Buying a Mac Pro.

[ThatsABigOne]

Hello I am buying a Mac Pro for my stepfather to replace his ageing 2001 G4 Quicksilver.

I absolutely have no idea with Macs. I want a computer that will last him for at least 8 or so years, and run F@H Bigadv well at the same time. Do you guys think that a 1000 dollar jump for dual processor system is worth it for the money?

The stock configuration has core i7(xeon) 950 which runs at 2.8ghz. It costs 2500 dollars. Knowing that macs are not overclockable since they do not have any sort of BIOS. The next step up is an outrageous 3500dollar system with 2 westmeres(which retail cost 384 dollars each lol).

He will not accept a hackintosh of any sort. It has to be exclusively from Apple.

At same time, what would you guys recommend for a monitor in the 27 inch range?

Any suggestions are very welcome.

 

[Kadarin]

The Apple 27" monitor is extremely nice (and bright). Out of curiosity, why a Mac Pro instead of, say, a high-end iMac? Of course, if the Mac Pro is the appropriate machine, then by all means get it.

 

[mchammer187]

The Apple 27" monitor is extremely nice (and bright). Out of curiosity, why a Mac Pro instead of, say, a high-end iMac? Of course, if the Mac Pro is the appropriate machine, then by all means get it.

If he knows enough about computers to justify a Mac Pro over an IMAC he is the one that should be picking out the computer himself

My vote would be a high end IMAC and another one in 4 years and he will be with a slightly slower computer now and way better off at the 4 year mark

 

[Emulex]

i got a used dual nehalem for 2K - i'd suggest a ZR30W 30" monitor hooked up to displayport - then a better video card. the flashed 5870 or 5770 (flash a pc card its way cheaper) work great.

27" is 16:9 - this sucks balls.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

K. To answer several questions...

Why not an Imac? I just think that it is not worth the performance per dollar plus I am going to run Folding @ Home on this, sooo....

How do you find 16 by 9 shit?

And, to me an apple screen for 1000 dollars? that is a joke. Thinking about grabbing an LED LG monitor.

 

[TheStu]

K. To answer several questions...

Why not an Imac? I just think that it is not worth the performance per dollar plus I am going to run Folding @ Home on this, sooo....

How do you find 16 by 9 shit?

And, to me an apple screen for 1000 dollars? that is a joke. Thinking about grabbing an LED LG monitor.

What is the res on the LED LG monitor and the price? I saw LG had a 30" 2560*1600 for $1100 last I looked. The Apple is LED, IPS, and 2560*1440 for $1000. It is a great price for what you get, since the only other 2560*1440 monitor I know of is the Dell 2711, which is around the same price, but does have more input. It is matte, which some prefer, but I have read that on that particular monitor it can look blurry compared to the glossy Apple one.

Honestly, if you think that the Mac Pro is overpriced, then I am not sure how you can think the same about the iMac. Yes, compared to a homebuilt or Dell it is more expensive, but for $1999 you get the $999 27" LED monitor (and it can be used as a separate monitor, it allows video in on the MiniDP) and then for the remaining $1000, it is a 2.8Ghz Quad i5 (+$200 for a 2.93 i7), 4GB RAM, a 5750, and a 1TB drive. The $2500 Mac Pro is a 2.8GHz Quad, with 3GB RAM a 5770 and a 1TB drive, and it doesn't come with a monitor.

The Mac Pro is more upgradeable, but the iMac can take a 2.5" SSD in addition to its 3.5" platter drive, and that will be the best upgrade you will be able to give a system to extend its life beside its CPU, and upgrading the CPU in the current Mac Pro is a little dicey. The CPUs don't have heat spreaders, so installing them is a delicate task.

I agree with mchammer87's sentiment, get the $2000 27" iMac now, and then in 4 years, get the next whatever system. Your dad's 2001 Quicksilver didn't last the 10 years that he had it, and it didn't even last 8 years like you want this one to. It lasted about 5-6 years. Because in 2006 or 2007 (can't recall which) this little thing called YouTube happened, and all of a sudden Flash was the delivery system du jour and it hasn't left, and since you don't know anything about Macs you might not know this but... Flash BLOWS!! on OS X.

When Flash happened, anything that didn't have a 2GHz Core 2 minimum (though the new MBA's break this rule apparently) was suddenly left out in the cold, it would be brought to its knees if you tried to watch a video of a dog riding a skateboard across a double rainbow with a kid biting its finger, let alone do much of anything else.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Alright, thank you so much for the explanation! I will have a talk with him.

Yea, you are right, when youtube came out, the computer was stuttery but watcheable, now it is just a slide show with 1 frame being shown every 12 or so seconds lol.

 

[sourceninja]

I can't think of a use case where anyone would need a mac pro for personal use.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Folding at home? At one time I was thinking about grabbing a dual processor machine.

