FCS 2 -- Mac Pro 4-core or 8-core?

Been reading both the FCP forum and the MacPro forum and still not unsure which way to go.
I'm an avid Avid user (sorry about that) for many years and now making the switch to FCS2. My confusion lies in which configuration to get to best maximize FCS2-- Mac Pro 4-core with maximum RAM or Mac Pro 8-core with 6 or 8 GB RAM? The machine will be used 90% for FCS 2 so that's the main decision-making factor here.
Been reading articles about bottlenecks that make having 8-cores benign, but I find them hard to believe. Either way, the cost is about the same (the $$ saved buying the 4-core would be spent on more RAM).
Thanks for your time and advice.

With FCS the trick to maximising your performance is balance. Getting the balance right between processor performance, GPU performance, RAM and drive performance can often be a tricky thing. Unless you consider your system as a whole, any improvement in one area will often have little value.
At the price of the 8-core upgrade (more than 50% of a whole new one!) I would think you'd get far better value by going with a 3GHz 4-core system and maxing out everything else.

Similar Messages

AVCHD and Mac Pro 8 Core

Hey is there anyone on the forum editing AVCHD footage in FCS 2 on there Mac Pro 8 Core 2.8 GHZ.Would be great to hear how users machines are performing with this new format.
thanks
Alex

Final Cut Studio:
http://www.barefeats.com/harper.html
http://www.barefeats.com/octopro5.html
gives some idea while you wait for others to chime in. Nothing on FCS forum?

FCS2 - Mac Pro 4-Core or 8-Core

Been reading both the FCP forum and the MacPro forum and still not unsure which way to go.
I'm an avid Avid user (sorry about that) for many years and now making the switch to FCS2. My confusion lies in which configuration to get to best maximize FCS2-- Mac Pro 4-core with maximum RAM or Mac Pro 8-core with 6 or 8 GB RAM? The machine will be used 90% for FCS 2 so that's the main decision-making factor here.
Been reading articles about bottlenecks that make having 8-cores benign, but I find them hard to believe. Either way, the cost is about the same (the $$ saved buying the 4-core would be spent on more RAM).
Thanks for your time and advice.

If you become a "power user" i.e. running more than one app at a time all the time.... The 8 processor machine will be faster than the quad... if not, they'll be similar in speed.
See: http://www.barefeats.com Rob there comes up with much the same conclusion. There are certain apps though that really shine on the octo... AE for example... and Certainly Compressor 3... big time...
I'd go with the faster machine figuring Leopard will make a big difference in the way it handles mulitple processor machines.
Jerry

UPGRADING AND MIXING MEMORY ON MY MAC PRO QUAD CORE DUAL 2.8 (Xeon)?

Hello,
I have a Mac Pro Quad Core Dual 2.8GHz (Xeons) with 4GB of memory (2 x 1GB Apple modules + 2 x 1GB other brand - Shown as "Manufacturer 0x855D") and now I want to fill the other 4 memory slots by adding an additional 16GB (4 x 4GB modules) for a total of 20GB of RAM.
My 2 questions are:
1.- In which order/pattern should I install these new 4 X 4GB modules along with my original Apple 2 x 1GB modules and the "Manufacturer 0x855D" 2 x 1GB modules the best way (for better performance)? - I have heard stories that if I do it improperly, I could slow down my Mac Pro...
This is how I have them configured right now:
Raiser A / DIMM 1 = 1GB (Manufaturer "0x830B") - I assume this is the Apple memory, right?
Raiser A / DIMM 2 = 1GB (Manufaturer "0x830B")
Raiser A / DIMM 3 = Empty
Raiser A / DIMM 4 = Empty
Raiser B / DIMM 1 = 1GB (Manufacturer "0x855D") - How can I find which manufacturer is this?
Raiser B / DIMM 2 = 1GB (Manufacturer "0x855D")
Raiser B / DIMM 3 = Empty
Raiser B / DIMM 4 = Empty
2.- What brand would be most compatible to work with my Apple 2GB (2 x 1GB) factory memory? Kingston? Crucial? Mushkin? iRam? Corsair? OWC? (Does OWC sell their own brand? or which one do they carry?-its not specified on their web)
Thank you so much in advance for all your help!

