Mac Pro - First Thoughts - Now with Pics

**dj_stick** · Feb 24, 2008, 04:31 AM

Before I start, refresh on the specs:
2 x E5462 Quad Xeons
4 x 1Gb 800mhz FB-DIMM Ram
nV 8800GT 512mb VRAM

Been running this thing for a few days now, and here are just a few thoughts about it:

OS X 10.5 (Leopard) isn't all that much different from 10.4 (Tiger) in terms of user interface, which I guess is a good thing, no need to re-learn the system, although there are a few minor changes here and there... I can see why 10.5 was labelled as more a service pack than a new OS though

Hardware wise this thing screams - I really doubt I'll be able to reach the potential of this beast any time soon.

The inside of the case is cleaner than any computer I have ever seen, very few cables hiding in sight - the HDD rack system is pure brilliance, relying on the standard locations of the sata data/power connections, you simply attach the drive to the caddy, then slide it into position - automatically connecting the drive to the system - no need to touch any cables what so ever.

Apple's Boot Camp Assistant program, the one that "helps" you install Windows, is absolutely useless if you're trying to install Windows on a seperate disk, rather than the primary disk - It would fail to partition the drive correctly, and hence, Windows would fail to find a drive it could install on - I managed to get XP & then Vista up and running just fine manually creating the partition in the Disk Utility app. The included drivers seem to work without a problem

Can't comment too much on the bundled iLife programs, as they're mostly useless to me

Unfortunately, as with all Macs, the number of included USB ports on the back of the case is too few, only 3 on the Mac Pro, so I'm forced to use either the front panel ports (2 exist there) or a USB hub.

The new Al keyboard is brilliant, yet I can't say the same for the mighty mouse (after using them for 2 years at school I've come to dislike them)

**dj_stick** · Feb 24, 2008, 04:49 AM

one more thing, if you thought Vista's UAC was bad, wait 'til you try a mac

Every program that's installed, and every minor system change, you have to re-enter your password - with UAC you just have to click

CJLMTLCA · Feb 24, 2008, 09:28 AM

So we can reverse the "allow" mac/pc commercial now...

Is that security new to Leopard?

And where are the pics??????????????

Lowfat · Feb 24, 2008, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_stick

one more thing, if you thought Vista's UAC was bad, wait 'til you try a mac

Every program that's installed, and every minor system change, you have to re-enter your password - with UAC you just have to click

you only need to enter a password for changes made in System Preferences and installing programs.

swimtech · Feb 24, 2008, 03:12 PM

Got 'er going - outstanding! Tri-booting too - makes for a very flexible machine AND all that power, very nice. All your stuff working in Vista that you want?

And yeah, the "security" has been there in Tiger (10.4) too for as long as I can remember...

**dj_stick** · Feb 24, 2008, 06:50 PM

yeah the security is identical to tiger, no change to how it works in leopard

Vista is working perfectly, although it's only using 4 cores, but seeing 8 in the device manager (probably because I'm using home Premium rather than ultimate) and ~2Gb RAM (32 bit edition for external hardware compatibility)

I have some pics, just need to get them off the camera

Btw not tri-booting, 'cause I have the upgrade edition of Vista, installation has to be started from within XP… that's a PITA

BlueMak · Feb 24, 2008, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_stick

Btw not tri-booting, 'cause I have the upgrade edition of Vista, installation has to be started from within XP… that's a PITA

NO. You can have a clean partition, start the installation of Vista upgrade edition, but do not enter any keys. Then after you have installed Vista, run the installation again from inside Vista=No XP necessary.

**dj_stick** · Feb 24, 2008, 07:16 PM

ehh, i guess so, still requires installing an OS twice (will probably upgrade to ultimate eventually)

**dj_stick** · Mar 1, 2008, 06:33 PM

here are a few pics:

***Zardon*** · Mar 1, 2008, 07:16 PM

looks great Chris. health to use her buddy

Was a great move from Macintosh going to intel processors and binning the G series (quite underpowered really by todays standards).

I agree with you about the mighty mouse, I quite liked them however of the 3 my friends have had, all of them have had stuck and damaged scroll "balls" so they don't even work now.

Those Xeon's are kick ass man, should last you a very very long time.

Lowfat · Mar 1, 2008, 10:14 PM

Mac Pro's are the easiest computer to work on. Adding HDD's is actually fun

Lowfat · Mar 1, 2008, 10:15 PM

Plus they are SOOO sexy.

**dj_stick** · Mar 2, 2008, 09:39 AM

i've "obtained" a copy of the service manual, so when i get the chance (maybe tomorrow) i'll pull it apart, and see what's hiding beneath the covers

swimtech · Mar 2, 2008, 11:19 AM

Sounds like fun dj - but you already know of course that if you go beyond what Apple considers CRP (customer replaceable parts) procedures you could void your warranty.

Indeed, that unit is amazingly well designed inside too - Apple has the some of the best industrial design people in the business.

They even thought of putting finger holes in the PCB of the FB-Dimm cards in order to facilitate removal of those to add memory onto them outside the machine, as a for instance.

As the User Manual says - "Congratulations, you and your Mac Pro were made for each other." Especially true in this case dj - I'm just sooo tickled for you...

**dj_stick** · Mar 4, 2008, 06:46 AM

a couple of things to ponder here,
4 pci express slots, two of them 16x pci-e 2.0
the logic board has two 6-pin pci-e power sockets
the 8800gt has an sli connector

i'm wondering if apple has plans for the future… although the quadro fx 5600 options does require the use of two pci-e power connections…

Lowfat · Mar 4, 2008, 11:25 AM

No you won't be seeing SLI. The MP should have 4 physical 16x slots although 2 of them are 2x PCIe speed. The MP is meant to have 2-4 videocards at the same time.

**dj_stick** · Mar 4, 2008, 10:14 PM

just took the thing apart and tooks some photos (will post later)

it's got a 980w PSU, with not one, not two, but SIX 12v rails, along with a 5v rail, nothing more (according to the sticker on the PSU)

**dj_stick** · Mar 6, 2008, 05:04 PM

just for the hell of it:

damn HDD holding me back…

swimtech · Mar 6, 2008, 05:21 PM

Bummer, must be defective...

**dj_stick** · Mar 18, 2008, 06:39 AM

sorry about the sideways image, i don't have any tools for OSX yet
but this is interesting

980W
6 12V rails
1 5v rail

**kris23** · Mar 18, 2008, 08:48 AM

lol proprietary junk...... but it does make an interesting discovery.....

Lowfat · Mar 18, 2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_stick

sorry about the sideways image, i don't have any tools for OSX yet
but this is interesting

980W
6 12V rails
1 5v rail

iPhoto, Preview, and Automator can rotate images. All of which come with OS X.

Lowfat · Mar 18, 2008, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

lol proprietary junk...... but it does make an interesting discovery.....

considering MP's only have 4-5 cables in the entire case, proprietary ftw. I wish more case manufacturers would make drive bays like a Mac Pro.