Buying a Mac Pro
Apple introduced the 2010 version of the Mac Pro in July, and started accepting orders and shipping in August. This version of the Mac Pro predominantly centers around new, faster processors and upgraded graphics options. Lacking from this update are any new peripheral ports, such as USB 3, FireWire 1600, or FireWire 3200. Nevertheless, this update is a welcome addition to the Mac Pro family, one that has been eagerly awaited by many Mac users. Before you plunk down your hard-earned cash, though, take a moment to consider how to configure a Mac Pro for your needs.
Apple offers the Mac Pro in two distinct base configurations: a single-processor model that can be configured with a 4-core or 6-core processor, and a dual-processor model available in 8-core and 12-core configurations.
You can't upgrade from a single processor to a dual processor later, so the decision you make now will commit you to one or the other for the life of your Mac Pro. You may think it makes sense to just go with the dual-processor model, but the single-processor option can be had for significantly less. And with the right configuration, it can outperform one or more of the dual-processor models.More »
The single-processor Mac Pro is available in two quad-core models and a single 6-core model.
The dual-processor Mac Pro is available in an 8-core model and two 12-core models.
The single-processor Mac Pros are configured with 4 DIMM slots; the dual-processor Mac Pros are configured with 8 DIMM slots. Apple claims the maximum memory for the single-processor model is 16 GB, while the dual-processor model can handle 32 GB. That's not entirely correct. Apple based its claim on 4 GB DIMMs, which were once the largest available. Eight GB modules are now available, pushing the maximum memory to 32 GB for the single-processor model and 64 GB for the dual-processor model.
Apple's default memory configuration is 3 GB for the single-processor model (three 1 GB modules), and 6 GB for the dual-processor model (six 1 GB modules).
You may have noticed that Apple only populates the first three DIMM slots for each processor, even though there are four available memory slots per processor. This ensures the best memory performance. Each processor in the Mac Pro has three memory channels. Slots 1 and 2 are each connected to their own memory channel; slots 3 and 4 share the remaining memory channel. If slots 3 and 4 are both populated with RAM, the third memory channel must service both slots, thus reducing its memory bandwidth.
For best performance, try to populate only the first 3 DIMM slots.More »
Apple offers two graphics options: the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and the ATI Radeon HD 5870. Both have 1 GB of GDDR5 memory, two Mini DisplayPorts, and one dual-link DVI port.
The ATI Radeon HD 5770 is the standard graphics card, and it's no performance slouch, but the ATI Radeon HD 5870 is literally twice as powerful. It doubles most of the 5770's specs, going from a 128-bit memory interface to 256, from 1.35 teraflops to 2.72, and from 800 to 1600 stream processing units.
Of course, the 5870 comes at a price premium, but if you're creating or editing heavy-duty graphics with lots of rendering, it may be a worthwhile investment.More »
Not much has changed since the 2009 model, other than larger hard drives and an SSD option. The 2010 Mac Pro still has four drive bays, each using dedicated SATA 3 channels.
The standard drives are 1 or 2 GB, 7200 rpm, and a 32 MB cache; the SSD option is a 512 GB model. Apple hasn't yet identified the manufacturers of the various drive options, but it historically uses drives from multiple manufacturers, so it's usually a mystery what you will get until your Mac Pro is delivered.
Apple also offers a hardware RAID card that supports RAID 0, 1, 5, and 0 + 1.More »
If you're on a tight budget, the base single-processor model will get you the newest ATI graphics and a faster processor that will outperform the previous generation's base model, at the same price point.
Based on preliminary tests, the models that use a Westmere processor will perform better than the older Nehalems used in two of the configurations. For that reason, I recommend looking at the 6-core single-processor model or any of the dual-processor models.
The best performance-to-price ratio will likely be the single-processor 6-core model, but we'll have to wait for pricing and bench testing to be sure.
This is an easy one. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 is the graphics card of choice for the vast majority of users. The 5770 with 1 GB of GDDR5 RAM is a more than adequate performer. It will run rings around the high-end graphics card used in the previous Mac Pro.
The ATI Radeon HD 5870 certainly looks like the performance champ, but it comes with a few downsides. It requires two auxiliary power connections, which suggests it's going to use prodigious amounts of power, generating heat, noise, and elevated electric bills. Unless you're using all of the card's capabilities, you're wasting your resources.
Less is more, or at least, less will save you money. Buy your Mac Pro with the minimum amount of RAM that Apple will supply. If you need more, buy it from one of the many third-party suppliers. As long as you buy from a reputable dealer, and the RAM meets the specs set forth in the Mac Pro manual, you shouldn't have any problems.
Another easy recommendation. Buy your Mac Pro with a single hard drive, and then buy the rest of your drives from third parties. That way, you'll be able to buy the exact type of drive you want, in size, manufacturer, and performance. Don't worry about your original hard drive. Chances are you can continue to use it for your Time Machine backups or as one of your data drives.
•Which Mac Pro - Single-Processor or Dual-Processor?
Apple offers the Mac Pro in two distinct base configurations: a single-processor model that can be configured with a 4-core or 6-core processor, and a dual-processor model available in 8-core and 12-core configurations.
You can't upgrade from a single processor to a dual processor later, so the decision you make now will commit you to one or the other for the life of your Mac Pro. You may think it makes sense to just go with the dual-processor model, but the single-processor option can be had for significantly less. And with the right configuration, it can outperform one or more of the dual-processor models.More »
•Single Processor Configurations for the Mac Pro
The single-processor Mac Pro is available in two quad-core models and a single 6-core model.
