2006 Mac Pro Editing Software
Industry watchers had been anticipating Apple moving the iMac to Intel’s Core 2 Duo processor, which is “up to 50% more powerful” (according to Apple) than the Core Duo used in the Early 2006 iMac. As if that wasn’t enough, Apple added the biggest iMac to date to the line, a whopping 24″ model with a 1920 x 1200 pixel display.
All four models (17″ 1.83 and 2.0 GHz, 20″ and 24″ 2.16 GHz) have a 667 MHz bus, three USB 2.0 ports along with at least one FireWire 400 port, gigabit ethernet, and AirPort Extreme.
There’s more variety than ever before in the iMac line. The entry-level 1.83 GHz model uses Intel GMA 950 graphics, carried over from the education iMac introduced in July 2006. This model comes with a Combo drive, 512 MB of RAM (2 GB maximum), a 160 GB hard drive, two FireWire 400 ports, and Apple’s USB keyboard and Mighty Mouse. Because this model dedicates 80 MB of RAM for the GMA 950 video, we strongly recommend at least 1 GB of RAM.
The VEGAS range of creative software is all you need for fast, professional and efficient video production, and brings a whole new level of creative freedom to your editing and post production. VEGAS delivers fantastic results and allows everyone – from every day enthusiasts to busy professionals – to focus on creativity without limits. Jun 14, 2016 Also while your input is appreciated, your 3,1 Mac Pro will not require a hacked boot.efi as it has always been able to boot a Mac 64-bit operating systems natively so your hack will require a different approach then either the Mac Pro 1,1 or 2,1. Mac Pro blows away competition, extended warranties crummy deals, firmware updates for Intel mini and iMac, more, Mac News Review, 2006.11.17. Also 7 free Mac maintenance utilities, dual LCD monitors, a vacuum tube amp for the iPod, and more. Pre-2006 Software: The Big Reason You Shouldn’t Buy an Intel Mac in 2006, Ted Hodges, Vintage Mac.
The 2.0 GHz 17″ iMac has 1 GB of RAM and a 160 GB hard drive, an 8x SuperDrive, AirPort Extreme, Bluetooth 2.0, and Apple’s USB keyboard and Mighty Mouse. Like the 20″ and 24″ models, it can accept up to 4 GB of RAM, although it will only recognize 3 GB.
The 20″ and 24″ models shipped with a 250 GB hard drive and had a 2.33 GHz build-to-order option.
The 17″ 2.0 GHz and 20″ 2.16 GHz models use the ATI Radeon X1600 graphics processor with 128 MB of memory, while the 24″ iMac includes Nvidia GeForce 7300GT graphics with 128 MB of video RAM. The 24″ model was the first iMac to include FireWire 800. Hp scanner software download mac.
The new iMac ships with Mac OS X 10.4.7 and iLife ’06.
What You Need to Know
The stock 512 MB of system memory on the entry-level 17-incher is adequate for OS X 10.4 Tiger, going to 1 GB really improves things, and upgrading to 2-3 GB of RAM will make a further improvement. 1 GB of memory is sufficient to run OS X 10.5 Leopard decently, but you should upgrade to at least 2 GB for really good performance. OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard can run on a 1 GB Mac but cries out for 2 GB of memory and is unleashed with 3 GB. OS X 10.7 Lion wants at least 2 GB of RAM and benefits from 3 GB.
The CPU is mounted in Socket M, allowing upgrades as high as 2.33 GHz (see CPU Upgrade Options for 2006 iMacs).
Intel-based Macs use a partitioning scheme known as GPT. Only Macintel models can boot from GPT hard drives. Both PowerPC and Intel Macs can boot from APM (Apple’s old partitioning scheme) hard drives, which is the format you must use to create a universal boot drive in Leopard. PowerPC Macs running any version of the Mac OS prior to 10.4.2 cannot mount GPT volumes. PowerPC Macs won’t let you install OS X to a USB drive or choose it as your startup volume, although there is a work around for that.
