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MP 7,1 What were the first things you did upon setting up your MP 7,1?

ChromeCrescendo

ChromeCrescendo

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 3, 2020
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I recently ordered a MP 7,1 (should arrive by next week)

What were the first things you did upon setting yours up?
Any "optimization" tips?
Pre-installed Apps you uninstalled?
Apps you installed?
Settings adjusted?

Thank you and be well.
 
profdraper

profdraper

macrumors 6502
Jan 14, 2017
391
290
Brisbane, Australia
If you're not using Catalina already, then do some research on all the problems associated with that. YMMV: this also depends on your reliance on third party software vs Apple walled garden app store; in my experience also depends on drives /data that may be migrated (permissions and security can be problematic - 1st, turn off all the T2 rubbish, then you may need to set drive permissions etc); finally also be aware that 10.15.4 is bricking some machines and this requires another mac to fix the firmware etc - having said this, this particular issue does not yet seem to effect the MP 7,1. In sum: Catalina is a real dog, so be careful and circumspect in your setup. Like odd Apple practice in the recent past: machine cannot go backwards in OS & so we are forced to use that; OS also drops much 3rd party app support (again, YMMV depending) but mostly, if so, then we are forced to buy updates for many apps.
 
SayCheese

SayCheese

macrumors 68000
Jun 14, 2007
1,720
919
Oxfordshire, England
Thanks for the thread. I've also just brought a Mac Pro which is due here later this week.
I'm upgrading from my 2010 Mac Pro, so will be watching this with interest.

profdraper said:
1st, turn off all the T2 rubbish, then you may need to set drive permissions
Click to expand...
Can you please explain more about turning off T2? What's it do and how do you turn it off? What's the benefit of turning it off?
 
Krevnik

Krevnik

macrumors 601
Sep 8, 2003
4,101
1,312
SayCheese said:
Can you please explain more about turning off T2? What's it do and how do you turn it off? What's the benefit of turning it off?
Click to expand...

About Startup Security Utility on a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip - Apple Support

Use Startup Security Utility to make sure that your Mac always starts up from your designated startup disk, and always from a legitimate, trusted operating system.
support.apple.com support.apple.com

The main things the T2 enforces by default on the Mac Pro:
1) OS must be signed properly by Apple to boot.
2) Only the primary SSD is bootable.

You can disable one or the other if needed. If you intend to add a second bootable drive, enable booting of external drives. If you are looking to keep around old OSes or boot Windows, you'll need to turn down or turn off the signed OS boot requirements.
 
ChromeCrescendo

ChromeCrescendo

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 3, 2020
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252
profdraper said:
If you're not using Catalina already, then do some research on all the problems associated with that. YMMV: this also depends on your reliance on third party software vs Apple walled garden app store; in my experience also depends on drives /data that may be migrated (permissions and security can be problematic - 1st, turn off all the T2 rubbish, then you may need to set drive permissions etc); finally also be aware that 10.15.4 is bricking some machines and this requires another mac to fix the firmware etc - having said this, this particular issue does not yet seem to effect the MP 7,1. In sum: Catalina is a real dog, so be careful and circumspect in your setup. Like odd Apple practice in the recent past: machine cannot go backwards in OS & so we are forced to use that; OS also drops much 3rd party app support (again, YMMV depending) but mostly, if so, then we are forced to buy updates for many apps.
Click to expand...


Thanks - I am currently using a 2015 iMac upgrade to Catalina 10.15.4

As for Apps - I use Logic Pro X (plus 3rd party plugins), Final Cut Pro X, Pages, Numbers, Keynote and Safari

The main 3rd party Apps I use are Magnet and Apogee Control (for my audio interface into Logic)

I am not going to migrate - I am going to do a clean install of all Apps not already included by Apple
 
The Other One

The Other One

macrumors member
Oct 17, 2011
72
110
Aside from installing the laundry list of apps I use (not to mention getting the licenses all re-activated, which is usually a study in frustration itself), I just had two things, really:

1) Upgraded the RAM. I ordered with just the base amount of memory, but immediately upgraded to 192GB of that NEMIX memory from Amazon (incidentally, one of the six 32GB modules was defective, but they swapped it out with no fuss).

2) Installed the HighPoint SSD7101A-1 with four 2TB NVME drives in RAID 0. I do a lot of video editing, and I wanted fast internal storage in a large enough capacity to have no issues when I'm actively working on a larger project.

Other than that, I haven't done anything to it, and it's been great.
 
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flowrider

flowrider

macrumors 604
Nov 23, 2012
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First thing I did was turn it on and made sure everything worked then:

Replaced Apple Keyboard with a Logitech G910
Replaced Apple Mouse with a Logitech MX Master
Added Ram - Now 96GB (12X8GB Apple Modules)
Added HighPoint 7103 with four Samsung SSDs - The drives contained a MacOS and all my Programs and files from my previous cMP
Added 4 port Highpoint USB Card
Added I/O Crest with two Samsung SSDs
Hooked my Klipsch Powered Speakers, my two HP Printers (Ink Jet & Laser), my Blue Snowball mic, my Microtek Scanner, and of course my Linksys Router
Replaced Pro580X GPU with Aorus RX5700XT
Replaced my Monitor with an LG 24MD4KL-B

Lou
 
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ChromeCrescendo

ChromeCrescendo

macrumors 6502
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Jan 3, 2020
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Arrived today:

USB-C to Lightning cable;
TB2 to TB3 adaptor; and
96GB RAM from OWC(16x6)

Scheduled for arrival this week:

XDR Display
XDR Display stand

Possibly arriving this week (but, most likely next week):

Mac Pro

Scheduled for arrival next week:

Magic Keyboard w/numeric keypad + Trackpad tray


Excitement fills the air!
 
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ChromeCrescendo

ChromeCrescendo

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 3, 2020
450
252
flowrider said:
First thing I did was turn it on and made sure everything worked then:

Replaced Apple Keyboard with a Logitech G910
Replaced Apple Mouse with a Logitech MX Master
Added Ram - Now 96GB (12X8GB Apple Modules)
Added HighPoint 7103 with four Samsung SSDs - The drives contained a MacOS and all my Programs and files from my previous cMP
Added 4 port Highpoint USB Card
Added I/O Crest with two Samsung SSDs
Hooked my Klipsch Powered Speakers, my two HP Printers (Ink Jet & Laser), my Blue Snowball mic, my Microtek Scanner, and of course my Linksys Router
Replaced Pro580X GPU with Aorus RX5700XT
Replaced my Monitor with an LG 24MD4KL-B

Lou
Click to expand...


Are you using a power conditioner or UPS?

Does anyone use an Ethernet surge protector?
 
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ChromeCrescendo

ChromeCrescendo

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 3, 2020
450
252
flowrider said:
^^^^Eh, I forgot about that:eek: I have an APC 1500VA Sine Wave UPS.

Lou
Click to expand...


I just ordered that after a lengthy conversation with APC tech support

Do you run your Ethernet through it?

The tech support informed me I would notice a decrease in my Gigabit ethernet when run through the APC
 
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