Quad-Core Options
- 2.8 GHz Intel Xeon W3530 (Nehalem). 8 MB Level 3 cache, 1066 MHz front side bus. Maximium Turbo Boost speed of 3.06 GHz.
- 3.2 GHz Intel Xeon W3565 (Nehalem). 8 MB Level 3 cache, 1066 MHz front side bus. Maximium Turbo Boost speed of 3.4 GHz.
6-Core Options
- 3.33 GHz Intel Xeon W3680 (Westmere). 12 MB Level 3 cache, 1333 MHz front side bus. Maximium Turbo Boost speed of 3.6 GHz.
•Dual-Processor Configurations for the Mac Pro
The dual-processor Mac Pro is available in an 8-core model and two 12-core models.
8-Core Options
- 2.4 GHz Intel Xeon E5620 (Westmere). 12 MB Level 3 cache, 1066 MHz front side bus. Maximium Turbo Boost speed of 2.66 GHz.
12-Core Options
- 2.66 GHz Intel Xeon W5650 (Westmere). 12 MB Level 3 cache, 1333 MHz front side bus. Maximium Turbo Boost speed of 3.06 GHz.
- 2.93 GHz Intel Xeon W5670 (Westmere). 12 MB Level 3 cache, 1333 MHz front side bus. Maximium Turbo Boost speed of 3.33 GHz.
•Memory Configurations for the Mac Pro
The single-processor Mac Pros are configured with 4 DIMM slots; the dual-processor Mac Pros are configured with 8 DIMM slots. Apple claims the maximum memory for the single-processor model is 16 GB, while the dual-processor model can handle 32 GB. That's not entirely correct. Apple based its claim on 4 GB DIMMs, which were once the largest available. Eight GB modules are now available, pushing the maximum memory to 32 GB for the single-processor model and 64 GB for the dual-processor model.
Apple's default memory configuration is 3 GB for the single-processor model (three 1 GB modules), and 6 GB for the dual-processor model (six 1 GB modules).
•Memory Performance
You may have noticed that Apple only populates the first three DIMM slots for each processor, even though there are four available memory slots per processor. This ensures the best memory performance. Each processor in the Mac Pro has three memory channels. Slots 1 and 2 are each connected to their own memory channel; slots 3 and 4 share the remaining memory channel. If slots 3 and 4 are both populated with RAM, the third memory channel must service both slots, thus reducing its memory bandwidth.
For best performance, try to populate only the first 3 DIMM slots.More »
•Graphics Options for the Mac Pro
Apple offers two graphics options: the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and the ATI Radeon HD 5870. Both have 1 GB of GDDR5 memory, two Mini DisplayPorts, and one dual-link DVI port.
The ATI Radeon HD 5770 is the standard graphics card, and it's no performance slouch, but the ATI Radeon HD 5870 is literally twice as powerful. It doubles most of the 5770's specs, going from a 128-bit memory interface to 256, from 1.35 teraflops to 2.72, and from 800 to 1600 stream processing units.
Of course, the 5870 comes at a price premium, but if you're creating or editing heavy-duty graphics with lots of rendering, it may be a worthwhile investment.More »
•Storage Options for the Mac Pro
Not much has changed since the 2009 model, other than larger hard drives and an SSD option. The 2010 Mac Pro still has four drive bays, each using dedicated SATA 3 channels.
The standard drives are 1 or 2 GB, 7200 rpm, and a 32 MB cache; the SSD option is a 512 GB model. Apple hasn't yet identified the manufacturers of the various drive options, but it historically uses drives from multiple manufacturers, so it's usually a mystery what you will get until your Mac Pro is delivered.
Apple also offers a hardware RAID card that supports RAID 0, 1, 5, and 0 + 1.More »
•Mac Pro Configuration - Processor Recommendations
If you're on a tight budget, the base single-processor model will get you the newest ATI graphics and a faster processor that will outperform the previous generation's base model, at the same price point.
Based on preliminary tests, the models that use a Westmere processor will perform better than the older Nehalems used in two of the configurations. For that reason, I recommend looking at the 6-core single-processor model or any of the dual-processor models.
The best performance-to-price ratio will likely be the single-processor 6-core model, but we'll have to wait for pricing and bench testing to be sure.
•Mac Pro Configuration - Graphics Recommendations
This is an easy one. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 is the graphics card of choice for the vast majority of users. The 5770 with 1 GB of GDDR5 RAM is a more than adequate performer. It will run rings around the high-end graphics card used in the previous Mac Pro.
The ATI Radeon HD 5870 certainly looks like the performance champ, but it comes with a few downsides. It requires two auxiliary power connections, which suggests it's going to use prodigious amounts of power, generating heat, noise, and elevated electric bills. Unless you're using all of the card's capabilities, you're wasting your resources.
•Mac Pro Configuration - RAM Recommendations
Less is more, or at least, less will save you money. Buy your Mac Pro with the minimum amount of RAM that Apple will supply. If you need more, buy it from one of the many third-party suppliers. As long as you buy from a reputable dealer, and the RAM meets the specs set forth in the Mac Pro manual, you shouldn't have any problems.
•Mac Pro Configuration - Storage Recommendations
Another easy recommendation. Buy your Mac Pro with a single hard drive, and then buy the rest of your drives from third parties. That way, you'll be able to buy the exact type of drive you want, in size, manufacturer, and performance. Don't worry about your original hard drive. Chances are you can continue to use it for your Time Machine backups or as one of your data drives.