Details
- introduced 2006.09.06 at US$999 (17″ 1.83 GHz), US$1,199 (2.0 GHz), US$1,499 (20″ 2.16 GHz), and US$1,999 (24″ 2.16 GHz); replaced by a faster model on 2007.08.07.
- Model identifier: iMac5,1 (iMac5,2 for 1.83 GHz 17″ model)
- Model no.: A1195 (17″ 1.83 GHz), A1208 (17″ 2.0 GHz), A1207 (20″), A1200 (24″)
- Part no.: MA710 (17″ 1.83 GHz), MA590 (17″ 2.0 GHz), MA589 (20″), MA456 (24″)
- Latest EFI Boot ROM: EFI 1.2
Mac OS
- requires Mac OS X 10.4.7 Tiger to 10.7 Lion, not compatible with 10.8 Mountain Lion or later
- Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard compatibility
- Grand Central Dispatch is supported.
- 64-bit operation is supported.
- OpenCL is not supported.
Core System
- CPU: 1.83/2.0/2.16/2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Merom, Socket M makes upgrades possible
- L2 cache: 2/4 MB shared cache on CPU
- Bus: 667 MHz
- RAM: 512/1024 MB, expandable to 4 GB using two PC2-5300 DDR2 SODIMMs, although only 3 GB is accessible.
- Performance, Geekbench 2:
- Leopard: 2373 (1.83 GHz), 2596 (2.0 GHz), 2773 (2.16 GHz), 2867 (2.33 GHz)
- Tiger: 2392 (1.83 GHz), 2649 (2.0 GHz), 2862 (2.16 GHz), 3058 (2.33 GHz),
- Performance, Geekbench 3:
- 32-bit single core: 1075 (2.0 GHz), 1153 (2.16 GHz), 1224 (2.33 GHz)
- 32-bit multicore: 1889 (2.0 GHz), 2028 (2.16 GHz), 2164 (2.33 GHz)
- 64-bit single core: 1164 (2.0 GHz), 1241 (2.16 GHz)
- 64-bit multicore: 2054 (2.0 GHz), 2162 (2.16 GHz)
Video
- Graphics, 17″ 1.83 GHz: Intel GMA 950, supports up to 1920 x 1200 external digital display, 2048 x 1536 analog display, and monitor spanning
- Graphics, 17″ 2.0 GHz and 20″ 2.16 GHz: ATI Radeon X1600 with 128 MB RAM (256 MB optional), supports up to 1920 x 1200 external digital display, 2048 x 1536 analog display, and monitor spanning
- Graphics, 24″ 2.16 GHz: Nvidia GeForce 7300GT with 128 MB RAM (GeForce 7600GT with 256 MB optional), supports up to 1920 x 1200 external digital display, 2048 x 1536 analog display, and monitor spanning
- Display:
- 17″ 1440 x 900 flat panel display
- 20″ 1680 x 1050 flat panel display
- 24″ 1920 x 1280 flat panel display
- Video out: mini-DVI, VGA, S-video, composite (requires adapter)
Drives
- Hard drive bus: 1.5 Gbps SATA Rev. 1
- Hard drive: 160/250 GB 7200 rpm SATA drive
- Optical drive bus: Ultra ATA/100 (operates at ATA/33)
- Combo drive: reads DVD at up to 8x speed, writes CD-R at 24x, CD-RW at 16x; reads CDs at 24x
- SuperDrive: writes DVD±R discs at up to 8x speed, dual layer at up to 2.4x; DVD±RW at up to 4x; reads DVDs at up to 8x, writes CD-R discs at up to 24x, writes CD-RW discs at up to 8x, reads CDs at up to 24x
Expansion
- USB: 3 USB 2.0 ports
- FireWire 400: 2 ports on 17″ and 20″, 8W shared output
- FireWire 800: 1 port on 24″ model only, 15W shared output with single FireWire 400 port
- Modem: optional 56 kbps USB modem supports v.92
- Ethernet: 10/100/gigabit
- WiFi: 802.11g AirPort Extreme included
- Bluetooth 2.0: included on all but 17″ 1.83 GHz model
- IR receiver: supports Apple Remote (included)
- Microphone: internal
Physical
- H x W x D (17″): 16.9 x 16.8 x 6.8 in/43 x 42.6 x 17.3 cm
- H x W x D (20″): 18.6 x 19.4 x 7.4 in/47.2 x 49.3 x 18.9 cm
- H x W x D (24″): 20.6 x 22.6 x 8.1 in/52.3 x 57.4 x 20.7 cm
- weight (17″): 15.5 lb/7 kg
- weight (20″): 22 lb/10 kg
- weight (24″): 24.7 lb/11.2 kg
- Power supply: 180W
CPU Upgrades
- CPU can be replaced with faster Socket M Core 2 Duo CPU
Online Resources
- What’s the Best Version of OS X for My Mac?, Ian R Campbell, The Sensible Mac, 2008.02.28. Which version of Mac OS X is best for your hardware depends on several factors.