About RAM installation in the Mac Pro
Mac Pro memory arrangement photos
Mac Pro Memory Configuration
Memory Tests- "2008" Mac Pro
Ram should be installed minimally in matched pairs and optimally in matched quads. This means the memory modules are the same size and specifications. They should also be equipped with the Apple-certified style of heat sink.
Brand really doesn't mean much as long as they work.

How can I hook up 3 screens to a Mac Pro 8 core 2010 model?

How can I hook up 3 screens to a Mac Pro 8 core. One is a 23' Apple Cinema Display, the second is a 20" Apple cinema display and the 3rd is a 32' Sony Bravia HDTV (connected to mini port with mini/HDMI connector) Do I need to buy another video card? I have heard about 4 different scenarios about this, and they all sound a bit complicated. I thought that you could automatically connect 3 displays with the card that comes with the MacPro. It has a DVI port and 2 mini ports, so it appears that would be for 3 displays. But this is where it gets strange. Any thoughts?

Which video card? 5x70? If you read about the various scenarios thern for 5x70's you need two active adapters for thee monitors (TV considered a monitor). And you should have seen references to these apple docs:
Mac Pro (Mid 2010), Mac Pro (Early 2009): Issues with three displays and multiple DVI, HDMI connections
Mac Pro (Early 2009), Mac Pro (Mid 2010): Supported display configurations
It's not really complicated. Search out the appropriate adapters and hook 'em up. For the 23" and 20", if they are DVI, you need single link adapters. For the TV, if you end up using the DVI port for it (because possibly you can't find the appropate adapter cmbination) then you need to handle the audio separately since DVI doesn't carry audio.

Hi...m using a mac pro quad core.....its not booting up...i can only see the apple logo and a circle loading...could not get into the login screen

hi...m using a mac pro quad core.....its not booting up...i can only see the apple logo and a circle loading...could not get into the login screen...any suggestions please.....m in the middle of a project and now i have got this one
regards,
v.s.bharan

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
Do you keep your data backed up?
If not, you should always do so*:
http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html
You never know when a hard drive or a directory might go bad. Having a bootable clone is a must.
That link also shows you some tools you can use to recover data.
If you aren't backed up, try buying those tools first, before attempting to repair the directory.
Directory issues can be fixed with these tools*:
http://www.macmaps.com/directoryfaq.html

Error message on my Mac Pro Quad Core Dual

Hello..I'm hoping someone out there can help or advise me.
I turned on my mac this morning to find it's normal loading screen of grey with the darker grey logo in centre..all normal at this stage. This was followed by a wipe from top to bottom making the background grey a little darker and in the centre the apple logo was replaced by what appeared to be a semi transparent power button symbol with the words. "You need to restart your computer. Hold down the Power button for several seconds or press the restart button"
I have tried this several times to no avail I have also zapped the P RAM again nothing. Can anyone out there help. I have a Mac Pro Quad Core Dual which is only a few months old and is up to date with its system software.
I could be so grateful of any assistance.
Warm regards
Sophia

