Mac Pro, Dual Xeon Quads, F@H Solution

what is this going to be used for?

First off, yes you can download and install and run the Folding @ Home, in fact there are lots of Mac users groups for F@H. You could join one of them if you wanted to.

yes, RAM is fairly easy to install, its on a daughter board you pull out and slap it in. Just take the normal precautions, and I am sure you don't need them explained to you.

Yes you can run what is known as a software RAID with out the RAID controller and you could stripe 4 drives into RAID 0 if you wanted to. This is done when you install the OS. However, I wouldn't recommend running RAID unless you actually need it.

As for the dual video cards, the stock video card has dual output, do you need to output to 4 monitors?
 
what is this going to be used for?

First off, yes you can download and install and run the Folding @ Home, in fact there are lots of Mac users groups for F@H. You could join one of them if you wanted to.

yes, RAM is fairly easy to install, its on a daughter board you pull out and slap it in. Just take the normal precautions, and I am sure you don't need them explained to you.

Yes you can run what is known as a software RAID with out the RAID controller and you could stripe 4 drives into RAID 0 if you wanted to. This is done when you install the OS. However, I wouldn't recommend running RAID unless you actually need it.

As for the dual video cards, the stock video card has dual output, do you need to output to 4 monitors?

I was going to put it under CF's group... I am going to use it for graphics rendering, Photoshop, Fireworks, Web Design, etc. And just because I want a Mac. I still don't know about RAID 0, I might just get two 500Gb drives and forget RAID... Should I get the 8800GT or single 2600XT then?

Thanks
 
I was going to put it under CF's group... I am going to use it for graphics rendering, Photoshop, Fireworks, Web Design, etc. And just because I want a Mac. I still don't know about RAID 0, I might just get two 500Gb drives and forget RAID... Should I get the 8800GT or single 2600XT then?

Thanks

Those are gaming cards, so either one will suffice. I guess its preference. The 8800GT is a better card I believe, but you would probably know better than I. I also prefer the nvidia drivers over ATI but that is my preference.

If you are doing 3D rendering a quadro card (very expensive) would be best, and out perform both of those cards put together. Most likely you would benefit from CAD, Maya, 3DsMax and the like, but I am not too sure that it would give that much increase in photoshop and other 2D rendering applications.

Software RAID is easy to set up and you could do it, however, you run the risks of it failing just like any other RAID 0 set up.
 
also say goodbye to $5000

It's all good...

Those are gaming cards, so either one will suffice. I guess its preference. The 8800GT is a better card I believe, but you would probably know better than I. I also prefer the nvidia drivers over ATI but that is my preference.

If you are doing 3D rendering a quadro card (very expensive) would be best, and out perform both of those cards put together. Most likely you would benefit from CAD, Maya, 3DsMax and the like, but I am not too sure that it would give that much increase in photoshop and other 2D rendering applications.

Software RAID is easy to set up and you could do it, however, you run the risks of it failing just like any other RAID 0 set up.

I am gonna get the 8800GT, I might run Parallel's Desktop with Vista x64 and do 'octi'-core gaming.
 
I love MAC's but in my opinion for about $3000.00 you could build a great PC and run all of the apps. just as good and better then a MAC. I had a MAC before and I loved it, but I got rid of it because of compatibility. I guess it all boils down to preference and budget in the end. Good luck..........
 
I love MAC's but in my opinion for about $3000.00 you could build a great PC and run all of the apps. just as good and better then a MAC. I had a MAC before and I loved it, but I got rid of it because of compatibility. I guess it all boils down to preference and budget in the end. Good luck..........

OK, please, intrigue me and build a dual quad core xeon PC cheaper than a Mac Pro. You can't do it.
 
I love MAC's but in my opinion for about $3000.00 you could build a great PC and run all of the apps. just as good and better then a MAC. I had a MAC before and I loved it, but I got rid of it because of compatibility. I guess it all boils down to preference and budget in the end. Good luck..........

Umm... One problem, how do you run OSX on a custom build(without pirated software)? MAC is Media Access Control--Mac is Macintosh... How does Mac have compatibility issues? And I already have a "great PC", read my sig next time...
 
Umm... One problem, how do you run OSX on a custom build(without pirated software)? MAC is Media Access Control--Mac is Macintosh... How does Mac have compatibility issues? And I already have a "great PC", read my sig next time...

First of all, who said anything about running OSX on a PC??? I'm trying to get the point across that for a few dollars less you could build a great system as well. As for compatability there were plenty of times where I could not view a website, or run a particular program because it didn't exist for Mac. As far as your sig goes....... nothing that great about it, in my opinion.
 
I'm trying to get the point across that for a few dollars less you could build a great system as well.

I agree. You may not be able to get ALL of the EXACT same components, but you could still build a ridiculously good computer, for a lot cheaper.

