[Loyalty4Life]

This is probably the main question that I have been thinking about since I heard of the release of the MP. And if I'm incorrect with my thoughts on this, please let me know.

It seems like the only thing(s) that can't be upgraded with the computer is the front side bus and one other thing - I can't recall what it is off hand.

But if the RAM is expandable to 16GB, the hard drive space to 2 terabytes, and the video card and OS can be upgraded when you need/want to, it seems to me that the computer will last a lot longer than any other computer simply because you won't need to upgrade to a new computer in 5 years like most everyone else does. (That was a general guess. I'm sure the upgrade process is different with everyone)

So now it goes back to my original question: how long should the computer last you, seeing that it is super upgradeable?

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by Loyalty4Life

So now it goes back to my original question: how long should the computer last you, seeing that it is super upgradeable?

If you wondering about hardware upgradability, I suppose that depends on whether the components being manufactured five years from now are compatible with the current Mac Pro. I don't think any current Intel components are compatible with 5yr old Intel-based motherboards. It's also more expensive to purchase RAM for a 5yr old motherboard than it is to purchase RAM for a current motherboard.

My guess is that the computer will last until you begin to feel the need for a serious upgrade (ie: CPU, which probably won't be upgradable to whatever is available in 3-4 years). The RAM will be upgradable almost forever, but will become more expensive as it becomes more obsolete (if the current trend is any example). The harddrive will probably be the least problematic thing to upgrade, if SATA has as long of a life as PATA did.

[DeathMan]

I think 5 years is a reasonable time frame to expect for a top of the line machine, if you're not an early adopter of technologies (like you NEED to have firewire 4 when it comes out). You might need to stay with an older O.S. or older software, but even then I doubt it. I have a dual 500mhz G4 that runs Tiger (its over 5 years old, I think), and would run Leopard with Core Everything if I upgraded the video card (4X AGP maybe? maybe only 2X). Getting a good video card might be tougher now, but if I would have upgraded it earlier, I could have certainly gotten a "good deal".

So its a balancing act of well timed hardware upgrades, and making sure the software you're buying will run on your setup. That and putting off the Technolust that is sure to temp you when you're machine was the bee's knees, and now crawls along, slower than the newest mac mini.

[SierraDragon]

The entire architecture and the OS/apps being run just evolve to a point where a more modern approach is more cost effective. How fast it happens depends on where you start on the evolutionary food chain (e.g. 2.0 vs 3.0 cpu), what apps you are running 3-6 years from now, how valuable the work being performed is, and how much you invest/waste in trying to update an aging archtecture. For pros, five years (like my DP G4) is invariably past a cost effective refresh time; three years perhaps is reasonable.

[imitchellg5]

It would last me at least 10 years, seeing how my PowerBook 5300cs has lasted that long, and I still use it everyday.

[Lateralus]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

It would last me at least 10 years, seeing how my PowerBook 5300cs has lasted that long, and I still use it everyday.

How has the 5300 lasted you 10 years? I'd be willing to bet it's far from your main machine.

The original question pertained more to the useful life of the Mac Pro, not the length of total life. Because my 1984 Macintosh 512K is still 'in use', but I'd never say it's 'lasted me 22 years'.

[imitchellg5]

It is not my main machine, but it recieves a lot of use still, and it recieved a ton of use in the late 90s and 2000 and it still runs nice and fast.

[Rolling Musubi]

Originally Posted by Loyalty4Life

how long should the computer last you, seeing that it is super upgradeable?

This depends on a number of factors including how quickly hardware and software technology advances. Most of my previous Power Mac's were more than enough for what I needed to do at the start of their life cycle and as time went on, I made use of their expandability to its fullest. However, some software has also required more processing capabilities and ends up pushing the limits of the hardware to the point where upgrading is inevitable. There is also a certain point in that life cycle though where you need to weigh the costs associated with upgrading versus purchasing newer hardware which has better technology.

For example, when one of the processors on my Dual Gig Quicksilver 2002 died last year out of warranty, I needed to consider if it was worth it to get a 3rd party upgrade or maybe just buying a Power Mac G5 (plus memory and internal drive space to at least match what I already had). After the Intel announcement, I decided to get the cheapest dual G4 upgrade and save my money for the Mac Pro. There are just a few areas where this G4 feels its age (painful for newer video codecs for example) and is thus no longer filling my needs as my primary workstation but outside of certain specific areas, the system is more than adequate.

I would say as a main system for me, 5 years would be pushing it (since my main setup is running at 4.5+ years now). The more likely average based upon this and prior experiences is around 3-3.5 years where a newer system is wiser and more feasible. Even that may change as operating system and application features are implemented to take advantage of these newer processors. As of current though, the base Xeon 5150 has so much excess processor capacity for my needs when compared to my previous systems when they were also new that it looks to have a fairly long life. True these systems may be upgradable to Clovertown's (two Woodcrests in a single package with a drop to 1066MHz on the FSB) but the costs for them would probably be fairly high (for what will likely be a marginal increase in performance) to where it might make more sense to wait for newer systems which have true quad cores on a die along with a motherboard/chipset designed for them (and that would likely occur by that previously mentioned average time of how long I feel this Mac Pro may last as my main workstation).