Which Mac Pro for...?

[blurobot]

So with the Xeon Sandy Bridge delays I realize they won't be here until next year and I need to buy a Mac Pro this year for tax consideration so I'm looking to buy a mac late in the refresh cycle for the first time ever.

I know the 6 core MP seems to be the "best buy" for most users but what about a real heavy multitasking user? With multiple Virtual Machines running? Logic would indicate a 8 core MP might be the better buy with this use case right? I have a i7 PC with 12 gb ram and it seems to use between 4 and 6 cores (hyperthreaded).

I'm looking to do the same workload I'm doing now on my PC + almost double that on the mac side, so wouldn't a 8 core be better? Also, if sandy bridge only bring a 10-15% performance gain it doesn't seem that wise to wait if you simply cannot, right?

Also, would the grafx card in a MP be able to run 2x 27 inch cinema display easily? What about 3? And what about 3 with 1 running starcraft 2? What about Windows 7 with aero on inside a VM with 3 x 27 inch monitors?

I know there's a lot of questions but I can't seem to find good articles about MP and VMs.

 

[Loa]

Hello,

I can't help you with your specific questions, but one thing ppl here will need to have in order to guide you is your budget.

Without it, the optimal suggestion is to get a 12 core model and upgrade the 2 CPUs to the best intel has to offer. On top of that, go to 96GB of RAM and put 6-8 512GB SSDs in there. That, unfortunately, will cost more than many cars! :-D

Loa

 

[Zwhaler]

If you are considering the 2.4GHz 8 Core, you might as well upgrade to 12 core and get faster clock speed plus 8 additional hyperthreaded cores. The HD 5770 and 5870 support up to 3 displays each, if you are only going to use one card I would encourage you to get the 5870. If you are going to use the machine heavily I would get the best you can get even if it costs extra, that way the computer is future proof. You can't go wrong with either 12 core model. The other components can be upgraded down the line (even the CPU) but it's better to start off with a better CPU and GPU, and expand the RAM and HD slots yourself.

 

[rhett7660]

Hello,

I can't help you with your specific questions, but one thing ppl here will need to have in order to guide you is your budget.

Without it, the optimal suggestion is to get a 12 core model and upgrade the 2 CPUs to the best intel has to offer. On top of that, go to 96GB of RAM and put 6-8 512GB SSDs in there. That, unfortunately, will cost more than many cars! :-DLoa

Or a small house depending on where one lives!

 

[blurobot]

Hello,
Without it, the optimal suggestion is to get a 12 core model and upgrade the 2 CPUs to the best intel has to offer. On top of that, go to 96GB of RAM and put 6-8 512GB SSDs in there. That, unfortunately, will cost more than many cars! :-D

Loa

Well the budget is pretty much the same as everyone who has money but don't want to overspend it. I could potentially afford a 12 core but I do not want to waste money so if even a 4 core can do the exact same job I will go with it.

 

[goMac]

It sounds like you want as many cores as possible.

Logic will use all the cores you throw at it.

You probably also want dual GPUs. Splitting a GPU three ways is going to slow down any games.

 

[derbothaus]

Best for Logic would be:

2009 8-core 2.93
2010 6-core 3.33
2010 12-core 2.66
2010 12-core 2.93

Avoid the rest if possible.