Mac Pro Arrived! Pics Included

[patseguin]

I ordered my Mac Pro the same day they were announced. I ordered the 3.0GHz with everything stock except the Bluetooth module added. I called back to change the video card to the x1900 and the lady on the other end couldn't have been dumber. She was adding on the "x1900 upgrade kit" and I actually had to explain that I am buying a computer and I wanted it with the card. She took care of that and then I told her to change my payment method and she couldn't figure it out. I had to tell her I would do it later and hung up. I checked my order a few hours later and saw that it should ship by 8/10 and was excited. Then I saw that she added the correct video card but changed it to 2.66GHz. What an idiot.

I cancelled that order and place a new one with the correct video card and everything else. My estimated ship date is now "3-5 weeks". OMG...

Anyhow, anyone know how wire transfer works? Do I have to send the money before they proceed with the order? I don't have a credit card with that high of a limit and my debit card has a daily spending limit.

 

[Multimedia]

F12 Is Eject Key On Non-Apple Keyboards

What does one do if they are not using an Apple keyboard? I have a PC, MacMini, PowerMac, and a Sun on a KVM. I always have trouble ejecting the media. And now, there is not even a remote on the Mac Pro ...

The F12 function key is the eject key on non-Apple keyboards. Optin + F12 ejects the bottom one.

 

[cw2k]

I've read the memory system in the mac pro would perform best if you have at least 4 dimms 2 in on each riser card.

Yes, the Mac Pro has a 256-bit-wide memory architecture but only with a minimum of 4 DIMMs. If you use 2 DIMMs it's limited to 128-bit-wide.

On the expansion baords slot 1 and 3 share one channel slot 2 and 4 share a channel. You need to put 2 DIMMs on one expansion board (in slot 1 and 2) and 2 DIMMs on the other (in slot 1 and 2) to make use of the 256bit memory architecture as it can use all 4 channels (2 per board). If you put all 4 on one board it will limit you are still limited to 128bit as each board only has 2 channels per expansion board.

 

[mwswami]

The F12 function key is the eject key on non-Apple keyboards. Optin + F12 ejects the bottom one.

It's the Dashboard key for me. But I get the hint; I should be able to assign one of function keys to eject. I will try it when I am back home. Thanks!

 

[Trekkie]

What does one do if they are not using an Apple keyboard? I have a PC, MacMini, PowerMac, and a Sun on a KVM. I always have trouble ejecting the media. And now, there is not even a remote on the Mac Pro ...

Drag the CD to the trash?

 

[Multimedia]

I ordered my Mac Pro the same day they were announced. I ordered the 3.0GHz with everything stock except the Bluetooth module added. I called back to change the video card to the x1900 and the lady on the other end couldn't have been dumber. She was adding on the "x1900 upgrade kit" and I actually had to explain that I am buying a computer and I wanted it with the card. She took care of that and then I told her to change my payment method and she couldn't figure it out. I had to tell her I would do it later and hung up. I checked my order a few hours later and saw that it should ship by 8/10 and was excited. Then I saw that she added the correct video card but changed it to 2.66GHz. What an idiot.

I cancelled that order and place a new one with the correct video card and everything else. My estimated ship date is now "3-5 weeks". OMG...

Anyhow, anyone know how wire transfer works? Do I have to send the money before they proceed with the order? I don't have a credit card with that high of a limit and my debit card has a daily spending limit.

If you live within driving distance to an Apple Store you can go there and buy an Apple Gift Card with a check for the exact amount of the purchase. Then use card number to complete your on-line purchase.

It's the Dashboard key for me. But I get the hint; I should be able to assign one of function keys to eject. I will try it when I am back home. Thanks!

Yeah I moved the Dashboard key to F13. It's no biggie to set up a function key to eject opticals.

 

[jbcaro]

Ok, since there are 6 SATA connectors, where do the other 2 drives go? Or are the extra 2 connectors for future high-bandwidth optical drives?

jbcaro

 

[Lollypop]

It is my understanding that current PCI-E graphics cards don't even come close to saturating the 16x bus, therefore it may be a non issue that other bus' are only 8x, from a graphics card standpoint.

Of course I could be dead wrong, but I thought I read it somewhere.

the 16x slot wouldnt really be taxed, but when you consider something like SLI there is a lot of additional communiaction that is happening, for the diagram it seems that the PCI express slots do not come from the same chip, meaning that there will be delays added to the communitcations. But it seems that with 2 8x slots available we might see dual graphics cards eventually!

 

[Chundles]

Drag the CD to the trash?

Ah, but how would one get that CD in there in the first place?

Option-eject for the bottom, eject for the top. That's how.

 

[Multimedia]

Pull The Optical So Two More SATA Drives Go There Instead

Ok, since there are 6 SATA connectors, where do the other 2 drives go? Or are the extra 2 connectors for future high-bandwidth optical drives?

I plan to remove the optical and put it in a FW case. Then both "Opticals are Optional" Bays are free to store two more SATA Drives which I would make permanent. Then you use the other four slots for project swapping. Since 400GB SATA/300 drives are rapidly approaching $100 each, they are very cheap to keep buying more.

 

[simie]

Intel Chipset Identification Utility download

The 5000 Series comes in the following

5000p
5000v
5000x

Intel 5000 series drivers

You will need to run the Intel® Chipset Software Installation Utility to optimally configure the Intel® Chipset

Next use Sisoft Sandra to Identify the other chipsets i.e the NIC - Sound etc.

