how much further can I go with a 2007 MacPro on a sensible budget?

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Level 1

4 points

how much further can I go with a 2007 MacPro on a sensible budget?

I asked a similar question 3 years ago and received some helpful advice but the machine does struggle with Photoshop and Lightroom plugins, so here's what I currently run and wonder whats now possible? Thanks in advance

Model Name: Mac Pro

Model Identifier: MacPro1,1

Processor 2 x 2.66 GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon

Graphics ATI Radeon HD 5770 1024 MB (quite noisy!)

Memory 14 GB 667 MHz DDR2 FB-DIMM

Software Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5 (11G63)

Harddrives 250GB SSD

3TB SATA

2TB SATA

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5), Powerbook G4 + MacBook (work) + ATV

Posted on Jul 1, 2015 1:46 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Jul 1, 2015 1:58 PM in response to spud159usa

You cannot go any further with OS X. You can change drives and increase memory. That's about it. Perhaps you should think about a new or newer machine.

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Answer 2

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Jul 1, 2015 2:08 PM in response to spud159usa

Model Name: Mac Pro

Model Identifier: MacPro1,1

Processor 2 x 2.66 GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon

Graphics ATI Radeon HD 5770 1024 MB (quite noisy!)

Memory 14 GB 667 MHz DDR2 FB-DIMM

Software Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5 (11G63)

Harddrives 250GB SSD

3TB SATA

2TB SATA

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5), Powerbook G4 + MacBook (work) + ATV

A 2009 model can be had for $400-500 to start with.

Yosemite on 1,1 is easy and doable.

More memory is inexpensive - 24-32GB

PCIe-SSD is a must / or Apricorn SATA III PCIe + SSD(s) - I like the XP941 256GB w/ adapter for boot drive and use SATA III for your scratch and Lightroom library. Apricorn for your system boot 256GB. Also EVO 850 250GB $99 might perform better if yours is from 2013, if it is not using TRIM?

A GPU from Nvidia - esp if you do 10.9. or above.

8-core 5355 or 5365 upgrade (and 2,1 firmware) for $100-200.

5770 should not be loud. Dust, heat and other factors... perhaps.

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