Wise to buy a new Mac Pro late 2013?

[tunerX]

I was using iMacs for my photo and video projects. When my latest iMac died I was planning to get the latest Pro.

After much debate...

I bought a refurbished HP Z820. Then I upgraded with dual e5-2690V2, dual NVIDIA GTX 980, 128GB of ram, 8 240GB SSD in raid 0 and 8 more 240 SSB in a second raid zero for scratch space. I run Sierra/el capitan/yosemite in vmware workstation while I do my move from crapple to winblowz.

I am currently in the process of removing any reliance on apple since they removed support for aperture. My new requirements are support for linux, apple, and windows. So I can switch hardware if needed.

The apple ecosystem really pissed me off when they first killed iDVD and then killed aperture.

 

[Xde]

Yeah, that question just flew above everyones head...lol. Had my Mac Pro 6,1 Hexcore D700 almost a year with no problems. Phenomenal machine. Reports are that the ones that had graphics problems were being fixed, even out of warrantee. Not sure if verified.

This was the main reason to start this thread. Unfortunately people want to discuss the Hackintosh and price/outdating talk. My idea was not to spend 3000 dollares today for old hardware.
But assuming a better price or used, the hardware should be rock solid.
Looking to another thread about GPU failures and online petition, this thing flies still over many heads.
One can read about a lot of people with that type of problems, it would be interesting to hear of people with luck
i.e. positive feedback, to get an idea about the spread of problems. This was my intention and a poll could be helpful.
Wishing everyone a good new year!

 

[throAU]

Depends entirely on the price and your willingness to replace hardware out of your pocket rather than via warranty.

Unless you're talking buying brand new, in which case I would strongly, strongly suggest holding off for the next 3-6 months (if you can, i'm assuming you have a machine you can currently use) as there are a variety of announcements on the horizon from AMD and probably intel.

AMD has Ryzen and Vega on the horizon and it would not surprise me in the slightest if apple made use of these products in their lineup. Ryzen promises i7-6800 to i7-6900 performance at about half the price (i.e., comparable to current Mac Pro 8 core for half the CPU cost). Vega promises Geforce 1080 killing performance - and demonstrated frame rates in doom show it killing the 1080 at 4k in frame-rate.

Both are due out in the first half of next year. Whether or not apple uses them, it will certainly shake up the market and i'd expect pricing to be different at least. I suspect part of the reason why apple hasn't updated their desktop lineup in so long may well be due to a pending switch to AMD for processors.

In any case, whether it's a PC or Mac, buying a new desktop machine right now, unless you have nothing to use in the meantime is probably the worst time to make a purchase in the past 5+ years.

And that's not even counting the fact that the current pro has only thunderbolt 2, very old GPUs, etc. Even if it had hardware released yesterday in it, there's so much in the pipe for the next 6 months, it's definitely going to be worth waiting to see what pops out.

 

[edanuff]

There's a long thread on the GPU issues - TL;DR - Some nMP's have GPU failures (and it's not the driver). These are not demonstrably caused by design flaws of the nMP or the other stuff people post here, although if you've got a bad GPU and it's in a machine that runs hot all the time, it's going to be more likely fail, but plenty of people who have had problems see them without taxing the machine at all. Apple recalled some of the models based on serial number. People outside of the serial numbers indicated have had issues. Assuming you can get into an Apple Store or get your machine to a service center, Apple seems to usually swap the GPUs or the entire machines. Some users live very far from Apple Stores or service centers or can't be without their computer for any period of time and instead choose to operate on the assumption there are driver problems and downgrade their OS installs to previous versions. I had a nMP that exhibited all of these problems, I initially assumed it was a driver problem, ultimately got the machine swapped, have had no GPU problems for coming up on 2 years now. I'd recommend getting AppleCare with the nMP. Frankly, I'd recommend getting AppleCare with any new Mac you buy.

 

[pat500000]

If there's no nmp in march or in spring time, no reason to wait and just buy it.

 

[Average Pro]

Within a year of the nMP release, there we're (the usual) predictions of upgrades/updates followed by the "if they don't included hardware abcxyz with the update, I'm leaving" and "should I wait for the next update?" I purchased the nMP when they came out. Could't be happier. As a professional photographer and pseudo-videographer the nMP meets every requirement. In addition, with TB2 it is easily expandable. I recall my need to get a 4k monitor with the nMP. Yet, here we are and I'm still using the original 30" Cinema Display - again couldn't be happier.

When the nMP is released, it will more than likely have TB3. Guess what, I won't need to upgrade any of the external components because TB2 is doing so well. I can easily scroll through and process multiple +50MP RAW images.

Having said...could anyone recommend purchasing any 3-year old computer equipment - probably not.

The recent articles questioning Apple's commitment to desktops are positive signs. After all, if there was no interest there would be no articles. This attention may bring out a desired result. This morning Apple Insider released a great article (http://appleinsider.com/articles/16...onslaught-of-fake-news-and-failed-competitors). In short it details how Apple is treated and measured by different standards. For example, when an Apple competitor makes a mistake, it's a "learning experience". When Apple makes a mistake, it's a catastrophe and/or failure.

