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Tag-Archive for » Mac Pro early 2009 «

Feed Your Mac Pro More RAM

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 | Author: OWC NewsFeed

Everyone knows that the speed of your Mac’s processor is not the only factor to consider when you need that power to process graphics, sound, or video. How much RAM you have installed is also a critical factor. The new “Nehalem”-based Mac Pro models are no different, and the stock configurations offered don’t maximize your RAM. OWC to the rescue!

Twice The RAM vs. Factory Options

OWC offers up to three 4GB module-based upgrades not offered by the factory for the Mac Pro Quad-Core and 8-Core that allow you to pump up your RAM to 12GB (3-4GB RAM sticks), 16GB (4-4GB RAM sticks), or even 24GB (6-4GB RAM sticks, 8-Core Mac Pro models). The 16GB kit from OWC offers double the memory of the highest factory installed option (8GB) for the Quad-Core models. These high performance multi-channel 1066MHz DDR3 72-bit ECC memory upgrades represent a savings up to 70% on similar upgrades available from factory installs. Choose the RAM you want from our Qualified Upgrades for Apple Mac Pro web page.

Save up to $4300

For example, the 32GB factory installed memory upgrade for the Mac Pro 8-Core costs $6,100, compared to the $1799.99 OWC 32GB Memory Kit  - a savings of $4,300. In addition to the increased choices and savings offered by OWC Memory Upgrades, Mac Pro owners can retain their original factory memory modules for future use or send the modules to OWC for a cash back trade-in of up to $20 per Apple factory memory module.

It’s so simple, just slide out the processor tray, snap those new sticks in and you’re good to go. If you need help, never fear, our free online instructional video takes you through the upgrade steps; just click the Memory tab.

OWC Memory Upgrade Kits for the 2009 Mac Pro “Nehalem” models are engineered with premium quality components and are designed to meet, if not exceed, Apple Design Specifications, including use of Apple required thermal sensor equipped EEPROM, JEDEC board design, and chip components; and are fully RoHS and JEDEC compliant.

Performance Tested Proven

If more options and huge savings don’t already have you convinced on the value of upgrading with OWC, then check out our performance benchmarks for these upgrades.  Up to 51% faster performance from “the fastest Mac ever!”

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Category: Fresh from Apple, Tech Tips
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2009 Mac Pro “Nehalem” Initial Speed Tests

Friday, March 20th, 2009 | Author: OWC NewsFeed

In initial testing on the base processor speed of the new 8-Core Mac Pro, we’ve seen a much faster performance, up to 40%.

We used the TotalBenchmark product, developed by Media-Motion.TV. This test uses Adobe After Effects CS4 with multiprocessing enabled in the After Effects Preferences and no other programs running in the background. While the test was designed originally for After Effects 6 and updated for After Effects 7, it still runs under CS3 and CS4.

We also partnered with Bare Feats to push the new Mac Pro machines through speed tests for all five models. Bare Feats contends that six memory sticks are faster than eight in the 8-core Mac Pro, in terms of raw memory throughput as shown by the DigLloydTool memory stress test. The six sticks are 15% faster consistently.

That difference, however, doesn’t show up in the real world unless the application’s demand for memory transfers exceeds the bandwidth available. Rob at Bare Feats finds that “putting memory in the first three slots of each memory bank produces faster memory transfer speeds than filling all four slots on each bank.”

Bottom line: If you want the fastest rendering performance – get the most cores and upgrade memory to the max. As we’ve shown, certain applications, such as After Effects and Compressor, use subprocesses to grab as much as 3GB per core to deliver maximum performance. Take this a step further and you can run more applications and more processes concurrently. So, say goodbye spinning beach ball and hello to the local beach!

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Category: Benchmarking/Performance, Fresh from Apple
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