 

[Kmax82]

Folding at home? At one time I was thinking about grabbing a dual processor machine.

People run Folding at Home on a PS3, and I used to run it on an Athlon 1.2 Ghz Dual Core machine, so I think if you were to go the route of a Core i7 2.9 Ghz, you'd have more than enough juice to run Folding at Home on it. Even the Core i5 should be fine, in my mind.

The MacPro runs server grade hardware, and I don't think that's necessary.

 

[airdata]

Does it have to be new, or is used an option?

I'm thinking that anything made in the last 5 years is a huge upgrade from a 2001 apple system.

As far as a monitor.... I'd sooner buy a 32'' samsung led than a 30'' cinema display.

 

[dmw16]

First off, people who knock the 27" Apple Cinema Display (generally) are doing so because they haven't really done their homework. Similar IPS displays are in the same price range and arguably not as good. I have a Cinema Display and love it to death! Comparing a 32" Samsung LCD or similar to the Cinema Display is silly. Monitors are all about resolution, not size and the Apple Displays have great resolution. But I digress...

For your stepfather I think a nicely spec'd iMac makes the most sense. The Mac Pro offers server-grade hardware which is overkill for anyone other than people who do workstation-level work in production environments.

The iMac offers a great value when you consider a nice machine is bolted to $1000 display and about $2000. You could also consider Apple Refurb as a way to save. Apple's refurb stuff is top notch. I bought a refurb Mini Server and it is flawless. The stuff comes with all the accessories and the same warranty as if it was bought new.

 

[mugs]

Why not an Imac? I just think that it is not worth the performance per dollar plus I am going to run Folding @ Home on this, sooo....

Wait, this is your step-father's computer, not yours. Why does your desire to run Folding @ Home matter?

Does your step-father leave his computer on all the time and let it sleep when he's not using it? If so, does he realize he's probably going to be paying an extra $20 a month or more for electricity because you're running the processors at 100% all the time?

And you want to spend an extra $1000 to get faster processors that he doesn't need? This whole plan of making a computer last 8 years is idiotic. You spend more money that way because of the way computer components are priced. High end stuff has a huge price premium.

You still haven't told us what your step-father's needs are, so it seems like this purchase is primarily driven by your Folding @ Home needs. That's a great way to spend someone else's money. If he's using a computer from 2001, it seems pretty likely that he's not a power user. The only situation in which you should even consider buying a Mac Pro is if he has a need for the expansion slots and that need can't be filled with a USB device. Otherwise your two best options are iMac or Mac Mini. Mac Mini has the benefit of not needing to replace your monitor every time you replace your computer. iMac has faster processors available.

Since we're assuming he's not a power user, he'd probably be fine with a Mac Mini. If he replaces it every two years and sells the old one he'll end up spending half of what he'd spend on the Mac Pro. Yeah, for the next few years he'll have slower computers than the Mac Pro would be. That doesn't matter if he doesn't need that performance. But for the entire eight years he'll have a computer that's capable of running the latest stuff and not a sluggish POS. Can't say that'll be true with the Mac Pro.

I know it's easy to spend someone else's money, but consider his needs.

 

[Oil]

Wait, this is your step-father's computer, not yours. Why does your desire to run Folding @ Home matter?

Does your step-father leave his computer on all the time and let it sleep when he's not using it? If so, does he realize he's probably going to be paying an extra $20 a month or more for electricity because you're running the processors at 100% all the time?

And you want to spend an extra $1000 to get faster processors that he doesn't need? This whole plan of making a computer last 8 years is idiotic. You spend more money that way because of the way computer components are priced. High end stuff has a huge price premium.

You still haven't told us what your step-father's needs are, so it seems like this purchase is primarily driven by your Folding @ Home needs. That's a great way to spend someone else's money. If he's using a computer from 2001, it seems pretty likely that he's not a power user. The only situation in which you should even consider buying a Mac Pro is if he has a need for the expansion slots and that need can't be filled with a USB device. Otherwise your two best options are iMac or Mac Mini. Mac Mini has the benefit of not needing to replace your monitor every time you replace your computer. iMac has faster processors available.

Since we're assuming he's not a power user, he'd probably be fine with a Mac Mini. If he replaces it every two years and sells the old one he'll end up spending half of what he'd spend on the Mac Pro. Yeah, for the next few years he'll have slower computers than the Mac Pro would be. That doesn't matter if he doesn't need that performance. But for the entire eight years he'll have a computer that's capable of running the latest stuff and not a sluggish POS. Can't say that'll be true with the Mac Pro.

I know it's easy to spend someone else's money, but consider his needs.