- The iMac Legacy: After the G3, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.08.15. The G3 iMac influenced the whole industry, but Apple continued to move forward with innovative designs using G4, G5, and Intel processors.
- Know Your Mac’s Upgrade Options, Phil Herlihy, The Usefulness Equation, 2008.08.26. Any Mac can be upgraded, but it’s a question of what can be upgraded – RAM, hard drive, video, CPU – and how far it can be upgraded.
- Why the 20″ iMac is perfect for home or school, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 2009.09.29. The aluminum iMac has plenty of power and screen space, yet it’s small enough and light enough to tote from place to place.
- 5 best desktop Macs for gaming for under $1,000, Dan Bashur, Apple, Tech, and Gaming, 2009.09.10. You can have a decently configured gaming Mac for as little as $300 – and the ultimate for under $700.
- The 64-bitness of Mac OS X 10.6 ‘Snow Leopard’, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.08.19. Although Apple is promoting ‘Snow Leopard’ as a fully 64-bit operating system, it defaults to running in 32-bit mode.
- The Road Ahead: 64-bit Computing, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.08.19. Personal computers started with 8-bit CPUs, Macs started out with a 24-bit operating system, and 32-bit computing is starting to give way to 64 bits.
- OS X 10.6 requirements, why Apple owns the high end, when to upgrade your Mac, and more, Mac News Review, 2009.08.14. Also Microsoft Word patent infringement, BackPack shelf for iMac and Cinema Displays, two updated Bible study programs, and more.
- OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard for $29, run Windows on your Mac for Free, Update Breaks Office 2008, and more, Mac News Review, 2009.08.07. Also getting your Mac ready for Snow Leopard, Time Capsule doubles capacity, Picasa 3 for Mac, Bodega Mac app store, and more.
- Computer disaster ends happily, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2009.08.05. The iMac was getting slower and slower, and Disk Utility kept trying to fix the same problems. With a new hard drive, the iMac is running as well as ever.
- Optimized Software Builds Bring Out the Best in Your Mac, Dan Knight, Low End Mac’s Online Tech Journal, 2009.06.30. Applications compiled for your Mac’s CPU can load more quickly and run faster than ones compiled for universal use.
- Intel’s promise fulfilled: More processing power per processor cycle, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.06.30. Apple promised improved CPU efficiencies when it announced the move to Intel in 2005. Three years of MacBooks show the progress.
- Ubuntu Linux and Boot camp make it easy to create a triple boot Mac, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2008.12.24. Boot Camp makes it easy to install Windows on Intel Macs, and Ubuntu now makes it easy to install Linux to a virtual Windows drive.
- The ‘Better Safe Than Sorry’ Guide to Installing Mac OS X Updates, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.12.16. Most users encounter no problems using Software Update, but some preflight work and using the Combo updater means far less chance of trouble.
