Mini replacing MacPro 2,1?

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Level 2

243 points

Mini replacing MacPro 2,1?

Hi everyone.

I plan to replace my oldie/goodie MacPro 2,1 with Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor with MacMini.

One of the reasons is the inability to run FnalCutPRo X on my big machine with NVIDIA GeForce 7300 card.

Therefore would like to ask you again if anyone with experience running PRO software on the mini can "approve" this move.

I am doing many aftereffects/finalcut/lightroom/logicpro jobs and was ok with MacPro performance fpr these tasks, but the video requirements of a new FCP X is pushing me move forward with new machine. Using FInalCutPro X even on my MBP 2.8 IntelCore2Duo is horrible, horrible experience.

For the MacPro I do have HD 30" display which I would like to keep as my main display. Somebody already said, that mini will handle the big display, but will this be a pro experience? Is the mini lacking something the 2008 MacPro does better?

I plan to buy full spec/ custom version of a mini with 2.7Ghz Core i7 processor and probably the Thunderbolt 4T HD storage.

Any idea if the graphic card can be updated later on?

Thank you for your comments if the move is a something I will not regret.

Budget is obviously an issue and having a display already, iMac is not an option.

Suprisingly the Mini is a beast from what I am reading and its performance will I think cover even the most demanding PRO tasks.

Thanks a lot.

Mike

Here are my specs of the big MacPro running 2560x1600 30' HD display.

Model Name: Mac Pro

Model Identifier: MacPro2,1

Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Xeon

Processor Speed: 3 GHz

Number Of Processors: 2

Total Number Of Cores: 8

L2 Cache (per processor): 8 MB

Memory: 5 GB

Bus Speed: 1.33 GHz

Boot ROM Version: MP21.007F.B06

SMC Version (system): 1.15f3

Serial Number (system): 157280SKUPZ

Hardware UUID: 00000000-0000-1000-8000-0019E3F99C7E

NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT:

Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT

Type: GPU

Bus: PCIe

Slot: Slot-2

PCIe Lane Width: x1

VRAM (Total): 256 MB

Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)

Device ID: 0x0393

Revision ID: 0x00a1

ROM Revision: 3011

Displays:

Cinema HD:

Resolution: 2560 x 1600

Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)

Display Serial Number: CY7131G2UG1

Main Display: Yes

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Rotation: Supported

Display Connector:

Status: No Display Connected

Posted on Apr 1, 2012 12:29 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Eric.

Level 6

12,260 points

Apr 1, 2012 1:52 AM in response to mi.po

Are there any FCPX compatible graphic cards for your Mac Pro? I don't have a Mac Pro, so I don't keep up with that sort of thing.

Here are the tech specs for the Mini: http://www.apple.com/macmini/specs.html

Note under Video support:

Thunderbolt port with support for up to 2560-by-1600 resolution
HDMI port with support for up to 1920-by-1200 resolution
DVI output using HDMI to DVI Adapter (included)
Support for dual display and video mirroring

So might want to verify the specs of your 30" that the resolution is line those. Is it the 30" DVI?

http://support.apple.com/kb/SP79

I suspect you'll need to drive it off the Thunderbolt port, which is identical in dimensions to the MiniDisplay port. And the 30" required dual-link DVI. There is a minidisplay port to dual DVI adapter.

The graphics in the Mini can't be changed later.

I have some of the Pro apps you inquire about FCS v3 that I run on a MBP i7 2.7 dual core, and on my Mini Server i7 2.0 quad core -- both with the integrated Intel GPU. But my needs sound much more modest compared to yours. They work for my basic cutting, and PS work which is mostly retouching.

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Answer 2

mi.po Author

Level 2

243 points

Apr 1, 2012 2:44 AM in response to Eric.

Thanks Eric for taking the time.

Yes, thats my HD monitor and I know I will need the minidisplay to dual DVI adapter.

It looks like I should be ok using the monitor with the mini then.

Either way, its amazing how fast the MacPro line gets old.

I was just pouzzled with this document http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3571

I usually edit 1-3min promo spots in HD and was ok using FCP7, but now with the FCPX I think its time to move on and regardless if you have MacPro, iMac or mini - anything which has i5 or i7 should work without problems and spinning beach balls and be much faster.

Any experience how noisy the 7200 HD is in the mini? I have upgraded MBP with 7200 speed disk and had to downgrade it to 5400 due to the sound. My table was vibrating and buzzing like a big subwoofer.

Thank for help.

Mike

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Answer 3

Eric.

Level 6

12,260 points

Apr 1, 2012 3:06 AM in response to mi.po

It look like you be ok, just be sure to get the dual-link DVI and not regular DVI adapter.

I don't know about 7200 drives in the Mini. I bought a stock Mini Server which came with a pair of 5400 rpm drives. Overall my Mini is pretty quiet, I can the fan late at night when all else is quiet. For FCP capture, I'm used to using externals -- for about 4-5 years my main and fastest Mac was a Portable.

I haven't bought FinalCutProX, I grabbed a copy of Final Cut Studio v3 when X was announced. Since it's works in Lion I'm sticking with it. So I don't know how X runs on any computer. I used FCS v1 on an old MBP core2duo (similar to the one you mentioned), I had no complaints with but the iCore chips render much faster. LOL, I go way back I still have a copy of Final Cut Pro v1.

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