Mac Pro 4 core vs 8 Core ??

twocik23

twocik23

Veteran
Looking at buying a new or used Mac Pro.

4 core vs 8 core ?


I edited heavily in FCP, use Maya 8.5, Motion, Shake, Photoshop CS, etc... So I kind of use the computer to its limits, need something that is really fast and will last me as long as my G5 has.


Now the reason I bring this up and just don't skim thru the reviews is that I've heard that the 8 core is slower than the 4 core, is this true ? If so can someone explain why ?
 
The eight core probably has a slightly lower clock speed than the quad core. If a program is optimized only for quad core it will only use four of the eight cores available on that processor; the same number as it would use if that were all there were, but at a lower clock speed. There, explained.

Performance changes are dependent on programs having been optimized for multi-threaded operation. It has to be called in the program.
 
The 8-core isn't actually a single processor with 8 cores, it's two quad-core processors (intel doesn't even make 8-core processors, they're just coming up on 6-core). Basically a quad core will give 100% of the processor speed for the first core and then about a 30% (on average) addition for each additional core. So a quad-core processor will give you 190% of the marked GHz speed. Two quad cores will each give 190%, for a total of 380%. So actually a slower "8-core" will actually give you better speed than a single faster quad-core, so long as the programs can use additional cores, or if you're running multiple programs at once.

Six-Core processors are coming out in early 2010, and shortly there after 8-core (but only for Server based applications). I wouldn't be suprised if Apple released a "12-core", dual 6-core, some time in the first or second quarter of 2010.
 
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I have a 4-core that I am extremely happy with. It's pretty beastly and handles multiple tasks well. I can be crunching one video with FCP, another with MPEG, writing software, answering email, etc all at the same time with no lag at all. It's really a nice machine.

Also, mine is last gen, not the nehelam processors. So the new ones should smoke even this box.

That said, I would probably say just go for the 8 core. My 4 core does experience some issues with, say 2K RED ONE footage in FCP when I'm using effects. Not sure if an 8 core would solve that or not, but to me the expense diff is not that great, so just go for it. Buying now, I would just bite the bullet and get the 8 core. Esp if you're going to be compositing, etc.

Just make sure you load up on the RAM. No less than 6 gigs and prob more like 10. The biggest overall performance boost I got on the mac pro was when I went from 2 gigs to 6. Like a whole new machine.
 
Mark Harris said:
Just make sure you load up on the RAM. No less than 6 gigs and prob more like 10. The biggest overall performance boost I got on the mac pro was when I went from 2 gigs to 6. Like a whole new machine.
Click to expand...

I know this wasn't asked, but I'll answer anyway... Don't load up on the RAM from apple. It's expensive as poo poo. $150 for a GB of RAM (at least that's what it was a year ago). I found a site, www.crucial.com, and you can give them the specs of your computer, and they'll tell you what it can handle, and which kind of RAM as well. I upgraded my 2006 Macbook Pro (1GB RAM) to 4GB for $36. Seriously. $36.

And I second the "Mac" and "PC" forum. That would be great.

EDIT: Upon further review, it looks like their prices have gone up, but it's still WELL below what apple was charging.
 
Looks like the 6 cores will be out early 2010. That's 12 physical cores on a dual (or 24 logical cores due to chip design).

Might be worth waiting a bit longer...
 
I wouldn't by any computer parts from Apple if I could avoid it. Like Hawk said, they put a ridiculous markup on everything. If you need RAM buy it from a place like Amazon.com or Newegg.com. RAM is RAM is RAM, there's no special "Apple" RAM.
 
Yeah, what's funny is how people tout Apples "wonderful" build quality, when they don't make any of their own computers. I don't think they even make their own cases.
 
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