Make an appointment. But in the meantime...
So from cold boot, you can't do the Command Option P R through 2-3 full reboot cycles (don't let up)?
Unplug everything and let it sit overnight without power cord or anything. That is the only way to rest the SMC system management controller on the 2008 model, the older model still had a reset button.
Also learned that the 2008 Macs can all boot AHT if the original OEM installer was used to install the system and the drive has not be completely reformatted and retail OS X used, just holding down "D" on startup. But you have to
Also, pull all your hard drives. Rule out that, which I have seen a hard drive cause panic on startup, which required disabling journaling and other repairs from Disk Utility and deleting caches, then repair, and finally do Safe Boot (shift key down on startup).
The only way to test RAM is with TechTool Deluxe or Pro; with Memtest or Rember; and to test some devices is to try using a differnent one, keyboard and mouse included if you have any.
Last hope: open case, look inside, take the two RAM Riser cards and pull out, check the DIMMs are fully seated.
If you have 3rd party memory, remove that (would need to before taking in probably).
Might want to put RAM back to way it shipped with 2 x 1GB and one DIMM on each Riser in slot one. Maybe that will wake this sleeping giant. Changing RAM config use to be one way to clear nvram in the distant past in the time of Arthur.
PS: it is "odd" to find a BTO 3.2GHz system, and only 2GB. For memory performance, Barefeats found a marked improvement with 8 DIMMs, and of course Mac Pro really needs memory to feed 8 cores and pro apps (2GB would be okay for web and email type use only).

Windows – but Which? (What to install on Mac Pro Quad Core?)

First, apologies in advance if this seems like repetition of a recent topic, but I read through the recent "Vista vs XP" thread and it didn't quite answer my questions.
Basically, I'm planning on buying a Mac Pro "Quad Core" 2.8 and installing Boot Camp and a Windows OS startup. This puts me into the notoriously tricky area of picking the right version of Windows for my needs, something I haven't really had to deal with in regards to OS X.
Basically, I'm not looking for something with too many bells and whistles or to much bloatware built into the OS. Also, I'll probably be using some older software/shareware, so backwards compatibility is an issue. On the other hand, I'd like something that works with the Quad Core architecture at its greatest efficiency.
This means I'm wondering about a couple of features that I may or may not need, and it would be of great help if you folks could point me in the right direction regarding these:
x64 – Since the Xeon processors in the Mac Pro are 64-bit processors, am I better off with "x64"-compatible versions of Windows (either Windows Vista or x64 versions of XP)? Will this cause problems starting up older programs that may not have been written for x64?
*Dual Processor Support* – the Quad Core, of course, is a dual processor – will I get better performance from a version of Windows that list "Dual Processor Support" among its features (basically, the "pro", "business", or "ultimate" versions of XP and Vista)?
If I need those features, I'm probably looking at getting either the x64 version of Windows XP Pro or the Business or Ultimate versions of Vista. However, I'm leaning against Vista based on backwards-compatibility and bloatware issues. That leaves XP Pro x64, but I might go for a more basic version of XP if I find out the x64 or DPS features aren't actually something I need. (The other "extras" in XP Pro don't sound like anything I need.)
Also, I'm likely to install Parallel Desktop at some point and don't want a version of Windows that would have compatibility problems there, either.
Anyway, any answers you folks can provide for me in this regard would be very helpful.
Thanks in advance,
Peter

