently have the 6,1 6 core and 64GB and looking at the 8 core with 96GB (not from Apple) 7,1. Photoshop, Capture One and Indesign.

 

[orytek]

The sweet spot for me was the 12 core because it takes advantage of the faster memory.
Also in addition to that the single core performance is supposed to beat the 8 core because of the better Turbo Boost.

 

[goMac]

I'm currently using the 6,1 version of the mac pro and looking at getting the 7,1. I will be using it mostly for photo editing and everyday computing. Anyone else here using it as a desktop and not for Pro work? will it be over kill? Expendability is the main reason I am thinking of updating it. I have cables and external drives everywhere.

thank you

Possibly extremely overkill.

If you buy the 8 core, it might be more practical to have as a machine to load with drives. Wouldn't go higher on core count than that. For everyday computing, almost any config is overkill.

If you're using spinning hard drives, it can become extremely expensive to load it with drives. The 2 drive sled isn't a bad price, but stuff like the 4 drive MPX module is not cheap. So if you have a lot of external spinners, might be better to stick with the external enclosures.

The work I do is very multicore optimized, and I've been very surprised how hard it's been to push the 7,1. I had a 5,1 previously that I was constantly max'ing out CPU on, and this 7,1 has been rarely maxed out.

 

[tanoanian]

Absolutely love my 7,1. Best computer I've ever owned. Naysayers gonna naysay...

 

[flowrider]

Home use for me - MY 7,1 has been extensively updated? If you can afford it - By All Means?

Lou

 

[jasonmvp]

If you can afford it - By All Means

What Lou said. If you can afford it, you're (and maybe your family?) the only one you have to justify it to. I haven't earned one penny with mine, but I use it all the time and love it to death.

 

[bcomer]

I'm currently using the 6,1 version of the mac pro and looking at getting the 7,1. I will be using it mostly for photo editing and everyday computing. Anyone else here using it as a desktop and not for Pro work? will it be over kill? Expendability is the main reason I am thinking of updating it. I have cables and external drives everywhere.

thank you

I had a 6,1 six core and now have 7,1 12-core - no looking back.

 

[ondioline]

Get a refurb IMO, my 12 core was like $2000 off. Less buyers remorse that way lol

I love mine though, best computer I've owned

 

[foonon]

I agree with just about all of the sentiment on this thread. I really like my 2019 Mac Pro, though I wish they had just updated the guts of the 2009/2010 cheese-grater. I miss my dual-DVDs and HDD/SSD storage bays! I had it for 10 years and I plan on keeping my 7,1 for another 10 (when I expect to purchase a 10 or 11,1!)

~f

 

[casperes1996]

The fact of the matter is that it is extremely overkill and your workflow could work excellently on an iMac for less than half the price. The Mac Pro costs enormous amount of money and the performance the base config delivers is not justifiable for the price since a lot of the cost comes from the potential headroom, and with lower configs that leaves you with a very overpowered PSU and logic board and such...

With that said, I would absolutely buy one if I had enough money that wasn't earmarked other expenses, even though my usage doesn't justify it either. - I'll most likely just get a high end iMac or iMac Pro, but yeah; It's a luxury item and if that feel good is worth it and you have the cash to spend, I guess it doesn't matter so much that it's excessive overkill.

 

[maser]

The fact of the matter is that it is extremely overkill and your workflow could work excellently on an iMac for less than half the price. The Mac Pro costs enormous amount of money and the performance the base config delivers is not justifiable for the price since a lot of the cost comes from the potential headroom, and with lower configs that leaves you with a very overpowered PSU and logic board and such...

With that said, I would absolutely buy one if I had enough money that wasn't earmarked other expenses, even though my usage doesn't justify it either. - I'll most likely just get a high end iMac or iMac Pro, but yeah; It's a luxury item and if that feel good is worth it and you have the cash to spend, I guess it doesn't matter so much that it's excessive overkill.

Thank you casperes1996 for your reply.
The IMac would not work for me as I use two 32" wide screens in my work flow, going down to 27" would not make sense.

