processing power

[I'mAMac]

If i get a mac pro my dream machine would be 2.66ghz with 2 gb RAM and an 1900xt but im not sure if i can afford that. SO, do I get the 2ghz with the 2 gb or the 2.66 ghz with the 1 gb. 2 dual core 2.0 ghz processors is still a hell of a lot of power. I'll mainly use it for gaming, day to day things, and probably video/movies.

 

[suneohair]

The 2.0 is fine... It comes down to an economical choice.

The 2.66 is a mch better deal than the $300 you are saving going to the 2.0

So to me, I think it is foolish to get the 2.0. Also, you can get Ram cheaper elsewhere and install it yourself.

Ram prices are high right now as well. Not just for the Mac Pro, but everything has gone up a bit. You may want to wait it out a bit for prices to fall.

If you are using UB apps 1GB will get you through for a while.

If you want to cut some cost move down to the 160GB HD and add another drive later. The $70 downgrade is enough to get you a decent size drive then you would have two.

You will be happier with the 2.66, plus it will resell better than the 2.0.

 

[I'mAMac]

ok thx. If i do get one ill get the 2.66 with the 1gb and add more ram later.

 

[dmw007]

ok thx. If i do get one ill get the 2.66 with the 1gb and add more ram later.

Good choice I'mAMac, that will still be one heck of a powerful computer.

 

[disconap]

If you want to cut some cost move down to the 160GB HD and add another drive later. The $70 downgrade is enough to get you a decent size drive then you would have two.

This is very good advice. Plus there are performance benefits to running off more than one drive (many apps, like Photoshop, suggest setting a cache on a separate drive than the app and files are running to boost performance, and it REALLY makes a difference with large files). And having a secondary drive that you store most of your media and inactive files on is also very good for clutter and/or running something like Silverkeeper to do regular back-ups to a secondary drive is far, far safer than backing up to a partition (since the partition only helps with file/tree corruption, not drive failure).

 

[PowerMike G5]

Definitely do 2 drives if you plan to do video editing ... one for apps and another for media scratch ... you'll notice better performance ...

 

[technicolor]

A MacPro with one gig of ram is useless.

If you cannot afford 2 gigs of ram, you cannot afford a macpro.

Thats like buying a car with no seats, yes you can drive it, but is it a worthwhile experience?

 

[CanadaRAM]

A MacPro with one gig of ram is useless.

If you cannot afford 2 gigs of ram, you cannot afford a macpro.

Thats like buying a car with no seats, yes you can drive it, but is it a worthwhile experience?

and add more ram later

Adding third party RAM from a reputable, Mac-friendly supplier is a good way to lower the cost of a machine.

 

[generik]

A MacPro with one gig of ram is useless.

If you cannot afford 2 gigs of ram, you cannot afford a macpro.

Thats like buying a car with no seats, yes you can drive it, but is it a worthwhile experience?

Yes, because a car with no seats still gets you places. It is not an "experience", it is a tool, a utility, a mule.

Besides you can always get more ram later, can't say the same for the CPU.

 

[technicolor]

Yes, because a car with no seats still gets you places. It is not an "experience", it is a tool, a utility, a mule.

Besides you can always get more ram later, can't say the same for the CPU.

Read the experiences from all who are trying wing it one gig of ram.

The MacPro is a significant investment, and skimping on it doesnt make much sense. Getting 3rd party ram is always a solution, but getting a work horse machine and trying to scrape by with the barest of the bare doesnt make much sense. Also if you are trying to use a machine like a Mac Pro with one gig of ram , most likely you arent a power user to begin with. Save your money, and get your machine when you can actually afford to get it. The OP even stated it was supposed to be his dream machine, yet he is trying to find ways to skimp here and there just to have it. Save your money and get your DREAM machine. If he can afford to skimp on the parts and make of the actual machine he wants, he probably doesnt really "need" it anyways, and can wait.