Truth is, I am disappointed in VMware Fusions slow walk toward full support for 64-bit and SP1 but 2.0 beta is getting there. Never used Parallels but best to check their own support forums. They also updated the 1.x version recently.
http://communities.vmware.com/community/beta/fusion
http://forums.parallels.com/
You don't need anything first, except I would start with a new hard drive for Vista, don't even do anything with it and pull OS X drive, boot Vista DVD and go from there, just as you would normally. Much easier. After it is installed is when you need Apple BootCamp from your Leopard OEM DVD, install, and then Apple Software Update will take care of 2.1. And install your graphic drivers yourself.
The problem(s) come with trying to use BootCamp Assist and setting up partitioning, and it only makes it harder - not easier - on Mac Pro (you aren't and don't want to use your OS X boot drive).
Windows on Mac forum @ MacRumors
http://forums.macrumors.com/forumdisplay.php?f=86
And their Mac Pro area http://forums.macrumors.com which has a lot of Vista talk from Mac Pro owners.
The only real issues are which graphics card to get today or in next weeks, what drives you are going with and other upgrades like memory (8 x 1GB is actually a good base ideal figure so all DIMM slots are taken up).
Barefeats has a number of benchmark articles:
Radeon 3870: http://www.hardmac.com/news/2008-06-16/#8451
Vista graphics: http://www.barefeats.com/harper11.html
Memory: http://www.barefeats.com/harper12.html
Drives: http://www.barefeats.com/harper9.html
WD 300GB Raptor: http://www.barefeats.com/hard103.html
- this is the drive to die for, but not natively supported
I buy most of the upgrades I need over the last ten years from OWC http://www.MacSales.com that specializes in Mac.
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Mac-Pro-Memory
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Western%20Digital/WD6400AAKS/
- until the WD "Black" series (I guess Blackbird name or SR71 are already taken) along with 3rd generation of their RE series drives. WD has been popular, reliable, with Mac Pro for last two years. Can't say the same of every vendor. Samsung F1 is also a real winner.
If you buy only one book to understand and get the most out of OS X: "Mac OS X: The Missing Manual" (Pogue has a Missing Manual Series on most everything, and this is the most popular recommended for Mac OS).
http://books.slashdot.org/books/08/02/27/1551206.shtml
I needed 3-4 for Vista before I found "Administrator's Pocket Consultant" and O'Reilly's "Vista Annoyances" are both excellent along with MS Press's "Inside Out."

I have a WD 2 tb hard drive that I want to use to back up my Mac Pro quad core. How do I create a back up startup disk? Also, when I used Time macine, it only backed up users and not the system or library folders. Ideas?

I have a WD 2 tb hard drive that I want to use to back up my Mac Pro quad core. How do I create a back up startup disk? Also, when I used Time macine, it only backed up users and not the system or library folders. Ideas?

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
Time Machine should be enough to make a backup of your files. Also, it should back up all folders, so open System Preferences > Time Machine > Options, and make sure that there are no folders included in the excluded items list.
If you want to create a bootable clone of your hard drive, you need to use an app like Carbon Copy Cloner or the Disk Utility's Restore feature > http://pondini.org/OSX/DU7.html

Mac Pro 8 core with boot drive cloned from MacBook Pro

I bought a Mac Pro 8 core and in order to avoid having to reinstall all my stuff, I cloned my OSx (tiger 10.49) partition from my MacBook Pro running vista (installed via bootcamp) to my new MacPro's startup disk. The disk works fine except that the MacPro will not boot to osx unless I use the option key and choose the OSX partition. If i just turn the machine on it doesen't find anything. I think it is looking for windows. What do you think?????
Also, if i restart from the os x partition on my mac pro it stops just before the lound bong sound and seems to be looking for the dvd drive. Any ideas??