 

[casperes1996]

Thank you casperes1996 for your reply.
The IMac would not work for me as I use two 32" wide screens in my work flow, going down to 27" would not make sense.

For Photography even a mini would probably do alright though, but yeah, as I said, if I had the cash I'd take a Mac Pro as well - it's ****ing expensive, but it's gotta feel nice to have

 

[choreo]

I currently am on my 5,1 2012 Mac Pro. I too wish they has launched an updated version of the 5,1 for around $3,000-$4,000 base.

I am still struggling with the decision on purchasing the 7,1. If it were about $1,000-$1,500 less for the 12 core, I would pull the trigger today (but probably more likely to go "up" in price?).

The cost of the Mac Pro is just the beginning for me - I have to buy pretty much all new everything to make the transition - TB3 External RAID, more RAM, Firewire card (since I have a wall full of Firewire drives with client files) Internal SSDs and even one of my 27" monitors needs to be upgraded!

Either way, I will have to maintain my 5,1 for all my 32-bit applications that are not being updated and are critical for my workflow - thousands of dollars invested. First time I have ever had an older Mac I could not sell to help offset the cost of a new machine - really a mess for an independent contractor. It is getting to where all I am doing is working to support Apple, Adobe, etc. moving forward!

The 7,1 is a work of art, but $700 casters is an I.Q test!

 

[Halon]

What a refreshing topic. I was feeling guilty about buying the 7.1 for home use. I love it. I even upgraded to the 5700 AMD graphics card. I’m retired, have the money, play games & surf the web. Is it overkill? Absolutely but what the hell, life is short!

 

[maser]

What a refreshing topic. I was feeling guilty about buying the 7.1 for home use. I love it. I even upgraded to the 5700 AMD graphics card. I’m retired, have the money, play games & surf the web. Is it overkill? Absolutely but what the hell, life is short!

That is why I asked,
I am not concern about the money but do I really need it? No.
Do I want one? YES.
Is guilt stopping me? A little.

 

[choreo]

I may have a cost solution. If everyone on the forum would chip in a few dollars to buy me a new Mac Pro, I can almost guarantee that the base price would drop at least 50% the next day (saving members thousands). It never fails... every time I buy something, the price drops radically once the return period has expired.

Same thing when we have a drought in West Texas. If the locals only realized that paying me to wash my car guarantees a 100% chance of rain within 24 hours, I could rule the region!

 

[Schismz]

Firewire card (since I have a wall full of Firewire drives with client files)

Here, this should be the tipping point:

Power & Cables - Mac Accessories

Find cables, charging docks and battery cases for Mac. Charge and sync up your Mac. Buy online with fast, free shipping

www.apple.com

 

[codehead1]

^^^^ You need the TB3 to TB adapter too

 

[MisterAndrew]

If you want the 7,1 and have the money to burn go for it, but what's it about the 6,1 that isn't working for you besides the mess of external drives? You could install up to an 8TB NVMe SSD inside your 6,1. If you need more space than that there's the Amfeltec AngelShark carrier board that would allow 3 SSDs, so a total of 24TB.

 

[Schismz]

^^^^ You need the TB3 to TB adapter too

OMG don't spook him! That's another $39 and the straw that broke the camel's back, which d00ms you to an iMac.

 

[xtol121]

OMG don't spook him! That's another $39 and the straw that broke the camel's back, which d00ms you to an iMac.

For some applications you can't simply have a dongle chain unfortunately. I have clients who still use legacy phase one digital backs that are FW800 and they will only tether with a FW800 to TB2 dongle, or on a powered TB3 dock's FW800 port. They do not work in a FW800 -> TB2 dongle ->TB3 dongle configuration. Sadly OWC discontinued their only TB3/FW800 dock, and used prices have skyrocketed north of $700 for a discontinued dock. Having a FW800 card in the Mac Pro, rare that I ever personally use it, will guarantee me a few days of work as a digital tech once we move past the pandemic lockdowns.