I'm happy. The only thing missing is Blu-ray drive, but i'm sure we'll be able to add that later when the software exists.
I'm a little bummed the prices went UP instead of DOWN like they should have. But then again it is octo across the board. I'm hoping we can buy a 2.8 quad and add a 2.8 quad down the road.
(not affiliated, but I own the 72" fridge freezer combo, and it kicks sub-zero ass)
I've been considering that for when I have to replace my Sub-Zero. The only problem is that it's a pretty small company compared to the others, and I've not seen anyone who has one. I also never see any reliability rating for them.
The Sub-Zero does a great job, I have no complaints.
I wonder if the single CPU 2.8GHz has the exact same innards as the rest of the BTO line?
That is, with 2 sockets, same amount of RAM and PCI-E slots?
That looks like a decent option for most graphics pros and can be later on upgraded to dual CPUs if need be.
Once again, what Apple is asking for the memory upgrade is quite steep.
I wonder if the machines can accept standard 800Mhz FB-DIMMs (say from Kingston ValueRam line). These are much cheaper than Apple BTO options.
BTW, even with 1600Mhz bus, and two separate dual channel memory pathways, 2 x quad core is still memory starved in some highly RAM bound operations. That won't be fixed until merom and it's new platform arrives (maybe this year on paper, but it won't be until Q1/2009 earliest before it ships through Apple).
It's probably a different mobo with one socket.
You can use other manufacturers FB-DIMMS?as long as they state that they meed APPLE's specs. A fair number of companies are offering the older ones, and shortly should be offering the 800's for these.
On another note, I'm a bit frustrated that Apple went halfway with Express 2, offering just 2 Express 2 slots, with the others being Express 1 slots. I'd like to find out just what this means for the overall throughput of the machine.
I had decided that if Apple went to Express 2 this time, I would get the machine now (though I was hoping for a new case, eSATA port, etc, as well).
Also the range of graphics cards.
But, now I don't know what to think. It's not like Apple to go halfway with a new bus. I guess we'll see more when the store is back online shortly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by emig647
I don't believe this machine has Crossfire. I went through the whole apple mac pro site and didn't see it mentioned one time. Did i miss it?
the card does have the ports on it and crossfire is open to many chipsets
I'm a little bummed the prices went UP instead of DOWN like they should have. But then again it is octo across the board. I'm hoping we can buy a 2.8 quad and add a 2.8 quad down the road.
Did the chips cost stay the same or go up? You can drop the price by $500 if you only want one Xeon installed. The default configuration is now double the RAM and built-in Bluetooth.
the card does have the ports on it and crossfire is open to many chipsets
But in the end the motherboard chipsets still have to support crossfire and have crossfire drivers for the OS. Which i failed to see mentioned anywhere. I'm all about it if true, but I haven't seen anything on it.
If that's true- then why no Blu-ray now?? Pc's already have them - there is no reason why not now.
I've been watching Apple since before Jobs left, while he was away, and now that he's back.
During all that time, I've never been able to figure out why Apple does what it does.
Something lacking in support in the OS. It must support the DRM throughout the product, from player through to the DVi or HDMI port. Apple hasn't had any cards with that support, it was even late coming to the PC world. They have no support in the OS either.
I haven't looked to see whether any of the cards Apple is offering (disappointing, again!) offers HDMI. If one or more does, that might tell us something. Perhaps someone will look for us.
I assumed it would come with 10.5, but it doesn't seem to be there. Apple could offer it in an update.
Who knows? Perhaps now with the situation changing in the Hi Def battle, we will see a hastely arranged statement of support at Macworld.
"Price increased to $2800. Enough room between consumer and pro to fit in a mid-range tower or otherwise-desktop mac."
As others have noted, there's a $2300 option. From the Apple Store: "One 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon (quad-core) [Subtract $500]"
And quoting mdriftmeyer: "I didn't expect FW3200. I don't expect BluRay as a BTO until Fall 08 and the dust has settled a bit more"
The dust pretty much HAS settled on HD-DVD, as today's announcements confirmed.
As for fw3200, can someone give a little primer here on ports? I thought eSATA might be adopted by apple for future computers including its laptops. Does its absence on MacPros suggest that's not the case? And is that a dumb idea anyway? What ARE the speeds and other advantages or dis's, for fw800, 3200, and eSATA?
