Mac Pro w/ x1900 XT SHIPPED!

[apfhex]

Well the day is over and I've spent it all setting up my Mac Pro. I wasn't able to install Windows (see my thread in the Windows On A Mac forum) but OS X runs so, so fast. Quake 4 demo ran at blazing speeds but doesn't seem to support 1920x1200. Haven't really had any other opportunities to push the X1900 XT.

I also installed my Pioneer DVR-106D in the second drve bay below the DVR-111D that came with the computer. Works great. I had to remove the front panel of the tray (easily snaps off) so it would fit through the slot on the case.

Pics: As you can see the box was a bit scuffed, but the inside packaging and contents were unaffected. I also took a closeup of the X1900 XT and the RAM (you can see 2x512 chips in each card).

 

[Mackeyser]

hey, multimedia

http://prdownload.berlios.de/x264qtcodec/x264qtcodec-1.0.0.dmg

here is the x264 open source H.264 codec. You might want to try it in place of the Apple H.264 codec. Perhaps it is Apple's codec that is amiss?

If you don't get to it in the coming days, I'll test it as soon as I can. Supposedly it is multiproc aware and will thread so the quad Xeon should scream through the encodes.

Sorenson Squeeze I haven't had the chance to check side by side. I'm trying to contact an old acquaintance and among the best encoders in the world (if not the best), Ben Waggoner to discuss some things with him and I'll ask him about H.264 codecs and their optimization if I can get ahold of him.

 

[mediaboy]

It only seems to get worse for me. Ordered on August 7th Estimated ship date was September the 13th. Here I am typing on the 14th and my Estimated ship date changed overnight to October 31st WTF? Oooh, just wait till 7:00am Central time. I am going to rip someones head off!

As if waiting 5 weeks wasnt enough, lets tack on another 6!

 

[Renovatio]

It only seems to get worse for me. Ordered on August 7th Estimated ship date was September the 13th. Here I am typing on the 14th and my Estimated ship date changed overnight to October 31st WTF? Oooh, just wait till 7:00am Central time. I am going to rip someones head off!

As if waiting 5 weeks wasnt enough, lets tack on another 6!

Oh man, that is completely ridiculous of Apple! I would definitely give them a call and ask to speak to a manager (or whatever they call the people in their support centre) and don't let them buy you off with free shipping.

Why is Apple doing this? This is ridiculous and completely unfair to the loyal early adopter customers

BTW: You might try a cancel/re-order ... the BTO with the ATI is still showing up as a 2-4 day ship time. Don't know if this would help or not.

 

[Videographer]

BTW: You might try a cancel/re-order ... the BTO with the ATI is still showing up as a 2-4 day ship time. Don't know if this would help or not.

Definitely do this if ripping someone's head open doesn't work (and it should). I would be pissed.

 

[kered22]

Well the day is over and I've spent it all setting up my Mac Pro. I wasn't able to install Windows (see my thread in the Windows On A Mac forum) but OS X runs so, so fast. Quake 4 demo ran at blazing speeds but doesn't seem to support 1920x1200. Haven't really had any other opportunities to push the X1900 XT.

Hey glad to see you got yours. How is the X1900 noise to your ear?

I ran some further tests after you asked and when pushed, it is more audible, but as for being "loud"... it isn't to me. Granted I haven't heard a whole lot of noisy video cards, but in terms of it being a distraction, it's nowhere near that loud. If it sounded like my old MDD 867 (before I swapped the power supply) it might be annoying, but this MacPro is just QUIET QUIET, even with the X1900 revving up.

 

[jsully8798]

It's Christmas

My Mac Pro is being delivered by Santa today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Track Shipments Detailed Results
Ship date
Sep 13, 2006

Estimated delivery
Sep 14, 2006 3:00 PM

Service type Standard Overnight

Weight 61.0 lbs. (WOW!!!!)



Status On FedEx vehicle for delivery

Date/Time Activity Location Details


Sep 14, 2006 7:25 AM On FedEx vehicle for delivery SOUTH HOLLAND, IL
6:35 AM At local FedEx facility SOUTH HOLLAND, IL
5:12 AM Arrived at FedEx location CHICAGO, IL
4:10 AM Departed FedEx location MEMPHIS, TN
12:50 AM Arrived at FedEx location MEMPHIS, TN
Sep 13, 2006 6:56 PM Left origin FULLERTON, CA
3:14 PM Package data transmitted to FedEx
2:39 PM Picked up FULLERTON, CA

 

[kered22]

Weight 61.0 lbs. (WOW!!!!)

Apples putting their MacPros on a diet now, mine weighed 64 pounds I believe. LOL That or a 500GB drive adds in those extra pounds.

 

[jsully8798]

Apples putting their MacPros on a diet now, mine weighed 64 pounds I believe. LOL That or a 500GB drive adds in those extra pounds.

