Aperture an the new 2013 Mac Pro

As with any computer as much RAM and "disk" space as you can afford.

"disk" space

The 1TB internal SSD is disproportionately expensive compared to a 512 GB internal SSD. When we ordered the new MacPro for fast image processing, we opted for the 512 GB SSD, but a 8TB external thunderbolt disk.

Sounds like a sweet arrangement.

Allan

It will be a long, long wait. We ordered the Mac Pro right before Christmas, but the expected delivery time will be in April. So far, only the trackpad and the external drive have been delivered 🙂

Should of ordered the 1TB SSD, they probably have more in stock!

8^)

Should of ordered the 1TB SSD, they probably have more in stock!

8^)

I made this mistake with my iPhone, when I ordered the 64GB version. It was also a long, long long wait, and when I complained, I was told, that it would have been much quicker, if I had ordered the 32 GB model like everybody else 😀. Because there was not much demand for 64 GB models, there are not many of them produced.

This leads to the interesting question of what are the under-the-hood features of the new Aperture version that was promised to be enhanced for the new Mac Pro, as announced during the Mac Pro release event. What has been changed, what will be changed in future versions, and what will be the best hardware supported by Aperture. Has this "optimized for the Mac Pro" version been 3.5 already?

There isn't anything in the release notes about this:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2518

That beeing said, I find my almost 4 years old Macbook Pro still sufficient to process my D800E RAW files. What are your requirements and expectations for the new Mac Pro that you wish to purchase, regarding performace. Esprecially what should it do better than any other current Mac that is available today?

Hi Willi,

is your current Mac Pro already running with SSD drives? That was the best upgrade I could do to my MBP. Without SSD I had retired my MBP a long time ago.

As a new fully equipped Mac Pro is not a bargain for most of us, I'd definitely wait until Apple makes a clear statement, or some external testers have made a proper performance comparison of the various hardware options of the MP in reference to Aperture.

Nevertheless, if you have serious issues now and can't wait, I guess even the basic Mac Pro with sufficient HD space and RAM will be good enough for anything you do with Aperture.

I played around with the entry model at the local Apple Store, and found it to be very quick. But I mostly tested with FCPX, and didn't look to see what, if any, test Library they had on it for Aperture.

There is no question but that my rMBP with 16 GB of RAM out performed my older Mac Pro with only 10 GB of RAM, (and the inability to install anything beyond 10.7.5) throughout the time they could use the same version of Aperture. And there is no question in my mind that the RAW files from my D800 are more intensively felt than full HD video, whether in Aperture or FCPX.

My pet theory is that the graphics memory is over whelmed by the D800 images, and that ordinary memory must be brought to bear, but is then not well managed.

I have configured my order for a new MP after consultation with the Busines Desk reps at the Apple Store, who checked their sources, and felt the 6 Core and standard graphics card would be all that I would need to run either Aperture or FCPX. Only if I were to want to do animation renderings, etc, would I need more than the 6 Core. But I did configure it with 32 GB of RAM, and the 1 TB flash drive. My status still says shipping in February -- I ordered it before Christmas.

I already am using TBolt drives with rMBP running Mavericks, and doing backups via clones to USB3 drives.

Ernie

Btw, remember that FCPX has had an update that included special provissions for running on the new MP. But to my knowledge, nothing of that sort has happened for Aperture, so my in store experience may be tainted by that. But we can be hopeful something will happen for Aperture and the new MP in the near future, and if so, may only apply to a Mac Pro.

Ernie

Performance tip: My Aperture library (with all preview images, thumbnails, database files) is on my SSD, too, and all RAWs sit on my secondary HD as referenced files. That gave a good performace boost, too.