Which Mac Pro model has the least known Issues?

Wanted to get some oppinions from folks on buying a slightly older mac. My buddy got a new rig for the studio so its time for me to get a machine that will help me at least live in the same decade as my colleagues.
Heard there are some PowerPC models with PRAM issues, Intel-based models with graphical problems, etc. While I may be confusing a couple of widely known issues Ive seen recently, just wanted to know what you feel is the most trouble-free Mac Pro intel based model in a dual or quad processor config. Thanks for your input!

If you're considering getting a 12 core Mac Pro, and you're using Final Cut Studio, I would wait a while or get an 8 core machine. I just got a 12 core machine a couple weeks ago and have been having problems with Compressor working properly on this system (the Mpeg2 output has a green stripe over the center of the image). At least one other user in the Compressor forum with the same hardware has confirmed the same problem I've had. Even after a clean install of OSX and Final Cut Studio they still asked me to reinstall Compressor as a possible solution, so obviously they're a bit oblivious to the problem.

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My Mac Pro 2009 has the wrong time

I have an early 2009 Mac Pro 2.66GHz quad core Xeon processor, 20 GB RAM 2TB HD and a second 2TB HD for backup. Running OS 10.10.2. I have Parallels installed.
Starting with 10.9, I noticed that sometimes the clock was wrong. After the installation of 10.10, it seemed to get worse, although that may be unrelated. I have not seen my exact symptoms described in any posts related to this subject. Here is what I see:
I notice the time is wrong. It is never wrong by a certain number of hours. It can be off by 4 hours and 19 minutes and the next time 7 hours and 12 minutes. The day, however is usually correct. If I open the Date and Time control panel, the "Set date and time automatically" is checked and the Apple US server is chosen. The time is wrong. If I uncheck and then re-check the SD&TA checkbox, the time then corrects. However, a few minutes to hours later, the time will be wrong again. If I leave the Date and Time control panel open, the correct time seems to persist longer but eventually the time goes rogue. I even tried setting the time manually, turning off SD&TA and leaving the machine on without sleeping and it still became corrupted.
I have tried the following
Obviously, set the time and date automatically
Adjusting the time zones
Rebooting
Doing an NVRAM reset
Resetting the SMC
Reinstalling the OS (10.10)
Replacing the battery on the motherboard. When I removed the battery, I tested it and it was fine. I checked the position of the battery and it appears to be correct. It is the correct type of battery and fits perfectly into the slot. Just to be sure, I replaced it again.
Hitting it with a hammer (not really)
I saw some posts relating to the time zone being a problem, but the time is not off by an hourly interval, so that seems less likely. The one thing I thought was that perhaps Parallels is causing some sort of problem, but I could find no posts.
The machine is still great after 6 year. I use it almost every day all day. While this problem is small, it has large consequences because my calendar is off and I'm missing meetings, the time on my emails is weird, my file creation times are off and anything related to time is corrupted. I'm facile with Unix so if the solution involves the command line, so be it. I've had macs since a Centris 650 back in the dark ages 20 years ago but this one has stumped me.
Thanks for any help.

You have done all the appropriate things.
There have been reports of odd bugs related to Date & Time when a group of non-standard settings was set (deliberately or "just because") in the "Language & Region" Preferences.
I recommend you actively change those settings to a standard setting (that you do NOT intend to keep, e.g. Europe --United Kingdom), save Changes, close the Preferences pane, then re-Open, change to a standard set of Preferences (that you DO Intend to keep, e.g., Americas -- United States) save changes, close the preference pane, then check and reset the date&time and test. [If I have guessed incorrectly about your location in the world, no offense was intended.]

Purchased CC and downloaded PP and PS; neither runs on my Mac Pro. Is this a known issue?

After purchasing CC on Monday, I downloaded Premiere Pro and Photoshop. PP crashes on the splash screen; PS opens but freezes (with spinning beach ball), requiring a forced quit.
Mac Pro: 2 x 2.4 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon; 16 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC with ATI Radeon HD 5870 1024 MB and running OS X 10.9.2.
I've uninstalled completely and reinstalled at least twice. Any assistance on getting these running would be appreciated.

