MacPro: ATI X1900 XT Price Drop?!!?

[Mrjynx]

New to computers? I got my first Mac around '92. The PPC Mac market isn't representative of the computer market as a whole. Go to Alienware, Falcon Northwest, or any other gaming machine maker and figure out how how many of them use Xeon machines for gaming or any other task. I'll save you some time and tell you right now: zero. Nobody else even thinks about it. That's what intel developed Conroe for.

Workstation is not just a marketing term it is a server derived desktop intended for use in high end professional tasks.

You forgot about one thing when comparing the mac pro to alienware and all those other specialized gaming machines.

They don't run OSX.

I'm like these guys, I'm not an avid gamer who spends 700 bucks every 4 months to get the greatest vid card, but I enjoy playing games once in a while. I own 2 macs at home and a PC which is in need of refreshing. So why not use the Mac Pro to replace my PC for gaming and my general purpose machine. After using OSX for 3+ years I absolutley HATE XP. My bro even makes fun of me when I sit in front of the XP machine because i'm so slow with it now.. lol

Imac sucks for games, mini no way, Macbook/pro is a laptop which is nice to have but still not great for games so that leaves the Mac Pro. Yes it has the xeon processor which is overkill, but gaming is GPU driven and that's solved with the 1900XT.

I'm buying this machine to last 3+ years which i'm sure it will in it's current config.


MrJynx

 

[greenstork]

New to computers? I got my first Mac around '92. The PPC Mac market isn't representative of the computer market as a whole. Go to Alienware, Falcon Northwest, or any other gaming machine maker and figure out how how many of them use Xeon machines for gaming or any other task. I'll save you some time and tell you right now: zero. Nobody else even thinks about it. That's what intel developed Conroe for.

Workstation is not just a marketing term it is a server derived desktop intended for use in high end professional tasks.

I understand if you would prefer to buy a PC for gaming, that makes perfect sense to me, most avid gamers prefer PCs. However, I would venture to guess that most of those avid gamers don't rely on Macintosh computers for their work. For those who predominantly operate in OS X for work but also like to game, the Mac Pro is an excellent option. If you need a Mac but also want to game, buying a PC is a lousy and more expensive alternative.

Talk about saving money, it's way cheaper to purchase one machine than a Mac and a PC, what kind of advice is that?

While I'm sure that Intel developed Conroe for gaming and consumer/prosumer desktops, and Woodcrest for servers, that doesn't take away the fact that its the same core microarchitecture. It's still viable for gaming, and even cheaper than the more expensive Conroes - the architecture is solid and very similar in Conroes and Woodcrests. It sounds to me like you're hung up on this idea that people can't work and play on the same computer but for people that need a Mac for work, and want to game, the Mac Pro is an excellent option, and far cheaper than two machines.

 

[vvv]

People should buy what makes them happy, as long as they can afford to do so.

 

[bob5820]

While I'm sure that Intel developed Conroe for gaming and consumer/prosumer desktops, and Woodcrest for servers, that doesn't take away the fact that its the same core microarchitecture. It's still viable for gaming, and even cheaper than the more expensive Conroes - the architecture is solid and very similar in Conroes and Woodcrests. It sounds to me like you're hung up on this idea that people can't work and play on the same computer but for people that need a Mac for work, and want to game, the Mac Pro is an excellent option, and far cheaper than two machines.

I think that the downside to using the Mac Pro for gamming that is being overlooked is not the CPU, but the chipset and its FB-DIMM memory. Other then that I pretty much agree with what you've said. I'm also looking for a single computer OSX solution, and while the Mac Pro is indead overkill for 80% of what I will be using it for it is also the only solution that Apple currently has available that will fill my needs.

 

[BenRoethig]

...and while the Mac Pro is indead overkill for 80% of what I will be using it for it is also the only solution that Apple currently has available that will fill my needs.

Therein lies the problem.

 

[Fedge]

People should buy what makes them happy, as long as they can afford to do so.

That's perhaps the most intelligent thing said in this whole thread.

