Mac Pro to iMac... Any other users do this and remain happy?

[JWFerne]

Hi gang,

I currently have a Mac Pro, however I'm having lots of heat issues with it. I don't blame it on the mac, I blame myself for arranging my home office with a built in slot in the desk for the computer. It looks great, however it functions terribly with the heat. For example, I can't play WOW for more than 5 minutes without getting all sorts of artifacts etc. I've tried the SMC fan control program approach and it's still not working well. While I love the mac pro, I think ultimately it isn't working well with my home office setup. Unfortunately I don't have room to move the computer and put it on the desk for increased air flow. I'll probably just end up moving the Mac pro to my office. With the new iMacs that came out I think I may have my solution to have an all in one up on top of my desk with much better air flow and heat dispursement.

My question to you guys, who specifically have testing experience with both machines, will I regret "downgrading" to an iMac? I hate to even use that word, as it is a world class beautiful machine, and anyone who has one I'm sure can appreciate the heck out of it. I'm actually pretty excited about the thought of picking one up. I'm purely talking specs and and overall performace though. I just dont want to have buyers remorse, so I'm trying to look at all the angles before jumping out there any buying a new machine. Also I'm concerned that Leopard is right around the corner and should I hold out for that first.

Thanks for any insight and opinions.

Cheers!

 

[miniConvert]

Hi,

You have the ATI X1900XT? Your card overheating issues could be a fault with the card itself. We have two Mac Pro's and both have had the ATI cards replaced by Apple. The new ones are made by a different manufacturer and work fine There are a few threads about it, one of them is mine: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/278791/

The Mac Pro's are hugely powerful workstation class machines. I really do think you'd regret moving to an iMac, fantastic and beautiful as they are, though it depends on your usage requirements.

I love the iMac's, but I couldn't have one as my main machine.

 

[JWFerne]

Mini,

Thanks for the quick reply and opinion. I had to laugh because Damado in your previous thread is a friend of mine. He's the one that told me about SMC fan control.

My heat issue is beyond just the artifacts.... the desk around it gets really hot and it goes into the drawers. I think a card replacement would help, but it wont resolve the personal space heater issue I'm having. I'm assuming (please correct me if I'm wrong) that the iMac would produce much less heat in the room overall.

I guess, if the performance hit isn't too bad overall, it would be a wise move for me to shift to iMac. Hard part will be going from a 30in to 24in monitor. The computer is for my personal use, I mainly do home movies, photo corrections, gaming, email etc. I wont lose out on the computer equipment. I'll just bring them over to my work office.

btw... since you've written that previous thread and had your new replacement card for a while, is it staying artifact free?


Thanks again & Cheers!

 

[HLdan]

You are going to have to realize that ALL computers get very warm to hot, there's no way around it. There are several threads from new owners of the iMac that mention that it does have it's heat moments. I have been in several Apple retail stores and have felt the heat of the iMac from the back vent and they all exude heat.
Notebooks, (as small as they are) can heat up a room on warmer days so you need to come to terms that you can't avoid the heat by getting an iMac.
Now if your needs are about reduced clutter and small footprint then buy the iMac for those reasons but ask yourself if people on these forums telling you that "the iMac doesn't get very hot" will really help your buying decision then that's just not realistic

You need to go to your local Apple retailer and feel the back of the computer for yourself.

 

[JWFerne]

HLDan,

Thanks for the input. Yep, I realize that all computers get hot. My problem is that because of where it's located in my desk, it's getting much hotter than the average PC and the heat is creaping into my drawers etc. Unfortunately I don't have many options of moving the Mac Pro to different parts of my office.

Less clutter would be great, but what I'm trying to find out is real world experience with going from Mac Pro to an iMac and if the experience was ok or a big perceptual hit.

Cheers!

 

[miniConvert]

Our iMac's (last two gens of Intel) are pretty cool. They do chuck some heat out the vent in the back when they're under heavy usage (ie WoW) but I love them. They're relatively cool and very compact. I'd imagine the new 24" would be very acceptable for personal use. I just can't stand the thought of you parting with a Mac Pro, but I'll find a way to deal with it

Yes, my new ATI card is staying artefact free, thanks. I have my fans at 700rpm as a base setting rather than 500rpm as the room is usually pretty hot and the Mac Pro is reluctant to increase fan speed on its own, and I do still increase fan speeds further for WoW, but I don't think this is necessary any more. I just can't run the risk of downtime, it's a business machine. Still, before, artefacts would creep in no matter what and the game would eventually hang. Usually in the middle of a dungeon!

All the best with your switch, the new iMac design is beautiful - enjoy!

 

[daneoni]

If you really wanna get rid of the Mac Pro then a maxed out 24" (4GB RAM/1TB HDD/2.8 Core 2 Extreme) will surely be no slouch and would be quiet and less hot

 

[JWFerne]

700 rpm would be nice on the fans... when I play WOW I have to crank them up to like 2200-2400. Sounds like a fricken airport in my office and you can imagine how much hot air is blowing around with those speeds.

I do look forward to the switch at some point. Thank you to everyone, I appreciate your opinions towards the subject.

Cheers!

 

[Sean Dempsey]

I have a Mac Pro at work and an iMac at home. I don't see any problem with getting the 24", given your explanation.


But, I have to add: for the 2500 dollars you'll be in to the 24", you could spend a fraction of that to modify your desk. If it were me, I get out the Dremel tool and duct some vaccuum hose from your air conditioning vent in the room to the Mac Pro compartment, and then vent that air back into the room or out the window. Or just buy some of those gaming case fans, the huge ones, and install them into the wood in the back of your desk, and they could suck the air out of the compartment and away from the Mac Pro.

The do-it-yourself mods to this desk are exciting and endles...

But, if you're got the kind of money that you can just buy a new iMac because your MacPro doesn't work in your desk, lol, then maybe self-dremeling isn't your cup of tea.

 

[taylorwilsdon]

The 24 starts at $1800 afaik, so hardly $2500. Even at $2000 you can get a fairly maxed system, just not the 2.8ghz (hardly worth it) processor.

 

[JWFerne]

so you dont think the upgrade to 2.8 for $250ish is worth it? You're probably right. I'm definitely getting the 1gig memory and just replacing it myself. It's throwing cash away to have apple put 4gig in there.

As far as the cutting the desk and modifying it... I have no problems with doing it, but I have a wife to contend with and since the desk, cabinets etc that I has custom built in the room weren't cheap, it could be a hard sell. I'd have to put in a fan system that pulled the air out the back through the wall outside my house, the air conditioning doesn't kick in enough. All in all, I think the iMac could be a simpler more elegant solution and easier to sell w/wife.

Cheers!