Mac expert help

[V70R]

I have a MacPro1,1 as my main work computer.
I would like to know if I can simply update it to 4,1 or later.
Is this possible?

[Mad_Aussie]

You can upgrade the chips to 5100 or 5300 series Xeons, but other than that there aren't many options. Most chips won't have the appropriate firmware, and the way the Mac watercooler is designed most intel chips won't fit. The board is a specially modified Intel 5000x, and there aren't any upgrade paths for that.

Taken from Mac Rumours:


What you can do to upgrade:

* X5365 processors: A pair go for about $600 ~ $800 these days.
* X5355 processors: A pair go for about $400 ~ $600 these days.
* SSD Drives either as singles or in a RAID0 set.
* HDD Drives in a RAID0 set.
* There are 6 total SATA connections and 2 IDE connections all of which can be used for RAID0 or RAID10. One IDE Connection is occupied by the ODD.
* RAM: Upgradable to 32 GB.
* Video Card: Up to 1GB 4890 under OS X 10.5.8
* Not to mention a whole host of audio interfaces, MIDI control surfaces, RAID cards, FW 800/400 and USB 2.0 devices, etc. etc.


A 2006 Mac Pro 1,1 upgraded to 16GB RAM, a pair of X5355 Xeons, an ATI 4870, and a nice RAID0 set is faster at many things than a brand new 2009 2.26 Octad that sells for $3,300 and what it's not faster at ends up being almost exactly the same. And "faster" in that sentence ranges from just slightly to blown away!

Swap the 5355s for 5365s and it is faster at everything. And it will be as fast at some things (many even!) as the brand new 2009 2.66 Octad that sells for $4,700. What it's not actually faster at ends up being close but clearly faster at most of the remaining things than a 2009 2.66 Quad ($2,500). And of course always much faster than the 2.26 Octad ($3,300) as stated.

[V70R]

Cheers for that.
I am trying to install AUTOCAD 11 for the mac and it is not working as my Mac Pro seems too old. The system requirements state 4,1 or later. I have all other specs.

[Mad_Aussie]

Hmm, I know your pain... I have a last-gen Mac G5 Motorola Dual Chip... Can't upgrade past 10.5, can't run the latest CS5 suite, can't do s.f.a. Can't even tuck a new ATX board in it because of the dodgy case design. Unfortunately apple likes the 'throw-away and buy again' methodology.

[V70R]

True.
I know there is NO chance work will update this MacPro.
CS5 master works on it which is sweet but why AUTOCAD needs v4,1 is beyond me.
Looks like I will need to purchase a new iMac 27 for home next year to run this.

[Mad_Aussie]

Order it from the US if you do. Prices there are $500ish cheaper than here!

I tried my damndest to get work to buy me a 27" imac, they built me an ok-ish WinTel machine instead because we have a jewish singaporean who runs the finance department, and he decided that I only needed a $1000 machine to do motion graphics on.

[V70R]

David Jones can do a better deal than Mac online and their interest free payment plans are the best I have seen.
No interest,
$35 deposit,
$3/month fee for 24 months.

[Mad_Aussie]

David Jones can do a better deal than Mac online and their interest free payment plans are the best I have seen.
No interest,
$35 deposit,
$3/month fee for 24 months.

How long does the interest free period last?

[V70R]

How long does the interest free period last?

for the duration of the 24 month contract.

I.e.
Mac $3000

Monthly repayment plan over 24 months.
set up fee $35
Plan $125 / month + $3 fee
No interest.

Plus they will price match competitor prices.