 

[shawnce]

I think that the downside to using the Mac Pro for gamming that is being overlooked is not the CPU, but the chipset and its FB-DIMM memory. Other then that I pretty much agree with what you've said. I'm also looking for a single computer OSX solution, and while the Mac Pro is indead overkill for 80% of what I will be using it for it is also the only solution that Apple currently has available that will fill my needs.

This is a minor concern in the grand scheme of things... games will perform very well the Mac Pro (I have seen it).

 

[mistafreeze]

my whole reason for buying a mac pro, is to have one machine.

I have a custom built pc workstation (asus with x2 4400s) with 2gb of ram, and a dual g5, I have to keep my g5 hooked up to my 24 inch dell via VGA, and my windows machine hooked up via DVI. I cannot go 30 inch because i can only hook one machine up at a time. I cannot go dual monitor, as I would have one hell of a time getting things working each time i want to switch machines.

Now with the macpro i can have 1 badass machine, with 2 apple monitors.
Im current content with my PC and my Mac. But im not content with being forced with one monitor, and at that a dell 24 inch (no other offers the features i need with this setup)

im hoping i can fetch enough for my machines and ole dell monitor to get 2 30's, else ill get 2 23's and be plently happy.

for i can run xsi in windows, and reboot back to mac and get on with my other apps.

ive been wanting something like this to happen for some time, I can nolonger wait on the xt im just gonna buy the machine stock now.

anyone know a way to add wireless to the mac? im moving my setup to another room and want it on wireless, i seen the airport extreme card is not compatible with the mac pro. I have a usb one i use on an old imac i let my nephew use. was thinkin about using it, but would like smth internal.

 

[bob5820]

That's perhaps the most intelligent thing said in this whole thread.

Completely agree with both of you. Then again what else is there for us to do while we wait on our MacPro's but beat the subject like a dead pony.

 

[bob5820]

This is a minor concern in the grand scheme of things... games will perform very well the Mac Pro (I have seen it).

My point was that the chipset and memory are more of a handicap to gaming then the CPU. But your right its not much of a handicap at that.

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

my whole reason for buying a mac pro, is to have one machine.

I have a custom built pc workstation (asus with x2 4400s) with 2gb of ram, and a dual g5, I have to keep my g5 hooked up to my 24 inch dell via VGA, and my windows machine hooked up via DVI. I cannot go 30 inch because i can only hook one machine up at a time. I cannot go dual monitor, as I would have one hell of a time getting things working each time i want to switch machines.

Now with the macpro i can have 1 badass machine, with 2 apple monitors.
Im current content with my PC and my Mac. But im not content with being forced with one monitor, and at that a dell 24 inch (no other offers the features i need with this setup)

im hoping i can fetch enough for my machines and ole dell monitor to get 2 30's, else ill get 2 23's and be plently happy.

for i can run xsi in windows, and reboot back to mac and get on with my other apps.

ive been wanting something like this to happen for some time, I can nolonger wait on the xt im just gonna buy the machine stock now.

anyone know a way to add wireless to the mac? im moving my setup to another room and want it on wireless, i seen the airport extreme card is not compatible with the mac pro. I have a usb one i use on an old imac i let my nephew use. was thinkin about using it, but would like smth internal.

The USB adapter should work in the Mac Pro absolutely fine. Remember that if you want to use two 30" ACDs and you're not going to use the XT then you'll need two 7300 GTs since they only have one dual link connectore which is needed for the high res displays. If you're paying for 2 GTs it isn't a big step up to the cost of an XT and if you do that then you may as well get the wireless too since it'd already be delayed.

 

[scud]

It's my gut feeling that the way the Mac Pro will run games is with lower maximum framerates than most systems but higher minimum framerates. I get the overall feeling that despite the lower framerate there will be less chance of hiccups and pauses lockups than with a normal gaming PC. Just my intuition here, I coudl be completely wrong.

 

[scud]

I just mean that it might not be a top performer in a dead framerate sprint but will better handle real-time loading and the like.

 

[mistafreeze]

yeah, if i go with 2 30's ill upgrade to the XT first. just dont want to wait until the end of sept as i need to get my systems organized by early october as thats when i have quite a few jobs coming up, im pretty much free until oct, then i have a load of work.

i will need to measure the 30's and see how heavy they are to ensure i have enough room, i will have 4 inches free on my desk with 2 23's.