Hi Janet,
I would suggest you could try some of the suggestions given below:
Troubleshoot errors, freezes | Adobe Bridge | Windows, Mac OS
Let me know how this works!
Cheers
-Mandhir

Which X Series Model Has the Best Performance?

I am looking for the best performing computer in the X series.
Which model should I buy, if that is my criteria?
Thanks!
Richard

Agreed: x201 w/ SSD. 8GB would be great *if* you like to have a *lot* of things running simultaneously. The fact is, with 4GB and an SSD you have less latency on the pagefile. (Also it saves you a few hundred bucks!)

HT5634 Mac Pro Model Identification

Hi,
I am trying to determine my Mac model so I can use the table in this article to identify which versions of Windows I can install.
But on my Mac Pro, 'About This Mac' shows something called 'Model identifier' as 'MacPro1,1' which does not match any of the Mac models listed in this article. How do I identify my Mac Pro model in terms of year of manufacture as shown in this article?
Any help on this would be gratefully appreciated.
Regards Gordon

Hi,
Thanks for the quick response. I am currently running Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit version via Boot Camp with no problems. But if you are correct about my Mac Pro model and the table in the article is also correct then I should not be able to run this version of Windows.
The question now is should I reinstall my previous version of Windows i.e. Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit version or stick with Windows 7?
Thanks Gordon

Which Mac Pro for FCP?

I'm considering purchase of a new Mac Pro, hoping that it would allow more real-time playback of our DVPro 50 edits and faster rendering and compression. I'm also considering purchase of a video card for export to DVCAM and Beta SP. Can anyone help us with advice on what kind of configuration would be best? Thanks in advance.

Hi Gerret,
I would opt for the base Mac Pro model over the higher clocked BTO models and put the saved money into adding more memory and- storage.
The card choice absolutely depends on your (input/output connection) needs.
Some DVCAM decks have Firewire in/outs so this would require no card at all.
If you really only need SD i/o then Blackmagic is the only remaining vendor to offer SD-only cards.
http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/sd/
Depending on the video i/o interfaces on your deck(s) there are two cards available for PCIe machines (like the Mac Pro):
$595 DeckLink SP (analog only)
$895 DeckLink Extreme (analog + SDI)
AJA has the external Io / Io LA / Io LD boxes available.
I can only talk about the Io though. It has great quality, a plethora of in/outputs but sets you back quite a bit, moneywise.
http://www.aja.com/html/productsIoIo.html
http://www.aja.com/html/productsIoIoLAD.html
Maybe you should consider getting a HD capable card, though.
Blackmagic's HD cards start at only $100 more than the SD-only DeckLink Extreme and you would be 'future-proof' then (if that's possible at all
Best regards, Oliver

Which Mac Pro? More cores=slower speeds? And most of us know the speed matters or FPU for music and I don't understand the faster is for the least amount of procs. And while I get the whole rendering thing and why it makes sense.

Which Mac Pro? More cores=slower speeds? And most of us know the speed matters or FPU for music and I don't understand the faster is for the least amount of procs. And while I get the whole rendering thing and why it makes sense.
The above is what the bar says. It's been a while and wondered, maybe Apple changed the format for forums. Then got this nice big blank canvas to air my concerns. Went to school for Computer Science, BSEE, even worked at Analog Devices in Newton Massachusetts, where they make something for apple.
The bottom line is fast CPU = more FPU = more headroom and still can't figure out why the more cores= the slower it gets unless it's to get us in to a 6 core then come out with faster cores down the road or a newer Mac that uses the GPU. Also. Few. I'm the guy who said a few years ago Mac has an FCP that looks like iMovie on Steroids. Having said that I called the campus one day to ask them something and while I used to work for Apple, I think she thought I still did as she asked me, "HOW ARE THE 32 CORES/1DYE COMING ALONG? Not wanting to embarrass her I said fine, fine and then hung up. Makes the most sense as I never quite got the 2,6,12 cores when for years everything from memory to CPU's have been, in sets of 2 to the 2nd power. 2,4,8,16,32,64,120,256,512, 1024, 2048,4196,8192, 72,768. Wow. W-O-W and will be using whatever I get with Apollo Quad.
Peace to all and hope someone can point us in THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THANK YOU

