Mainly be use for to run Logic Pro with an old Firewire Duet.

Due to budget restraint, I'm looking at the 3.33 6 Core 'Westmere'. However, I have some questions. What's the difference between the 2012 (more $) and 2010 besides age? If the 2012 version is a smarter buy for whatever reason then that would run me about the same as some 12 core 2010's I've seen on ebay though the processor speeds are lower. I've also seen a 2009 12 core around that say they're "flashed" with 3.33. I've also seen a 2010 6-Core 3.46GHz W3690 for about the same price.

More cores better than higher speeds for use in Logic? 2012 6 core 3.33 VS 2010 12 Core 2.66 (for example) VS 2009 12 Core 3.33 Flashed. If it helps, using VI's,hardware synths/kontakt, 1 mic/di guitar sometimes.

No iMac/Mini/Hackintosh/PC please. Even if it pains you not to talk about it.

I'm on a borrowed Toshiba Satellite that won't be around much longer at the moment.

 

http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...ro-six-core-3.33-mid-2012-westmere-specs.html
http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...ro-six-core-3.33-mid-2010-westmere-specs.html

Technically it's says they have the same specs.But maybe the 2010 was more expensive when first came out.The 2012 has the same technology with the 2010 but 2 years later.It should've been cheaper on release.

Also this is the benchmark

 

An 8 core hackintosh Lga 2011 can Run better and is + or - 20 overclockable.
Real budget is a hackintosh with dual lga 1366.. Can be more complicated.
Other option is a windows server with VEP PRO.
Just remenber that old motherboards die...
i had 3 bad motherboards in less than 3 months... Now I am in hospital with a heart attack...

 

I hope you're just being sarcastic.
Thankfully i never had a dead motherboard, but in the last couple of months i had issues with my usb hubs on both machines (mac pro, macbook pro).If i don't see an upgrade of mac pro by the end of 2016, i will wait for the latest Intel chips and build a hackintosh.Enough f**king with them.Back in the 2008 we "the pros" were first priority.Now the watch-phones-bands etc bring more cash to the company, so we were dumped.The only thing still holding me is the OS (which isn't the best out there, but i still prefer it from Windows)

 

Thanks for the info Producer. I thought as much. I just have to figure out which one of the models I mentioned earlier is the better buy for around the same money. I just don't know because I don't have experience with them. My crappy iMac just now crapped out after 8 years or something. I've had pretty good luck with Macs but I've always bought them new.

 

model a1278 is the one you're looking for i think

 

2012 6 core 3.33 VS 2010 12 Core 2.66 (for example) VS 2009 12 Core 3.33 Flashed.

What do?

 

NOPE.
seams that new mobos are less tested than older ones.
my Asus x99 pro usb3.1 lasts half hour and have to wait 3 weeks for a replacement.
Cheers from hospital!

 

As for Number of CPU's vs Clock speeds... I use logic , Playing an Instrument live (while rec) is very different to playback..

Higher Core and Clock speed is obviously the best answer... But to put it on perspective...

I Owned a SP QC 2.66 2009 4.1 Mac... Got through doing a Feature film on it... Just... Some Kontakt instruments were just playable when writing, due to the low Clock speed... However, on Playback, , multithreading would come into effect, and balance the plug in across the multiple cores...

He lies the problem.... A comparison would be a DP QC 2.26 2009 vs my SP 2.66 on playback would be 70% more powerful, but in no way would have i been able to rec my Contact and Omnisphere sounds in real time on the 2.26.

Anyway... Firmware flashed my 4.1 to a 5.1, Upgraded to a Hex core 3.46, dropped in 32 Gb faster 1333 ram and performs exceptionally...
Literally 30% more power when playing plugs live (haven't CPU clipped yet) and on playback, DOUBLE the track/VI count...

Theres not much difference between a 4.1 to 5.1.... Its just a matter of resale value...

So to answer.... Im pretty sure you'd be happy with the 12core 3.33 Flashed..

If you want to do a bit of research or ask questions, I suggest you join the MacProUpgrade FB group. its a great community for such things... maybe see you there.

Edit: Ovalf... Get better soon..

 

Last edited: Sep 3, 2016

Wow.At least you could record a sample of the heart monitor's beep.We are in need of SFX. Just kidding.
Well, hope to get well soon man. What else can i say.