 

[Renovatio]

yeah, if i go with 2 30's ill upgrade to the XT first. just dont want to wait until the end of sept as i need to get my systems organized by early october as thats when i have quite a few jobs coming up, im pretty much free until oct, then i have a load of work.

i will need to measure the 30's and see how heavy they are to ensure i have enough room, i will have 4 inches free on my desk with 2 23's.

I have an L shaped glass desk and have both 30's slightly angled inside instead of flat (like this: / \ except not nearly that extreme) Even so I have a good inch or two sticking off each side of the desk. I think I like it better angled in like this instead of just flat ... especially with screens this big ... not as much head movement and it seems to be a little easier on the eyes.

Haha ... I guess I should mention that I can only run one of them off my Powerbook right now ... I haven't even gotten my Mac Pro

 

[mistafreeze]

didnt you fix your order to get the 7300 gt now and the other later, thats what i did, says it should be here next wednesday!

im not too sure if i want to go dual 30's; i may never leave my room!

im cutting my desk up and using the bookshelf part of the desk (where i currently draw and house books) and placing the monitors on their, and will put the keyboard under the monitors, and have lots of room for my wacom.


i would like to have an internal wireless solution w/o having to rely on my usb but i guess I can live with it till i run a cable, less someone can find a nicer solution. id prefer something compatible with linux

 

[Renovatio]

didnt you fix your order to get the 7300 gt now and the other later, thats what i did, says it should be here next wednesday!

Yeah, I did that too ... mine should be here by next Friday ... I sure hope it ships early though

im not too sure if i want to go dual 30's; i may never leave my room!

Haha! Good point! What would be awesome is if you would hook up your dual 23's at the same time to your NVIDIA card as your 30's to your ATI card (assuming that is possible) Now that would *ensure* you never leave your room

 

[cjkihlbom]

What would be awesome is if you would hook up your dual 23's at the same time to your NVIDIA card as your 30's to your ATI card (assuming that is possible) Now that would *ensure* you never leave your room

That's what I'm doing as soon as I get my ATI card. But with dual 20" and a 30" instead. It *is* hard to leave the room

 

[Fedge]

I've got two Dell 24" 2407WFP's hooked up to my Powerbook and my PC (no Mac Pro Yet). Watching a widescreen movie while surfing the web, working on a spreadsheet, with iChat, terminal, bbedit, AND transmit all open--it makes it very hard to want to leave The screen real estate is just to awesome.

 

[mistafreeze]

hey Renovatio, could you be so kind as to put your 30 inches side by side and measure from the bottom base of one to the bottom base of the other? so i could tell about how much size my desk actually needs? thanks!

2 20's and a 30 wow. what are you going to use your third monitor for?

 

[I'mAMac]

I don't understand why so many people are against the Mac Pro because it is "overkill". In 5 years it might be hanging on by a thread. (though i doubt it) I think people are just sore because they either don't have enough money to buy their own and are jealous or they resent Apple. Why else would you put down the fastest apple pc on earth?

 

[kered22]

Starting this morning I can't cancel my mac pro with x1900xt order.

Does this really mean anything or it just happens every now and then?

Any updates on this front?

Earliest ship date I've seen for an X1900 system is the 12th so far, so hopefully Apple will ship them soon or at least say something.

 

[Renovatio]

hey Renovatio, could you be so kind as to put your 30 inches side by side and measure from the bottom base of one to the bottom base of the other? so i could tell about how much size my desk actually needs? thanks!

No problem ... it looks to be about 35" from base to base (maybe a bit less) I really don't have a large desk either which is why I am glad that the bases are in the centre instead of on either side of the display like the previous generation was. Otherwise they most definitely would not fit.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Any updates on this front?

Earliest ship date I've seen for an X1900 system is the 12th so far, so hopefully Apple will ship them soon or at least say something.

Mine is the 12th... However, I believe someone else said they contacted Apple and got a timeframe of September 15th-21st or something.

 

[mistafreeze]

thx Renovatio, but WOW thats pretty big! I think I will just stick with the 23's! my desk area gives me 42 inches, im hoping i will still have enough room to put my front left, right, and center speakers up with the displays.