Well, I've covered this extensively here:
A Basic Guide for Migrating to Intel-Macs
If you are migrating a PowerPC system (G3, G4, or G5) to an Intel-Mac be careful what you migrate. Keep in mind that some items that may get transferred will not work on Intel machines and may end up causing your computer's operating system to malfunction.
Rosetta supports "software that runs on the PowerPC G3 or G4 processor that are built for Mac OS X". This excludes the items that are not universal binaries or simply will not work in Rosetta:
Classic Environment, and subsequently any Mac OS 9 or earlier applications
Screensavers written for the PowerPC
System Preference add-ons
All Unsanity Haxies
Browser and other plug-ins
Contextual Menu Items
Applications which specifically require the PowerPC G5
Kernel extensions
Java applications with JNI (PowerPC) libraries
See also What Can Be Translated by Rosetta.
In addition to the above you could also have problems with migrated cache files and/or cache files containing code that is incompatible.
If you migrate a user folder that contains any of these items, you may find that your Intel-Mac is malfunctioning. It would be wise to take care when migrating your systems from a PowerPC platform to an Intel-Mac platform to assure that you do not migrate these incompatible items.
If you have problems with applications not working, then completely uninstall said application and reinstall it from scratch. Take great care with Java applications and Java-based Peer-to-Peer applications. Many Java apps will not work on Intel-Macs as they are currently compiled. As of this time Limewire, Cabos, and Acquisition are available as universal binaries. Do not install browser plug-ins such as Flash or Shockwave from downloaded installers unless they are universal binaries. The version of OS X installed on your Intel-Mac comes with special compatible versions of Flash and Shockwave plug-ins for use with your browser.
The same problem will exist for any hardware drivers such as mouse software unless the drivers have been compiled as universal binaries. For third-party mice the current choices are USB Overdrive or SteerMouse. Contact the developer or manufacturer of your third-party mouse software to find out when a universal binary version will be available.
Also be careful with some backup utilities and third-party disk repair utilities. Disk Warrior (does not work), TechTool Pro (pre-4.5.1 versions do not work), SuperDuper (newest release works), and Drive Genius (untested) may not work properly on Intel-Macs. The same caution may apply to the many "maintenance" utilities that have not yet been converted to universal binaries.
Before migrating or installing software on your Intel-Mac check MacFixit's Rosetta Compatibility Index.
Additional links that will be helpful to new Intel-Mac users:
Intel In Macs
Apple Guide to Universal Applications
MacInTouch List of Compatible Universal Binaries
MacInTouch List of Rosetta Compatible Applications
MacUpdate List of Intel-Compatible Software
Transferring data with Setup Assistant - Migration Assistant FAQ
Because Migration Assistant isn't the ideal way to migrate from PowerPC to Intel Macs, using Target Disk Mode or copying the critical contents to CD and DVD or an external hard drive will work better when moving from PowerPC to Intel Macs.
Basically the instructions you should follow are:
1. Backup your data first. This is vitally important in case you make a mistake or there's some other problem.
2. Connect a Firewire cable between your old Mac and your new Intel Mac.
3. Startup your old Mac in Target Disk Mode.
4. Startup your new Mac for the first time, go through the setup and registration screens, but do NOT migrate data over. Get to your desktop on the new Mac without migrating any new data over.
4. Copy the following items from your old Mac to the new Mac:
In your /Home/ folder: Documents, Movies, Music, Pictures, and Sites folders.
In your /Home/Library/ folder:
/Home/Library/Application Support/AddressBook (copy the whole folder)
/Home/Library/Application Support/iCal (copy the whole folder)
Also in /Home/Library/Application Support (copy whatever else you need including folders for any third-party applications)
/Home/Library/Keychains (copy the whole folder)
/Home/Library/Mail (copy the whole folder)
/Home/Library/Preferences/com.apple.mail.plist (* This is a very important file which contains all email account settings and general mail preferences.)
/Home/Library/Preferences/ copy any preferences needed for third-party applications
/Home /Library/iTunes (copy the whole folder)
/Home /Library/Safari (copy the whole folder)
If you want cookies:
/Home/Library/Cookies/Cookies.plist
/Home/Library/Application Support/WebFoundation/HTTPCookies.plist
For Entourage users:
Entourage is in /Home/Documents/Microsoft User Data
Also in /Home/Library/Preferences/Microsoft
Credit goes to another forum user for this information.
If you need to transfer data for other applications please ask the vendor or ask in the Discussions where specific applications store their data.
5. Once you have transferred what you need restart the new Mac and test to make sure the contents are there for each of the applications.
Written by Kappy with additional contributions from a brody.
Not knowing what you did when you migrated from your PB to the MBP, I can't really comment, but it's quite possible it didn't go as well as you think. Numerous users who migrated from PPC Macs to Intel Macs ended up with an Intel Mac that didn't work properly because Intel coded components had been replaced by PPC coded components.

Running 10.6.8 on Mac Pro Dual-Core Intel Xeon 2.66GHz processors. Can I upgrade to Lion 10.7

I've just upgraded from 10.5 to 10.6.8 on a Mac Pro Dual-Core Intell Xeon, 2.66GHz. Is it possilbe to upgrade to Lion 10.7 with my Mac Pro Dual Core or have I just hit my ceiling on 10.6.8 update ?