- Why You Should Partition Your Mac’s Hard Drive, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.12.11. “At the very least, it makes sense to have a second partition with a bootable version of the Mac OS, so if you have problems with your work partition, you can boot from the ’emergency’ partition to run Disk Utility and other diagnostics.”
- Virtualization shootout: VMWare Fusion 2 vs. Parallels Desktop 4, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 2008.11.20. Both programs do the same thing, but one runs Windows XP smoothly alongside Mac apps, while the other bogs down everything but Windows.
- How to clone Mac OS X to a new hard drive, Simon Royal, Tech Spectrum, 2008.10.07. Whether you want to put a bigger, faster drive in your Mac or clone OS X for use in another Mac, here’s the simple process.
- CodeWeavers brings Google’s Chrome browser to Intel Macs, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2008.10.02. Google’s new Chrome browser uses separate processes for each tab and brings other changes to Windows users. Now Mac fans can try it as well.
- Tiger vs. Leopard: Which is best for you?, Simon Royal, Tech Spectrum, 2008.09.22. Two great versions of Mac OS X, but unless your Mac is well above the minimum spec for Leopard and has lots of RAM, stick with Tiger.
- Apple Trumps Microsoft in Making the 64-bit Transition Transparent to Users, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.09.18. To use more than 4 GB of RAM under Windows, you need a 64-bit PC and the 64-bit version of Windows. On the Mac, OS X 10.4 and later already support it.
- SATA, SATA II, SATA 600, and Product Confusion Fatigue, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.09.08. In addition to the original SATA specification and the current 3 Gb/s specification, SATA revision 3.0 is just around the corner.
- Does running OS X system maintenance routines really do any good?, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.08.26. Mac OS X is designed to run certain maintenance routines daily, weekly, and monthly – but can’t if your Mac is off or asleep.
- The Compressed Air Keyboard Repair, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.07.24. If your keyboard isn’t working as well as it once did, blasting under the keys with compressed air may be the cure.
- Free VirtualBox for Mac now a virtual contender, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2008.07.21. A year ago, the Mac version of VirtualBox lacked some essential features. Over the past year, it’s grown into a very useful tool.
- Virtual PC works with Leopard, Intel vs. PowerPC performance, beyond the Mac mini, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.05.20. Also upgrading Intel iMacs, Compact Flash in a PowerBook 2400, and thoughts on low-end Macs.
- SheepShaver brings Classic Mac OS to Intel Macs and Leopard, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2008.05.20. Mac OS X 10.5 doesn’t support Classic Mode. Neither does Leopard. But SheepShaver lets you emulate a PowerPC Mac and run the Classic Mac OS.
- Windows on Macs: Three paths for integration, Jason Packer, Macs in the Enterprise, 2008.05.14. Mac users have three routes for running Windows apps: Run Windows using Boot Camp or virtualization, or use a compatibility layer such as WINE.
- The 2008 Penryn iMac value equation, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.04.29. Comparing prices, features, and performance, three of four new models are value champions, and there are some surprising refurb values as well.
- Restore stability to a troubled Mac with a clean system install, Keith Winston, Linux to Mac, 2008.01.15. If your Mac is misbehaving, the best fix just might be a fresh reinstallation of Mac OS X – don’t forget to backup first.
- Mac hits 6.8% share on Net, Intel iMac screen problems, Classic on Leopard, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.12.07. Also adding hierarchical menus to the Leopard Dock, speeding up Leopard with less colors, a new OS X email client, and Parallels Premium Edition.
- Merely adequate: Why you want to avoid integrated graphics, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.11.10. A couple years ago, Apple laughingly pointed at Windows PCs with ‘integrated Intel graphics’ as substandard. Today low-end Macs all suffer from those barely adequate graphics processors.
- Beyond Google, 10 years on the G3, the Cube is not a Road Apple, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.11.13. Also the 64-bit advantage of Core 2, OS 9 on a USB flash drive, sound problems since switching to Leopard, and 7200 rpm in an eMac.