It's just Alienware, they had a system for $5,000. I could build one for almost half of that, and it would only perform slightly worse. The reason? They used DDR3 (stupid at this point) two 8800gt's sli (again...stupid) and the most expensive mainstream cpu known to man. (you guessed it....stupid).

Anyways...
 
First of all, who said anything about running OSX on a PC??? I'm trying to get the point across that for a few dollars less you could build a great system as well. As for compatability there were plenty of times where I could not view a website, or run a particular program because it didn't exist for Mac. As far as your sig goes....... nothing that great about it, in my opinion.

Obviously you intended something by-
I love MAC's but in my opinion for about $3000.00 you could build a great PC and run all of the apps

First problem = Browser..
Second = If it doesn't exist for Mac, I don't guess it was written for Mac therefore, it's apparent that it doesn't work on Mac..

Your information might actually be better once you get done building your First PC , otherwise, I ignore.

Look back at my original post and view what questions I asked.. I didn't ask whether I should go PC or Mac... Btw, buying a QX9650, shows you have way more money than brains...

I agree. You may not be able to get ALL of the EXACT same components, but you could still build a ridiculously good computer, for a lot cheaper.

It's just Alienware, they had a system for $5,000. I could build one for almost half of that, and it would only perform slightly worse. The reason? They used DDR3 (stupid at this point) two 8800gt's sli (again...stupid) and the most expensive mainstream cpu known to man. (you guessed it....stupid).

Anyways...

What point of I already have a PC do you ppl not understand?

Even if I did build my own computer and did run OSx86, it wouldn't work as good as it should...


THIS IS WHY WE NEED A MAC SECTION!!!!​
 
I agree. You may not be able to get ALL of the EXACT same components, but you could still build a ridiculously good computer, for a lot cheaper.

It's just Alienware, they had a system for $5,000. I could build one for almost half of that, and it would only perform slightly worse. The reason? They used DDR3 (stupid at this point) two 8800gt's sli (again...stupid) and the most expensive mainstream cpu known to man. (you guessed it....stupid).

Anyways...

This is wrong. Those Xeon processors that are in a Mac pro are $800.00 each off of newegg.com. That $1600 just for both processors. You can't build a PC for cheaper, and it is not the same components. You can't compare a Mac Pro to a custom build PC. I already priced out what it would cost to build a Mac Pro from scratch using PC parts off of the internet. The Mac Pro spec for spec was always several hundred dollars cheaper.
 
Umm... One problem, how do you run OSX on a custom build(without pirated software)? MAC is Media Access Control--Mac is Macintosh... How does Mac have compatibility issues? And I already have a "great PC", read my sig next time...

Compatibility issues, usually means people cant game on them. :-)
Now days thats a thing of the past. My next desktop is going to be a mac - hopefully by the end of this year.
 
Obviously you intended something by-


First problem = Browser..
Second = If it doesn't exist for Mac, I don't guess it was written for Mac therefore, it's apparent that it doesn't work on Mac..

Your information might actually be better once you get done building your First PC , otherwise, I ignore.

Look back at my original post and view what questions I asked.. I didn't ask whether I should go PC or Mac... Btw, buying a QX9650, shows you have way more money than brains...



What point of I already have a PC do you ppl not understand?

Even if I did build my own computer and did run OSx86, it wouldn't work as good as it should...


THIS IS WHY WE NEED A MAC SECTION!!!!​

It's not about you anymore, get over it. Oh and by the way your grammar is quite off, learn how to put together a grammatically correct sentence before you post here. You would think after 5,000 posts you migt have learned to put one together, but I guess thats why you're broke, you have nothing better to do other then post over 5,000 times lol

p.s. I bet my first system will blow any of yours away:cool:
 
It's not about you anymore, get over it. Oh and by the way your grammar is quite off, learn how to put together a grammatically correct sentence before you post here. You would think after 5,000 posts you migt have learned to put one together, but I guess thats why you're broke, you have nothing better to do other then post over 5,000 times lol

p.s. I bet my first system will blow any of yours away:cool:

I noticed you could say it's not correct but, I noticed you couldn't correct it. Don't criticize without trying to be constructive..

Oh and post count? I have been here for a little while(damn well longer than you have)...

You've also stooped to a new level of stupidity... I have never heard of anyone getting laid because their PC is so much faster than the next guy's.

Btw, misspelled that...
you migt have

So, I ask you, have you ever tried Mac? If not, Step off and realize you're helping nothing and answering nothing I asked.

I would be concerned about the distribution of your own time, if you're gonna blow that much money on a CPU that can be matched clock for clock for less than the amount of money you're spending on it, you should be very worried about where your time will be spent if you 'think' you need that.

Get a life, quit promoting Windows...

I agree.


I wasn't talking about you specifically, I was just saying "in general". If you have a pc already, then you might was well get a mac.

I didn't intend anything harsh upon you... I am frustrated with the 'noob' Mac vs. PC intention above by someone that thinks his QX9650 is something not of this world, just because he has read a few online guides and has become a 'know-it-all'.
 
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