It's here...

[badmofo2122]

Pretty exciting...although there's no way I can spend 5 Gs on a 12 core! I was hoping the price on the 8 core would go down?

Ken

[ChipThome]

Originally Posted by RatVega

Maureen frequently shakes her head because I'm so hardcore on computer systems but I don't use an iPod, tweet, text, have a FaceBook or MySpace account, frequent YouTube, or use my (non-bluetooth) cell phone for anything except telephone conversations... Even though I'm theoretically semi-retired, I have a limited amount of free time so I'm picky about my vices and time wasters...

I can relate Tom. Although I would say in those time waster areas, I am a shade more "with it" than you. I would have to be considered tech savvy up to..... oh..... at least a 2005 level by now.

[RatVega]

Originally Posted by badmofo2122

Pretty exciting...although there's no way I can spend 5 Gs on a 12 core! I was hoping the price on the 8 core would go down?

Ken

There will be some opportunities, Ken... I expect that the new 8X 2.4HGz will go for the same price as the old 2.26GHz model, which will in turn probably be offered in the refurb section for several hundred off. And I've seen recent a couple of offers for used recent models that were were around half price.

In real terms, the level of power available in the high end models is beyond what the average editor needs. Wants are another issue... You kinda need to be in a place where you were looking at getting a pair of Macs so you could ping-pong between them.

The flip side of that is that the new Quads are really nice and the 3.33GHz 6-core would probably get you everything you need for event work.

[badmofo2122]

Well, I can at least start salivating over which one I'd like to get...probably won't be able to justify the expense till later this year, or possibly the beginning of next.

Its a little confusing the way they have them setup on their site...for instance, there's only one 8-core model (two 2.4GHZ quad-cores), but if you select 8-core, it also gives you the 6-cores as an option (to essentially create a 12-core). Why not just keep the 6-cores with the 12-core option?

For me personally, I'd probably go with the 8-core. I'm using a MBP 17 inch to edit my HD stuff (2.4 GHZ dual-core maxed out 4GB RAM). So the 8-core would literally be 4 times the speed I'm using right now. Also, the quad-core model only has 16GB of RAM, where the 8-core and 12-core models allow up to 32GB. I can still do a lot on my MBP, but when I have a lot of things going on, I definitely notice slow-down. If I export a HD animation from Motion, then go into FCP to edit ProRes 422, it takes awhile to catch up. Rendering also creates noticeable slow-down.

Even with the student discount, after factoring in buying additional RAM and hard drives (yes, I know not to buy these direct from Apple), I'd be spending at least $4300 on the 8-core. Not cheap, but a bad ass machine.

Anyone planning on getting one soon?

Ken

[badmofo2122]

Another reason for me to hold off would be the hopeful release of a new FCS by 2011? I never made the leap on the last upgrade, so I'm still using FCP 6. I would think they'd come out with a new release by next January...something utilizing the latest architecture even more?

Ken

[Bonsai]

Originally Posted by badmofo2122

Well, I can at least start salivating over which one I'd like to get...probably won't be able to justify the expense till later this year, or possibly the beginning of next.

Its a little confusing the way they have them setup on their site...for instance, there's only one 8-core model (two 2.4GHZ quad-cores), but if you select 8-core, it also gives you the 6-cores as an option (to essentially create a 12-core). Why not just keep the 6-cores with the 12-core option?

For me personally, I'd probably go with the 8-core. I'm using a MBP 17 inch to edit my HD stuff (2.4 GHZ dual-core maxed out 4GB RAM). So the 8-core would literally be 4 times the speed I'm using right now. Also, the quad-core model only has 16GB of RAM, where the 8-core and 12-core models allow up to 32GB. I can still do a lot on my MBP, but when I have a lot of things going on, I definitely notice slow-down. If I export a HD animation from Motion, then go into FCP to edit ProRes 422, it takes awhile to catch up. Rendering also creates noticeable slow-down.

Even with the student discount, after factoring in buying additional RAM and hard drives (yes, I know not to buy these direct from Apple), I'd be spending at least $4300 on the 8-core. Not cheap, but a bad ass machine.

Anyone planning on getting one soon?

Ken

Might as well shoot for the end of this year, for the tax write off for 2010.