Mac Pro Nehalem and HMC 150

[RMJones]

Anybody have any idea when Apple is going to release the new Nehalem (Core i7) processors from Intel in the MacPro? I know it supposed to be "sometime in the first quarter."

I just canceled my order for a new mac pro with two 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Harpertown” processors.

I really, really didn’t want to because I am impatient (currently without a computer) but last minute I decided too so I could wait for the new Nehalem and now I feel like time has just sloooooowwwwwweeeeddd dooooooowwwwnnnn.

Think I made the right choice to wait?

I am about to get my new HMC150 and it kills me to know that I really can't do anything with it until I get a new computer so I need some encouragement, ah.

[David Saraceno]

Apple doesn't release this type of information.

I don't even know where you have confirmed it will be the first quarter.

[aalleexx]

the golden rule around here is that if you need something now, buy it now, most gadgets once they get updated and by the time you get confortable with say your mac pro, there will be a new one on the works, its technology man cannot beat it, if I need something I buy it, I am getting paid so I cannot wait around for the next best thing to come out, just my .00002

[RMJones]

I knew apple didn't/wouldn't release info on when it would be out exactly. I was looking for for opinion than fact. Just wondering if anyone thought i made the right choice. No jobs pressing right now.
I have heard that the new processor, in encoding/transcoding video, showed improvements ranging from 18%-22% at the same clock speeds as existing chips. Which i thought would be great with use pertaining to the HMC. But being that the 800MHz ECC Intel Xeon “Harpertown” processors were just upgraded from the 667MHz ECC, I wasn't sure when you guys thought they would release the new core i7. After all It has been over a year since the CPU got an substantial upgrade and macworld just came to a conclusion. Just opening it up for any kind of discussion.

[aalleexx]

I will be the first to tell you that the 18-22% is BS, at least in real life situations
I have a first generation macpro, quad core 2.66, nvidia 8800GT and 16GB of RAM memory
I run mostly after effects, its the core of my work, then comes FCP and then a little of Maya, photoshop, I have personally used the latest macpros with the same applications and with all honestly my macpro feels about the same or perhaps faster then a brand new macpro, I am very very happy with my workflow using my macpro, still blazing fast and if I felt that there was a huge difference I would of upgraded a long time ago, for now, the performance of a new macpro does not justify the very expensive price, at least to me, just my .0002
hope my experience helps

[studio1972]

I've got the 2.8 8 core version and for me to even consider upgrading it would need something like 16 cores at 4GHz.

[xmephestox]

u have to keep in mind, macs gear towards a specific market. for the high level user, they have to check compatibility when any new piece of hardware that goes into their machine. if it's gonna hit the markets with i7 in a mac pro, probably gonna be this summer when new version fcp comes out. and when it happens it's just gonna happen with no warning, as is most of their stuff...

[RMJones]

Yeah I think I am going to go ahead and buy. To be honest for a minute there I think I got a little greedy. I had to ask myself "do I really need a faster CPU or do I just want this because I know it is the best." I had to remind myself that great equipment isn't what makes great films. There have been great stories told with less than what's even available now. Thanks for the friendly advice.

To anybody else waiting here a little info I dug up. Intel has said that they are going to release the new Mac Pro suitable core i7 processors in quarter one of this year (Jan-march). My opinion now is they will probably wait as long as possible (march) to release them. By example of the last two updates, Apple usually releases machines with the new processors 6 to 8 weeks after there initial release from the manufacturer. The 2008 Mac Pro came out 8 weeks after the release of Harpertown. The 2006 Mac Pro came out 6 weeks after the release of Woodcrest. So it could be as late as May before we consumers get to see them in Mac Pros. On top of that, remember these will be considered REV A so if I were you, I would let them release and wait and see if there are any compatibility issues or any other unforeseen issues that may arise as there usually are on new products like this. Buy after they have been in the consumer hands for a bit and you can get honest feedback on there performance.

[David Saraceno]

If you are going to buy, then get some solid RAM - at least 6 GBs.

Get the cheapest stock video card and then buy this card from a place like macsales.com:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/ATI%20Technologies/100435928/

Especially geared for the proapps.

[mcsmooth]

Since you can already get 8 core (4x2cpus) macs, I don't see any reason to wait on the current i7 since it is only single CPU capable. That will change once the Xeon based chip is released which will allow dual CPUs (what rmjones is referring to above). It certainly should be faster than anything today, but not so much that any recent 8 core buyer would need to upgrade. At that point wait until the end of the year when they expect an 8-core chip that is capable of 4 CPUs... damn, 32 cores (64 with HT), can't imagine what they will charge for that setup.

Personally I can't justify spending the money a mac costs, too much other gear out there to buy ;) I just put together an i7 for under a G.

[RMJones]

I just put together an i7 for under a G.

I would like to hear more about your new system.

[mcsmooth]

I would like to hear more about your new system.
I'm a deal shopper, so it took a few weeks to score the parts cheaper, find combo deals and 2 had rebates. This method doesn't work if you need it today, but for me, it's more of a hobby. These prices will go down a lot later in the year, so right now a non-i7 quad can be had for a LOT cheaper. I wanted the new chip though and you get raped on the DDR3 and mobo. It feels like a crime spending so much on DDR3 when they are practically giving away DDR2.

2.66 GHz Core i7 920 - $250
OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 - $145
MSI X58 Platinum - $195
ASUS EAH4850 TOP/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB - $120
Samsung 1TB Spinpoint F1 $100
600w psu $30
$849

I already had a case and a smaller OS drive, so you would have to factor those in as well. Also, the OS, but I factor that separately with software costs. I took 2 500GB drives I previously used for backup and threw them in as RAID 0 and am using the 1TB drive in an external esata enclosure for backup and mobility.

On my previous machine, I couldn't smoothly play files above 720p30 (using CoreAVC... can't play any files without that). On the new machine, I tried playing 4 720p60 clips at once and cpu or gpu weren't even at half. Editing natively is still another story, the software companies still have a lot of bugs and performance tunes to make. Can't say I've tried them all, but was planning to transcode until that irons out a bit. Since you have to re-encode at the end anyway, native editing isn't the most important until/if someone offers smart rendering.

I thought this looked funny, task manager in Win7 beta while jumping positions in an HMC clip:
http://mcsmooth.com/junk/i7taskmanager.jpg

[Reinhold Messner]

no, you can't build a system remotely approaching the performance of a mac pro for $1k... especially not with the build quality and expandability of that tower.

check out the forums at macrumors.com for great technical insight... but among the first things you should realize is that mac pros use server class chips (xeons), not desktop i7 chips

plus, there are recent articles that state explicitly that with the new hardware and the new OS X (snow leopard), the new systems will scream-- claims are being made by people who have used test units from intel that the new machines are 4x faster than current models

the smart money seems to be on a june release, but intel plans to announce the xeon chips in about a month, i think