Need to know ASAP:Mac Pro 2.8ghz Octo is dead. Should I accept a 2.26Ghz Octo Nehalem

[Ialsoeathummus]

And by the way, because Apple is so accommodating, I don't want to just ask for a faster machine because I can. I would like to be as fair as possible make suggestions with this in mind.

[L-Rey]

don't downgrade the speed of the CPU. stick to 2.8 and above.

[Ialsoeathummus]

Originally Posted by L-Rey

don't downgrade the speed of the CPU. stick to 2.8 and above.

What's the reasoning? I'll need to know how to explain this to Apple as their data shows speed increases in some areas.

I have been checking out the Multicore Benchmarktest Thread and the results are not encouraging for either 2.26Nehalem or 2.66Nehalem.

Aren't the newer machines supposed to be faster?

[DivineMusic]

the power should be right about the same if not a little better performance... the 08 macpro vs nehalem macpro... the nehalem's are stronger.. dont worry about what the speed rating of 2.8 vs 2.26... see if they'll give you a 2.66
(i personally know the 2.66 is still stronger than the previous 3.2, i know b/c i replaced a 3.2 with the new 2.66)

you can ask apple and they'll tell you the newer system may have a lower CLOCK SPEED but its faster

the new 2.93 could tear apart the old 2.8 with ease

**********(edit- i was just talking to a friend thats an apple tech b/c i needed some software from him and asked him. he said the 2.26 only has a 10% gain over the 2.8 and with some apps the 2.8 can actually out perform the 2.26.
he said the 2.66 is 25-30% stronger than the 2.8 and the 2.9 is 35-38% stronger than the 2.8 from last year....
he the the 2.66 has a 20-25% advantage over the 3.2 depending on the scaling of the application.
personally with nuendo 4 i had sessions that were at 50-60% on a 3.2 but on the 2.66 the same session is at 38-40% nothing over... so thats 10-20% real life application advantage)***********

[Ialsoeathummus]

Originally Posted by DivineMusic

the power should be right about the same if not a little better performance... the 08 macpro vs nehalem macpro... the nehalem's are stronger.. dont worry about what the speed rating of 2.8 vs 2.26... see if they'll give you a 2.66
(i personally know the 2.66 is still stronger than the previous 3.2, i know b/c i replaced a 3.2 with the new 2.66)

you can ask apple and they'll tell you the newer system may have a lower CLOCK SPEED but its faster

the new 2.93 could tear apart the old 2.8 with ease

**********(edit- i was just talking to a friend thats an apple tech b/c i needed some software from him and asked him. he said the 2.26 only has a 10% gain over the 2.8 and with some apps the 2.8 can actually out perform the 2.26.
he said the 2.66 is 25-30% stronger than the 2.8 and the 2.9 is 35-38% stronger than the 2.8 from last year....
he the the 2.66 has a 20-25% advantage over the 3.2 depending on the scaling of the application.
personally with nuendo 4 i had sessions that were at 50-60% on a 3.2 but on the 2.66 the same session is at 38-40% nothing over... so thats 10-20% real life application advantage)***********

Very interesting. Same amount of RAM? Same version of Logic?

Are you using your processing mostly for effects, samples or software instruments? The reason I ask is because from what I've read, the Nehalem computers are more efficient with some processing tasks and less efficient with others - namely software effects.

The Logic Pro Multicore Benchmark Test is interesting, but seems to point towards the 2.8Ghz Early 2008 being more powerful.

I could ask for a refurbished 2.8Ghz Early 2008 if I had to.

[Ialsoeathummus]

Originally Posted by DivineMusic

(edit- i was just talking to a friend thats an apple tech b/c i needed some software from him and asked him.

thanks so much for taking the time to do that!

[DivineMusic]

no problem, it was something i wanted to know anyways.. to bad its not a HUGE power difference considering the price difference