Mac Pros are not PowerMacs. In 2006, Apple changed all its cheesegrater enclosure Macs to have the Xeon chip installed, and changed the name to Mac Pro at that that time from PowerMac G5. That said, all Mac Pros can upgrade to a minimum of 10.7.5. Only the earliest ones can't upgrade to 10.8 and above. 10.7 and later do not have Rosetta, the ability to run PowerPC (pre-2006) applications natively. For other pitfalls, read this tip.

Are these Seagate 2TB drives compatible in my Mac Pro Quad Core 2.66 GHz?

I still have an Apple Mac Pro "Quad Core" 2.66 that was introduced August 7, 2006. I currently have 4 of the following Seagate internal hard drives installed: ST3750640AS SEAGATE BARRACUDA 7200.10 - HARD DRIVE - 750 GB - INTERNAL - 3.5" - SATA-300 - 7200 RPM - BUFFER: 16 MB
I want to know if these hard drives will work in this computer: Seagate Barracuda XT ST32000641AS 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive.This computer is powered by two 2.66 GHz dual core Intel Xeon 5150 processors.
The old drives were purchased from NewEgg and I want to purchase the new ones from there also. Are these 2TB drives compatible in my computer?
Thanks,
Lou Hosta

SATA is SATA.
Apple introduced GPT (GUID) years ago to support 2TB and larger (default partition scheme).
SATA III is also backward compatible with SATA II (otherwise, who would Seagate have to sell to?)
The only issues have been with green drives, using green version for RAID or for performance purposes.

Fileshare between my Mac Pro Quad Core Intel Xeon (64-bit) & Power Mac 9600

I want to make my Power Macintosh 9600/233 (Mac OS 9) a shared computer with my Mac Pro Quad Core Intel Xeon (64-bit)(Mac OS 10.6.6). I am using a Netopia Model 3346N-VGx DSL Ethernet Managed Switch to network with my Samsung printer and the Mac Book Pro.
I also have a Power PC G4 (Mac OS 10.5.8) connected (via a Ziplinq 48" Retractable Crossover Network Cable) to a Farallon EtherWave 10 Base-T AAUI Transceiver, which in turn is connected to the Netopia, from which I can share files. All of this is ethernet connectivity.
I thought I could connect my 9600 using the same method as for the G4 or by connecting the ethernet cable from the 9600 directly into the Mac Pro Quad Core. However, neither of these methods work.
An additional stumbling block is that I have not used this 9600 for several years and am not sure of its account name. I'm fairly certain of its password. But because I don't have a second monitor for this machine, I can't muddle my way in.
My questions:
1. What might be a network solution to this dilemma?
2. Or, do I need to get another monitor for this computer and leave it un-networked and just transfer files manually?
3. Or, would whatever hard drives are in the 9600 be transferable into the networked G4 or the main Mac Pro? (not sure what they are.)
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Oh man, what a dilemma...
1. What might be a network solution to this dilemma?
Without a monitor on the 9600, almost none. At the very least you'll need to configure the server with appropriate network settings for your environment, and that can't be done headless.
You might only need a display for long enough to setup the network, but you'll need one all the same.
Once the network is configured your options are either AFP or FTP, but I'm not even sure the old version of AFP is supported anymore, which means you may need to fire up an FTP client on the 9600 and push the files to your MacPro.
2. Or, do I need to get another monitor for this computer and leave it un-networked and just transfer files manually?
As mentioned above, you're going to need a monitor at the very least to configure the network settings. I'd be inclined to say at that point you might as well copy the files off any way you can and put the 9600 to rest. If you're really, really fortunate and the 9600 has a CD burner I'd probably use that and count myself lucky
3. Or, would whatever hard drives are in the 9600 be transferable into the networked G4 or the main Mac Pro? (not sure what they are.)
The 9600 shipped with SCSI drives, which no current Mac support (at least without a SCSI card), so there's no way to remove the drive from the 9600 and attach it directly to the MacPro.