I wasn't asking about burning. I was asking about playing them. You need to have a special program to play the encrypted and BD+ video. Windows has some... PowerDVD and others. Any out there for Mac? If so we could most likely buy a drive from Newegg.com and slap it in the mac pro and play till our little hearts content.
It has to be supported in the OS, and in the graphics cards. No DRM support, no movie.
But in the end the motherboard chipsets still have to support crossfire and have crossfire drivers for the OS. Which i failed to see mentioned anywhere. I'm all about it if true, but I haven't seen anything on it.
Almost no one uses these schemes anyway. Apple won't bother.
I don't recall this happening with the g5's or the Mac Pros. Did it with the G4's? The only one I can think of that was possibility was Yosamite vs Sawtooth.
"Price increased to $2800. Enough room between consumer and pro to fit in a mid-range tower or otherwise-desktop mac."
As others have noted, there's a $2300 option. From the Apple Store: "One 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon (quad-core) [Subtract $500]"
And quoting mdriftmeyer: "I didn't expect FW3200. I don't expect BluRay as a BTO until Fall 08 and the dust has settled a bit more"
The dust pretty much HAS settled on HD-DVD, as today's announcements confirmed.
As for fw3200, can someone give a little primer here on ports? I thought eSATA might be adopted by apple for future computers including its laptops. Does its absence on MacPros suggest that's not the case? And is that a dumb idea anyway? What ARE the speeds and other advantages or dis's, for fw800, 3200, and eSATA?
thanks.
No advantage to FW3200, as it won't be out until 2009.
Firewire requires a converter chipset, which causes no end of problems, as well as slowing don the drives, which are ATA.
SATA, both external, and internal, is a native drive type, and is simpler, and faster, as well as being more reliable, without requiring dependence on a third party chipset and software.
Almost no one uses these schemes anyway. Apple won't bother.
I wouldn't say no one. I'd imagine a lot of people interested in the mac pro (modeling professionals) would enjoy Crossfire / SLI. Pixar? Even though Jobs doesn't own them any more, I'd imagine they still use Macs.
Comments
I'm a little bummed the prices went UP instead of DOWN like they should have. But then again it is octo across the board. I'm hoping we can buy a 2.8 quad and add a 2.8 quad down the road.
If you want apple quality fridge/freezers, buy Northland:
http://www.northlandnka.com/
(not affiliated, but I own the 72" fridge freezer combo, and it kicks sub-zero ass)
I've been considering that for when I have to replace my Sub-Zero. The only problem is that it's a pretty small company compared to the others, and I've not seen anyone who has one. I also never see any reliability rating for them.
The Sub-Zero does a great job, I have no complaints.
I wonder if the single CPU 2.8GHz has the exact same innards as the rest of the BTO line?
That is, with 2 sockets, same amount of RAM and PCI-E slots?
That looks like a decent option for most graphics pros and can be later on upgraded to dual CPUs if need be.
Once again, what Apple is asking for the memory upgrade is quite steep.
I wonder if the machines can accept standard 800Mhz FB-DIMMs (say from Kingston ValueRam line). These are much cheaper than Apple BTO options.
BTW, even with 1600Mhz bus, and two separate dual channel memory pathways, 2 x quad core is still memory starved in some highly RAM bound operations. That won't be fixed until merom and it's new platform arrives (maybe this year on paper, but it won't be until Q1/2009 earliest before it ships through Apple).
It's probably a different mobo with one socket.
You can use other manufacturers FB-DIMMS?as long as they state that they meed APPLE's specs. A fair number of companies are offering the older ones, and shortly should be offering the 800's for these.
On another note, I'm a bit frustrated that Apple went halfway with Express 2, offering just 2 Express 2 slots, with the others being Express 1 slots. I'd like to find out just what this means for the overall throughput of the machine.
I had decided that if Apple went to Express 2 this time, I would get the machine now (though I was hoping for a new case, eSATA port, etc, as well).
Also the range of graphics cards.
But, now I don't know what to think. It's not like Apple to go halfway with a new bus. I guess we'll see more when the store is back online shortly.
I don't believe this machine has Crossfire. I went through the whole apple mac pro site and didn't see it mentioned one time. Did i miss it?
the card does have the ports on it and crossfire is open to many chipsets
I'm a little bummed the prices went UP instead of DOWN like they should have. But then again it is octo across the board. I'm hoping we can buy a 2.8 quad and add a 2.8 quad down the road.