Thanks for your reply via email/msg. He wrote:
If you are interested in the actual design data for the Xeon processor, go to the Intel site and the actual CPU part numbers are:
Xeon 4 core - E5.1620v2
Xeon 6 core - E5.1650v2
Xeon 8 core - E5.1680v2
Xeon 12 core - E5.2697v2
I read that the CPU is easy to swap out but am sure something goes wrong at a certain point - even if solderedon they make material to absorb the solder, making your work area VERY clean.
My Question now is this, get an 8 core, then replace with 2 3.7 QUAD CHIPS, what would happen?
I also noticed that the 8 core Mac Pro is 3.0 when in fact they do have a 3.4 8 core chip, so 2 =16? Or if correct, wouldn't you be able to replace a QUAD CHIP WITH THAT? I;M SURE THEY ARE UO TO SOMETHING AS 1) WE HAVE SEEN NO AUDIO FPU OR PERHAPS I SHOULD CHECK OUT PC MAKERS WINDOWS machines for Sisoft Sandra "B-E-N-C-H-M-A-R-K-S" -
SOMETHINGS UP AND AM SURE WE'LL ALL BE PLEASED, AS the mac pro was announced Last year, barely made the December mark, then pushed to January, then February and now April.
Would rather wait and have it done correct than released to early only to have it benchmarked in audio and found to be slower in a few areas- - - the logical part of my brain is wondering what else I would have to swap out as I am sure it would run, and fine for a while, then, poof....
PEACE===AM SURE APPLE WILL BLOW US AWAY - they have to figure out how to increase the power for 150 watts or make the GPU work which in regard to FPU, I thought was NVIDIA?

My Mac pro tower has an "ATI Radion hd 2600 XT" video card, and it stopped getting signal to my tv, are there common problems known? How can I troubleshoot this problem when the signal isn't reaching the screen?

My Mac pro tower has an "ATI Radion hd 2600 XT" video card, and it stopped getting signal to my tv, are there common problems known? How can I troubleshoot this problem when the signal isn't reaching the screen?

http://discussions.info.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=12248238&#12248238
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2649035&tstart=0

My Mac Pro (2006) has suddenly stopped sending signal to the display monitor.

My Mac Pro (2006) has suddenly stopped sending signal to the display monitor. It coincided with plugging in an Epson printer via usb - while the system was running. Pretty dumb maybe? Could I have damaged the video card? Anyone ideas? Thanks

Howdy Le Batch,
I was looking into the issue you are seeing here, and came across a helpful article for this specific situation. It's named Apple computers: Troubleshooting issues with video on internal or external displays and can be found here:
When using an external display be sure to check the following:
If you're using an Apple notebook, confirm the AC power cable or adapter is securely connected to the computer and the cable providing power to the display is also secure. It is always good to have your notebook connected to AC power when an external display is in use.
Confirm display adapters are fully seated in their respective connections and that they are supported models and for the computer and display. Refer to these articles to assist you with adapter compatibility and further configuration information:
Monitor and Display Adapter Table
About Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters
Apple Mini DisplayPort adapters: Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Thunderbolt ports and displays: Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Remove all display cable extenders, KVM switches, or other like devices and retest to determine if the issue is resolved.
If more than one video adapter is in use—or "daisy-chained"—troubleshoot by using only one adapter.
Example: A mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter connected to a DVI to HDMI adapter is an unsupported configuration because there is a series of adapters in use.
If available, try using a different display and or adapter (or use a different connector by using DVI instead of VGA, for instance).
Reset the system
You can reset the Mac's parameter RAM and SMC.Reset the resolutionStart by resetting the Mac's parameter RAM. If the display does not come up, was previously set to an unsupported resolution, and still results in no video:
Start up in Safe Mode.
From the Apple () menu, choose System Preferences.
Choose Displays from the View menu to open the preferences pane.
Select any resolution and refresh rate that your display supports.
Restart your computer.
Regards,
Sterling

