Some Mac Pro Questions

[magick]

1) Can you use normal DDR2 PC2-6400 which is a lot cheaper?

2) Do you void you warranty if you install your own hard drives and RAM?

3) Are they quiet?

4) Is it worth putting a fanless graphics card in to cut down on noise, say a HIS ATI HD 4650 Silent Heatpipe?

5) Is the Mac OS easy to use?

 

[tem07]

I don't have the answers to all of your questions, but...
3) Yes they are VERY quiet; I can't hear it, the only thing I can hear is my speakers [the buzzing sound] It's quieter than laptops, a lot more quieter. The only time you can hear something is when the Mac boots and you have a loud fan going off for 2 seconds.

4) Nope - there is no noise even with the standard graphics card.

5) Yep, very easy - its all click and type, it's all very tidy and neat. Go into an Apple store and try some of the products, get the feel of a Mac - don't just go rushing in spending 1000's for something you haven't used before.

 

[NickK]

1) Can you use normal DDR2 PC2-6400 which is a lot cheaper

You have to use Fully Buffered (and I think registered IIRC) hence the cost. No- normal PC ram that's cheap won't work.

New MacPros due to arrive in the new year will supposedly have DDR3 based memory which will be hideously expensive until the PC/server community catch up.

 

[magick]

Thanks for the replies.

New MacPros due to arrive in the new year will supposedly have DDR3 based memory which will be hideously expensive until the PC/server community catch up.

Won't you be able to buy 3rd party DDR3?

 

[BusError]

It is possible to get cheap MacPro ram these days. I filled up mine to 16Gb for about 320.

As for silent, yes, the macpro is absoluteky amazing. whisper quiet, while keeping everything nice and cool.
Mine has the nVidia 8800 which has a fan, but it's entirely inaudible.

You don't void your guarantee by adding drives/ram, apple documents the process in the documentation that ships with it. Adding a drive to a MacPro is amazingly simple (no calbes needed!), it's their best chassis /ever/ and I've had Macs since the mac 512.

 

[mdjmcnally]

If you haven't used OSX before then I would ask yourself why looking at a Mac Pro.

What are you looking to use the machine for.

I wouldn't personally get one to use as a Windows Gaming machine which some people have.

Personally I would love a Mac Pro, but really can't justify it. Instead had to settle for a new MBP and LED display instead. (waiting for delivery date) However before biting the bullet I made sure I was happy with OSX first.

Also put my parents to Apple as well, with an iMac for there first computer. Both are retired and getting on well with it.

 

[Deleted member 651465]

Another gamer who wants a Mac Pro...

 

[Will_3rd]

1) Can you use normal DDR2 PC2-6400 which is a lot cheaper?

Nope, need FB-DIMMs.

2) Do you void you warranty if you install your own hard drives and RAM?

Nope.

3) Are they quiet?

Generally yes.

4) Is it worth putting a fanless graphics card in to cut down on noise, say a HIS ATI HD 4650 Silent Heatpipe?

You can't shove any old card in there if you plan on using Mac OS X with it as it needs a Mac BIOS, will work fine in Windows though.

5) Is the Mac OS easy to use?

Takes a while to unlearn some Windows habits, but generally you'll be fine with it within a month.

 

[magick]

If you haven't used OSX before then I would ask yourself why looking at a Mac Pro.

What are you looking to use the machine for.

I'm just toying with the idea of getting one at the moment. It would be used mainly for audio production and graphic design. I know a few people that write music professionaly and they all rave on about macs and how the pc is dying, though I think to say pc's are dying is a bit of an exageration..

Personaly I love the windows/pc platform, but you don't have logic on the pc. Other than that is there any real reason to get a mac pro over a pc? I mean do macs run graphics and audio software better than a pc as macs do seem to be the industry standard in this field?

I wouldn't personally get one to use as a Windows Gaming machine which some people have.

Another gamer who wants a Mac Pro...

No. For gaming you can't beat a pc. I'd never consider a mac for gaming. The fact that the mac lags behind a pc on the gaming front is one reason i'm hesitant about getting one. Instead of buying a new mac it may be better to just upgrade my pc instead?

 

[Adrianr]

Unless there is a piece of Mac Software you couldn't live without, I would be hard pressed to recommend a Mac Pro for casual work.. It's not exactly cheap!

 

[Rameses]

No. For gaming you can't beat a pc. I'd never consider a mac for gaming. The fact that the mac lags behind a pc on the gaming front is one reason i'm hesitant about getting one. Instead of buying a new mac it may be better to just upgrade my pc instead?

I beg to differ my friend, I have here a Mac Pro. Bootcamp installed Vista Premium 64bit with the latest Nvidia drivers for this 512MB 8800GT - No game is too much - No game is slow EVER. Mac Pro's make for a great gaming computer, just add a new GFX when they are released and your up to date.

Perfect system for gaming, and looks damn better than most.

 

[magick]

I beg to differ my friend, I have here a Mac Pro. Bootcamp installed Vista Premium 64bit with the latest Nvidia drivers for this 512MB 8800GT - No game is too much - No game is slow EVER. Mac Pro's make for a great gaming computer, just add a new GFX when they are released and your up to date.

Perfect system for gaming, and looks damn better than most.

For gaming i'd sooner use a 4870/4870x2 than a 8800GT

 

[MikeHunt79]

For gaming i'd sooner use a 4870/4870x2 than a 8800GT

The 4870/4870x2 won't work with OSX tho, it's a 8800GT or nothing!

Logic 8 is awesome btw, I'm learning it at the moment.

 

[Rameses]

For gaming i'd sooner use a 4870/4870x2 than a 8800GT

Of course you would, but thats not the point is it? The games are more than perfectly fine on that card, and yes there is a 3870 ATI card should someone want it.

The point is, it will just be a matter of updating the gfx as and when you wanted - subject to them being available - which I don't doubt simply because of Apple seemingly wanting more and more games on the Mac.

 

[magick]

Of course you would, but thats not the point is it? The games are more than perfectly fine on that card, and yes there is a 3870 ATI card should someone want it.

Will a 8800GT run CoD 4, Crysis, Farcry 2 and the other latest FPS at 1920x1200 and >30fps with eye candy on a mac pro?

 

[tbs]

You have to use Fully Buffered (and I think registered IIRC) hence the cost. No- normal PC ram that's cheap won't work.

New MacPros due to arrive in the new year will supposedly have DDR3 based memory which will be hideously expensive until the PC/server community catch up.

but the ram taht ocuk and crucial sells are all Unbuffered... cant find any FB like you said..

 

[Chimerical]

but the ram taht ocuk and crucial sells are all Unbuffered... cant find any FB like you said..

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=930&subid=931

Heres some FB-DIMM's

 

[Rameses]

Will a 8800GT run CoD 4, Crysis, Farcry 2 and the other latest FPS at 1920x1200 and >30fps with eye candy on a mac pro?

cba.

 

[Chimerical]

Will a 8800GT run CoD 4, Crysis, Farcry 2 and the other latest FPS at 1920x1200 and >30fps with eye candy on a mac pro?

It probably would actually. COD4 runs well on anything. I've *heard* of 8800GS equipped iMac's running COD4 at 1920x1200, full eye candy, etc.

 

[TheVoice]

Will a 8800GT run CoD 4, Crysis, Farcry 2 and the other latest FPS at 1920x1200 and >30fps with eye candy on a mac pro?

CoD4 likely would as said above, it's not very demanding. Crysis, FarCry 2 and anything else recent/upcoming that is just as system-heavy as those won't be running at high settings on that resolution though. The 8800GT is a capable card, don't get me wrong, but it's not high-end anymore.