I only put in 3 500 drives

 

[relimw]

It only seems to get worse for me. Ordered on August 7th Estimated ship date was September the 13th. Here I am typing on the 14th and my Estimated ship date changed overnight to October 31st WTF? Oooh, just wait till 7:00am Central time. I am going to rip someones head off!

As if waiting 5 weeks wasnt enough, lets tack on another 6!

Oh man, that sucks. I feel for ya. Let us know how it goes...

 

[apfhex]

Hey glad to see you got yours. How is the X1900 noise to your ear?

I ran some further tests after you asked and when pushed, it is more audible, but as for being "loud"... it isn't to me. Granted I haven't heard a whole lot of noisy video cards, but in terms of it being a distraction, it's nowhere near that loud. If it sounded like my old MDD 867 (before I swapped the power supply) it might be annoying, but this MacPro is just QUIET QUIET, even with the X1900 revving up.

It's definitely quiet, though not at all what I would call "silent." I do have it very close to me, though (it wouldn't fit under my desk! So it went on top).

 

[empezar]

I got my MP today

2x500GB harddrives - I can't even hear them work when I stress them 100% read/write.

Keyboard & Mouse (both wireless) work flawlessly.

X1900XT barely makes a sound - however, if it sounds as much as it does during startup when you actually play games, then you will probably notice it!

I'm probably the happiest man alive atm.

 

[Cowinacape]

Well mine was due to ship today, and it did, with some no name compay I have never heard of. Now for the final home stretch of the wait.

 

[bob5820]

My Mac Pro arived at the FedEx facility in Charlotte this afternoon, so I should see it tomorrow as promised. I was getting worried as FedEx has not updated my order for the past few days. I've got tommorow off, hopefully it will show up in the AM.

 

[Trekkie]

Last night before crashing for the night I decided to load up the BOINC client and have the 4 Cores of the 2.66GHz crunch away for 10 - 12 hours and see if that changes the tune of the system from a cooling noise perspective.

My wife was with me when I went upstairs as I was getting something for her and when we walked in the room she said "Is your computer off?"

...

After 18 hours of running with all four CPUs at 100% utilization there is no discernable fan noise from the system. The loudest thing in it is the hard drive.

Tonight after I get Vista RC1 downloaded I'm going to install that and see if I can get BF2 running in 1900x1200 glory and see what the fan does on the ATI.

 

[Abulia]

Ordered custom MP on the 12th, ESD the 18th, delivery by the 25th.

Memory and replacement cooler for the X1900 already here.

 

[relimw]

Last night before crashing for the night I decided to load up the BOINC client and have the 4 Cores of the 2.66GHz crunch away for 10 - 12 hours and see if that changes the tune of the system from a cooling noise perspective.

My wife was with me when I went upstairs as I was getting something for her and when we walked in the room she said "Is your computer off?"

After 18 hours of running with all four CPUs at 100% utilization there is no discernable fan noise from the system. The loudest thing in it is the hard drive.

Very cool. That means it'll be quieter than my G4 dual500

Tonight after I get Vista RC1 downloaded I'm going to install that and see if I can get BF2 running in 1900x1200 glory and see what the fan does on the ATI.

Are you going to use Boot Camp or Parallels?

 

[Abulia]

Are you going to use Boot Camp or Parallels?

Boot Camp. You can't do 3d accel at this time in Parallels.

 

[relimw]

Boot Camp. You can't do 3d accel at this time in Parallels.

Does that include the latest release candidate of Parallels? I can't really tell from their press release if they've added/enhanced 3d accel.

 

[Trekkie]

I was going to try both, I'd prefer to use parallesis to see how it runs, but Boot Camp for games I guess. Hate wasting the space on Windows only stuff though.

 

[Abulia]

Does that include the latest release candidate of Parallels? I can't really tell from their press release if they've added/enhanced 3d accel.

As far as I know, yes. Even if they do get 3d accel working no virtualization solution will ever be as fast as native. Thus, Boot Camp and its ilk will always be the superior performance solution. (Just not as convenient.)

 

[apfhex]

FYI, as I noted earlier I have MacOS X build 8K1124. I tried out Parallels earlier today and it panicked the instant I clicked the "Run" button (before installing Windows).

 

[Trekkie]

FYI, as I noted earlier I have MacOS X build 8K1124. I tried out Parallels earlier today and it panicked the instant I clicked the "Run" button (before installing Windows).

I downloaded the latest RC, installed it, and started to install a Fedora Core core 4 or whatever instance.

Got the VT-X error message, and it went on its happy way. At some point during the install (wasn't paying attention) it crashed the VM, but never the Mac OS X

Same build of Mac OS X

 

[relimw]

YAHOOOoooooooo!

Bet you'll never guess what I just got!

A speeding ticket? Almost.
A new iPod? No, but getting closer....
My new system? YES!!!!

Of course, my wife says I have to cook dinner, and eat it, before I can unpack it

 

[nickgwyn]

So is the general consensus that the Arctic Cooling thing is unnecessary?