I have been using a Lightroom 5 including recent upgrades on my Mac Pro laptop for the past 1 year. This was purchased as an upgrade from Lightroom 4 for which I have a serial number. Today I purchased a new Macbook pro and loaded my Lightroom 5 however i

I have been using a Lightroom 5 including recent upgrades on my Mac Pro laptop for the past 1 year. This was purchased as an upgrade from Lightroom 4 for which I have a serial number. Today I purchased a new Macbook pro and loaded my Lightroom 5 however it is asking for my serial number which I have misplaced. I am unable to trace my serial number anywhere. I have even checked my adobe membership to locate my serial number but it does not seem to have any record which is strange as I have been using this software for over a year now and the previous versions since 2009. Could someone help me in my predicament.

Contavct Adobe support thru chat:
Serial number and activation chat support (non-CC)
http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/service1.html ( http://adobe.ly/1aYjbSC )

Which operating system has the least problems for IPad

Which operating system has the least problems for IPad? I have 3.0 and probably should upgrade. Thanks

You're using an original iPad? Definitely upgrade to the newest version of iOS. Many apps will require iOS 5.1.1 and it will run fine on your iPad.

Which audio format has the least overhead? CS5 AIR

Hi guys,
I'm wondering which music targeted audio format has the least overhead for CS5.
I'm publishing a project to Air 2 and need to keep down the amount of processor I am using on my client's laptop ( which is an old Black MacBook ).
I am using mp3 at the moment with standard 192 mp3 compression, but if there was a better, maybe 'native' format - I'd use that.
Thanks in advance.
Steve

Hi guys,
I'm wondering which music targeted audio format has the least overhead for CS5.
I'm publishing a project to Air 2 and need to keep down the amount of processor I am using on my client's laptop ( which is an old Black MacBook ).
I am using mp3 at the moment with standard 192 mp3 compression, but if there was a better, maybe 'native' format - I'd use that.
Thanks in advance.
Steve

When I power up my 2008 Mac Pro I get the "welcome", chime, fan goes on, a light goes on on my Apple monitor and then nothing - black screen. Whats going on?

When I power up my 2008 Mac Pro I get the "welcome chime", fan comes on, a light comes on on my Apple moniter and then nothing - black screen. What,s going on?

what you describe as the "welcome chime" is the indicator that your Mac has passed the Power-On Self test, and if a suitable source of software can be found, booting is likely.
If the screen stays dark, the most likely explanation is a graphics card failure. But it could also be caused by a backlight failure in the LCD, so be sure you try shining a bright light at the screen to be check whether the picture is there, but just not illuminated.
Graphics card failure will end the boot-up process in some cases, and not have an impact in others. Two external indications you can use when your display is not working are: The Caps Lock key, which is under the control of Mac OS X, and the Control-Eject dialog box shown below. Note that the default is Shutdown, so a Mac that shuts down in response to Control-Eject followed by Return is working fine.

My mac pro screen has vertical lines... How much does it cost to get it fixed?

My mac pro screen has vertical lines... How much does it cost to get it fixed?

When you fail to give information on the exact model MBP that you have, how do you expect anyone to provide you with any specific information?
I suggest that you go to the iFixit.com and Powerbookmedic.com and look for parts and prices. That naturally assumes that you know what parts are defective and need to be replaced.
Ciao.

Which Mac Pro to buy for Studio 3

Guys, I'm in the process of upgrading my trusted Power Mac G5 Quad to a Mac Pro.
I will also upgrade to FCS 3.
My question is, which Mac Pro to buy? Quad 2.93 OR Octo 2.26?
Will FCS 3 along with Snow Leopard utilise ALL the Octo's processors? Or am I better off saving the money and sticking with a Quad?

If your income depends on this work, then buy the biggest, baddest, most RAM-filled Mac Pro you can.
At least get the octo 2.66. Put 12GB RAM in it, if you can, but put a minimum of 6GB in there. The concept is that as a professional editor, editing for clients, you must be as time efficient as you can afford to be.
Compressor will use that RAM to compress your stuff a lot faster. Also, Motion can make use of as much RAM as you throw in there. Final Cut Pro itself, not yet.

Which Mac Pro model has the least known Issues?

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