Original Mac Pro 2.66 Quad any good?

I am considering buying a used Mac Pro. I would like the 2009 Nehalem Quad 2.66, but those cost $1,500+ from what I have seen. I've noticed that the 2006 Woodcrest Quad 2.66 machines can be had for less than $1,000. I currently use a late 2008 MacBook Pro C2D 2.4GHz unibody, with 8 GB OWC RAM, and it is very fast, and does everything that I need a computer to do. My uses are Photoshop CS5, Nikon Scan 4.02, general internet use, e-mail, itunes/iphone, and gaming. Would an older 2006 Mac Pro 2.66 quad be able to do that stuff well? Would it be as fast as my MacBook Pro?
Is the older machine a waste of money and outdated, or still viable?
Jared

the mac pro 1,1 has been selling for under $1,000 for the years, sometimes more but that is rare.
Pressure from new 2011 Sandy Bridge laptops and iMac has pushed the price down.
People can run 10.410 which also for some is ideal unless they 'want' to shell out thousands on new software and sometmes new hardware.
Unless you actually own and use one, you won't know.
Or frequent other discussions and what is being said and market.
But $1200 is too much and $800 has been common for the last two years.
But 8-core 2.66s can be installed easily enough and rival any 2009 model other than lack of DDR3 (much cheaper than our FBDIMMs), and of course there is just such a huge selection of one (or two possible) graphic cards. No GTX 580 for you or us unless you run and use it as a PC Window which it does quite well also.

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How can I install Windows7 -64BIT on a 1st Generation Mac Pro 2.66GHZ Quad?

Hi,
I posted this in Bootcamp but haven't received any replies so I am reposting it here where perhaps it really belongs.Is it possible to install Windows 7 64 bit on a 1st Generation Mac Pro 2.66Ghz?
Apple suggests that it's not possible and yet I've seen several Googled posts where the users have successfully installed 64 bit on a 1st Generation Mac Pro. The problem is that they've done this creating a bootable iso disk(whatever that is) using a Windows computer with imgburn and windows commands. I'm pretty good at following instructions but I haven't seen any instructions on how to install Windows 7 on this machine using a Mac based approach.
I'm using BootCamp and was able to partition the drive into NFTS and "proceed" with installation; however all the installations failed during setup and Windows would not boot; disk repair was not possible. Besides, from what I've gathered, 32 bit is problematic around memory issues.
When I try installing 64 bits, I never get past the "select cd rom 1 or 2" message where the keyboard won't work. It is at this point where others say they have successfully proceeded with moving forward by creating a bootable iso disk.
Problem is it's all Windows based with exe files and presupposes I already have Windows running.
I'm not sure I really understand how to create an iso disk, but I do have ROXIO TOAST 10 which is capable of burning "ISO" disks.Does anyone know how to do this and/or can you point me to a place where there are instructions on how to proceed?? While I realize Apple says that some mid 2006 mac pros aren't supported, there are multiple posts of windows 7 users successfully installing Windows 7 on a 1st Generation Mac Pro.
Thanks.
Mac Pro 2.66GHZ Quad Core

I have a March 2009 Mac Pro dual quad core running Win7 Pro 64 bit. I have Windows installed on a dedicated internal hard drive. There are no partitions, the entire drive is for Windows use.
Here's how I installed it, I did not start with BootCamp. Make sure the drive you're going to use for Windows doesn't have any important files on it because it will be formatted.
1. Update Snow Leopard
2. Place the Windows cd in the Super Drive
3. Shut down the computer
4. Remove all the hard drives except the one you want Windows installed on. Keep track of the order they are in and at the end replace them in the same order.
5. Boot the computer holding down the Option key
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7. Install Windows and format the drive to NTFS
8. When Windows needs to restart during installation you'll need to hold the Option key and boot to Windows, not the Windows cd.
9. After Windows installs, place your Snow Leopard disc in the Super Drive
10. The Drivers for Windows will be installed along with a Windows version of BootCamp.
11. Go to Start > All Programs > Apple Software Update
12. Update again until it's done.
13. You'll also find a BootCamp under Control Panel, check it out.
14. Shut down the computer and replace the hard drives in their original order
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Mac Pro 2.66 Quad-Core 1GBRAM, how much more RAM and HOW?

