Inside the Mac Pro

[Minimum754]

Apple took it and ran this time. It just kills me I can't have the Mac Pro right now. Very well done design, perfect OS, universal OS support, and highest specs I have ever seen in a personal computer. This blows away any other computer. The basic specs beats mine in all areas besides the GPU. Mine can run any game in full settings with no lag. Truely outstanding. I can't wait to get one and use Final Cut Pro on this beast...

[pulseforce]

I love you Liquidmark, well explained! <3

[Comicdude113]

Okay people, I think the mac is best comp ever. And windows copied mac for vista. But vista looks like a great system 2. So i want to figure out how to get both systems

[StandardsDT]

A PC should be built like this. No cables or anything. PC manufacturers should learn from Apple that we don't like messy towers or even ugly ones at all. Companies like Dell, Gateway and HP should really take the Vista Build Kits seriously and build the towers like MS suggested.

[Liquidmark]

Apple does elegance.

Other manufacturers do whatever is most convenient. Closest thing is Dell's concept modular PC. Problem is, users can forget about their freedom with something like that. They will have to buy ALL of their components directly from Dell, at Dell's price. I'll bet Dell would have a substantial markup for those parts.

Tho, I'm sure they will hide the fact with a handy-dandy rebate offer.

[hilfepolizei]

>3. You could build a PC that would be able to run anything on the market and into the future for around $1800... thats including a top of the line CPU, GPU and more than enough RAM.

Nice, I want the information and not just the price.

[jadamsnz]

Yes, if you have the knowledge and skills (I do but still buy Macs and build PCs) but you can't buy a fully made up system of the same spec from a name brand for less than a Mac Pro.

[hilfepolizei]

>1. You don't need 16GB of RAM to run anything these days, and you won't for some time now.

You CAN upgrade to 16GB. Standard is 1GB. With 16GB of RAM you can edit HD videos smoothly.

>2. The specs on this fully outfitted Mac do sound impressive, but you'll pay for it. I've read $2400 USD for a basic system (1GB RAM, 2.66GHz) and no mention of video card.

Where did you read that? Not on apple's page, if yes, you didn't read all the specs.

[jadamsnz]

1. This is a WORKSTATION not a PC. Workstations get used for real work, often scientific, where that much memory IS required. In this instances it as an alternative to a Unix system (Windows PCs don't even rate).

2. 7300GT is pretty basic but you can stick two ATI 1900s in it (if you have the money - but that statement applies to PCs that can take two of the same cards too).

[crazydave303]

You don't need a PC? what do you think you are running? MSWindows/XP running on the intel architecture is a PC.

[LFast]

So a E-machines 3.00Gh 512mb 160GB Nvidia videocard 128mb? for about 385.00$ with taxs is not good computer for Next gen games Why?

[flapjack210]

Lets see... can I build a macintosh from parts in my house, and parts I buy online? No. Windows wins.

[jessejericho]

The funny thing is when you try to upgrade the "basic config"... $360 for an extra 1gb ram???? An extra 500gb hd for six hundred fucking dollars?? That is an out and out INSULT. A gig of ram is around $100. A 500gb drive costs less than $300 retail. (in Canadian dollars).

[gavroche2006]

This IS a PC

[radil]

its true that the g5 is damm expensive, but trust me, it worths every peny

[theSCgosu]

Actually looks kinda cool but I still like PCs better.

[rubbeersoulgirl84]

I love it! I want one now! Can't wait till Leopard comes out.

Oh yeah. One more thing. With all the specs, It's cheeper then a Dell. :0)

[Hefeweizen]

That's over $1,100 more than the base Mac Pro, which has a similar configuration. And unlike the Mac Pro, which can run Windows XP via Boot Camp, I wouldn't expect to see Mac OS X supported on this Dell any time in the near future.

[Hefeweizen]

to those who say it's overpriced:

The base price of the new Apple Mac Pro Quad Desktop ($2,499)

Take the Dell Precision Workstation 690, for instance. When kitted out with two Intel Xeon 5150 2.66GHz dual-core processors, 250GB hard drive, 2GB of 667MHz RAM, and 16x DVD burner, you'll end up paying $3,637.

[IndianDemon]

i like it very much...if only apple didn't built it and someone else did, i would buy it. apple wants teh customer to like one simple product and in this age of conformity that works. but i'll just stick to my pc

[Anchordog]

In this "age of conformity" where Windows PCs have such a majority...you think Mac users are the conformists?? *L*

[Anchordog]

I love this argument..."I love this computer and I would definitely buy it...if someone besides Apple made it. I want this exact computer...but Apple wants me to like this computer...so I can't. I want choice! Although, if I could choose...I would choose this! Why does Apple make this so hard! *falls into Bills Gates arms* LMAO I don't understand some people.