Did the chips cost stay the same or go up? You can drop the price by $500 if you only want one Xeon installed. The default configuration is now double the RAM and built-in Bluetooth.
My prediction is the AppleTV only will get blu-ray at MacWorld.
No THAT would be a great idea!
Why would they create a whole new mobo for 1 configuration?
What do you mean "one configuration"?
So why would they change the motherboard for 1 of the 4 CPU configurations? Seems like a waste. Why not just not put one of the CPUs in?
the card does have the ports on it and crossfire is open to many chipsets
But in the end the motherboard chipsets still have to support crossfire and have crossfire drivers for the OS. Which i failed to see mentioned anywhere. I'm all about it if true, but I haven't seen anything on it.
If that's true- then why no Blu-ray now?? Pc's already have them - there is no reason why not now.
I've been watching Apple since before Jobs left, while he was away, and now that he's back.
During all that time, I've never been able to figure out why Apple does what it does.
Something lacking in support in the OS. It must support the DRM throughout the product, from player through to the DVi or HDMI port. Apple hasn't had any cards with that support, it was even late coming to the PC world. They have no support in the OS either.
I haven't looked to see whether any of the cards Apple is offering (disappointing, again!) offers HDMI. If one or more does, that might tell us something. Perhaps someone will look for us.
I assumed it would come with 10.5, but it doesn't seem to be there. Apple could offer it in an update.
Who knows? Perhaps now with the situation changing in the Hi Def battle, we will see a hastely arranged statement of support at Macworld.
At least, I hope so.
Apple's support would be the last nail.
You can buy them for Mac and there is common Mac software that will utilize them.
For recording, and data.
You're not saying someone offers movie playback through the Mac, are you?
As others have noted, there's a $2300 option. From the Apple Store: "One 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon (quad-core) [Subtract $500]"
And quoting mdriftmeyer: "I didn't expect FW3200. I don't expect BluRay as a BTO until Fall 08 and the dust has settled a bit more"
The dust pretty much HAS settled on HD-DVD, as today's announcements confirmed.
As for fw3200, can someone give a little primer here on ports? I thought eSATA might be adopted by apple for future computers including its laptops. Does its absence on MacPros suggest that's not the case? And is that a dumb idea anyway? What ARE the speeds and other advantages or dis's, for fw800, 3200, and eSATA?
thanks.
I wasn't asking about burning. I was asking about playing them. You need to have a special program to play the encrypted and BD+ video. Windows has some... PowerDVD and others. Any out there for Mac? If so we could most likely buy a drive from Newegg.com and slap it in the mac pro and play till our little hearts content.
It has to be supported in the OS, and in the graphics cards. No DRM support, no movie.
is everyone happy with this? no redesign of case?
No!
We'll likely have to wait 'till the ADC and Nehalem for that.
Why would they create a whole new mobo for 1 configuration? They couldn't use the old mobo because the FSB is slower. ô.O
They've done it before.
But in the end the motherboard chipsets still have to support crossfire and have crossfire drivers for the OS. Which i failed to see mentioned anywhere. I'm all about it if true, but I haven't seen anything on it.
Almost no one uses these schemes anyway. Apple won't bother.
"Price increased to $2800. Enough room between consumer and pro to fit in a mid-range tower or otherwise-desktop mac."
As others have noted, there's a $2300 option. From the Apple Store: "One 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon (quad-core) [Subtract $500]"
And quoting mdriftmeyer: "I didn't expect FW3200. I don't expect BluRay as a BTO until Fall 08 and the dust has settled a bit more"
The dust pretty much HAS settled on HD-DVD, as today's announcements confirmed.
As for fw3200, can someone give a little primer here on ports? I thought eSATA might be adopted by apple for future computers including its laptops. Does its absence on MacPros suggest that's not the case? And is that a dumb idea anyway? What ARE the speeds and other advantages or dis's, for fw800, 3200, and eSATA?
thanks.
No advantage to FW3200, as it won't be out until 2009.
Firewire requires a converter chipset, which causes no end of problems, as well as slowing don the drives, which are ATA.
SATA, both external, and internal, is a native drive type, and is simpler, and faster, as well as being more reliable, without requiring dependence on a third party chipset and software.
Almost no one uses these schemes anyway. Apple won't bother.
I wouldn't say no one. I'd imagine a lot of people interested in the mac pro (modeling professionals) would enjoy Crossfire / SLI. Pixar? Even though Jobs doesn't own them any more, I'd imagine they still use Macs.