Mac Pro buying advice needed please

dave999z · Post by **dave999z** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 1:18 pm

Hello,

I have three questions regarding configuring a Mac Pro. People's opinions would be much appreciated.

First, the processor. The base system is two x 2.0GHz dual-core. Or, for $269 can upgrade to two x 2.66GHz dual-core. Or, for $988 can upgrade to two x 3.0GHz dual-core. Or, for $1719 can upgrade to two x 3.0GHz quad-core (yes that's eight total cores). I think the best value looks to be the two x 2.66GHz dual-core?

Second, RAM. At macsales.com, for $360 I can get four x 1GB RAM, or for $680 I can get four x 2GB RAM. 4GB of RAM total should be fine for audio and occasional video, right?

Third, hard drives. I haven't done audio for awhile. It used to be that a system performed much better if your OS was on one drive and your audio files were on a separate drive. Is that still true? If not, I'm inclined to just have a single 750GB unpartitioned internal drive for everything (OS and files) and a second internal 750GB drive purely to backup to. Is there any reason the audio files and the OS shouldn't be on the same drive? In OS X v10.4 is it necessary to create a separate "user" to login as for audio work? Is it necessary to have the entire OS installed on a separate partition to startup from for audio work? Or are software conflicts a thing of the past (from OS 9 days)?

Thank you in advance for any advice.

Dave

muthafunka · Post by **muthafunka** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:54 pm

Third part..what was it again???? Oh yes....separate drives is still a good idea. Why? You want as much potential bandwidth dedicated to audio read/writes as possible without interference from OS, background tasks etc.
AFAIK there are no real benefits in having a separate audio user account or audio-only OS.

Maybe most important is to have enough properly matched RAM, repair permissions as and when, don't go moving OS/library items around and to use Disk Warrior or similar as part of regular maintenance if you can.

nobbystylus · Post by **nobbystylus** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 3:11 pm

i got a 2.66, with 6 GB Ram and an Extra 400G HD and the whole thing runs like a dream..

1) Get at least the 2.66. For the cost differential its just worth it.

2) The sweet spot for RAM is certainly 4gb or better. Having more Cores means a bit of Ram is needed for each core to run well, so 4GB at least is best.

3) Get an extra drive... mine cost about £65. Keep all your media files on that .. apps internal.

dave999z · Post by **dave999z** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 6:47 pm

nobbystylus wrote:Having more Cores means a bit of Ram is needed for each core to run well

So, if I get 4x1GB RAM, does that mean that if a program allocates most of its tasks to one core on one processor then there is effectively only 1GB RAM available to it?

nobbystylus · Post by **nobbystylus** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 7:37 pm

dave999z wrote:
nobbystylus wrote:Having more Cores means a bit of Ram is needed for each core to run well
So, if I get 4x1GB RAM, does that mean that if a program allocates most of its tasks to one core on one processor then there is effectively only 1GB RAM available to it?

No no .. OSX dynamically allocates available memory on a system wide basis, not based on the Ram modules individually.. it just that for Multiple core machines its good practice to add memory per core.. as the system likes to use a bit of memory per core...

you will run fine on 2G ram, but 4G is def the sweet spot..

CWoodOne · Post by **CWoodOne** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:41 pm

nobbystylus wrote:
dave999z wrote:
nobbystylus wrote:Having more Cores means a bit of Ram is needed for each core to run well
So, if I get 4x1GB RAM, does that mean that if a program allocates most of its tasks to one core on one processor then there is effectively only 1GB RAM available to it?
No no .. OSX dynamically allocates available memory on a system wide basis, not based on the Ram modules individually.. it just that for Multiple core machines its good practice to add memory per core.. as the system likes to use a bit of memory per core...

you will run fine on 2G ram, but 4G is def the sweet spot..

I second that, that's the setup I have too

ICN · Post by **ICN** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 5:52 pm

Seems like everyone is getting the 2.66 Mac Pro's. I've just got one & 4gb Ram. Snap!!

My head is wrecked at the moment with the same question that you had/have Dave.

What did you decide in the end? I think I'm going to go for one for the Audio files and one for the System.

What I'm wondering is whether I should install Live on that (Audio) drive too? Or should that go on the system drive?

Anyone any ideas?

Cheers,

J

beats me · Post by **beats me** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:26 pm

Don't get your RAM from Apple, even preinstalled. I mean you have to get your computer with some RAM but Apples RAM prices are stupid. I just bought 2 GIGs of RAM for my Macbook Pro from a third party for $85, from Apple it would be $350. But of course if you like spending 4 times the price for something you can get elsewhere for cheaper just because Apple isntalled it with their Godlike hands then go ahead.

ICN · Post by **ICN** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:30 pm

Found out from a good w/site.. If anyones interested.

Why (2) two hard drives for recording ?

Quote:
"Which drive do I install my programs to ?

The operating system and all other programs MUST go on the one drive leaving the second drive free 100% for files that are recorded and played by the software. So in most computer c: will have the windows installation and all the programs like cubase, logic, protools ect and the only thing on the second drive will be the WAV files and the projects saved file that you open in your software. Other files which are created on the second drive when recording are meant to be there as well. So a good rule to follow is if the file is created when you record it should be on the 2nd disk."

Cool as Fuck..

http://www.pcmus.com/hardrive.htm