While I'm disappointed in Apple's offerings I'm looking at getting a Mac Pro. This will be my first Apple desktop. I'm currently running a Macbook Air i7 and while it's a terrific machine for internet surfing, email, etc. I'm hitting walls with Logic Pro, running pluggins, as well as other CPU intensive audio software. Plus, I'm tired of hearing the fans on all the time (especially when watching movies!). Don't get me wrong, the MBA is a great machine, but I'd like to get out of the notebook game and settle into a desktop. I'm looking for something that will last years, something that I can upgrade, should I need to down the line.
A couple of things: I am NOT a pro. My job requires only a word processor. There are no customers waiting on me. I'm an enthusiastic amateur who likes to produce sound and manipulate it with CPU intensive applications and AUs. I don't do any video. I watch movies. The only photos I look at are on websites. I'm looking for a reliable, quiet machine that will sit under my desk.
I'm looking at a new 6 core (3.33) for 2749.00 (I'm eligible for the education discount) and the refurbished 8 core (2.4) for 2969.00. It looks like the 6 core has a higher benchmark (Geekbench), can that be right? Honestly, either one should offer plenty of power. I'm leaning towards the cheaper 6 core machine.
I'm also going to get the OWC 120GB PCI Express SSD. I love SSD and don't want to give that up. I figure I'd load my OS and applications on that and save music on the drive that comes installed with the MP. Is this a good idea?
Last question: I just install the PCI SSD and load the OS on it from the dvd? Is it as simple as that, installing the PCI card in this way allows the machine to recognize it as a new drive? Forgive the super naive question, as I've said, this is my first desktop. While I've done plenty of this stuff on notebooks, I just want to make sure I'm not overlooking anything.
A couple of things: I am NOT a pro. My job requires only a word processor. There are no customers waiting on me. I'm an enthusiastic amateur who likes to produce sound and manipulate it with CPU intensive applications and AUs. I don't do any video. I watch movies. The only photos I look at are on websites. I'm looking for a reliable, quiet machine that will sit under my desk.
I'm looking at a new 6 core (3.33) for 2749.00 (I'm eligible for the education discount) and the refurbished 8 core (2.4) for 2969.00. It looks like the 6 core has a higher benchmark (Geekbench), can that be right? Honestly, either one should offer plenty of power. I'm leaning towards the cheaper 6 core machine.
I'm also going to get the OWC 120GB PCI Express SSD. I love SSD and don't want to give that up. I figure I'd load my OS and applications on that and save music on the drive that comes installed with the MP. Is this a good idea?
Last question: I just install the PCI SSD and load the OS on it from the dvd? Is it as simple as that, installing the PCI card in this way allows the machine to recognize it as a new drive? Forgive the super naive question, as I've said, this is my first desktop. While I've done plenty of this stuff on notebooks, I just want to make sure I'm not overlooking anything.
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