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Hi guys. I have been looking for awhile now at the mac pro, hp blackbird, and the Dell XPS. I have been trying to find a system that would allow me to play mid-range games and also use the computer has a work station. My idea with the mac pro, was to put windows on it, for the gaming but wasnt sure how well it would work. But on the other hand the hp blackbird and the Dell Xps are more gaming systems then workstations. So I was wondering if anyone of you might have some advice for me.
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Hp Black bird, Mac Pro, and Dell XPS
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#2
smax013 
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Posted 08 October 2008 - 02:20 AM
KKovac said:
Hi guys. I have been looking for awhile now at the mac pro, hp blackbird, and the Dell XPS. I have been trying to find a system that would allow me to play mid-range games and also use the computer has a work station. My idea with the mac pro, was to put windows on it, for the gaming but wasnt sure how well it would work. But on the other hand the hp blackbird and the Dell Xps are more gaming systems then workstations. So I was wondering if anyone of you might have some advice for me.
It would help if you offered a more detailed explanation of what you mean by "use the computer as a work station". AutoCAD? 3D modelling? Specific programs and functions you want out of it would be helpful. Does that mean you want a work station grade graphics card (i.e. ATI FireGL or Nvidia Quadro) rather than a gaming grade graphics card (i.e. ATI Radeon or Nvidia GeForce)?
A Mac Pro with Windoze installed in Bootcamp should handle "mid-range" games just fine...depending on how you define "mid-range" games (that can frequently be in the eye of the beholder).
#3
KKovac
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Posted 08 October 2008 - 05:24 AM
Hi
I guess i would be using photoshop Cs3,Aperture(if i went with the mac pro). I was also looking to do some programming and web design. I wanted a computer that you could throw any program at it and the computer would be able to handle it. Also I was looking for a computer that would last for awhile, something that wouldn't go out of date soon. I guess the graphics card i would go with, would be more towards gaming then graphic design. But later down the road, if i wanted to switch the graphics card up, i could. Mid-range game, something like Flight simulator X.
I guess i would be using photoshop Cs3,Aperture(if i went with the mac pro). I was also looking to do some programming and web design. I wanted a computer that you could throw any program at it and the computer would be able to handle it. Also I was looking for a computer that would last for awhile, something that wouldn't go out of date soon. I guess the graphics card i would go with, would be more towards gaming then graphic design. But later down the road, if i wanted to switch the graphics card up, i could. Mid-range game, something like Flight simulator X.
#5
smax013
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Posted 08 October 2008 - 04:13 PM
KKovac said:
Hi
I guess i would be using photoshop Cs3,Aperture(if i went with the mac pro). I was also looking to do some programming and web design. I wanted a computer that you could throw any program at it and the computer would be able to handle it. Also I was looking for a computer that would last for awhile, something that wouldn't go out of date soon. I guess the graphics card i would go with, would be more towards gaming then graphic design. But later down the road, if i wanted to switch the graphics card up, i could. Mid-range game, something like Flight simulator X.
I guess i would be using photoshop Cs3,Aperture(if i went with the mac pro). I was also looking to do some programming and web design. I wanted a computer that you could throw any program at it and the computer would be able to handle it. Also I was looking for a computer that would last for awhile, something that wouldn't go out of date soon. I guess the graphics card i would go with, would be more towards gaming then graphic design. But later down the road, if i wanted to switch the graphics card up, i could. Mid-range game, something like Flight simulator X.
A Mac Pro will certainly work just fine for that type of stuff. In fact, one could argue that it might be overkill depending on how "intensive" your Photoshop work is. If you are in Photoshop all day long, doing lots and lots of filters and adjustments on rather large files, then the power from the processor and the high amounts of RAM you can put in a Mac Pro might be very useful. If it is more casual use, then an iMac would be more than sufficient...assuming you don't mind the all in one design (personally, that is the reason why I don't have a desktop Mac...a Mac Pro is overkill for my purposes, as much as I would love to have one, and I don't like the all in one design of the iMac for my purposes...not too fond the glossy screen that is the only option on an iMac).
The Mac Pro should have no problem with Flight Simulator X.
If it is between the three that you listed and if you are a serious Photoshop users, then I would go for the Mac Pro...mainly because you can use more than 4 GB of memory without having to deal with Windoze 64 bit. And more memory is a good thing with Photoshop. But, in reality, probably anyone of the systems will likely work fine for your purposes and likely is "overkill" for your uses. If you do decide to go the Windoze path (i.e. pass on the Mac Pro), then you might want to consider building your own computer. You would likely be able to get a computer on the same level as the Dell XPS or HP Blackbird for much less.
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