[therealschattie]

The last obstacle for buying a Mac, for me, was price.

[checkeredxchild]

I'm using that computer right now. My dad loves mac.

[fyren84]

That is one confining case.

Breathing room?

[MacUser]

Actually it requires less cooling than the previous G5 models so it has more room for things like 4 hard drives, 2 optical drives etc.

[Hefeweizen]

what reason is left not to buy a mac now?

they're cheaper than pcs

you can run OSX & Windows on them & linux if you want

they're just as fast as PCs now

they're better designed then almost all pre-built PCs.

so i ask you, what reason is there not to choose mac over pc?

[NinjaJedi]

on the inside macs and pcs are the same.

[moshun]

er....no thgey are very very far from the same, the "components" might be the same, but the engineering that makes them work so well together is very very different to a pc. i know, i built my pc and i use macs too. the new mac pro just makes sense, bang for buck it is a v good deal! but i'll hold out for the quad core xeons next spring :-) imagine that! a dual quad core!

[yieebo]

oh MY GOD that's beautifully simplistic to upgrade, *sigh* need new Mac. nobody designs like Apple, they are the masters of minimalist POWER.

[psychosin13]

Only thing good about apple products are the case designs.

[roger767]

hot damn its very easy to replace parts, when I open my windows PC im greeted with only wires.

[krono6]

Yeah, if you're working with a small case, it's really annoying when you have to maneuver through the wires. This removable tray idea seems great ^-^

[colemckelvie]

macs rock, pc's are passe

[jareddent]

weird, i lie the inside of a PC better

[planetfrog]

sexy!

[segal0424]

will you be able to run windows on it?

[MacUser]

If you desire. It has 2 Dual-Core2 Intel Xeon processors.

[krono6]

I'm guessing you could, with Bootcamp and all.

[Liquidmark]

Yes, with Boot Camp.

The standard configuration should be more than enough to suit a gamers needs.

[tsktsktsk]

hmm.. i like it. but i dont really use desktop.

[Jordan69er]

NERD!!!!

:P

[gbking]

i luv mac

[FlipCombatMedic]

Why do you need all this power if you can't game with it? Super video editing I suppose.

[Liquidmark]

Um, You CAN game with this rig. I game on my iMac and it runs very well in both OSX and XP. This machine is much more powerful than my iMac.

I mean, look a what it has under the hood.

http://www.apple.com/macpro/

Tough to beat for less than $3000. Plus it can run Windows AND OSX. Last time I checked, most games were Windows based. Since it can run windows, it can play games.

[Anchordog]

Who doesn't know that you can run any Windows game on this by now? Seriously. The whole thing about not being able to game on a Mac is null and void with the release of Bootcamp. I can run F.E.A.R. as well as anyone else.

[cobo619]

Do you have that in a PC case? Just slide and push. lol

[xanbo]

Outstanding, thanks for sharing this vid.

[Pike11]

Actually Microsoft ripped off mac. See the new windows Vista? Huge Mac rip off.

[hilfepolizei]

I think you clearly didn't understand what the Mac OSX features are; what Windows is currently adding to their new OS is actually copy cat of Mac OSX in PAST

so, what microsoft does is almost just copying, plus, making it worse.

and you maybe don't really know what the mac features are, so better check out

[sam991a]

As a dedicated PC user, i have to say that the design of that beast is impressive. I don't really care for the layout - it doesn't seem very airflow efficient - but otherwise it is definitely impressive.

[quixcube]

The front and back are mesh. Air flows thorugh the entire unit.

[Liquidmark]

Trust me, Airflow would not be a problem. This machine is using the same case as a G5, which ran very, very hot. If the dual core G5 were placed into just any old type of case it would suffer severe heating problems.

Plus, if it's anything like the last line of Apple cases, it could possibly be liquid cooled. I'll have to look it up.

[Liquidmark]

ORLY?

How much would you like to wager?

http://www.apple.com/macpro/sp­ecs.html

Read those specs carefully. If you can build something better than that, using new parts, for less than $2,500, You must be god.

"faster and cheaper" tis' bad comedy.

[ZeClassique]

Hmmm... I don't know, take a look at this. It fits the specs of the base model fro the Mac Pro. It costs less, and I even upgraded to a $700 GPU when the $250 GPU still would have been better than what Mac is offering.

http://www.canadacomputers.com­/index.php?do=ShowCart&cmd=ui

So I must be God ;)

[cannonstepback]

gotta admit, very nice

[Liquidmark]

Microsoft doesn't make computers. Deciding to use one processor over another isn't copying. Plus, they didn't copy Windows either. They allowed windows to run on their hardware using boot camp. Using Intel chips, dispells the "Mhz Myth" and Windws compatability seems to be there so that users can compare Windows and OSX, side by side.

the plan: show switchers that they never really needed windows by letting them use it.