 

Acctually theres a symphony off beeps. The intensive care is really beatifull and with excelent profissionals... But the mantainence do the sensores are bad... Continuous beeps and false alarms are really insane. Waiting to go home.

 

Look for CPUs benchmarks

 

What I'm interested is how Logic performs so I found this thread over at gearslutz https://www.gearslutz.com/board/apple-logic-pro/371545-logic-pro-multicore-benchmarktest.html. The 6 core 3.33 can about handle about 130 audio tracks alone, one guy squeezed 140, 12 core 3.33 about 240+ makes sense. Think I saw 253 on another post. I can't afford that one though. The 12 core 2.66 got a little more than the 6 core 3.33 but it's not worth it considering the machine 2-3 years is older imo. The 2.93 12 core got about 150, just to compare, again older or out of my budget.

I'm never going to use that many anyways. One guy said "I could play 25 Omnisphere tracks and 70 tracks with audio with my Mac Pro (all tracks with a eq and comp)" on a Mac Pro 6 core 3.33. I think that will do.

So I guess that's what I'm going for, 6 core 3.33 2012. I looked at http://www.tonymacx86.com/buyersguide/august/2016. Tempting, even easy looking, but If I make a mistake, having never actually built one, it's one that would screw me. If I had money to play around with I would probably go that rout for the experience alone.

Thanks.

 

I had an hackintosh working perfectly in Logic Pro X, first an i3-550 3.20 Ghz then the i7-4790k 4.00 Ghz. You should build an hackitosh instead of buying. I calculated once that my i7-4790k (300$) as the some power than a 6-core Mac Pro processor wich cost roughly 2500$
Take an old computer go to Amazon buy a cheap Motherboard (50-100$) buy the i7-4990k and your had done. For production only purpose the stock video card within the i7 make the job for me so you can still save a lot of money too...

Anyway Logic performance with the i7 were outstanding, i also suggest a cheap SSD for the OS

 

The Mac will cost me 1000-1200 give or take with 256GB SSD + 1TB 7200-rpm drive 32 gigs ram a "super drive" I might or might not need, wifi, ect today. I've seen the 2010 ones go for under 900. I don't have any spare parts or an old pc to work off of. I've also never built a pc in my life.

 

You can Pick up a mac pro 4.1 SC 2.66 for around $300 us..
Upgrade the firmware to 5.1 cost=$0
A Hexcore 3.46 3690 cost me $187 US
32 Gb Ram $80 US..

Add things like USB 3 card (Inatek HT4004) $30Us
And Definatley an SSD drive..

Unlike a Mackintosh, No need for .kext edits, or worrying about incremental updates... They just work..

I did the gearslutz logic benchmark test.
OSX 10.11.6 / Logic 10.2.4 / Apogee Ensemble 32buffer size.. 124 tracks
Its also equal to a I7 4700k 4.4 in the Cinebench CPU test.

 

Last edited: Sep 5, 2016

So just yesterday I ended up getting a 12 core 2.93 from a friends friend. 800$ with an Asus 27" ips monitor. Now I need some more ram and an ssd drive. Pretty satisfied. I might go ahead and put a couple 3.46's in there in few months, maybe.

 

Excellent Machine... And great price.
Seriously, going these Mac Pro is something you'll never regret... Solid Az.

Also , I recommend getting a PCIe SSD card... You can get PCIe using m2 for higher speeds, but with PCIe SSD drive adaptors it means you can re-purpose the replaced drives in data bays or Ext cases if you ever want to upgrade to bigger SSD's.
As the SATA bays in a mac pro are only SATA II speeds,(as is the 2nd optical bay where my SSD OS drive is atm) using these cards give you access to the SATA III spec, and with dual SSD cards that support 2 in Raid config , smokin'
Check out these options..
http://www.apricorn.com/products/desktop-ssd-hdd-upgrade-kits.html
Im going for the Velocity DUO x2
All bootable...

 

Last edited: Sep 15, 2016

Great advice Rhythmattic, and a good read... thanks...

and Ovalf, I didn't know you were ill, best thoughts to you, and I hope everything is getting better friend! sincere respect...

 

That is exactly what I'm looking to do Rhythmattic! I saw this video:

from 2013 a few days ago but I did not know there's a Velocity DUO x2. Is it the same process? I'm not familiar with the tech talk so I'm a bit lost. However, one will do for now.

Thanks!