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Mac Pro Buying Advice for Budget of Around $2k

inaka said:
Just wondering, if I want to shatter my budget and get the One 3.33GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon Westmere as a custom order, does the Apple Refurb store ever have this one for sale?
Click to expand...

I personally have yet to see the 6 core in the refurb store. The only Westmere I've seen is the 8 core hit the refurbs.

You could use one of those refurb scripts to email you everytime it changes.

I'm guessing if it did hit the refurb store....it's gone pretty quickly.

-Kevin
 
kbmb said:
I personally have yet to see the 6 core in the refurb store. The only Westmere I've seen is the 8 core hit the refurbs.

You could use one of those refurb scripts to email you everytime it changes.

I'm guessing if it did hit the refurb store....it's gone pretty quickly.

-Kevin
Click to expand...

When I was using the script I saw it last an hour or two sometimes, and they pop up more often than you'd think. In a week or so of chasing, I saw the 6 core model 2-3 times.
 
brentsg said:
When I was using the script I saw it last an hour or two sometimes, and they pop up more often than you'd think. In a week or so of chasing, I saw the 6 core model 2-3 times.
Click to expand...

Wow, that's good news for the OP. Hopefully he can land one.

-Kevin
 
OP here. :) So I ran all the numbers through my flux capacitor and since I'm one of those that likes to hang on to a computer for 4-5 years, I thought it was in my best interest to shatter my budget, fire up the apple refurbished store script and be ready to order at a moment's notice.

It didn't take long!

This morning I snagged this bad boy!!:

safariscreensnapz001.jpg


So it absolutely is possible to get the 6-core 3.33Ghz Westmere's from the Refurbished Apple Store. (Just to note, after I ordered, there must have been another available because it was still showing as live. Then I checked about 5 mins later and it was gone. So these lasted maybe 10 mins tops.)

I really want to thank everyone here for their input and suggestions. I didn't know about the options I had and many of your clarified them for me. Once again, thank you all very much!

Cheers! :D
 
inaka said:
OP here. :) So I ran all the numbers through my flux capacitor and since I'm one of those that likes to hang on to a computer for 4-5 years, I thought it was in my best interest to shatter my budget, fire up the apple refurbished store script and be ready to order at a moment's notice.

It didn't take long!

This morning I snagged this bad boy!!:

safariscreensnapz001.jpg


So it absolutely is possible to get the 6-core 3.33Ghz Westmere's from the Refurbished Apple Store. (Just to note, after I ordered, there must have been another available because it was still showing as live. Then I checked about 5 mins later and it was gone. So these lasted maybe 10 mins tops.)

I really want to thank everyone here for their input and suggestions. I didn't know about the options I had and many of your clarified them for me. Once again, thank you all very much!

Cheers! :D
Click to expand...

Wow congrats on the machine!!

Let us know how it is.

-Kevin
 
Thank, Kevin.

After I update and setup the system, I'll post some real world results. It may be helpful for others like me who are thinking about upgrading from the PowerMac G5.
 
I'm thinking about ordering the low-end Mac Pro (refurb) to replace my G5.
inaka said:
Thank, Kevin.

After I update and setup the system, I'll post some real world results. It may be helpful for others like me who are thinking about upgrading from the PowerMac G5.
Click to expand...
 
wacomme said:
I'm thinking about ordering the low-end Mac Pro (refurb) to replace my G5.
Click to expand...
Good call.

For me, my 2nd choice was buying a new base model 2010 model online from an authorized dealer that didn't charge sales tax up front. When I factored in the sales tax for CA from Apple's refurb store, it was a wash basically, so was personally leaning toward new.

I called about the MacMall deal posted earlier, and was ready to buy that yesterday, but they said they were sold out. :( So I struck out on the cheap deals for the Mac Pro, but they were good options when available.
 
Argh. This wait is killing me...

Ordered early am on the 11th. I thought it would ship from CA, but it shipped from PA. Hit some storms (delay). Then today is a FedEx ground holiday (another delay). Should be here Wednesday...argh.
 
Thanks to all for suggesting the Refurb store and the hexcore 3.33 option.
It arrived about 10 mins ago, and wow, I got lucky...

It came with a ATI Radeon HD 5870! :D

Wow, good times.
Thanks again to all. Cheers.
 
inaka said:
Thanks to all for suggesting the Refurb store and the hexcore 3.33 option.
It arrived about 10 mins ago, and wow, I got lucky...

It came with a ATI Radeon HD 5870! :D

Wow, good times.
Thanks again to all. Cheers.
Click to expand...

Another bonus of buying refurbs is that sometimes they come with free upgrades. When I ordered my refurb Macbook (3+ years ago), a lot of people were getting the black one shipped to them. I didn't get the black one (dire shame), but I did get an upgraded hard drive.

Congrats on the new system!
 
Congrats, you'll enjoy it! I didn't get any lucky freebies with my refurb but I'm satisfied.
 
inaka said:
Thanks to all for suggesting the Refurb store and the hexcore 3.33 option.
It arrived about 10 mins ago, and wow, I got lucky...

