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tony3d

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 6, 2006
377
2
I have had a Mac since 1984, and currently own a 3.06 12 core. I really wish the Mac Pro was more fun. I mean you can't even overclock it. I look at all the neat stuff for PC's, and sometime wonder why I bought my current Mac Pro. Why can't one overclock? Now with the new Mac Pro, it looks like Appke took boring to a whole new level.
 
I have had a Mac since 1984, and currently own a 3.06 12 core. I really wish the Mac Pro was more fun. I mean you can't even overclock it. I look at all the neat stuff for PC's, and sometime wonder why I bought my current Mac Pro. Why can't one overclock? Now with the new Mac Pro, it looks like Appke took boring to a whole new level.

Macs are meant to get work done. Not to play with the computer.
 
Modern Xeons can't be overclocked very easily to my knowledge so its similar on the PC side. i7s on the other hand...

Don't agree with the comment about "Macs are for work".
 
Don't get me wrong, I love my Mac Pro, and use it mostly for professional 3d modeling, and animation. Today I was in a Tiger Direct, and saw for the first time how much can be done with a PC. You say Mac's are made to get work done. Well imagine how much work I could get done by overclocking to 4ghz!
 
I have had a Mac since 1984, and currently own a 3.06 12 core. I really wish the Mac Pro was more fun. I mean you can't even overclock it. I look at all the neat stuff for PC's, and sometime wonder why I bought my current Mac Pro. Why can't one overclock? Now with the new Mac Pro, it looks like Appke took boring to a whole new level.

I sat here trying to decide how to reply to your post. I don't know how a computer can be "more fun". Most Mac Pro users are probably going to write not-nice things about you. I mean, really, wishing that a Mac Pro would be more fun doesn't sound either very grown-up nor professional. Mac Pros are more tool than toy.

I always thought that it is the things you do on a computer that are the fun. If overclocking is your idea of fun then very few desktops offered by the major players are going to be very fun.

Why not build a PC? Using the right components you can have something way beyond the realm of Apple, HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc. Only Windows can use the latest and greatest GPUs. Mac were never meant for extreme, nuts-and-bolts power users.
 
I have had a Mac since 1984, and currently own a 3.06 12 core. I really wish the Mac Pro was more fun. I mean you can't even overclock it. I look at all the neat stuff for PC's, and sometime wonder why I bought my current Mac Pro. Why can't one overclock? Now with the new Mac Pro, it looks like Appke took boring to a whole new level.

Not sure how over-clocking = more fun, but each to their own.
 
Modern Xeons can't be overclocked very easily to my knowledge so its similar on the PC side. i7s on the other hand...

Don't agree with the comment about "Macs are for work".

Well that is super wrong. Just google 'overclocking Xeon's' or something and you'll retract. Some of the world record holders were on Xeon. They take amazing amounts punishment. Overclocking them is no different than any other CPU.

----------

Mac were never meant for extreme, nuts-and-bolts power users.

They can be. You just have to work harder at it. And be smarter.

btw I think the OP's thread is pure troll. And why do you continue to buy Mac's? They are a closed system. They cant be compared to Windows open hard ware system at all. The "it just works" would be gone. It just works because it is a tested and reliable component sum that they keep people from tinkering with. Violla' stability.
 
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I'm not trying to start a flame war here, I'm just saying that walking into Tiger Direct opened my eyes to wonders I never really even thought about before. I just find it a shame, that those who like to tinker around to tweak everything they can, are completely locked out. Seems that Apple is hellbent on making their entire product line more or less disposable! This is no more evident than in the new Mac Pro. Like I say I have dumped more money over the years in the top end Macs than I care to admit, and after today, I'm beginning to wonder why. I see nothing wrong with tweaking performance to get my animations, and renderings done faster!
 
I'm not trying to start a flame war here, I'm just saying that walking into Tiger Direct opened my eyes to wonders I never really even thought about before. I just find it a shame, that those who like to tinker around to tweak everything they can, are completely locked out. Seems that Apple is hellbent on making their entire product line more or less disposable! This is no more evident than in the new Mac Pro. Like I say I have dumped more money over the years in the top end Macs than I care to admit, and after today, I'm beginning to wonder why. I see nothing wrong with tweaking performance to get my animations, and renderings done faster!

