You can't have dual Intel processors without Xeons, so if you need 8 cores then yeah you do need Xeon power. Closest to dual i5 2500s would be dual Xeon E5-2643s which are 3.3Ghz quad core's, but with hyper-threading and 4mb more cache. They are $900 each though.
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My dream Mac Pro
- Thread starter pianoman88
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You can't have dual Intel processors without Xeons, so if you need 8 cores then yeah you do need Xeon power. Closest to dual i5 2500s would be dual Xeon E5-2643s which are 3.3Ghz quad core's, but with hyper-threading and 4mb more cache. They are $900 each though.
There is no performance gap that I see. iMac blends easily and then there are the heavy hitter 12-cores.
Base 2.8GHz Quad Mac Pro
3.2GHz Quad Mac Pro
3.4GHz iMac (i7-2600)
2.4GHz 8-core Mac Pro
3.33GHz 6-core Mac Pro
2.66GHz 12-core Mac Pro
2.93GHz 12-core Mac Pro
Only about 5-20% difference as the models progress in speed. Those are in order of pure power. The jump is at 12-cores but that would be the case on any PC that can execute 24 threads.
I didin't realize you couldn't have dual i series CPUs. Anyway, my larger point isn't so much that I need 8 cores, it's that I would prefer a less powerful/expensive MacPro. For a cpu: something like the i7 3930K woud be great.
You should be able to get that sort of power as the Xeon E5-1650 is basically the same processor with ECC memory support. It has the same price level as the 3930K and the same price that the 3.2GHz quad core processor available on the Mac Pro also also had. So one could assume it would be $2,900-$3,000 for such a system. A lot more than a PC, but nothing to do with the Xeon pricing as Dell will likely have systems using that processor for $2,000. Just the Apple premium I'm afraid
.I'd also guess that if you can get a 3.2GHz 6-core with 4GB RAM, 1TB hard drive and a 1GB Radeon 7770 for $2,999 or less it'll be the most popular Mac Pro choice of the coming generation. The 3.2Ghz 6-core is pretty much the perfect balance for a processor, certainly based on user information from this forum.
Give me a better video with a $2500-$2700 price and that'll be my first Mac Pro.. But I highly doubt that.
You should be able to get that sort of power as the Xeon E5-1650 is basically the same processor with ECC memory support. It has the same price level as the 3930K and the same price that the 3.2GHz quad core processor available on the Mac Pro also also had. So one could assume it would be $2,900-$3,000 for such a system. A lot more than a PC, but nothing to do with the Xeon pricing as Dell will likely have systems using that processor for $2,000. Just the Apple premium I'm afraid
I'd also guess that if you can get a 3.2GHz 6-core with 4GB RAM, 1TB hard drive and a 1GB Radeon 7770 for $2,999 or less it'll be the most popular Mac Pro choice of the coming generation. The 3.2Ghz 6-core is pretty much the perfect balance for a processor, certainly based on user information from this forum.
I really really hope they use something faster than a 7770 as base card. It is only a few clicks faster than 5770, like 5%. Quite pathetic actually. Give me at least 78xx base and 7950-7970 for upgrade option.
I think the problem you are always going to have is a lot of users do not need a powerful GPU and by including one it increases cost / decreases Apple's margins and increases the cooling, and thus noise level, required. I would hope the 7970 is at least an option.
Not at 2999.00. If they do not need power why are they buying a Mac Pro?
Everything seems to be gearing up to GPGPU anyway so why cut yourself off at the knees. More GPU power is always good. Try running 10.7 on a 9400m. Sucks bad. Also the 5870 at idle is quieter than the 5770. Or at least the 20 I have seen.
The 9400m isn't a 7770 is it now. You don't need ultra high end graphics to run VMs, create and edit audio, study and analyse data, run simulations as well as a lot of image and video creation software not utilizing the GPU for common tasks still. There are plenty of workflows that people use Mac Pros for where a $400 graphics card is not going to offer improvements over a $150 one.
True mostly. What if the workflow changes? Would be nice not to have to pony up money on a new computer/upgrade because After effects is stuttering. I just want more (on base model) after a 2 year lull. More like the difference between the GT120 and the 5770. Now that was a nice upgrade. Not because the 5770 was so stellar but because the GT120 was so sucky. There is definitely some middle ground between the 7770 and the 7970 that would be a better match for a 2999.00 system.
The real issue of course derbothaus is Apple's limited choices
Agree. Just wanted to set my expectations a little higher
Maybe if we all think it, it will materialize.Agree. Just wanted to set my expectations a little higher
The powers of positive thought
i just want a mac pro model aimed at giving users the option of turning their workstation into a gaming rig easily. Sli or crossfire support, an optional gaming card like the 7970 or better if it exists closer to the time. lightning ssd's and 2000mhz ram.
Either give us the card options at purchase or make it so that we can buy any card from either amd or nvidia and it work!
Either give us the card options at purchase or make it so that we can buy any card from either amd or nvidia and it work!
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The problem with crossfire and SLI is it requires further development in graphics drivers that just can't see a financial return for the companies involved.
SLI and crossfire sucks. Twice the money for 50% increase and 1000% more headaches. OS X does not need dual card support (lol, OS X SLI). Look at the games for it? OpenGL crap ports. Games in OS X are software bound not hardware bound. Throwing more GPU power at them will not make them any faster or better. You CAN already run SLI and crossfire in Win on you Mac. All you need to fulfill your dream is more timely upgraded GPU's from Apple. Nothing is processor bound on a Mac Pro on ANY game.