 

[mwswami]

additional hard drive carriers

I plan to remove the optical and put it in a FW case. Then both "Opticals are Optional" Bays are free to store two more SATA Drives which I would make permanent. Then you use the other four slots for project swapping. Since 400GB SATA/300 drives are rapidly approaching $100 each, they are very cheap to keep buying more.

Is Apple selling the Mac Pro hard disk caddies/carriers by themselves? It seems they only sell it with a 500GB for $399. Of course, the machine comes with 4 of them but it would be nice to be able to buy more to be able to do "project swapping".

 

[Grimace]

Is Apple selling the Mac Pro hard disk caddies/carriers by themselves? It seems they only sell it with a 500GB for $399. Of course, the machine comes with 4 of them but it would be nice to be able to buy more to be able to do "project swapping".

The casings are there for all bays. It's just a new convenient way to mount SATA drives.

 

[TBi]

It's the Dashboard key for me. But I get the hint; I should be able to assign one of function keys to eject. I will try it when I am back home. Thanks!

Just hold F12 and it will eject the CD without starting up dashboard.

 

[mwswami]

The casings are there for all bays. It's just a new convenient way to mount SATA drives.

I'm talking about getting additional casings so that you can have >4 drives lying around but only 4 plugged in.

 

[mwswami]

Just hold F12 and it will eject the CD without starting up dashboard.

I will give it a try when I get home. thanks!

 

[patseguin]

If you live within driving distance to an Apple Store you can go there and buy an Apple Gift Card with a check for the exact amount of the purchase. Then use card number to complete your on-line purchase.

I am about 5 minutes from an Apple Store. That is a GREAT idea! You can make the gift card for any amount?

 

[xPismo]

Processor Sockets?! Oh. my. Gawd. I may blackout and accidentially order a 2.0 via my edu discount while I'm under. This is a great day for the mac.

 

[faketom]

just ordering

I am ordering one!
3.0Ghz. etc. etc.
But I need some questions answered if possible:
1. Should I buy only 1GB of RAM as it will be much cheaper later from 3rd parties?
2. Should I buy only the 250 GB HD as 500GB etc will be much cheaper from other suppliers?
3. I have heard that crucial sells RAM but is there anywhere else (in Canada?) and where do you find the previousely mentioned 400 GB HD's for $100 each?
4. Video Card: Should I order the cheapest one as I have a good deal on ATI products?

Thanks so much guys,
I have been a dedicated Mac user for the last long while but when it comes to upgrading and stuff I am clueless
Peace

 

[SWC]

Processor Sockets?! Oh. my. Gawd. I may blackout and accidentially order a 2.0 via my edu discount while I'm under. This is a great day for the mac.

If you do this don't plan on upgrading for a while the processor cost puts a manual upgrade way above what apple sells it for

 

[BWhaler]

Seagate Barracuda, didn't get the model #

I have to go to back to work, just came home at lunch on the chance that I would catch the FedEx guy and I did. I will mess around tonight.

WOW. Those are fantastic drives. Apple didn't cut any corners there.

 

[mwswami]

WOW. Those are fantastic drives. Apple didn't cut any corners there.

The 250GB is Seagate Barracuda 7200.9. It's not the latest 7200.10 which, I believe, uses perpendicular recording but it performs quite well.

Image copied from the powermax site.

 

[cw2k]

Ok, since there are 6 SATA connectors, where do the other 2 drives go? Or are the extra 2 connectors for future high-bandwidth optical drives?

You can buy 5.25" to 3.5" mounts cheaply and use the free optical drive bay for an extra sata drive. http://www.xpcgear.com/harddrivemount.html

Another use of the spare 2 ports would be for an internal to external eSATA bracket like they sell here: http://www.firewire-1394.com/internal-sata-esata-bracket.htm

 

[MikeNemat]

The 250GB is Seagate Barracuda 7200.9. It's not the latest 7200.10 which, I believe, uses perpendicular recording but it performs quite well.

Image copied from the powermax site.

That is correct, the 7200.9 is not a perpendicular recording drive meaning they can only be found up to 400GB (as opposed to 750GB for the 7200.10s) but most importantly and likely why apple is using them: they are quiet.

I have 2 7200.7s (the rare SATA1 w/ NCQ models), 1 7200.9 (SATA2), and 1 7200.10(SATA2) in my machine. The 7200.7s are the quietest, although a fair bit slower than the other drives, the 7200.9 is very fast and just barely louder than the 7200.7s, the 7200.10 on the other hand can be clearly distinguished over the other drives.

Seagate makes damn good drives and I feel comfortable knowing that eventually when I buy a Mac Pro, there will be solid drives in them. When I am not at school, I work fixing PCs, and the most common failed hard drive we get in newer systems is maxtor, and in older systems, fujitsu and IBM. Seagate carries a slight price premium, but for 5 years warranty and great speed and reliability, they are terrific.

 

[mwswami]

That is correct, the 7200.9 is not a perpendicular recording drive meaning they can only be found up to 400GB (as opposed to 750GB for the 7200.10s) but most importantly and likely why apple is using them: they are quiet.

I have 2 7200.7s (the rare SATA1 w/ NCQ models), 1 7200.9 (SATA2), and 1 7200.10(SATA2) in my machine. The 7200.7s are the quietest, although a fair bit slower than the other drives, the 7200.9 is very fast and just barely louder than the 7200.7s, the 7200.10 on the other hand can be clearly distinguished over the other drives.

Thanks for the info. I have been researching what drives to put in the Mac Pro. The Hitachi deskstar also seems to be a good choice. What's your opinion?

PS: The 7200.9 now goes up to 500GB (model ST3500641AS). I assume that's what Apple is using as the 500GB upgrade.