MP 1,1-5,1 Need Suggestion on purchasing a new Mac Pro

[hardw0od]

I've been postponing upgrading my Mac Pro 5,1 for the past year or so. I do some video editing, photography work and some light gaming. I could get away with purchasing an iMac but I've out away the money for the new Mac Pro. After today's WWDC announcement and the transition to ARM-based macs should I even purchase the new Mac Pro or try to stick it out with the 5,1 until ARM-based versions of the Mac Pro are released. I've upgraded the 5,1 as much as humanly possible

1. Upgraded the single processor to an X5690
2. Maxed out the RAM to 32GB
3. Has 4TB of SSD Storage including 2TB of PCI/e storage
4. Has a Radeon 580X


I prefer tower Macs because of the fact that they can be upgraded. I've really gotten my money's worth with this system but I am starting to see the first signs of its age.

- Rendering some 4K files takes forever
- Playing back 4K video has frame drops and some stutter etc.
- No longer upgradeable through Apple (OS)

I guess my question is...


If money were not an issue would you buy the Mac Pro as it is right now or wait for the ARM-based version of the computer to release next year?

 

[macguru9999]

Money is always an issue. Otherwise, you would get a mac pro now and another in 2 years with an arm processor, unless there is an arm upgrade card and i suspect the pci3 bus is not good enough for that. The real question will be... how does a mac mini with arm stack up against a xeon mac pro 7,1 ?

 

[hardw0od]

Money is always an issue. Otherwise, you would get a mac pro now and another in 2 years with an arm processor, unless there is an arm upgrade card and i suspect the pci3 bus is not good enough for that. The real question will be... how does a mac mini with arm stack up against a xeon mac pro 7,1 ?

You're right. I think it's more prudent to say if I spend $6,500 on a Mac Today am I just pissing away my money. I remember buying a G5 in 2005 only to see it become obsolete 18 months later. Question: how did you get a 6-Core 5,1 to 64GB of ram?

 

[macguru9999]

You're right. I think it's more prudent to say if I spend $6,500 on a Mac Today am I just pissing away my money. I remember buying a G5 in 2005 only to see it become obsolete 18 months later. Question: how did you get a 6-Core 5,1 to 64GB of ram?

If you have an X5690, rather than a W series chip, it supports 4x16 GB matching simms. Its works fine

 

[hardw0od]

I think you may have inadvertently gave me an answer I did not expect. Since I have an X5690 I could bump the ram to 64GB and upgrade the Video Card to a Radeon VII and hold out for a bit longer... Thanks a million guru

 

[Soba]

I've been postponing upgrading my Mac Pro 5,1 for the past year or so. I do some video editing, photography work and some light gaming. I could get away with purchasing an iMac but I've out away the money for the new Mac Pro. After today's WWDC announcement and the transition to ARM-based macs should I even purchase the new Mac Pro or try to stick it out with the 5,1 until ARM-based versions of the Mac Pro are released. I've upgraded the 5,1 as much as humanly possible

1. Upgraded the single processor to an X5690
2. Maxed out the RAM to 32GB
3. Has 4TB of SSD Storage including 2TB of PCI/e storage
4. Has a Radeon 580X


I prefer tower Macs because of the fact that they can be upgraded. I've really gotten my money's worth with this system but I am starting to see the first signs of its age.

- Rendering some 4K files takes forever
- Playing back 4K video has frame drops and some stutter etc.
- No longer upgradeable through Apple (OS)

I guess my question is...


If money were not an issue would you buy the Mac Pro as it is right now or wait for the ARM-based version of the computer to release next year?

Regarding your RAM, the single 5,1 will take a maximum of 64GB, so if you’re RAM starved now, you can upgrade it further. The system performs best with sets of 3 DIMMs, so 3x16GB is the sweet spot for performance if your work doesn’t really need 64GB.

(Edit: macguru beat me to it!)

I have a lot of questions about this transition and I don’t think we’re going to have many answers for a while. I would not expect the Mac Pro to transition to ARM until the end of 2021, and perhaps later; the ARM chips that are available now are a far cry from being able to power a competitive Mac Pro.

If you use your system for work and generate income from it, consider going ahead with your purchase of a 7,1. Even if an ARM Mac Pro comes out soon, I don’t think I’d want to be one of the early adopters.

You could also consider upgrading to a dual 5,1 (which would also double your RAM) if that makes sense for your workflow, though I’m not sure putting more money into a 5,1 at this point is a wise investment.

 

[macguru9999]

It was more vertant that inadvertant. just make sure you do a top notch pixlas mod to power that puppy, I just have a flashed 580 card.. all the best

 

[hardw0od]

Regarding your RAM, the single 5,1 will take a maximum of 64GB, so if you’re RAM starved now, you can upgrade it further. The system performs best with sets of 3 DIMMs, so 3x16GB is the sweet spot for performance if your work doesn’t really need 64GB.

(Edit: macguru beat me to it!)

I have a lot of questions about this transition and I don’t think we’re going to have many answers for a while. I would not expect the Mac Pro to transition to ARM until the end of 2021, and perhaps later; the ARM chips that are available now are a far cry from being able to power a competitive Mac Pro.

If you use your system for work and generate income from it, consider going ahead with your purchase of a 7,1. Even if an ARM Mac Pro comes out soon, I don’t think I’d want to be one of the early adopters.

You could also consider upgrading to a dual 5,1 (which would also double your RAM) if that makes sense for your workflow, though I’m not sure putting more money into a 5,1 at this point is a wise investment.

Yes, I've thought about purchasing the dual processor tray, but I always talk myself out of it because I've plunked down a lot of money into the system and at this point I'm thinking anything more will be a sunk cost. However, I can honestly say that I have received my money's worth with this system. At the turn of this century a computer that lasted 4-5 years was good and one that lasted a decade was unheard of. The 5,1 has been an excellent system.

I will purchase a 4X16 and run 3 like you say.

I knew that the rumor of the ARM chip would more-than-likely turn out to be true and now that it is I'm so torn. I will tough it out with the 5,1 and see what the future holds. Thank you so much for helping me.

When I was younger and more frivolous with my money I plunged ~$4,000 for a top-end G5 system and I felt so bad when the computer was unusable after 3-4 years and obsolete after 18 months. I was so mad at Apple that for the first time in my life I purchased a PC in 2009 and came right back to Apple in 2010. I don't want the same thing to happen to me and hence why I asked the question.
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It was more vertant that inadvertant. just make sure you do a top notch pixlas mod to power that puppy, I just have a flashed 580 card.. all the best

LOL. Well you helped me find what I was looking for. I'll let you know how it turns out.