I just got my Mac Pro 2.66 Quad-Core, and I had a budget so I left the RAM down @ only 1GB because I knew I could upgrade it later. Well later is here & I want to put more in it, but I hear it is a little more complicated than the sensless shoving of big ram chips into empty slots...
I am a heavy user of Logic 7, soon to be of Logic Studio, and hopefully I will be using AutoCAD at home soon (for school). How much RAM would be optimal for me to eventually have? Right now I think I can afford to purchase 2GB more, but I dont know how exactly to put it into my machine. Right now it has a 512MB per xeon.
Can anyone help me out?

I just pulled out 1GB (2 x 512MB) simms in replaced them with 4GB (2 x 2GB) simms.
I had added more memory as 2 GB (1x2GB) and ran out of space. Now I have a total of 11GB RAM:
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2GB = 2 x 1GB
8GB = 4 x 2GB
Leaving me with 2x512MB simms sitting in the box on the self. Sure wish I knew someone local I could give these things to for a reasonable price. Anyway, I wouldn't go any higher than 2GB simms (4GB) as that seems to currently have the best price/space ratio. Crucial is good enough and order it from NewEgg.com or MacConnection.com and you'll get a good price (I got mine at MacConnection.com).

Mac pro 2.66 Quad Core - boot drive mirrored, replace?

All,
I have a Mac Pro 2.66 Quad Core system.
I got all 'sexy' when I set it up - loaded four 1-TB drives in the 4 bays, Mirrored the boot set, also mirrored the secondary set for data.
I am getting ready to have these guys filled up (I do lots of video, pics, etc), and am thinking about 'growing' the drives to 2TB or even 3TB disks (mirrored of course, I'm paranoid).
So I am thinking about the 'how' of moving my data to the larger drive, getting things set up. I have not had any of the drives fail, so I haven't needed to do a swap out yet.
Can I simply take out one of the mirrored boot drives, put in a larger drive, and it will then rebuild the mirror?
or if anyone has some info they can point me to, I'd appreciate it.
thx

You cannot just add a larger drive and grow your RAID Volume size. You need to create an empty larger RAID Volume and COPY the data to the larger Volume, e.g., from your Backups.
Mirrored RAID is NOT Backup. It merely extends the time to repair to keep a drive failure from becoming a data disaster. RAID gives you no protection from human error, crazy software or file problems that happen "just because". You still need backup.
One of the best ways to get increased performance from a computer with the ability to support multiple Internal drives is to keep only System, Library, Applications, and the hidden unix files including paging/swap on the Boot Drive, and move everything else off. This dramatically reduces competition for the Boot Drive and everything speeds up. A Velociraptor is a little faster, and an SSD is incrementally faster still.
If that is all that is on the Boot Drive, you do not need to RAID it, since it can be reproduced from DVDs or downloads in short order. All your User files and Preferences are on other drives..
Implementing this would suggest a single small fast Boot Drive, typically with an offline clone as Backup for emergencies, and forget about RAID-ing the Boot Drive.

What is the best graphics card compatible with the original Mac Pro?

I have an original Mac Pro with dual 2.0GHz DC Xeons. It currently has a GeForce 7300. I would like to know the best Apple graphics card it can support, and the best "flashed" PC graphics card it can support. I would like to be able to play games, but it doesn't have to be on BEST settings. What are the best GPUs that are compatible with Mac Pro 1,1?
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You may have to work at getting the ATI HD5870 to work with a Rev 1.1 MacPro, but the 5770 should be fine. It's not as good a card as the 5870, but much faster than your original, and also a lot cheaper than the 5870! That said, neither is particularly cheap.
If you're techno savvy, you can have a much bigger choice, and can use a generic PC card and 'flash' it to work with the Mac. If you use Snow Leopard or Lion, you may get it to work straight off, as they have drivers that work on many of the PC cards.

ATI Radeon HD 4870 1GB for Mac Pro 2.66 Quad Core Xenon

I have the option of picking up an ATI Radeon HD 4870 1 GB graphics card to go with my soon-to-be-new MAc Pro 2.66 Quad core. I see know that Apple can upgrade to ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB, but that card is not available to me at the moment. Will the 1GB do the job without overheating the system? Am new to the Mac Pros. Need it for the Windows gaming portion of the system. Am using the rest for graphics and photography.

