No, I wouldn't purchase that model.
No, I wouldn't purchase that model.
Hello everyone, I'm a tech lover who was thinking about buying the Valve Index until the market closed. After that, I've been thinking about switching back to Apple and getting my all-time favorite Mac Pro 5.1. I recall when I was a student, these devices cost around 12,000 euros or dollars (that's nothing compared to today's prices of over 50,000). Even though it might seem expensive now, adding one to my room is important for me. My main goal is to reconnect with Mac after being away for about six or seven years. Another priority is studying and using tools like Logic Pro or Adobe Pro Tools, which I need for work—besides movies, music, and some office tasks (though not gaming, I have a custom gaming tower in my room). What are your thoughts?
My plan is to buy a 12-core, 64GB DDR3, RX580 with USB 3.0 card for 750€. Then I'll need a Wi-Fi + Bluetooth adapter, a Thunderbolt 3 card (because I'm a geek), and a couple of SSDs. What bothers me is that the one nearby is quite expensive—900 euros, with some scratches—but at least I won't have to buy extra SSDs. On the other hand, the last Mac Mini is available for that price and might still be powerful, even though I'll miss its design and PCI lanes.
What do you all think?
It's a solid setup for casual use but has hit its limits. Improving its hardware or software will become more challenging. The 12-core 2012 Mac Pro performs similarly to the newer 6-core Mac Mini according to Geek Bench, though the Mini edges out the Pro in single-thread tasks. Unless you need PCIe cards, the Mini seems more practical for real-world applications.
Thanks for your response. The theory is quite straightforward, though I find it frustrating not being able to install any PCIe devices. I’m also thinking about upgrading to version 6.1 later, but the $1500 price tag for a 2012 quad-core processor and D300 chipset feels unreasonable. My main concern is that if there’s a significant software update in a few years, it might not work with the 5.1 (Catalina isn’t officially supported, though installation might still be possible).
Hello everyone, I just purchased it. I wasn’t sure because I couldn’t find a suitable option nearby at a reasonable price when someone shared a 2009 Mac Pro 4.1 updated to 5.1 with 12 cores and 64GB RAM for 500 USD. I’m planning to customize it as much as possible. My goal is to retain the GPU (R9 280X) until the Radeon VII costs around 300 USD. I’m also thinking about adding a second SSD with Windows, another 1TB HDD, and the Gigabyte TITAN GC for Thunderbolt. I’m wondering if there’s a multipurpose PCIe card that supports USB 3.0, possibly some SATA ports and other features. It already includes everything but uses only about three PCIe slots. Another concern is whether it has any compatible Blu-ray drive—it only comes with one Super Drive.
I think a USB Blu-ray drive might function, though I'm not certain. You could also set up Linux and then use whatever hardware suits you best. Alternatively, follow the guidance from dosdude1 to run Catalina—this is on a Mac Pro with 2GB RAM and an SSD, which should handle basic tasks without costing much. It was all old equipment that was just being kept in storage until it ended up in the auction.
Thanks for your response. Yes, I thought about using a Blu-ray drive via USB. I’ve even tried it because I own one at work, but I aim for a clean and simple setup. So I’d prefer an internal solution. Wow, this is really frustrating. I have a 4K screen and connected my R9 280X via a mini-display port, but it won’t boot when using DP1.2. HDMI works but it’s stuck at 30Hz—can use 60Hz if needed, but I need to disconnect before booting and reconnect afterward. I’m planning to stick with HDMI and switch the GPU later. Installing the OS is taking a lot of time; I was still using data from the previous owner. The DAC is also causing issues. I managed to get it working up to 44Hz, but once the OS loads, it drops to 44 and 41.1Hz. I just want to enjoy music in this device. Anyone have any advice on changing the fans for those Noctua units? They’re making a strange noise.
According to what I've understood, the usual dimensions are consistent, but the connection setup isn't standard (they don’t use the common 3 or 4 pin type) and accessing it is quite challenging. Right now, I'm stuck trying to install macOS. When prompted, it says I need to update, so I have to power off the computer, wait until it fully shuts down, then press and hold the power button. I press the switch off button but it doesn't respond. I've tried all possible steps and nothing works.