Really dude? Since 1984 you have not known what PC's do and their business model vs. Apples? It is the entire reason for Mac vs. PC and noise for the last 30 years or more. It's why Gates won and why Jobs got fired (roundabout anyway) My mind is blown on this supposed long standing Mac user.
 
I have had a Mac since 1984, and currently own a 3.06 12 core. I really wish the Mac Pro was more fun. I mean you can't even overclock it. I look at all the neat stuff for PC's, and sometime wonder why I bought my current Mac Pro. Why can't one overclock? Now with the new Mac Pro, it looks like Appke took boring to a whole new level.

Depends on where you are coming from, but my Macs have always been tools for getting a job done. I appreciate how they work hard on a daily basis with very little if any problems over the years.

I'm personally willing to sacrifice over clocking for stability, but thats just me ;)
 
Never really looked at them before. I actually started with Apple on the Apple 2. Just never really looked at all the cool things available on the Windows side of things. Started looking at Lightwave plugins for my software, and found out there are literally hundreds if not thousands of plugins for Window Lightwave versus a handful for Mac side. That would make putting Windows on my Mac worth it alone.
 
Seems like underclocking is the way to go, so if you really want to have fun, look into that. Forum member 'Tutor' has a lot of good info about the subject.
 
I find computers about as fun as a toolbox full of tools. Never understood being attracted to the computer itself.

That being said, buy a PC to play around with or do a Hackintosh as a hobby machine. I thing that would be mildly interesting (though I'd rather be hanging with my kid, riding mountain bikes or writing songs on a guitar).
 
Mac's are not boring!

Today me and my 2008 MP went to the amusement park. Being that it is only 5yrs old I was able to purchase a children's ticket for it. We rode lots of rides. The only issue that arose was heat while waiting in line. Being there are heat sinks on it's memory and a Vantec PCIe fan in slot #3, we were ok. The two odd things during our outing were stares from park goers and insulting comments (obviously jealous). All in all we had a nice time.

Mac's boring? Not a chance! :D
 
I have had a Mac since 1984, and currently own a 3.06 12 core. I really wish the Mac Pro was more fun. I mean you can't even overclock it. I look at all the neat stuff for PC's, and sometime wonder why I bought my current Mac Pro. Why can't one overclock? Now with the new Mac Pro, it looks like Appke took boring to a whole new level.

Go buy a PC. Then you can have as much fun as you want.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go get some work done on my incredibly boring computer that never seems to break or do anything exciting with my data.

-SC
 
I think you missed out by a year or two, because lately the DIY PC crowd has been trending toward quietPCs and really simple cases. For example, corsair's big line right now is really simple, and so is Antec's (although they've been making simple cases for a while). Fractal Design got really popular for making these:

5412_99_fractal_design_arc_midi_r2_mid_tower_chassis_review_full.jpg


Have you fallen asleep yet? No. Well anyway, overclocking doesn't really go with quietPCs, so people aren't doing much of that either. I was really surprised Alienware was still selling machines with ostentatious LED light shows, so I bought one. :D

I mean the crazy overclocking LED light show crowd still exists, it's just not as big a deal anymore (unfortunately XD). Also, after the Mac launched in 1984, Apple was no longer a company that cared about people that liked to play with hardware.

That doesn't mean you're forbidden from doing so - check out some of the very cool custom computers out there using G5/Mac Pro cases. There's also a lot of G4 iMac rebuilds! I think those are pretty darn awesome, and so do lots of people.

The dirty secret nobody is telling here is that you can still get your work done just fine on anything. If you build something robust, it's not going to break down on you.
 
Macs are meant to get work done. Not to play with the computer.

Might be overstating things a bit.... though probably more true for the Pro other Macs. Still, I went Mac because I wanted to get things done. I am quite content for the computer (and the OS) to be boring and in the background.

Each to their own, but I have no interest in playing with the machine. If it "just works", it's fine by me.
 