If the MAc Pro 2.66 comes with Snow Leopard, why would I have to upgrade my OS?
OK. So, if got the MAc version, it would work A-OK without overheating?
Thanks for your input!

I have a Mac Pro 4,1 quad core intel Xeon running mac OSX 10.6.8 and I have just moved studios and now need to use the Internet wirelessly but there's no airport facilities on this model can anyone tell me what model of airport card I would need for this

I have a Mac Pro 4,1 quad core intel Xeon running mac OSX 10.6.8 and I have just moved studios and now need to use the Internet wirelessly but there's no airport facilities on this model can anyone tell me what model of airport card I would need for this mac

Instead of getting a wireless card for the Mac Pro, you might want to consider getting an 802.11ac wireless bridge device that would enable you to connect more than one device to it by Ethernet cable and to eventually take advantage of the faster 802.11ac wireless standard.

HT1338 My Mac Pro is slow. Any suggestions?

My Mac Pro is slow. Any suggestions?

Mac Pro or macbook pro? Your profile says macbook pro.
For starters:
Try smc and pram reset.
Boot from you recovery partition and repair/verify your drive (not repair permissions).

My Mac Pro is not displaying any images for videos or games, it is showing sound and working but nothing else. DVD player is also coming up with an error.

My Mac Pro is not displaying any images for videos or games, it is showing sound and working but nothing else. DVD player is also coming up with an error. I'm not sure why neither is working, it just suddenly happened. I have done nothing different.

Lao Bo,
yes, you can locate and copy a file from your HD to a USB key using UNIX commands. If you know the exact name of the file which you’re trying to locate, try this:
find / -iname filename -print
This command will search your entire internal disk for the particular filename. If you know that it’s within a particular user account, then you can save search time with this variation:
find /Users/username -iname filename -print
Either variation of this command will print all files found which have the given filename. Presuming that you’re able to identify the correct file, you can copy it to a USB key using the command
cp -p filename_returned_by_find /Volumes/USB_volume
If you’re not sure which volume name your USB key has, this command will show you what the possibilities are:
ls /Volumes
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Mac Pro 2.66 quad or MacBook Retina 2.7 quad for Logic Pro?

Hi Guys,
It has come time to replace my ageing Mac Pro in my home studio, and I am in a quandry as to what to choose.
Up until now, the sensible choice has always been a Mac Pro, because it allows a number of hard drives (separate drives for audio, and for virtual instruments) to stream at high-speed, which was not possible with a laptop using external USB or firewire drives.
Thunderbolt changes all this, and I'm now wondering whether to replace the Mac Pro with a MacBook Pro 15" Retina, and connect two external drives via Thunderbolt for my audio and virtual instruments...
The alternative is to get a newer Mac Pro, and I've noticed a demo 2.66GHz quad at a great price at my Mac dealer.
I'm really not sure which way to go. On the one hand, I like the idea of just one computer (the MacBook 15") for both studio and non-studio work, as it would mean I no longer need my 13" MacBook for non-music related tasks. I also like the idea of the main drive being SSD in the Retina. The MacBook 15" can be specced with 16GB of RAM, letting go of the previous RAM limits of earlier MacBooks. The downside is that external Thunderbolt hard drives are still incredibly expensive, and I'd need two!
On the other hand, the Mac Pro is brilliant in that it can house all the hard drives I need, is expandable port-wise (although is that really such a big deal these days?), and it would mean I have a dedicated computer in the studio just for music, and can keep my non-music stuff separate on my 13" laptop.
I'd love some thoughts on what will do a better job for me in the studio. Perhaps I've missed a key benefit of one of the approaches above, that actually puts one option significantly ahead of another!
Keen to hear people's thoughts, perhaps from people who have had experience running DAWs on both machines I'm looking at.
Thanks guys!
Mike

