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Worth buying a 2006 Mac Pro for basic surfing etc now?

If you're only doing super light activity, get the cheapest mac mini you can find. You'll save a huge amount of space and have a newer computer.
 
I'm in the US, but price seems high for the first generation Mac Pro. And, IMHO, clamnectar is correct. If all you do is surf the web, internet connection speed is far more important the machine you use. Get the cheapest smallest Mac Mini you can find.

Lou
 
if you want a mac pro just because you have a "hard on" for it, then by all means why not. so yea, sure
 
The 2006 model tops out at OS X 10.7. You'll want the later models to run newer operating systems. In any case, if that is your budget, you're better off with a new/newer Mini.
 
I'd recommend at least a 2011 Mac Mini. It will be quieter, cheaper and run the latest OSX.

Only thing a 1,1 Mac Pro would have over any Mini is GPU power and internal storage. Neither of which sounds like you would need.

Install SSD and 8-16GB of memory and be happy for years to come.
 
OS6-OSX said:
Save your money and use one of those MacBook Pros you have listed to surf the net.
Click to expand...

well, he has 8 capable web surfers listed.. what's one more?

(but yeah, as someone already mentioned, it's topped out at lion.. get something else)
and it's almost unbelievable that the 7300 in there actually works ;)
 
OrangeSVTguy said:
I'd recommend at least a 2011 Mac Mini. It will be quieter, cheaper and run the latest OSX.

Only thing a 1,1 Mac Pro would have over any Mini is GPU power and internal storage. Neither of which sounds like you would need.

Install SSD and 8-16GB of memory and be happy for years to come.
Click to expand...

Agreed. For light duty, a newer Mac mini will be significantly better. For £100 more, you can get a brand new mini with the same amount of RAM, a roughly-equivalent CPU (yes, really,) more storage capacity, and better graphics (again, yes, really.)

Here you go, for £173 less, you can get a decent Mac mini server with discrete graphics.
 
Liquinn said:
Hi, I want to buy a 2006 Mac Pro; is this a good deal?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SCRUMPYMA...mputing_Apple_Desktops_CV&hash=item4611d8dbc4

It will be used for basic web surfing etc. :)

Thanks. :)
Click to expand...

Hi Liquinn. You can try searching for a 2008 3.1 Mac Pro instead of the 2006 so you could also run Mountain Lion. I'm assuming you are already aware the a Mac Mini, iMac is adequate for your purpose but you simply would like to have the Mac Pro. And your signature already has a 2011 Mac Mini too. I know of a friend who bought a Mac Pro only for general computer usage simply for the reason he likes, enjoys the tower even though it's overkill for him.

And the above link sale ad still expensive for that model. :)
 
seeing as he lists a 2011 Mac Mini in his signature, I'm pretty sure he's aware of what the mini can do...
 
After looking at your signature, I can only conclude you have more web surfing machines than you'll ever need. I can't think of any reason to buy that mac pro, other than you just have too much money and want to get rid of some of it.
 
Unless...

If you get it for $400-500

and then put

$150 of RAM 8 GB, I would do $220 16 GB
http://www.transintl.com/memory/mac...ntel-xeon-august-2006-model-id-macpro1-1.html
and
$250 of ATI 5770

If you don't do this, then ABSOLUTELY NO.

You will be stuck on Lion, unless you want to do some hacks and install ML

You are looking at $1000

But you can add hard drives and do all kinds of things and then after you get all setup turn it into a nice Server/Media Center.

But seriously if you don't get the Video Card FORGET IT.

Laters...
 
No! Get a used MacBook Pro for less money than that, and it'll come with a nice display. 2009 is probably the best. Remember that you still have to buy a display for that 2006 Mac Pro, and it's going to be old and not very fast. For a reference, I bought my 2008 octo-core Mac Pro in early 2012 for $900, and you're talking older parts with half the cores, a smaller hard drive, and 2GB of RAM less than what I got... in mid-late 2013.

Also, the listing you found is a bad deal. If you want a better deal for a 2006 Mac Pro, I found one with ease: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Mac-P...0121546?pt=Apple_Desktops&hash=item1c35b4bcca

Oh, also this: "CANNOT BE UPGRADED FURTHER THAN 10.7 LION". There are other things that cannot be upgraded on that old machine.

----------
clamnectar said:
After looking at your signature, I can only conclude you have more web surfing machines than you'll ever need. I can't think of any reason to buy that mac pro, other than you just have too much money and want to get rid of some of it.
Click to expand...

"It will be used for basic web surfing etc."
My guess is that it's not for him, or he has multiple locations that need computers.

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Macsonic said:
I know of a friend who bought a Mac Pro only for general computer usage simply for the reason he likes, enjoys the tower even though it's overkill for him.
Click to expand...

That's me :), though I do have uses for it. Being able to compile in Xcode and do other things simultaneously is convenient.
 
Last edited:
You guys, OP's sig states he already has a 2011 MacMini, so why are you advising him to buy another one?

@OP: if you want it because you always wanted one, just get it, but don't pay more than $400 for it.
 
I love how people scream "no way don't buy it, it's worthless" yet I've been editing 4k RED footage on it for 2 years.

Honestly, for a "basic home computer" I would still consider it a monster.
 
JesterJJZ said:
I love how people scream "no way don't buy it, it's worthless" yet I've been editing 4k RED footage on it for 2 years.

Honestly, for a "basic home computer" I would still consider it a monster.
Click to expand...

No one said it was "worthless". There are just better choices for what the OP wants to use it for.

As for your rig - if there was a natural disaster and your system was destroyed would build another unit exactly the same today, or you think there might be better options now?
 
JesterJJZ said:
I love how people scream "no way don't buy it, it's worthless" yet I've been editing 4k RED footage on it for 2 years.

Honestly, for a "basic home computer" I would still consider it a monster.
Click to expand...

Honestly, I don't think anyone said "it's worthless." What we are saying it's not the right tool for the job, and, as far as the OS goes, it's reached it's zenith. I'm happy your's is working well for you as, I'm sure a little of others who are still using their 1,1 and 2,1 machines. My brother had one until he died and year and a half ago. His wife, who had a more recent MacMini gave her machine to her son and is happily soldering on with his old 1,1 machine. I cleaned it up and upgraded everything I could for her, and she's very happy with it. Her major uses are Word and Excel and some basic web surfing.

She would have been better off with her old machine, but I was not about to tell her that.

Lou
 
JesterJJZ said:
I love how people scream "no way don't buy it, it's worthless" yet I've been editing 4k RED footage on it for 2 years.

Honestly, for a "basic home computer" I would still consider it a monster.
Click to expand...

It doesn't make sense to spend £395 on a machine that will no longer get OS updates when he/she can get a more recent model Mac Mini for approximately the same money and, I imagine, performance won't be that far apart for what he/she intends to do with it.
 
If you are going to surf the web, why not buy an iPad? That's built for that, plus it's portable and is clutter free.
 
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