Upgrading Mac Pro 2011?

[Lance2020x]

Hello! I'm a professional Video Editor (I say this so you know RAM and Processor are important to me) and I'm needing to do an upgrade, but it's either a new camera or new computer.

I have an old Mac Pro that was a powerhouse machine in its day. I'd like to find out:
A. How much is it worth if I were to sell it?
B. Could I upgrade this to a Quad-Core+ machine (Mac or Hackintosh) that will last me a year or two so that I can save up for a brand new machine? Would that even be worth it?

Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro1.1
Processor Name: Dual-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed: 3GHz
Number Of Processors: 2
Total Number Of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB
Memory: 12 GB
Bus Speed: 1.33 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MP11.005C.BO8
SMC Version (system): 1.7f10
Comes with a giant Apple Display for video editing.

 

[atlantis852]

I assume you mean it's a Mac Pro 1,1. The very first model that came out in 2006 right? If it were me, I wouldn't sink too much cash into upgrading it though as its probably even more expensive (and difficult) to find parts for it (RAM with the extra long heat sink fins, EFI 32 compatible video cards, etc). Building a new Hack Pro or even just getting the latest top spec iMac would likely run circles around it in terms of performance.

 

[potemkin]

I have three of these machines.
I use a GT 630 evga .. gt 640 galaxy.. gs 8400 asus and xt 1900 Apple galaxy gt430.. ( $50/$100 )
All of these work fine with 10.7.5 Lion. Apple has drivers for this built in system.
The remark about video cards and 32 bit efi video cards is WRONG.
The comment obviously comes from someone who is repeating what he heard not what he has done.
Yes machine does boot with 32 bit efi.

You can get anApricron PCI express card that runs SATA III. ($50 )
This needs no drivers and is thought highly of on this sight.
Several moderators have used it.
So you can definitely upgrade it cheaply.

You can even make it run Mavericks or Mountain Lion even though they are 64 bit.
I do not want to do more than mention this.
Only Tonymac installation methods may be discussed on this site.
I do not want to break rules. they are there for a reason.
So unless moderator approves that is all I can say.

I cannot tell what performance is like....but my guess is 600/800 Novabench if upgraded.
My quad core i5 with GT 640 is about 750.
Basically it beats all I5 from Apple,but I7 are definitely 50% faster

If you put in two Apricorns running SSD as software RAID it would probably be even faster.

 

[atlantis852]

I have three of these machines.
I use a GT 630 evga .. gt 640 galaxy.. gs 8400 asus and xt 1900 Apple .. ( $50/$100 )
All of these work fine with 10.7.5 Lion. Apple has drivers for this built in system.
The remark about video cards and 32 bit efi video cards is WRONG.
The comment obviously comes from someone who is repeating what he heard not what he has done.
Yes machine does boot with 32 bit efi.

You can get anApricron PCI express card that runs SATA III. ($50 )
This needs no drivers and is thought highly of on this sight.
Several moderators have used it.
So you can definitely upgrade it cheaply.

You can even make it run Mavericks or Mountain Lion even though they are 64 bit.
I do not want to do more than mention this.
Only Tonymac installation methods may be discussed on this site.
I do not want to break rules. they are there for a reason.
So unless moderator approves that is all I can say.

I cannot tell what performance is like....but my guess is 600/800 Novabench if upgraded.
My quad core i5 with GT 640 is about 750.
Basically it beats all I5 from Apple,but I7 are definitely 50% faster

If you put in two Apricorns running SSD as software RAID it would probably be even faster.

I think you're reading way to much into what I wrote mate. We had six of the 1,1 Mac Pros and multiple sets of every single Mac Pro model since then. The 1,1 Pros boot fine with the EFI 32 video cards. Newer cards from Apple (ATI 5870) did NOT work for us in those 1,1 machines at the time when we went to replace failing stock cards years later.

 

[potemkin]

Atlantis a new mac or hack are best for performance. If that is all that counts.
You obviously have a very professional shop with intensive needs.
My son recently got a bottom line new iMac and memory basically bogged down processing audio files for effects.
My hack which is about 10% less according to Novabench and Geekbench did not like video conversion.

A Mac Pro 1,1 is limited in cpu area.
But 8 gigs of mem, video card and pci card is less than a few hundred bucks.
A new hack with i7 is 1000/1500.
Anew mac is 2000.

It seems Lance is budget constrained.
He is talking years to save up for new machine.
So yes if Lance upgrades he will have less than stellar performance.
But he could have substantial improvements for a lot less than a new machine.
The upgrades could be used in a new hack eventually.

Aused newer Mac pro is an option.
But Hack or new Mac beats that.

Lance your machine is worth around $300/$500.
I live in University town.
I get Mac Pros,MacBooks and iMacs for $50/$200.
They are stripped out but work.
Once they are fixed up they go for as much as $500.
There are several other people that recycle them into workable machines and they get around $500.