I'll be ordering a Mac Pro sometime over the next few days. My question is - am I better getting the Dual 2.66GHz or should I save some $$ getting the Dual 2GHz and then slap in a pair of quad core 2.4GHz CPUs (they're around $500 a pop). What (in people's opinions) would give the most bang-for-buck? Also assuming I'd have to live off the 2GHz for a little bit whilst I got the cash together.

I'm going from a dual 1.25GHz G4, so I don't think the performance loss would kill me. Also, I'm a video editor - since occupation clearly plays a big role in this type of thing. No point going dual-quad-core if I'm just gonna do web design.

Thanks


::Edit:: Also considering warranty in this equation - with a 1 year warranty would I be better off getting the dual 2.66 and upgrading to a quad core (cheaper by then, and faster) in a years time?

Consider spending on fast HD's - that will make a hell of a difference. Faster CPU's are not really useful unless everything else is.

Don't forget Apple Care

Cheap Applecare

for example.... http://cgi.ebay.com/Apple-MacPro-App...QQcmdZViewItem

As for CPU- go 2.66 and forget about upgrading it later on- that notion is just not cost effective. Also remember that 4 "slots" of RAM offer the optimum latency for the pro- any more or less and it will be slower.

I'm no IT guru, but from a cash perspective, if you got your upgrade to the 2Ghz substantially cheaper then the 2.66Ghz this would allow you to get on the new MacPro straight away, whilst you recoup your funds to step up the core later; perhaps even the warranty extension. Whilst you're on 2Ghz you can assess the need to spend on the 2.4's..? If there's not much $ difference between the 2Ghz and 2.66Ghz to start with and you can stretch yourself now, you might not have to bother with the dual 2.4's later.

How do you install your own CPU's into the Mac Pro - is it a bastard to do so?

Looks easy, once you have the fan enclosure off the front, you unclip the two MIGHTY heatsinks and the CPUs come off. Apparently the Mac Pro will happily accept any matching model of Xeon, I've heard of folks who've updated to the quad core 2.66s before the Dual quad-core 3GHz Mac Pro came out.

Definately aiming for optimum RAM though - I've heard how the first four slots are the winners. Would love to grab some 4Gb DIMMs but I don't reckon that'll happen any time soon.

Fast hard drives are already a huge priority - I'll be running software RAID until I can grab my proper enclosure.


I guess another question would be - how much would RAM affect the quad cores? I hear that for compressor the system likes to have around 1Gb per core for maximum efficiency, although the last core is basically redundant thanks to the RAM bottlenecks. Is that correct? If I need 8Gb of RAM from the get-go, I think I'd just stay with the dual-cores for now.

Im a video editor as well, go with the quad 2.66 and as much Ram & HD you can afford. If you can get the octo core 3.0 that would be perfect.

My set up is quad 2.66 with 4Gb Ram and 4x250 HD. Working with HDV is fine for me (Apple intermediate codec).

2.66 Ghz will do the job. Just get 4GB Ram or more and you should be fine.

Its actually the first 2 slots of each board if you run 4 sticks.

Here you go http://diglloyd.com/diglloyd/free/Ma...mory.html#Rank

Thanks for the RAM guide - very handy.

I think I will go Dual 2.66 - its only gotta be a holdover machine until I get my 'real' Mac Pro, once the camera is paid off I'll be going the whole hog and spending a small fortune on a 'proper' machine. I can always upgrade the CPUs later as well, especially as prices fall. There again, if things go well for me over the next twelve months this one may just end up being a cluster machine, and I'll probably not be caring so much about the CPUs at all, so long as something is co-processing.

Thanks for the responses guys, its helped just having people say stuff about it.

Cheers