Just bought a Mac Pro...I have SO many questions!
Ok, so I ordered a healthy version of the Mac Pro this morning. 250 GB HD, ATI x1900 card, 2 GB Ram, bluetooth/airport, 2.66GHz etc. Now I have a few questions since I want to know the tech side of things more clearly than I do.
1) RAID: I'm studying to become an editor, so I love Final Cut Pro and know it extremely well hence my Mac Pro purchase. Now, my question is about RAID drives. I'm buyin 2 320GB drives, I already own a 500 GB drive I'll put into the new computer and it comes with a 250 GB drive. Someone sent me to a wiki about RAIDs, but it wasn't clear to me at all. In layman's terms, what is it and what do I do to make it work?
My understanding is that it takes my 4 drives and makes them one big 1.4 terrabyte drive. Is this true? If so, when I just place them into the computer does it automatically do this? Or is it 4 separate drives until I do something about it? Does RAIDing make the drives faster? I also hear there are different numbers of RAIDs. Basically, given my situation, what would I do and how does it benefit me. Also, is there a different way of treating the computer if you have RAID drives?
2) I bought an ATI x1900 and it has 4 DVI ports, but the apple site says it's for 2 apple 30" displays. Since there are 4 ports, can I plug in 4 24" dell displays? (not that I have that many, but basically can I plug in 4 single DVI connector monitors into the 4 DVI spots)?
3) Is there RAM that works with it yet that Apple doesn't sell themselves?
4) I've heard there are Boot Camp driver issues. Couldn't you just install Windows XP Pro and just find all the drivers for the components online yourself? Would that work?
5) Would Win XP look at all 4 drives as a RAID drive or as 4 separate drives?
6) My shipment says 3-5 weeks, but some people already got their Mac Pro. Do they overshoot? Or are there just that many orders to fulfill now?
7) Can someone direct me to an affordable speaker system that has an optical input so I can use that feature on the Mac Pro?
8) Beyond the 4 internal drives, can you install an eSATA card and get even more drive space by using eSATA or is there a cap of memor?
I think that's all the questions I have. I am so grateful to anyone who reads over this and answers them. I know it's a lot of BS questions, but I'm trying to get the most out of my purchase and trying to understand more of the tech side of things so I can become a better editor. Thanks!
1. RAIDs
First, you normally should not include your startup system on a RAID because if the RAID goes down you cannot boot the system or repair the RAID easily. Better to use one drive for the operating system and RAID the other drives for data storage. You can easily create the RAID using the OS X Disk Utility application. Instructions will be found in the DU help.
2. Video
Not familiar with the card, but presumably if there are four ports you can connect four monitors.
3. Third-party RAM
Yes, but what's currently available does not meet Apple's specifications for use in the Mac Pro. However, you should see third-party product showing up very soon. OWC (www.macsales.com) has apparently gotten some inventory just today. Crucial and Kingston should have product also in a short time. You might also check www.datamem.com. They did not have inventory yet, but probably should in the near future.
4. Boot Camp and Parallels
This is correct. Apple is aware of the problem so you should see fixes coming soon. Parallels is also aware of the problem and believes they will have a fix for Parallels Desktop shortly.
You cannot run Windows without one of the above.
5. Would Win XP look at all 4 drives as a RAID drive or as 4 separate drives?
Don't know. Don't much use Windows. However, if the RAID is formatted Mac OS Extended then Windows cannot see the drive because it cannot read Mac formats without third-party software. As far as I'm aware you cannot create a RAID on the Mac using FAT32 formatted drives, nor would you want to.
6. My shipment says 3-5 weeks, but some people already got their Mac Pro.
No. If you placed a BTO order (other than the standard configuration) then your order takes longer. If you buy a standard configuration they ship ASAP.
7. Speakers.
Search Google.
8. eSata card.
Can't answer this question, I don't know.
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Hello,
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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.
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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
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See also What Can Be Translated by Rosetta.
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What do I need? I have a small office, don't need a high end sound system. Just something to give me good 5.1 when playing a movie (or very rarely, a game).
Thanks,Whoa whoa whoa.
Hold up here. There are a few very important things
to know about the Mac Pro and Surround Sound.
Mac Pro's (and the Quad G5's for that fact) do not
have PCI Slots. They only have PCI-E (PCI Express)
slots, and thus, there are currently NO sound cards
available that will work in your Mac Pro to provide
surround sound. M-Audio does not make a PCI-E Sound
card, so do not buy a PCI card- it won't fit. There
is nothing you can do about that until M-Audio comes
out with a PCI-E Sound Card for the Mac Pro.
You're right - I checked/verified this with M-Audio's tech support. Bummer.
Your onboard sound jack on the MP will output 2
Channels of audio (left/right). This is not surround
sound.
Didn't think so....
