I'm running some Photoshop filters on a large 900+ MB Tiff file and it appears to be performing all tasks in memory and not with the scratch disk. The wait time seems to be cut down considerably. Photoshop CS6 is 64bit compatible and my 2009 Mac Pro installation is set up to allocate 10.5 GBs out of 16 GBs of memory to Photoshop. More memory does seem to help. I had 8BS of RAM on the 2006 Mac Pro but, Photoshop running in 32 but mode would would not allocate more than (roughly) 3.5 GBs of RAM, thus my performance with large files was reduced to scratch disc read and right speeds. So, stepping up to the 2009 Mac Pro is not providing a faster overall user experience over the 2006. It is meanly a dedicated upgrade for Photoshop performance and Mac OS X compatibility beyond Lion. If I'm never able to buy any future perpetual licenses to Adobe CS upgrades again, I could afford, some time down the road, to ad an additional 16 GBs of RAM in the two remaining memory slots, bumping the machine up to 32 GBS of RAM. Just like my 2006 Mac Pro, the internal Apple Bluetooth module has spotty control with my Apple Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad. The USB bluetooth adapters that you insert into the front USB port work better, only after you remove the Apple Bluetooth module and and modify your system with Terminal App and some file deletions. It might be just easier to remove the Apple Bluetooth module, reformat your boot drive and reinstall your OS. Then, you should get reliable performance with the USB bluetooth adapter inserted in the front USB port.Read full review
This machine has all I need at a price I can afford. Lots of RAM & HD space, a Superdrive plus a BlueRay drive allows for lots of possibilities. For the first time in years I have access to the latest Mac OS. Now to embark on the path towards upgrading my abilities!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I have customized this with a firmware upgrade and processor upgrade. It is essentially a 6 core 2010 Mac Pro now. After running both Geekbench tests as well as real world 4k video rendering, I've found this computer to perform the same as the 2013 quad core Mac Pro which I have run through the same tests. This is much more customizable than a current 2013 Mac Pro however it does not have USB 3 built in or Thunderbolt. Also the 2013 model runs much quieter and is easier to take with you. Otherwise the performance of this computer and internal expandability with 4 drive bays, PCIe slots and 2 optical drive bays, can't be matched in any current Mac.
First and foremost, it was time for me to upgrade. As a Designer, I needed to keep up the pace and needed something faster for work output and process. I've been with the Mac side of OS for awhile and decided to stay with it for an upgrade. My budget allowed for this 2009 Mac Pro with a Quad Core 2.66GHz processor. I knew it would provide me with more power, but I was surprised of what it could do once it was in my possession. I bought it with some minor customizations with it, but have went further with some custom features, such as a GTX 570 graphics card and 16GB RAM, and that has given it a significant boost in power. With these extras, tasks such as rendering and editing conclude in a minimal amount of time. Booting and App startup times are significantly faster. For instance, my old setup may have taken a minute to boot when this computer does it in about 10 seconds. Apps such as Photoshop take no more than 5 seconds to open. There was no denying the speed capabilities of this Mac Pro. Overall, this is certainly a good machine for anyone from enthusiasts to professionals who will put it to good use. Photographers, designers, videographers, and so forth can rest assure that this machine will bring the power. The benefit of the workstation is that if you needed more power, you can always upgrade the internals. A final say: If you really wanted to push this machine, you can always upgrade its firmware to Mac Pro 5,1, add in a 6-core westmere processor and it will support RAM at 1333MHz.Read full review
Super easy. Dustin provided great instruction and even called and answered my questions. My Mac is running even smoother and faster than before. Thanks!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Apple Desktops & All-In-Ones