Buying a Mac Pro.

[Paperlantern]

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.

Well see, that doesnt change my opinion on F@H but if he's AWARE of your goals and willing to pay that much to help you then that is his prerogative. He's a big boy. =D

 

[Kadarin]

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.

Perhaps then you should spec out one of these: http://store.apple.com/us/configure/...co=MTg2OTQ5OTk

If money is no object, then go big or go home.

 

[Paperlantern]

Wow, i had no idea 24 extra gigs of memory was $3500 0.o

Seriously thier most tricked out model without ANY extra software or applecare is $14,000+. That. Is. Insane.

But hey, money is no object right? This will run folding @ home, totally worthit.

/sarcasm

 

[Kadarin]

Wow, i had no idea 24 extra gigs of memory was $3500 0.o

Seriously thier most tricked out model without ANY extra software or applecare is $14,000+. That. Is. Insane.

But hey, money is no object right? This will run folding @ home, totally worthit.

/sarcasm

But it'll run Folding @ Home *really well*...

 

[Emulex]

with fan control software you can use regular cheapo ddr3 ecc buffered (or unbuffered) ram. its the thermal sensors that make it expensive memory. the fans will run 100% if you use non-thermal sensor ram. software can handle this

 

[ThatsABigOne]

What ever you people. He got the Imac and he loves it so far. Apple "magic" shit is totally worthless lol. The mouse is too flat, no tactile feel to it, and there is USB transceiver lag. Not much, but noticeable. The keyboard was too slim, so he switched back to his trusty 2001 Apple Keyboard.

I have not setup folding@home yet.

 

[nerp]

Prepare for heat issues with the iMac and F@H. It's not the kind of machine you want to peg the processor 24/7.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Even with a fan at full speed?

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Even with a fan at full speed?

Mine gets pretty toasty when i'm encoding imovie videos. I wouldn't want to keep it pegged 24/7, it almost gets uncomfortable to the touch near the vents as it is.

 

[runawayprisoner]

I am still wondering why you don't just run F@H on a bunch of PS3s instead of a Mac.

Why is there this insane need to reach it that you have to absolutely get your FIL's computer to work even if that's not what it's actually for?

 

[Emulex]

mac pro has no problems with heat folding or transcoding all day. but imac's have great overtemp slowdown routines to prevent a meltdown. they might be faster in some conditions but like macbooks they can't go the distance of a mac pro which is extremely server like in its passive cooling.

guess that is the different between compact and pro.

 

[silverpig]

What ever you people. He got the Imac and he loves it so far. Apple "magic" shit is totally worthless lol. The mouse is too flat, no tactile feel to it, and there is USB transceiver lag. Not much, but noticeable. The keyboard was too slim, so he switched back to his trusty 2001 Apple Keyboard.

I have not setup folding@home yet.

The mice aren't great for sure. I love my apple aluminum keyboard (with numpad and wired). It takes up no more space than it absolutely has to.

 

[Emulex]

huh you use magic trackpad - it rocks.

but yeah otherwise i'd stick a microsoft mouse and a microsoft 4000 on a mac if i wanted to get work done.

but everyone knows mac folks don't do any heavy lifting they stick to the pc for that. that keyboard is 0% ergonomic. can't use those straight keyboards for an hour.

i guess its like womens clothing - it sure looks nice but some of that stuff looks very uncomfortable (pantyhouse/high heels) - i wouldn't know myself but i hear complaints from the wimmens all the time.

 

[Kadarin]

huh you use magic trackpad - it rocks.

but yeah otherwise i'd stick a microsoft mouse and a microsoft 4000 on a mac if i wanted to get work done.

but everyone knows mac folks don't do any heavy lifting they stick to the pc for that. that keyboard is 0% ergonomic. can't use those straight keyboards for an hour.

i guess its like womens clothing - it sure looks nice but some of that stuff looks very uncomfortable (pantyhouse/high heels) - i wouldn't know myself but i hear complaints from the wimmens all the time.

I disagree. At work here I have a 27" iMac with a 24" external monitor, and what I have running is Wireshark, Terminal, Safari, Firefox, iChat, iCal, TextEdit, Yahoo Messenger, SubEthaEdit (collaborative documentation), and a couple of work-specific proprietary apps. This machine is brilliant for getting work done, I think. As for "heavy lifting", I guess that depends on what you do and whether it requires using Microsoft anything (which my work does not).

 

[Ns1]

What ever you people. He got the Imac and he loves it so far. Apple "magic" shit is totally worthless lol. The mouse is too flat, no tactile feel to it, and there is USB transceiver lag. Not much, but noticeable. The keyboard was too slim, so he switched back to his trusty 2001 Apple Keyboard.

I have not setup folding@home yet.

magic trackpad = sex

 

[vailr]

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

Is your name Barack Obama?

 

[Emulex]

im just saying the stock mouse and keyboard that apple gives you sucks donkey for getting work done. i can do 1000x more on a microsoft 4000 and intellimouse. but i do love the magic trackpad only on osx. it sucks on win7

 

[TheStu]

im just saying the stock mouse and keyboard that apple gives you sucks donkey for getting work done. i can do 1000x more on a microsoft 4000 and intellimouse. but i do love the magic trackpad only on osx. it sucks on win7

Really, 1000x more? That's a little high. The magic mouse is... yea, pretty bad. But the keyboard is pretty good, and I have never had any issues doing tons of work on Apple slim keyboards (MacBooks and Aluminum keyboards)

 

[sourceninja]

I love the wired apple keyboard. I hate the wireless one. I love the magicpad and hate the magic mouse.

 

[Kadarin]

If we're just looking at the keyboard and magic mouse, then yeah. I like the touch surface of the mouse, but apparently the way I hold it causes it to scroll on its own once in a while and that's pretty annoying, but otherwise, I'm fine with it. I'm also fine with the keyboard; once you get used to it, it's possible to type pretty fast on it. I do wish the wireless version had a numeric keypad.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

the apple mice blow. that's for sure. but the slim keyboards are pretty damn awesome and ergonomic imo. their clearance is so low that i find typing on them is really effortless. i like it a lot. the mba is similar in that respect because it's so damn flat.

 

[Mhorydyn]

Even with a fan at full speed?

It's a pretty dick move to recruit a computer novice into running F@H units for you. Does he understand the ramifications of running his new iMac at 100% its entire life?
Specifically, did you explicitly state the following:
-it will cost him more in electricity every month
-if you run at 100% and the fans ramp up, it'll be a distinctly unpleasant experience with the fans roaring constantly
-potential reduction in the life of the computer due to excess heat

Maybe you should print off this post and see what he has to say then. I have a feeling that he doesn't really know what he agreed to. The iMac is a nice quiet computer, why ruin it for him?

 

[Emulex]

nah a split keyboard is far better. try it. you will be converted to the dark side. literally. i agree the apple stuff is purty but it is for light use. i can key 2x as much (more realistic) twice as fast using the microsoft 4000 without and aches/pains at end of day (yes im old) but I love the microsoft 4000 and my intellimouse 1.0 (black) - the only ambidextrous mouse that rocks most people that use the 4000/split keyboard find it hard to go straight (lol, j/k)



so anyone know how to use a non apple video card in the mac pro 2009+? do you flash the vidcard or the system bios? how are the hackintosh folks doing it? i'd like to use an old GTX or 5870 but not going to pay the apple tax.

 

[sourceninja]

I can't stand a split keyboard. I've been forced to use them a few times. Worst experience of my life.

 

[Emulex]

when you get old you will appreciate them - i promise.