Mac Pro Configuration Dilemma

[MacPro2014]

I always have a number of basic apps running (Safari -along with Chrome or Firefox- sometimes I end up with 15+ windows open, iTunes, Mail, Calendar, iWork, etc) 90% of the time I also have Xcode running along with Parallels since I need Windows running my security surveillance program. I also have MS Office running (Excel and Powerpoint) In addition, I use photoshop and (on occasion-FCP) Finally, I will fire up the occasional game when I can. I don't really have FCP or PS running if I play a game and vice versa. Perhaps I might pause a game to check on something running in the background.

I'll be selecting the 6 Core Model and plan on upgrading from 256GB to 512GB of storage...but I'm not sure if I should upgrade the D500s to D700s or if I would be better off increasing RAM to 32GBs. Any thoughts?

Edit: Should I even upgrade the RAM or perhaps the D500s + 16GB are good enough and I can put that upgrade price towards a new monitor?

 

[mpantone]

I suggest you max out the system configuration for your purchase: RAM, flash drive, graphics, CPU cores, etc.

The standard 14-day customer satisfaction return policy will still be in effect should not not be happy with your device's capabilities.

Good luck.

 

[MacPro2014]

I suggest you max out the system configuration for your purchase: RAM, flash drive, graphics, CPU cores, etc.

The standard 14-day customer satisfaction return policy will still be in effect should not not be happy with your device's capabilities.

Good luck.

I wouldn't mind that but the upfront expense is a bit much since I have to get a Storage system, plan on upgrading monitor and such.

 

[mpantone]

Based on your original description, it doesn't appear that you will be needing massive external storage for a while.

You should think about staggering your peripheral upgrades. After all, you probably can't upgrade the number of cores, or GPU in the Mac later (at least not easily).

As far as I can tell, a 2011 vintage Mac mini would suffice for your ordinary usage patterns. But don't let me stop you from buying a well-appointed Mac Pro.

Do what you want, it's your money.

 

[MacPro2014]

Based on your original description, it doesn't appear that you will be needing massive external storage for a while.

You should think about staggering your peripheral upgrades. After all, you probably can't upgrade the number of cores, or GPU in the Mac later (at least not easily).

As far as I can tell, a 2011 vintage Mac mini would suffice for your ordinary usage patterns. But don't let me stop you from buying a well-appointed Mac Pro.

Do what you want, it's your money.

Storage is actually one of the most important issues for me. I go through quite a lot of video and have nearly 4TBs in my current Mac Pro full (only about 9GBs left - With the exception of my backup drive for critical stuff) This is after upgrading a few TBs of storage a little over a year ago.

 

[mpantone]

Well then, find an external drive enclosure to house your various drives. It's not our responsibility to figure out a way for you to migrate your data, especially since you didn't even bother to mention it in your original post. If it was that important, you should have made mention of it from the get go.

I will point out that HDD drive space is cheap. I can pick up a 2TB OEM drive from a local bricks-and-mortar store for less than a hundred bucks, and shove it into a $20 USB 2.0 enclosure, maybe spend another ten bucks for USB 3.0. Those are local street prices, I'm not even bothering to price out Internet deals.

That's chump change compared to the cost of the base Mac Pro, especially since it appears you just need one multi-bay disk enclosure.