Whatever conclusion you make, I hope it works out well.

 

[loby]

In regard to the "Are you satisfied with your new mac pro" question. I have one that I have used daily for the past two years as a daily driver work machine and have zero complaints. This is a machine that stays turned on without sleeping for weeks at a time. It is the four core base model upgraded to 64gb memory. It is currently running Sierra and has three monitors attached. All around nice machine.

Agree, I bought one in June after reading many many negative remarks about it. I have the six core and added 64gb memory. Works great for what I need. Does it have some issues..? Rarely now with macOS Sierra, but on occasion.

Is it worth it...? Depending on how you look at it and your needs.

I remember good advice that I received on this forum (seems like a long time ago now) about buying macs:

When you have the money and need a system. Just buy it and do not look back and/or regret. Tomorrow it will not be worth the money (no matter how good it is). As far as the tech inside....someone will tell you that it is outdated the same day you buy it. If it works for you and you like it, that is all that matters.

If not...just buy a Windows box. It will be cheaper, get maybe the latest tech...but will you be happy with it? Probably not and you will never be.

And continue to complain on this forum...
[doublepost=1483241693][/doublepost]

This was the main reason to start this thread. Unfortunately people want to discuss the Hackintosh and price/outdating talk. My idea was not to spend 3000 dollares today for old hardware.
But assuming a better price or used, the hardware should be rock solid.
Looking to another thread about GPU failures and online petition, this thing flies still over many heads.
One can read about a lot of people with that type of problems, it would be interesting to hear of people with luck
i.e. positive feedback, to get an idea about the spread of problems. This was my intention and a poll could be helpful.
Wishing everyone a good new year!

I like the mac pro 2013. I feel for you because I went through pains deciding to buy or not back in June when the negative comments were at its peak and sometimes mostly justified.

Advice: If you want it..get it. Yes, you may have to take a chance to get a "good one". Just send it back before 14 days are up and/or replace it. Keep doing it "until" you get a good one. Many will say and justified, "I am spending a lot of money and have to take a chance of getting a good one the first time...!?!" Well...unfortunately it is what it is.

It is worth it if you have a good one.

I bought refurb. Had to send the first one back. The second one works good. No system is flawless and don't believe anyone who tells you differently. Apple has a good policy about returns. You have 14 days to return it. That shows me they believe in their products (even if it has issues).

Simple: Buy it, try it out...if you don't like it..return it within the return time.

 

[antonis]

When the nMP is released, it will more than likely have TB3. Guess what, I won't need to upgrade any of the external components because TB2 is doing so well. I can easily scroll through and process multiple +50MP RAW images.

The fact that you won't need to upgrade your external components is hardly a feature, though. It should be a given (or used to be, until 2013 MP showed up). But you are going to need a few dongles - and that should not be a given.

The real issue, however, is that if your machine would no longer be sufficient for your work you'd be left out in the cold by apple. The lack of information regarding the road map of MP, and the total lack of upgrades for over 3 years now (that would at least show some interest from the manufacturer's side) would leave you with no real choice but to switch.

 

[bax2003]

Don't even consider buying it without AppleCare

 

[Xde]

Is it worth it...? Depending on how you look at it and your needs.
When you have the money and need a system. Just buy it and do not look back and/or regret.
I like the mac pro 2013. I feel for you because I went through pains deciding to buy or not back in June when the negative comments were at its peak and sometimes mostly justified.
Simple: Buy it, try it out...if you don't like it..return it within the return time.

Thanks, your advice seems to be a little out of life.
Probably some waiting people are thinking like me.
That there is no other Mac anymore, that I personally would buy. So what can we do but buy anytime.
The iMac should be a good machine, sure, only for some reasons its not for me.
I have some time to wait to see what Apple will offer this year.
It makes it not easier, that the Mac for many is not only a tool.
Finally I think, in a near future I will get one, unless Apple would bring soon such a great thing, that noone can resist.
In hope, that the GPU problem is not really so wide spreaded, as it seems sometimes.
Anyway, I would be intested in the amount of sold Mac Pros late 2013. Thanks, happy new year!

 

[0488568]

I'd far sooner buy a real Mac. There's something 'icky' about earning a living with the aid of a hackintosh where I'm 'on my own'.

But I'm not an idiot. Apple's current Mac lineup is a world of silly, slim-for-no-reason, over-priced, outdated, under-featured nonsense.

If Apple hadn't made a grossly overpriced trash can and continued with the tower format that's what I'd use now. An overclocked Skylake hackintosh is way cheaper and way more powerful than maxing out some cMP in almost all scenarios.

Apple has always been overpriced compared to the rest.

No one is forcing you to buy new. I have a 2009 Mac Pro that still has plenty of power, I'm not even considering changing it in the near future.

 

[JamesPDX]

Premium $ for 2013 hardware is rather silly. But I've read that the best MBP for Avid Pro Tools is the maxed-out-spec 2014 model. If money's no object get a Boxx for video/graphic stuff. For Pro Tools get a custom RADAR.
If all you need is Facebook and iTunes, I'd just get an iPad.

