!Restored: Time for a new Mac?

[Rick Thompson]

I have been reading the new speed results in Macworld regarding the newest Mac Pro desktops, and I am wondering if it is that time again. I am still on a G5 (2Ghz). It seems the new ones overall score are from 294 (basic) to 327 (all the way). My G5 is rated overall at 166, so that says it is time. However, with AC, I just don't know if the "overall" has much meaning or not. My guess is running AC would not see that percent increase.

My main areas I could benefit would be opening files, updating externally linked drawings, publishing etc. Renderings are not as important, but of course, they count too. I might open and close quite a few files each day, so updating is where I tend to get impatient.

And, then there is the G5 and the intel factor. I think there is not that much difference there, if anyone knows, i would appreciate hearing your experience. I think processor speed is the biggest factor (?).

Assuming (haha) GS is busy making AC multi-processor enabled, then the 8 core would be worth the extra few hundred.

Oh well, any feedback would be appreciated.


thanks

[Rick Thompson]

Well, I have joined the ranks of acid displays. Today I was rotating in Open GL for an extended period of time and the 3D screen went psychedelic. Even the navigator preview joined in (on another monitor) , as well as the coordinate boxes. A few times the entire screen went nuts. I too wonder if it is the heat as it wasn't until I had been rotating for quite a while it happened. My models tend to be small, so maybe something more complex triggers it quicker. I might have added a few cars right before it started, but I am not sure if it happened before adding the cars or after.

I think we have some bad cards, or GS has some work to do.

[Anonymous]

Karl wrote:
The Mac Pro is a thing of beauty,...

ditto

[Karl Ottenstein]

Rick wrote:
I think we have some bad cards, or GS has some work to do.

From the number of people on the Apple and various Mac-related forums with this same problem (illustrated in a different thread) - and some people with the new 8800 with the problem, it seems more of an Apple issue than a GS one. Most reports concern the ATI 2600 card with you and I have since the nvidia 8800 has only been shipping for a week or so.

There are reports of some people whose problems were fixed by the February 'graphics update', and others who had no problems until they installed it. (Macfixit forums for that, I think.)

I have to wonder about heat when the card is really cranking in OpenGL/etc. Even though I said in the message below about what a beautiful design the Mac Pro has ... I have to say that the placement of the graphics card doesn't make sense to me. There is very little air between the circuit board and the aluminum cage below...which has, on the other side, the hot circuit board for the upper memory card. The air space below the graphics card is a dead space - no air flow. But, these Apple guys are smart, so I'm sure they thought this through....and maybe they'll think through a fix.

Karl

[Rick Thompson]

I was just talking to the local Mac service guy (not about the card issue, he sold my old G5) and after describing the screen he said when you get all those polygons like that is is usually bad Vram. He didn't see anything on it under his Apple tech notices, but put a watch on it for me. Man, if all these are bad cards, Radeon is going to be in for some hefty loses.

[Eduardo Rolon]

Apparently there's a new ATI firmware update released today. Check Software update.

[Anonymous]

Not exactly a Hardware issue, but let me add that if you run ArchiCAD 10 (a very capable and enjoyable version of ArchiCAD) on your PPC Mac - and you are planning to update to a Mac Pro or other Intel processor Mac.

ORDER THE UPDATE CD - NOW! - FROM THE LOCAL REP.

Because it cannot be downloaded (as far as I can see)

If you don't order the CD you will have to wait. Which is B.S. from G.S.

...or am I just the last person on earth to know about this?

[Djordje]

ejrolon wrote:
Apparently there's a new ATI firmware update released today. Check Software update.

Heard from some people that very nasty things can happen if it is installed. No details, sorry

[Eduardo Rolon]

There are 2 updates one for the video card and the other for the macbook AIR, Liz groups message was for the laptop. The video update is for the Mac Pro. But as always backup and be carefull.

[Rick Thompson]

No nasties here updating the video driver.

[Anonymous]

My experience: Mac Pro 2 x 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon, 8 GB 800 MHz Ram. Up and running within 1 hour most apps, mail, internet - etc. Took HD out of older Power PC and inserted it into new Mac Pro. Worked with updating all the programs from there. No real problems with that.

Did have trouble upgrading ArchiCAD, but Digital Vision my reseller pointed me to the online download site = didn't find it from the GS site. Thanks Digital Vision!

Amazing performance difference from the Dual 2.0 GHz PPC mac. Layout files that had an abnormal 2 minute regeneration time are reduced to just 15 seconds. Renders like the one attached take Lightworks 15 seconds! It utilizes all 8 cores. Same model in Cinema4D with similar render style (raytrace) takes 6 seconds!

OpenGL with the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT shows no artifacts - blazing fast rotation even with the most difficult model I could throw at it.

Overall the progress that Apple has made over the past few years with the Mac Pro are incredible. If you are considering the move up in hardware, you will not be disappointed. Places like http://www.powermax.com/ in Oregon feature trade-in options and zero tax.