Time for a new PC

[h4rri]

Time to replace my 8 month old shuttle with something that can stay up more than 5 minutes, doesn't detroy any HDD within 50 metres and is capable of running solitaire without dying! Useless piece of junk
[/rant]

Anyway so I'm looking at a Mac Pro [desktop] and wanted the advice of you, my fellow photogs, before I commit £2k of my hard earned to a new machine.

I would be looking at running Lightroom and/or CS3 to process my photo's, this would be the main [and probably] sole purpose of the thing.

So my quuestion is, do you think it's a good move? I'm not looking for prices or 'you could get a kicka$$ PC for that' because I know I could. I also know I'd be looking to throw it out of the same window as the shuttle within a year after numerous installs, drops, crashes and £100's spent on upgrades.

How many of you run Mac's? Are they as good as I've heard at running resource hungry apps? I *really* like the idea of not having to worry about the various virii etc out there too and the stability but have you any horror stories? I have checked and all the software I'd need to run is available too, anyone found anything lacking though?


Thanks peeps

[grantsteve]

Don't know too much about the desktops but I run a 2Ghz Macbook with 1Gb RAM. I've run trail versions of both Lightroom and CS3 without problems.

You might also want to consider Aperture as an alternative to Lightroom. I got on well with trial versions of both and in the end chose Aperture because I could get it cheaper. I would have been happy with either though.

Admitadly though I don't really put these things through their paces as its just a hobby for me. I'm sure Radiohead will add some sound advice from a commercial perspective.

On a side note, OSX works like a dream!

EDIT: This thread seems to have been written for you, albeit not from a 'togs perspective.

[jonnypb]

We have macs at work and for DTP they are good - They can crash as well mind but not as much as a PC! The only thing I don't like about the macs is the price as they can be very expensive compared to a similar spec PC.

[Tobers]

I'm running a self-built AMD64 3400+ processor and 1.5GHz of RAM, plus 200Gb and 500Gb SATA drives. It runs CS3 and Lightroom without any problems. In fact it is really nippy.

Nowadays, you're probably looking at a dual-core processor, but you might as well go for 2Gb RAM whilst you are at it, and a couple of internal hard drives so you can back one up to the other.

[jonandjen]

h4rri,

Just 'defected' to Mac myself. I ordered a new Macbook Pro (2.4ghz santa rosa) a couple of weeks ago and should be here in the next couple of days. Really looking forward to the power / speed of the Mac etc.

Will also be ordering a new iMac when the expected 'new model refresh' happens sometime between now and the release of the Leopard operating system. My advice is therefore to 'go for it' !!

regards, jonandjen.

P.S - How's the new lenses ? - I'm loving my new 70-200 f4 USM L IS

[Liquid101]

The Mac road is the road to enlightenment. I've been a Mac user at work for the last 8 years, I've bought around 20 in total from G4 through G5 to Mac Pros and all of them are still running sweetly (half are in storage). I've had 1 fault on 1 machine in all that time and that was within a week or purchase.

I still use a 6 year old G4 powerbook to edit DV at home- works perfectly, and it's only 500 Mhz! The new Quad Core Mac pro's really fly - probably well over and above what you need to be honest. I'll be updating my home machine to the new iMac model in the Autumn - can't wait.

Makes a Windows machine feel like a rusty box of nuts and bolts b

[h4rri]

Thanks guys, would normally just buy it but the expense on something unknown has me twitching

Would be looking at the default Mac Pro configuration of:

Two 2.66GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon "Woodcrest" processors
1GB memory (667MHz DDR2 ECC fully buffered DIMM)
NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics with 256MB memory
250GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s 7200-rpm hard drive1
16x double-layer SuperDrive

I can then grab a 4Gb RAM upgrade later in the year, already have over 1Tb in storage [sata] so don't need that. Love the dual DVI feeds of the standard card so don't need anything else

Just not sure what the processors equate to in standard PC terms, I understand the OS itself helps ease the load of RAM and CPU etc so doubt it will actually matter anyway


@jonandjen: Loving the new lenses, can't seem to stop using the 17-40 I just love that lense

[Liquid101]

Originally Posted by h4rri

I can then grab a 4Gb RAM upgrade later in the year

I would go with more RAM straight away personally. 1Gb just doesn't cut it these days - especially if you plan to use Lightroom, Aperture or CS3.

Do you know where you're getting it from yet. I always use these guys. They'll fit the RAM for much less than Apple.

[jont]

I'd second getting more RAM in from the start - minimum 2Gb but 4Gb would be a much better start - if buying from Apple then be prepared to pay a premium but RAM is user installable - but check on the best memory bank arrangement to fit ...

Not sure on intel version compatibility of Canon RAW software though ...

Jon

[h4rri]

I would get more RAM from Apple but they want over £400 for 4Gb and Crucial want £277 so makes sense to get it from them.

Thanks for the link Liquid, they are around the same price as Apple though and don't have stock Have to order it for delivery on Friday as thats the last day I have off for a while and they'll only deliver to home

[py6km]

Yes, I'd agree with that -- if you want to use Lightroom and CS3 from the get go then I would get the RAM in there straight away.

However, I'd actually found that a Mac Pro is slightly overkill for these applications, and my 24" iMac handles them with ease (it does have more RAM and a better graphics card than the standard config though), but you may want to consider that...? (especially as they may be getting a revamp in the next month or so, if rumours are to be believed)

[jont]

Also you'll have 5Gb with Crucial as you can keep your existing 1Gb wheras Apple will upgrade to 4gb and you don't get the 1Gb ...

You could try the Apple online refurb store for any bargains - best to take a look then ring them and see what they can do/haggle for ... check the Mac forum to see what other's have wangled out of them ...

Jon

[h4rri]

You are a legend

Found a Mac Pro dual 3Ghz in there for £1899 instead of £2209 so going for that instead

[jont]

Thought you might snap that up ;-) ... I'd still give the refurb store sales guys a ring though and see what they might be able to do re memory or extras ... you might also find that when it arrives it might have more memory/HD than advertised !!

Welcome to the 'light side' ;-)

Jon

[h4rri]

BOO! needs to be purchased on a Credit Card and I maxed all those on my 5D kit lately LOL

Never mind will go new and grab the RAM to install when it turns up