This x1000

Get him a Mac Mini and use your own money to build a F@H computer

 

[Paperlantern]

Mac Pro's are named appropriately. They are for PROs, ie you or I or anyone else on these forums that likely are in some line of work in the IT industry and can really utilize something that powerful. Whether its writing/compiling programs, setting up virtual labs for testing or learning purposes with VMs, editing video or photos, encoding video, some heavy gaming, or even folding @ home. But for a guy that sounds like he checks e mail, surfs the internet watching the occasional youtube video here and there. The Pro is HEAVY overkill.

I have (had, i actually gave it away yesterday) a PIII 600MHz machine with Puppy linux on it that would probably CRUSH that G4... at it was a laptop. Youtube is silk smooth on it. And if hes been using that machine for his needs, like someone else said, he doesnt need that much muscle. A mac mini prolly WOULD last him 8 years.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

His needs are absolutely Mail and Web Browsing. A mac mini will not be acceptable. He runs his computer all the time, so why not make a use of it in the idle time? To run folding at home, he is willing to fold for my team.

About making a computer last for 8 years is good for me and not out of reach. I do not care about moneys. I got plenty of those.

Imac is what he has chosen. Core i7, 4gb of ram and a 27 inch. Thanks for your explanations everyone!

 

[Kadarin]

His needs are absolutely Mail and Web Browsing. A mac mini will not be acceptable. He runs his computer all the time, so why not make a use of it in the idle time? To run folding at home, he is willing to fold for my team.

About making a computer last for 8 years is good for me and not out of reach. I do not care about moneys. I got plenty of those.

Imac is what he has chosen. Core i7, 4gb of ram and a 27 inch. Thanks for your explanations everyone!

A Mac Mini not acceptable for email and web browsing? In any case, the i7 27" iMac is a very nice machine (I'm typing this on one right now), and the one I have also has an external Apple 24" LED monitor. It's nice to be able to have a ton of crap open and still be able to get real work done. 🙂

 

[silverpig]

His needs are absolutely Mail and Web Browsing. A mac mini will not be acceptable. He runs his computer all the time, so why not make a use of it in the idle time? To run folding at home, he is willing to fold for my team.

About making a computer last for 8 years is good for me and not out of reach. I do not care about moneys. I got plenty of those.

Imac is what he has chosen. Core i7, 4gb of ram and a 27 inch. Thanks for your explanations everyone!

I used to email and browse on a P200 MMX...

 

[ThatsABigOne]

I browse on a 11 year old Dell C600. Great machine. But I am running folding at home. What are you guys forgetting lol.

 

[mugs]

I browse on a 11 year old Dell C600. Great machine. But I am running folding at home. What are you guys forgetting lol.

I think we're trying to figure out why someone would want to buy a significantly more powerful computer than they need just so they can have some Internet bragging rights from a distributed computing project. But it's your money^H^H^H^H^H step-father's money. At least he realized that the Mac Pro was overkill.

Edit: Just realized the iMac you picked is $2200+. You can lead a horse to water, but some horses are just really stupid.

 

[silverpig]

I browse on a 11 year old Dell C600. Great machine. But I am running folding at home. What are you guys forgetting lol.

So despite the fact that your FIL could get by on a $700 mac mini, you are advising him to get a $2500 computer just so you can run folding at home?

 

[lokiju]

Have you considered the Apple refurbished online store? They offer Mac Pros and you can have a real savings and full Apple warranty.

I just got my refurb Macbook Air from there yesterday and the only thing that makes it possible to tell it's not brand new is the box it came in isn't a retail box.

The unit itself is brand new looking in every way otherwise.

 

[dmw16]

I do not care about moneys. I got plenty of those.

This made me LOL. I'm not sure you have any moneys, but at least he does. Oh wait, forgot everyone on Anand were young handsome millionaires. 🙂

I also really don't get the whole F@H thing. Is it an e-peen thing?

 

[Paperlantern]

So despite the fact that your FIL could get by on a $700 mac mini, you are advising him to get a $2500 computer just so you can run folding at home?

Seems that way to me too. A mac mini is CERTAINLY acceptable for e mail and web browsing. It's NOT acceptable for e mail and web browsing AND folding at home. Apparently.

I also really don't get the whole F@H thing. Is it an e-peen thing?

Neither do I, i see it as a nice way to waste electricity, and do some university a favor by doing THIER computing on my dime, sorry, im not running a computer full tilt at 24 x 7 for no reason. I do have one, but its a server for ME, not for someone else. Plus, that server isnt that great of a machine anyway, its just storage and an FTP server. Even if it was a dual cpu quad core xeon machine with 16GB of RAM or something equally insane, i still wouldnt run folding at home on it.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Well you guys have your own opinion on this. I run folding at home because I belong in a team which it's goal is to reach top 250 before June. Once accomplished, I will get a promotion of some sort. After that, the computer can be used for regular stuff.

I am running folding at home at my own personal farm. Electricity is not an issue. And he explicitly said that he is willing to run FAH, and pay that much.