What are you using for an audio interface? It's not just disks...
I have a similar question, currently 8-core MacPro, and a couple of 17" MBPs for live rig and general use.
There's another option, the non-retina MBP...
There's supposed to be new MacPro next year. I would hope it's a serious rethink of the architecture. Internals via thunderbolt connectors for starters? No version of SATA will keep up with that... So... I keep my supposedly long-in-the-tooth MacPro, feed it memory, swap out eSATA card for USB 3, so I can transition external drives to something faster and get away from eSATA connectors - hate those things! OWC has a bootable SSD card that goes in a slot, which is supposedly. Much faster than any version of SATA. It's pricey, and... If I didn't think they'd be doing away with expansions slots as we know 'em, I'd score one of these, but it's a lot of cash for something that may not go over to the nextgen MacPro. I have *no idea* what it's going to be, just looking at a machine today and wondering about what they could leave off a new version, while giving the kind of power and expansion we want in-the-box as opposed to hanging off of it.
I would personally *not* buy a new MacPro today, because I have hopes for what the next one will be.
Laptops, MBPs. Love the power of the new machines! C'mon. Those geek bench scores are ridiculous, so I would score one in a sec, but have to have a strategy for my live rig. Audio interface is FireWire and I run an eSATA card in the express slot for streaming samples (rack mounted drive from Glyph). Oops, the FW audio interface can't connect and there's no express card slot so my streaming performance falls back to usb2 speeds (my Glyph has a quad interface, but not USB3). The non-retina MBP gives a FW port but doesn't have the sexy screen... Assuming cost is not an issue (not true), hanging an SSD off one of the USB3 ports would surely bring good to great sample streaming rates, but still have to get another audio interface, and then strange as it sounds, probably something over USB...
So... I ultimately decided to wait for the market for peripherals mature for the new connectors, usb3 and thunderbolt.
End of story. MacPro=next year and... Pull the trigger on a retina MBP once I'm sure my peripherals are all in place. The MBPs do go out live, so they're in Speck protective cases. Adds bulk, probably ugly bulk to a rMBP, but it beats trusting the roadies at the venue. MBP, audio interface and streaming HD all in a nifty rack case the size of a carry-on bag, even wheels and a trolley handle!
Not really a 1-2-3 answer, but these are my thoughts on the pieces of kit you seem to be considering too...

Original Mac Pro Installation Discs won't allow me to reinstall!

Hi All
I just got hold of a second hand Mac Pro. All seems good until I notice that there's no iPhoto on it, and thats a bit of a must as its for a Photography Studio!
Went to install from the "Mac Pro Applications Install DVD" and get an error:
Alert: You cannot install this software on your computer
So I thought I'd just reinstall the whole system (don't really have time to spend hours troubleshooting) but I get the same problem with the "Mac Pro Max OS X Install DVD".
So any ideas? The discs came in the box with the Mac and everything else seems ok.... has someone fobbed me off with the wrong discs?
Cheers
Mark

The disks it came with aren't for that model, aren't OEM
And it would have been better to "troubleshoot" the iPhoto, though I would say it isn't a Pro app or one that a Studio would rely on and use.
A box set of retail OS X + iLife/iWork
2006 had dual / dual-core, and 2009 had a single processor quad-core.
5GB though won't take you very far.
If the Install DVD says "10.4.x" what do you see inside or in System Profile about hardware model, graphic card, processors, type of RAM?

Stock Mac Pro 2.66 Quad Nehalem + new memory

Hi,
Probably this was covered but I can't find it. I'm waiting for my brand new Mac Pro 2.66 with the stock configuration of 3GB of memory. I know it's not enough because some of my projects use more (Logic Pro + Kontakt 3.5 and a Play library) and I know my current system has never went further than 3.7GB (according to iStat nano widget) though I have 8 gigs. So the first option is to buy just a 2GB module to have a total of 5GB in 4 slots (21+11). Or to buy the 2GB module and have 4GB (211) in 3 slots? I've read the DIMM replacement DIY pdf from apple and found that it's better to fill the first 3 slots and leave the 4th empty because it can decrise system speed. How much slower will the system be if filled 4 slots? Can I have one 2GB module and 2x1GB modules installed? Which way is best? Or perhaps I have to buy a 2x2GB pair and leave the 2 last slots empty?
I have to add, my G5 quad speed is enough for me and I'm upgrading not because of speed issue but because more and more developers abandon the PPC world.
So to cut a long story short: I need more RAM (total of 4GB or 5GB is enough). Can I mix different size modules (ie. 1GB and 2GB)? what system slowness can I expect when the 4th slot is filled?
I hope my thoughs are clar Any comment appreciated.
Best,
Wojtek

