Help me Upgrade my Mac Pro

[kgimedia]

I am upgrading my Mac Pro and looking for suggestions.
First the setup:

Early 2008 Dual 2.8 Quad
6 gig RAM ( 2x1 gig and 2x2 gig)
Stock 256 Mb video
300 gig startup
3x 1TB internal (no raid)
Final Cut Studio 2


I am looking to spend between $300-$450.

Option 1:
4x2 gig RAM upgrade & a Pro Caddy 2 (https://www.transintl.com/macupgrades/index.cfm)

Option 2:
512 Mb video card & a Pro Caddy 2 (https://www.transintl.com/macupgrades/index.cfm)

Option 3:
2x4 gig RAM upgrade & a Pro Caddy 2 (https://www.transintl.com/macupgrades/index.cfm)

Can you tell I like the idea of the "& a Pro Caddy 2 (https://www.transintl.com/macupgrades/index.cfm)"? My plan is to use 1 drive as startup another for templates and support media and then RAID the other 4 internal for editing.




I am also looking for any feedback on Apple's recommendation that RAM be installed in complete pairs like 2,4,8 gigs for FCP. Should I go for 12 gigs or moving forward only install the same type across the board and sell (or keep for backup) the original RAM.

UPDATE: Apple Doc on RAM Issue (http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1957?viewlocale=en_US)

I want to pull the trigger soon, but can't figure out where the best bang for the buck is.

[Amr Rahmy]

you can check your ram first, is it 800mh or 1k, do you have problems with performance?, doing what?, why do you want to upgrade now?

[kgimedia]

you can check your ram first, is it 800mh or 1k, do you have problems with performance?, doing what?, why do you want to upgrade now?
800Mhz I have never seen 1k for a Mac Pro, even Apple doesn't mention it.
I have no specified performance issues. I have just gotten lazy. I like to have FCP, STP, Motion, and Color all open and bounce back and forth as needed. As far as upgrading I am treating myself. I am doing good, paid my bills, put some in savings and want to treat myself.

[Amr Rahmy]

if you dont have a raid, you can go for a raid instead.

it's not more is better kind of situation, if you put more ram than you don't need, you won't feel a thing, it would be money blown for no reason.

see if you need a good monitor or a graphics card instead, or save up for a new mac pro until one is released

some of the rams that people buy are not exactly the as the ones you get with from apple in terms of performance, i think the same as the apple ones are only 20% cheaper. and i think some of the newer models had 1066mhz motherboards, they don't offer the ram yet.
and as for pairs, you dont max out the 1gig ones, so you won't feel the difference, but if you had as much ram as you needed and not too much then you would have to pair the rams to get better results.

next mac pros would have 1066mhz and rams offered with newer processors, you can save up for that.

[kgimedia]

I understand what your saying, but I guess I need to explain more. I just bought the Mac Pro 2 months ago. I upgraded from a G4 and Macbook. The G4 was tweaked the best it could be and made me a lot of money in the 5 years I used it. The Mac Pro has already made me at least $10,000. I own my own company and have a budget for company upgrades. My reason for wanting to upgrade the Mac Pro is as a treat to myself for doing well. Some guys buy guns, some go to Atlantic City, I buy tech. I am going to RAID the drives. Hence the 6 internal drives. Which I already own but can't install because it only excepts 4.

My main question is what is the better upgrade matched RAM, Video Card, or More RAM total?

As far as the unreleased Mac Pros I am sure they will be awesome, but the one I have now is making me money. I can't make money with something that does not exist. If I could I would choose a Red Scarlet.

[Amr Rahmy]

the raid will definitely boost something, and it's something that you will actually feel improved.

if you have an ati card, an nvidia 8800gt will improve somethings for now and will make more substantial improvements with newer software upgrades.

you don't need to play with ram until you change your mac pro again, then the rams you have would be obsolete and you won't have to worry about the old ones.

[Noel Evans]

Looking at your specs etc I would bang up that video card. I did recently (well I had a fried one so I had to), but the new card was an upgrade and it has made a noticeable difference, especially when using motion and color.

[polecat]

I would be interested in hearing more about the video card and what kind?

[kgimedia]

Does the video card help Color render faster?

[jumpthewire]

another option to the PRO CADDY might be this....
an eSATA breakout cable/enclosure

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/MPQXES2/

curious how the CADDY hooks up?
the page does not say-

shawn

[kgimedia]

Caddy goes in my unused Optical bay and the drives would use the unused sata ports on the Mobo. Basically a bracket designed to keep the drives in place. I have no use for the second bay until Apple gets in gear with Blu-Ray. With the bracket that was mentioned I would still need an external array or case. That is what I am trying to get away from.

[Noel Evans]

Does the video card help Color render faster?

What the card does is enable playback with less frames dropped, so you can more easily see the results of your work as its intended, moving. Same goes for motion.

[David Saraceno]

ATI 3870 for $220 USD is FXPlug accelerated.

[Noel Evans]

ATI 3870 for $220 USD is FXPlug accelerated.

Yes, another GREAT reason.

http://ati.amd.com/products/radeonhd3800/macpc/index.html