Q: Using Intel Mac Pro for art in 2017?
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Jun 26, 2016 12:09 PMby lllaass,5 GB of memory is really not enough for Photoshop. When running Photoshop how much swap is used as indicated in the Memory section of Activity Monitor. Also, what is CPU usage? Is it maxed out..
Also disk access speed may be limiting. You can speed that up by either using an SSD in one of the drive bays or using a blade SSD or standard 2 1/2 inch SSD in a PCIe card..
PCIe SSD on Mac Pro 1.1 (First Gen) ... faster than SATA SSD?
The drive bays in all the silver tower Mac Pros are SATA II (3 GB/sec) when SATA III drive are 6 GB/sec. The PCIe cards that accept 2 1/2 inch SSD run the SSD at SATA III. Blade SSDs in a PCIe slow are even faster.
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Jun 26, 2016 1:57 PMby Pneumacast,Thank you SO MUCH for the kind response, I think you may have really helped me out here. I was unfamiliar with the Activity Monitor, but from what I can tell, the memory is being entirely eaten up by PhotoShop. The CPU part is a bit fuzzy for me, so I attached screen captures of both readings:
In regards to the SSD or SSD in a PCle card, forgive my lack of knowledge- but does this involve replacing the hard drive? Or is this simply installing an additional drive?
Thanks again for the help!
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Jun 26, 2016 2:33 PMby lllaass,The memory windows does show that increasing memory will help. Now it uses (page ins and page outs, and swap) the HD as memory which is very slow.
Thus, increasing memory will speed up Photoshop and other apps that require a lot of memory
The CPU usage is low and not a bottle neck.
You can get a simple carrier for a 2 1/2 inch SSD and mount it on a HD sled and use that.
http://www.amazon.com/Icy-Dock-EZConvert-2-5-Inch-Converter/dp/B002Z2QDNE/
Based on the prices of 2 1/2 inch SSD today that would be a worthwhile investment.
A PCIe based SSD will increase disk access more but is more costly but may not be worth the cost o such an old Mac
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Jun 26, 2016 3:54 PMby Pneumacast,Alright, I will get some additional memory! I'm familiar with how to install it, thank you!
I think I would like to get the 2 1/2 SSD with the HD sled, but I'm confused - am I A) Replacing my existing spinning hard drive, or B) Adding the SSD so I have two drives in my Mac Pro? If the answer is B) - Since an SSD is faster, I assume it's where the operating system & applications should be stored. Do I need to back up my work, return it all to factory settings and finally reinstall everything on the SSD?
Will an SSD work with only certain operating systems?
Would this SSD be sufficient?:
Really appreciate your help! Thnx!
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Jun 27, 2016 2:35 AMby Randy Decker,I installed a PCIe Accelsior drive in my Mac Pro. I know that it would dramatically increase performance for you. https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/mac-pro/2009-2012
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Jun 27, 2016 6:22 AMby lllaass,Pneumacast said they have the original (2006/2007) Mac Pro.
The PCIe Accelsior drive is not fast in those Mac pros. OSC says:
2006-2007 Mac Pro. These models utilize PCIe 1.0 slot which cannot be configured (even with the Expansion Utility in OS X) to address Accelsior E2 as anything but as a first generation one-lane card. As a result, Accelsior_E2 performance will be limited to 190-200MB/s data rates. If maximum data rate speed up to 285MB/s is desired, we recommend the installation of a 2.5" OWC Mercury SSD in an open Mac Pro drive bay.