Thanks for your input! I've just bought 1GB for penny and will observe if it's ok for the moment with the total of 4GB. After installing all the apps and plugins (I guess it will take some days because I have some folders back from Logic 6 somewhere in the Library folder and from my experience I know they have to be in specific places because Logic or EXS will look for them) I will open my most demanding Logic sessions and see if the memory is enough. Unfortunately there is nothing like Apple Poland and I can't buy directly from Apple (even from their German or UK shop), this is ridiculous, but that's another story. I found a reliable supplier in German Ebay - PureMac and I most probably will buy from them if in the need.
BTW This Mac Pro is soooo silent comparing to my G5 quad! I have one of those fan equipped UPSs and it generates more noise than the Mac Pro!

Mac Pro 2.66 Quad Core

According to the blurb I cannot run Windows 7 with Boot Camp 3.1. Now If I had Boot Camp 4 would this be different, or is it because of the age of the Mac Pro? Am I stuck installing XP only?!

Actually you can. I have the same MacPro Quad running Windows 7 64bit. You have to go through a couple of steps.
Download the appropriate ISO image of Windows 7 64bit.
Patch the ISO so that it will boot on your MacPro 1,1
Burn a new install DVD with the patched ISO
Voila, you'll be running it in no time. Works great!!
You'll have to google around for the instructions, but it can be done. I've done it.
Good Luck!!

Mac Pro 2.66 Quad - Hardware Test error

Hi all !
I am trying to help out someone in another state with their Mac Pro problem so bear with me ...
The machine is a MacPro 2009 I believe, 2.66GHz Quad. and it's having startup issues - at the moment it's NOT starting so I am told !
Before it went totally down someone was able to run the Apple Hardware Test on it and got an error code -
4SNS/1/40000000: TMA4- 128.000
Ive searched and found the 4SNS refers to a possible sensor problem, but the TMA part of the code is unknown ...
It is also showing 1 of the 4 red ram led lights so there looks like a ram issue as well, but Im just wondering if anyone can shed more light on the error above so I can try to pinpoint the problems closer ?
At the moment Im being told by the locals it might be the logic board which of course is quite expensive ...
Mitch

My rule of thumb when faced with multiple problems is to address any you can get your hands around, and the symptoms may change and clarify the other problem.
A RAM LED stuck on is a memory failure, and that is easy to fix -- remove or replace the failing module.
It is also possible the sensor complaint is about that module -- they have temp sensors on them.
If you are replacing modules in a 2009 or later, don't buy smaller than 8GB replacements, they are cheap enough now at about US$75 from
http://DataMemorySystems.com
http://www.datamemorysystems.com/apple-mac-pro-quad-core-intel-xeon-nehalem-2-66 ghz-mb871ll/a-early-2009-memory-upgrades/
(Where 2* 4GB Costs $76 or $94 from the same vendor at this writing)

Premiere Pro CC2014 on Mac Pro 2013 using Bootcamp. Good idea?

I'm thinking of getting a Mac Pro (late 2013 'trashcan' model with 6 core processor) due to it's portability vs a regular desktop and due to it's over original purchase price resale value if re-sold in Brazil. Since the Mac version of Premiere seems to be buggier than the Windows version, based on forum discussions I've read, and since I much prefer Windows vs OSX, can anyone with experience running the latest version of Premiere Pro on a MacPro through Bootcamp chip in with their thoughts? Does it work just as well as running Premiere CC2014 on a native Windows desktop? Are there any issues I should be aware of? Problems with connecting devices through Thunderbolt ports with Bootcamp?
Thanks for any input!!!
BTW, I don't want this thread to turn into a Windows vs OSX debate, unless directly related to the performance/stability of Premiere Pro. Thanks.

mojo,
Do you have QuickTime and the associated codecs installed in your PC?
Thanks,
Kevin

Original Mac Pro 2.66 Quad any good?

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