It came with a ATI Radeon HD 5870! :D

Wow, good times.
Thanks again to all. Cheers.
Click to expand...

That's awesome. Congrats and enjoy the machine.

-Kevin
 
inaka said:
Thanks to all for suggesting the Refurb store and the hexcore 3.33 option.
It arrived about 10 mins ago, and wow, I got lucky...

It came with a ATI Radeon HD 5870! :D

Wow, good times.
Thanks again to all. Cheers.
Click to expand...

Nice! I'm jealous.
 
I was having second thoughts on a Mac Pro, thinking an iMac will serve me just fine, especially since my photography side-business is going nowhere and I'm selling off my photo equipment. However, the option for easy upgrades on the Mac Pro and a $300 price difference between an i7 iMac and the base Mac Pro (price + 12GB third party memory + dual-link to mini adaptor for my 30" monitor) makes the pendulum swing back to a Mac Pro.

I can see a year or two down the road wanting a SSD upgrade. While it can be done on an iMac, it's much easier with a Mac Pro. Graphic cards and CPUs can also easily be upgraded on a Mac Pro (not that I plan to do this, but . . ).

My only concern is that I might be able to sell my NEC LCD3090WQXi monitor for a good price (perhaps $800-1000), and thus offset the cost of an iMac in half.

I just don't know.
 
For me I wavered with this decision quite a bit as well, and each person has their own decision that's right for them, but for me it was the Mac Pro all the way.

I'm literally installing software on my new Mac Pro from today as I write this on my old PowerMac G5 and to me there are the big factors that keep me in the pro Tower camp:

1. Expandability
2. Resale value
3. Longevity

There's tons of peace of mind for me being able to pop in a new HD if need be. I can expand it, or fix a damaged one without a trip to the Apple Store. I can swap out virtually anything, and the card slots with allow for future proofing for USB 3.0 or whatever.

Check resale value for 4 year old iMacs. They don't get much. On top of that, all those parts mean that any one of them can break and be a much more difficult fix, or a lot of down time as you have to bring in an iMac, etc. On the other hand my ancient 5-6 year old PowerMac G5 still has a surprising resale value.

I also know if I get a tower, with the expandability, I can hang on to it for years if I treat it right. With this 3.33ghz hexacore Mac pro I bought today, who knows, if *knock on wood* it holds up like my PowerMac G5, the speed might be enough to last me 8 years or more. Dunno. I could always add a more vivid display, etc.

As always, YMMV, but that's why I come to the conclusion that the iMac is a great machine, just not for me personally.
 
inaka said:
For me I wavered with this decision quite a bit as well, and each person has their own decision that's right for them, but for me it was the Mac Pro all the way.

I'm literally installing software on my new Mac Pro from today as I write this on my old PowerMac G5 and to me there are the big factors that keep me in the pro Tower camp:

1. Expandability
2. Resale value
3. Longevity

There's tons of peace of mind for me being able to pop in a new HD if need be. I can expand it, or fix a damaged one without a trip to the Apple Store. I can swap out virtually anything, and the card slots with allow for future proofing for USB 3.0 or whatever.

Check resale value for 4 year old iMacs. They don't get much. On top of that, all those parts mean that any one of them can break and be a much more difficult fix, or a lot of down time as you have to bring in an iMac, etc. On the other hand my ancient 5-6 year old PowerMac G5 still has a surprising resale value.

I also know if I get a tower, with the expandability, I can hang on to it for years if I treat it right. With this 3.33ghz hexacore Mac pro I bought today, who knows, if *knock on wood* it holds up like my PowerMac G5, the speed might be enough to last me 8 years or more. Dunno. I could always add a more vivid display, etc.

As always, YMMV, but that's why I come to the conclusion that the iMac is a great machine, just not for me personally.
Click to expand...
In my heart I think you're right. The Mac Pro is certainly overkill for my needs. And I'm not an upgrade fiend. However, in the 6+ years I've owned my G5, I've upgraded the graphics card and replaced it when it failed on me. I've upgraded memory, replaced hard drives, added eSATA ports, added USB ports, and replaced an optical drive.

What will I replace going forward? Who knows? USB3? SST? Regardless, it'll be easier on a Mac Pro than on an iMac. And with a Mac Pro I don't have to deal with a glossy screen. I can keep my 30" monitor, and even replace it if the need arises. It all seems logical. Is that worth a potential $1000?
 
wacomme, if you're in the same boat as me and upgrading a PowerMac G5, check out this real world Photoshop speed test example from this new Mac Pro I just got:

My PowerMac G5 (7,3)
Dual PPC @ 2.7Ghz
Speed Test: 1min 7 seconds

Mac Pro
Same Test: 16 seconds

It's a pretty impressive jump.

I'm sure an i7 imac would be impressive too, but I didn't even load in a SSD or anything and I'm really impressed.
 
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