Mac's are not boring!

Today me and my 2008 MP went to the amusement park. Being that it is only 5yrs old I was able to purchase a children's ticket for it. We rode lots of rides. The only issue that arose was heat while waiting in line. Being there are heat sinks on it's memory and a Vantec PCIe fan in slot #3, we were ok. The two odd things during our outing were stares from park goers and insulting comments (obviously jealous). All in all we had a nice time.

Mac's boring? Not a chance! :D

Ok, That funny!
 
"Hi Im a Pc." "Hi i am also a Pc." Old apple ad of course... Sorry felt the reference coming lol.

You forget your intel mac can do everything a pc can? Also with all those cores overclocking wont matter really that much, the instability isn't worth it.

If you need a windows fix get another hdd dedicated to windows 7 64bit like i have and go nuts.

As for the fun part, i use my mac pro as my primary entertainment desktop when i dont use it for video rendering work or photo work. I game in osx what i can, and when i cant i just boot into windows 7 pro... If you wanna have fun on your mac pro, then actually DO something fun with it as you would a normal pc.
 
I had a co-worker who put together a PC a few years ago that probably met your definition of "fun." He bought all the components separately through NewEgg, had to return several items due to both inoperability and incompatibility, fought with various entities over mail in rebates, found working drivers only through trial and error... IIRC it was several months after deciding to build the machine that he actually had something that would run with any sort of stability. He was an excitable sort of guy and was pretty stressed about the situation, but sure, I could see somebody with the right mentality finding such tinkering fun. But that's not the market segment Apple is going for, no more than the market segment that want an integrated coffee maker in their Mac. (Thats me, I enjoy having my morning coffee in front of my iMac. I despair Apple will ever make my dream iCoffee.). If you are the sort of person who enjoys tinkering for tinkering's sake, a DIY PC build could be just the thing. Or perhaps, for cheaper, you'd be interested in Arduinos or Mindstorm LEGOs? Then you can let your Mac sit in the corner, quietly getting your work done.
 
I had a co-worker who put together a PC a few years ago that probably met your definition of "fun." He bought all the components separately through NewEgg, had to return several items due to both inoperability and incompatibility, fought with various entities over mail in rebates, found working drivers only through trial and error... IIRC it was several months after deciding to build the machine that he actually had something that would run with any sort of stability. He was an excitable sort of guy and was pretty stressed about the situation, but sure, I could see somebody with the right mentality finding such tinkering fun. But that's not the market segment Apple is going for, no more than the market segment that want an integrated coffee maker in their Mac. (Thats me, I enjoy having my morning coffee in front of my iMac. I despair Apple will ever make my dream iCoffee.). If you are the sort of person who enjoys tinkering for tinkering's sake, a DIY PC build could be just the thing. Or perhaps, for cheaper, you'd be interested in Arduinos or Mindstorm LEGOs? Then you can let your Mac sit in the corner, quietly getting your work done.

But there are also people out there building their own computers, be they Windows, Linux or Hackintosh based, who do extensive research before purchasing the right components.

When I decided to built a Hackintosh, I spent more than a month to research the components (motherboard, CPU and GPU) and after purchasing them on one day, Windows would run on it within an hour or two of putting it all together. The Hackintosh part was a bit more cumbersome, but that was due to my ignorance about the GraphicsEnabler part.

What I want to say is, that if one wants to build his or her own computer, the more time spent researching the correct parts, the less time spent with troubleshooting afterwards.
 
Not sure how over-clocking = more fun, but each to their own.

He wants a 160 Electronics kit.
jqkpoz.jpg




Mac's are not boring!

Today me and my 2008 MP went to the amusement park. Being that it is only 5yrs old I was able to purchase a children's ticket for it. We rode lots of rides. The only issue that arose was heat while waiting in line. Being there are heat sinks on it's memory and a Vantec PCIe fan in slot #3, we were ok. The two odd things during our outing were stares from park goers and insulting comments (obviously jealous). All in all we had a nice time.

Mac's boring? Not a chance! :D

Hehehe...
 
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