Comments on: WWDC: New Mac Pro Towers Blaze Through Logic, Soundtrack, Offer Better Storage Options, Says Apple

By: Peter Kirn

Peter Kirn — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 14:39:48 +0000

Well, I haven’t seen heat sinks like that, no. But that’s specific to the RAM, not the computer. The RAM itself is from a known vendor:

http://www.nanya.com/

…which you can buy online, cheap. You can see the Nanya sticker right on there. So, again, there’s really no reason whatsoever to buy from Apple, especially with all those free slots. And the slots themselves are standard, so you might get RAM from a different vendor with a different style of heat sinks.

I definitely haven’t seen a heat sink quite like that before, but hey, why not? It may improve the reliability of the RAM to have more efficient heat dissipation.

By: Dan Nigrin

Dan Nigrin — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:20:13 +0000

Peter, some pictures of the Apple-supplied RAM are here:

http://www.powermax.com/articles_reviews/article.php?id=32

Not sure if this stuff is stock or not, can you tell?

Dan

By: Hellgi

Hellgi — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:44:42 +0000

Adrian,

Unfortunately, just because you have 16GB of RAM in your computer doesn’t mean it can use all of it. In the 32-bit realm, an app. can’t use more than about 2.5GB of memory (sometimes a bit more if they’re extremelly well-developed). Unless you use multiple hosts (say, for example, Logic + Rax + Plogue Pidule + …) it’s very difficult to get all your samples loaded onto your sequencer.

If you use Vienna Instruments, it’s even harder (even impossible actually) because it uses it own “sample server” which run in the background and can’t go over 2.5GB of used RAM. Doesn’t matter how many host you’ll run, they will all link to this “sample server”.

Jerome

By: Create Digital Motion » New Mac Pros Feature Improved Video and 3D Benchmarks; Killer ATI, NVIDIA Video Cards

Tue, 08 Aug 2006 22:42:15 +0000

[...] My full take is available at CDMusic: WWDC: New Mac Pro Towers Blaze Through Logic, Soundtrack, Offer Better Storage Options, Says Apple [Create Digital Music] [...]

By: Peter Kirn

Peter Kirn — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 20:39:59 +0000

Dan, where did you hear that? Heat sinks on the RAM? Many RAM chips now come with onboard heat sinks; I just installed DDR (not even DDR2 RAM) in my own machine with some. I’m sure Apple must be using off the shelf RAM in their machines.

By: Zach

Zach — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 19:11:50 +0000

Apple has offered max of 16GB RAM since the PowerMac G5 (the joys of 64-bit computing). Even more crazy: workstations from Dell with comparable Xeon processors can support up to 64GB of RAM. That’s more than twice the hard drive of my girlfriend’s notebook.

By: Dan Nigrin

Dan Nigrin — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 13:56:21 +0000

Peter, re: the RAM, what’s this about the Apple-supplied on board heat sinks that they are supplying with the RAM if purchased from Apple? Is that too available from 3rd parties?

By: Peter Kirn

Peter Kirn — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 02:45:55 +0000

I don’t think it’s overpriced compared to other PC models with this architecture. It’s best to buy RAM yourself, though, at a discount — skimping is a bad idea, because you can get unreliable memory, but you’d have to go out of your way for it to cost as much as Apple’s config options cost. In fact, in general it’s the custom config options that to me look pricey.

The one thing I will criticize is that you’re far more limited in choice with Apple than with a customized PC. So it’s not necessarily a poor value for what it is, but you do get more options on the PC side.

I’m going to disagree with you, though, Adrian: Microsoft, please, *please* take your time on Vista. Seriously. I want the thing working right before I start to use it. ;)

By: Adrian Anders

Adrian Anders — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 21:36:01 +0000

The only major bit that REALLY blew my mind about the new Mac Pros is the option for 16GB of RAM (for the cost of a used car no less).

16 gigs?!?!?! God I’m thinking you could run a software sampler with a whole orchestral collection entirely off the RAM, no streaming needed.

Still terribly overpriced tho. C’mon MS, give us Vista already!!!

ATA

By: bliss

bliss — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 17:34:03 +0000

My old G4 dual 1.4 is still humming along (with the side door open — it’s hot in there!) and now it is time for me to smile a big toothy grin because I’m gonna get me one of those dual Core 2 Duos. Oh yes I am! :-D