Your onboard Optical jack will output 2 Channels of
Digital audio from any application, game, or movie.
I thought perhaps this optical out would output 5.1 - bummer.
Any DVD that has a Dolby/DTS Surround Sound (5.1)
audio track (most do these days), can be played via
the Mac Pro's Optical port as a Dolby/DTS Audio
stream, but you REQUIRE an external decoder such as
an Amplifier.
I was afraid of that.... Can anyone suggest a good, very small form factor decoder that would fit well under/on a desk or behind a computer, or hidden somewhere out of sight?
This will give you surround sound via a DVD, only
because the sound is pre-encoded in the Dolby/DTS
format.
DVD's are my main concern - I'm not big into games myself.
Games will not be able to "encode on the fly" a
surround sound into a Dolby/DTS audio signal, so you
cannot get surround sound from the Optical port.
As far as a Dolby compatible unit goes for the
outside of the computer, I would suggest the Logitech
Z5500's. They have a nice little control-center that
handles the optical DTS streams and plays 5.1 Sound.
The system is fairly compact, save for the 10" Sub
Woofer that also has the amplifier built into it (but
that can go on the floor).
That answers my previous question from the sounds of it....
Z5500's are your best bet for a cheap, nice setup for
5.1 surround from your Mac Pro as is.
Again, I will mention this again because these forums
are *really* misleading when it comes to Mac
Surround.
-There are no PCI-E Sound cards for the Mac Pro.
-Onboard Optical will output 2 Channels only, unless
you play a Surround DVD Disk with the Dolby/DTS
audio
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games do not support surround regardless of if you
even had the hardware to do it.
-Your only real alternative is a Firewire box that
outputs 5.1 via Analogue cables, but even so, there
are few games that actually support surround on the
Mac.
Excellent info, thanks....
So ether way, there really isn't any point at all to
pursue an external sound card or an internal unit.
I'm sure M-Audio must eventually be releasing a PCI-Ex version of their Revolution card, don't you think?
Just use the Optical port on the Mac Pro, and you
will get 5.1 Surround. That's about it,
unfortunately. There isn't any other solution to
getting surround sound from anything other then a DVD
at this time.
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Excellent post, thank you very much for the obviously accurate & detailed info.
Mike -
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I was told that a letter would be sent to me from Apple letting me know as soon as Lion was available for free download. Haven't received my letter and can not download Lion without having to pay for it. Any suggestions as to what's going on and when I might expect my letter?
Upgrading to OS X 10.7 FAQ
First, you need to make sure you're running the latest version of SnowLeopard 10.6.8
Click the "Apple" symbol in the top left corner of your screen and select "About This Mac."
Make sure you're running version 10.6.8.
If not, click "Software Update" from the same Apple menu and update your system.
Then when that's finished launch the MacAppStore from the same menu.
You'll see the giant Lion banner across the top. Click on it.
This brings you to the app page for Lion. It costs $29.99 -- click the price, then click "Buy App."
Free Lion? check here
http://www.apple.com/macosx/uptodate/
You'll be prompted to sign in with your iTunes ID. After that, your download/upgrade begins.
BackupLion
http://www.eggfreckles.net/tech/burning-a-lion-boot-disc/
http://eggfreckles.net/tech/installing-lion-clean/
Check Apple's license details throughly before using orinstalling Lion.
This is what binds you legally, not what users say or sites suggest you can do.
Other Lion FAQ's answered.
No "Rosetta" sorry.
Some of your older programs (like Appleworks) that depend upon it will not work.
OSX Lion cannot be installed on these Macs:
1: Any PowerPC processor Mac (G3, G4, G5)
2: Any Intel Mac on this list:
iMac4,1Early (Jan-Sept) 2006 17"
iMac4,1Early (Jan-Sept) 2006 20"
iMac4,2Mid (July-Sept) 2006 17"
MacMini1,1 (Feb-Sept) Early 2006
MacMini1,1 (Sept-Aug) Late 2006
MacBook1,113" (May-Nov 2006)
MacBookPro1,1 15" A1150 (Jan-May 2006)
MacBookPro1,2 17" A1151 (Aprl-Oct 2006)
MacBookPro1,1 15" A1175 (May-Oct 2006)
Look under the Apple Menu > About this Mac > More informationforyour machine details.
(there are reports of hacking Lion to work on 32 bit Intel Core Duo Mac's,it's unsupported by Apple and not advised)
Didn't get Lion?
These are user to user support forums and Apple doesn't respond here,
We users can't speak for Apple about your free Lion status or problems downloading, reissuing a download.
It's possible Apple could be spacing out the downloads as not to knock the servers offline. So be patient.
If after a week or so when the initial rush is over, and you still haven't gotten your Lion, I suggest you contact Apple.
Mission critical
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