[Uugh]

Looks easy to build and install. Might get a Mac.

[anto687]

Building isn't neccesary, you order it like that off apple.

A full-spec Mac Pro is cheaper than a full-spec G5

I think it comes to 16 grand as opposed to 23

[scottydabody]

this thing is sick. 16GB of RAM, Quad SLI Video Card support, and of course the "Quad-Core" Processing. Sheesh with Parallels Desktop out, which lets you run Windows on Macs, there's no reason NOT to get a Mac nowadays.

[BigjayG06]

I'm sorry...i must have miss read....did you say "Quad-Core"?

[WillyDavidK]

yes, dual-dual-core = quad core (2 dual core chips). Every single configuration features quad-core woodcrest (core 2 duo xeon)

[Liquidmark]

It's a dual-core-dual processor machine. Kind of like the G5 it is replacing. Many folks like to call that configuration a quad core.

[TheDazzzze]

yes quad core CPU's will be coming out next year. Intel already have Quad core CPU's in their test laps. I was at Intel lan event last weekend and wittnessed a Quad core first hand. Only issue is it ran at around 98 degree C.

[ZeClassique]

1. You don't need 16GB of RAM to run anything these days, and you won't for some time now.

2. The specs on this fully outfitted Mac do sound impressive, but you'll pay for it. I've read $2400 USD for a basic system (1GB RAM, 2.66GHz) and no mention of video card.

3. You could build a PC that would be able to run anything on the market and into the future for around $1800... thats including a top of the line CPU, GPU and more than enough RAM.

[Liquidmark]

True, kind of.

1. Hop into a time machine and tell someone ten years ago that you need about 256 MB of ram to run your machine. They'll tell you the same thing.

2. The basic config comes with TWO DUAL CORE-SERVER LEVEL PROCESSORS. Each core clocking a 2.66 GHz! 1GB of ram is nothing to scoff at for a basic config.

YOU ARE NOT GETTING "TOP OF THE LINE" CPU + GPU FOR LESS THAN $1800! Top of the line GPU costs over $1500 by itself! Top of the line CPU costs almost $1000 for just one.

[ZeClassique]

Well, IMO there is no need to go crazy here. You can get and AMD Athlon 3500 for a little over $100 CDN. Or an AMD X2 4600 for around $300 CDN.

BFG GeForce 7900 GTX OC 512 MB = $600. These may not be at the very top of the food chain but they will run anything the average person can through at it.

Building your own PC is the way to go.

[bugnotme]

Top of the ling GPU for 1500$?

That's weird. Even with two NV 7950GX2 cards in sli, that's 1200$. One by itself is 600$, most people don't even need two of them, much less are capable of running two. So, one top of the line GPU is less that half of your made up number.

And everyone here is practically admitting that Macs are now intel PCs running OSX. So, why, again, should I shell out money for a Mac when I have a PC fully capable of running OSX? Because Apple is a prick? I think not.

[einsteindesign]

1. I need as much ram as possible to run Photoshop, After Effects, and FCP. Just because YOU don't need 16 GB doesn't mean no one else does.

2. $2000 for basic system stripped down, $2499 for an average configuration, and the video card is clearly indicated on Apple's website. For someone offering expert advice you're not doing enough research on the topic.

3. But you can't BUY one. Apple isn't going toe-to-toe with hobbyists and DIY builders, they're targeting Dell's audience.

[Liquidmark]

Building one is out as well. In order to do dual-core-dual-processor configuration, they need a special motherboard. Special is another word for expensive. Dual Xeon motherboards are not widely available, after all.

IF they strech every penny, they MAY come in at just a couple of hundred dollars over Apple's price. I'm just sayin'.

[GFLPraxis]

2400 USD is for a basic system with two dual-core 2.66 GHz Xeon's. It's a quad. 1 GB of really fast, ECC RAM, 250 GB hard drive, and a cheap Geforce 7300 GT. That PC you would build would NOT have four processor cores.

In fact, the system is fully customizable- you can reduce the specs and buy the same system with the same GPU and RAM but with quad 2 GHz cores for $2124- or less than $2000 with education discount. A four-processor machine for less than $2000.

[Liquidmark]

I tried to tell the PC Heads.

In order to mount twin Xeon processors, they would need a special motherboard.

They would have to part with $600 just for the board itself. Even then, it would not support 16 Gb of ram. O_o

Poor PC heads. They are stuck in the 90's.

I pity them.

[davidolabido]

ooooou, looks like it may be the 1st mac i have lol ;)

[Liquidmark]

Beautiful!

The noose is closing on the competition.