Mac Pro Quad core Intel Xeon upgrade advice please!

Hi all, i have a Mac Pro Quad core 2 x 2.8ghz Intel Xeon (2008 model) with 4gb RAM.
I am planning on giving it some upgrades and a fresh OS install as it is slowly grinding to a halt (particualrly noisey hard drives)
Can anyone recommend best/fastest/silent! S-ATA hard drive to upgrade to?
Can anyone recommend a good replacement ATAPI DL DVD-RW Drive as mine is also on its way out.
Ram upgrade. Lots of space for RAM so what would you all recommend?
Ultimately i am finding myself working with alot of large PS file and so would welcome any suggestions to improve/soup-up the processor/performance.
Thanks for any advice in advance...

24GB RAM gets cost ly when you look at 800MHz FBDIMMs in 2x4GB
You shoudl have added more as 4GB is vary basic and miinimal
Any SATA drive device is fine. WD Black 1-2-4TB / WD 10K VRs are fast but not as quiet though I do hear those WD Blacks.
A single SSD for a system is nice.
10.6.8 works best in that system.
Your GPU most probably is in need of an upgrade.
You should never need to do a reinstall of the OS. Clone. Yes. And start wit h a new OS by not upgrade in place over the old OS but that is when to clean install, clone and use Set up Assis tant.

Mac Pro 8-Core (2011) MC561ZP/A Upgrade

I bought my Mac Pro 8 Core MC561ZP/A (2 x 2.4GHZ Quad-Core Intel Xeon "Westmere") in January 2011 in a hurry. Hence memory was kept as 6 x 1GB, and graphics card is the original ATI Radeon HD5770 with 1GB GDDR5. I use it to run the Apple 30" Cinema Display and I am a Photographer. Applications that I use all the time are Capture One 5.0, Photoshop CS5, Bridge CS5, Firefox, iTunes, Parellels 6, Outlook on Parellels 6. And when i am editing, I will be running Final Cut Pro 6 and Compressor as well when all photo related softwares are closed. And that's about it.
I usually use my Canon 5DII Camera and I work with 25mb raw images / 60mg TIFF images most of the time. Sometimes I work with medium format Phase One images but that is not very often. At the beginning things were ok. As the projects get bigger and bigger I find myself retouching big photos will many layers that one file could go up to 1GB or 1.5GB. At some point I only had Capture One and Photoshop opened, and still things got really slow and it started crashing few weeks earlier.
It's about time for an updgrade. Questions that I have now are:
1) Memory. Is 12GB memory enough? Or will I need more? Since I have 6x1GB in the slots, what is the best way or most economically friendly way to upgrade? Things will run smoother and faster I assume?
2) Memory brands. Is there many brands I can choose from?
3) Graphics Card. Will things be significantly better (faster?) if I get one more ATI Radeon HD5770? Or should i switch to the ATI Radeon HD 5870? My 30" apple cinema display is more than 3 years old already. I might consider siwthcing to a 24" Eizo or a 27" inch Eizo fyi.
Even if so will it be enough for my use?
I decided then I should opt for the 8 core. Instead of the quad core, nor the 12-core. I hope I didn't make the wrong decision.
Many thanks in advance.
Cheers,
Tim

Thanks.
Buying 2x8gb ram to fill up the remaining 2 slots sounds like the plan.
For hard disks, currently I have 3 x 2TB and 2 x 4TB, all connected through Firewire800 and each running Raid 1 (Mirror) on their own. I have always wondered about the speed difference when compared to your internal suggestion. Do you have any data / recommendation for a read up?
Guess I will stick to the ATI Radeon HD5770 then..
Cheers,
Tim

FCS 2 -- Mac Pro 4-core or 8-core?

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