 

[pat500000]

This was the main reason to start this thread. Unfortunately people want to discuss the Hackintosh and price/outdating talk. My idea was not to spend 3000 dollares today for old hardware.
But assuming a better price or used, the hardware should be rock solid.
Looking to another thread about GPU failures and online petition, this thing flies still over many heads.
One can read about a lot of people with that type of problems, it would be interesting to hear of people with luck
i.e. positive feedback, to get an idea about the spread of problems. This was my intention and a poll could be helpful.
Wishing everyone a good new year!

Would 3000 dollars matter if they don't update next few years? Notice there's tb2 to tb3 connector.

 

[Macist]

Apple has always been overpriced compared to the rest.

No one is forcing you to buy new. I have a 2009 Mac Pro that still has plenty of power, I'm not even considering changing it in the near future.

Apple used to be more expensive, yes. BUT it was often very high spec and high end so if you compared like for like in the PC world the premium was actually quite modest. The old cMP was an amazing, beautifully engineering machine and if they'd merely tweaked that with the latest ports I'd have been happy.

But we now having an ageing trashcan from over 3 years ago for a huge price that's outperformed, if you buy the 6-core version, by a £900 Skylake Hackintosh. I thought of changing my old MacPro to a used 2010-2012 one but even that seemed bonkers as only a 12core on a few tasks would it outperform the Hackintosh.

I used to spend big on Apple stuff and feel very happy with the purchase. The current lineup would largely make me feel conned. The free market can't work if people feel forced to buy products they think suck.
[doublepost=1483435428][/doublepost]

Apple used to be more expensive, yes. BUT it was often very high spec and high end so if you compared like for like in the PC world the premium was actually quite modest. The old cMP was an amazing, beautifully engineering machine and if they'd merely tweaked that with the latest ports I'd have been happy.

But we now having an ageing trashcan from over 3 years ago for a huge price that's outperformed, if you buy the 6-core version, by a £900 Skylake Hackintosh. I thought of changing my old MacPro to a used 2010-2012 one but even that seemed bonkers as only a 12core on a few tasks would outperform the Hackintosh.

I used to spend big on Apple stuff and feel very happy with the purchase. The current lineup would largely make me feel conned. The free market can't work if people feel forced to buy products they think suck.

 

[loby]

Thanks, your advice seems to be a little out of life.
Probably some waiting people are thinking like me.
That there is no other Mac anymore, that I personally would buy. So what can we do but buy anytime.
The iMac should be a good machine, sure, only for some reasons its not for me.
I have some time to wait to see what Apple will offer this year.
It makes it not easier, that the Mac for many is not only a tool.
Finally I think, in a near future I will get one, unless Apple would bring soon such a great thing, that noone can resist.
In hope, that the GPU problem is not really so wide spreaded, as it seems sometimes.
Anyway, I would be intested in the amount of sold Mac Pros late 2013. Thanks, happy new year!

If you can wait then by all means wait until after March and see if Apple gives a better offering. Again, it depends when you need it. I had to buy because of work demands..was waiting but could not wait any longer (took into considerations about the graphic issues) and my project projection demanded a faster system. Back in June 2016, I was considering waiting until September also because everyone said, "wait" if I could, but again I could not.

I made the right choice for my situation, for I was able to get my projects done and now January 2017 (Seven months later)....there is STILL no new or upgraded Mac Pro. I could not wait another year to upgrade.

But...IF I had to buy now...I would TRY to wait until after March..

As far as the faulty graphic issues, what I have read is that the mac pro's that were manufactured during a certain period (I believe during 2014 to early 2015) fall under the possible issue category and not after. My Mac Pro was manufactured March 2016 and I have not really seen the issues that have been mentioned.

If you buy soon, you will probably not have a system that was made during the issue time.

Before buying, I asked an Apple Tech about the graphic issues. They could not say directly, but they told me "if" there were any issues and if there was a recall (not officially announced at the time), then before sending out any more Mac Pro's they would change the cards and/or do intensive checks first before allowing to sell.

Believe them or not is your call. You can ask people their opinions on MacRumors, but MacRumors lately has been a "gripe" forum more so with any discussion about the Mac Pro 2013 (and in most cases possibly justified).

 

[Macist]

Apple used to go back on its mistakes. The Cube made no sense (people preferred expandable towers) so they dropped it. I'm not sure they admit mistakes now.

The MacPro doesn't need to be announced on a big stage like a consumer product. Just make a big tower with the latest CPUS, GPU and ports. Apple could just badge engineer a generic Xeon tower for all I care - near-zero r&d. Easy.

 

[Xde]

From my point of view, the form faktor was not a mistake for many. I don't like a cMP anymore. For me too big at all.
Good for a server room, but not on or beside my desk.

Apples mistake was to avoid any upgrade to the nMP or to reduce price to a reasoanble and worth amount related to the age of components.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I dont think, Apple will develop a new classic MP, but will upgrade the nMP or will finally terminate production. And I think not earlier than mid of year.
Well, I have some time. But none of the other glued Apple products I will going to buy.