- Proof Macs cost less, Leopard spanks Vista, Mac pride pins, Arabic OS X 10.4.10, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.11.09. Also the pitfalls of Macintel recovery, waiting for the 10.5.1 update, QuickTime 7.3 released, new Leopard books, and more.
- Refurb 17″ Intel iMac deals, PowerBook 540 on Compact Flash, Newton as a mobile phone, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.11.07. Also PCI cards for older Macs, no such thing as a 933 MHz Digital Audio Power Mac, Mac OS longevity, and prospects for XPostFacto 5.
- Faster flash memory makes a big difference, more RAM or a faster CPU?, OS X 10.4.10 problems, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.10.16. Also Level 2 vs. Level 3 cache, the 64-bitness of Mac OS X, another Road Apple nomination, and gaming on Macs.
- External $100 Sony DVD burner likes Macs, Brian Gray, Fruitful Editing, 2007.10.10. The box and manual say nothing about Mac compatibility, but this 18x USB 2.0 DVD burner is plug-and-play (at least with Tiger).
- FastMac 8x SuperDrive and BurnAgain DVD: Fast and easy multisession disc burning, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.10.08. FastMac’s 8x SuperDrive upgrade is remarkably fast compared with older PowerBook burners, and BurnAgain DVD makes it easy to append files to a previously burned CD or DVD.
- New Macs expected August 7, Apple keyboard repair tutorial, Linux vs. Mac vs. Widows, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.08.03. Also new Apple keyboard inspired by MacBook?, Logitech’s new Wave keyboard, iNeck lets G5 and Intel iMacs pivot, TechTool Pro updated for latest Macs, and more.
- Does a college freshman need to run Windows on a MacBook?, Al Poulin, My Turn, 2007.07.24. While you can run Windows on today’s Intel-based Macs, is there any reason most college students would want to or need to?
- Software to darken iMac display, columnist returns iPhone, Logitech introduces air mouse, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.07.20. Also a USB turntable for turning your record albums into MP3s, a retractable flash drive, iPhone: The Missing Manual, Parallels Desktop 3 a major update, and more.
- The gaping hole in Apple’s desktop line, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2007.07.13. $599 for a Mac mini with very limited expandability, $999 for an iMac with limited expandability, or $2,200 for a the very expandable Mac Pro.
- iMac update in June?, OS 9/X file sharing fixed, Apple offers free recycling to schools, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.05.25. Also an iChat headset, a happy Apple service story, new technology for future Intel CPUs, 802.11n for 24″ iMac, and more.
- VMware Fusion beta 3 adds new features, takes a giant step toward release, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2007.04.11. Looking for a virtualization solution for your Intel Mac? The latest beta of VMWare Fusion makes several improvements and includes some unique features.
- 1 core, 2 cores, 4 cores, 8: How Much Difference Does It Make?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.04.10. Geekbench scores make it possible to compare the newest 3 GHz 8-core Mac Pro with the 1.5 GHz Core Solo Mac mini – and all the models in between.
- 11 No Cost Tips for Optimizing Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger Performance, Ed Eubanks Jr, The Efficient Mac User, 2007.03.12. If your Mac is getting sluggish, here are 11 tips that can help restore its original performance.
- DST fixes & info for OS X, Classic Mac OS; Maynor demos WiFi hack; Samsung’s hybrid drive; and more, The ‘Book Review, 2007.03.09. Also glossy vs. matte displays, troubleshooting slot-loading drives, 802.11n upgrade for MacBooks and Intel iMacs, bargain ‘Books from $209 to $2,299, and more.
- CrossOver: Run Windows Apps on Intel Macs Without Windows, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2007.02.28. If you need to run Windows apps on your Intel Mac once in a while, CrossOver may be the least expensive way to do so since it eliminates the need to buy a copy of Windows.
- The annoying white iMac, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 2007.02.15. From a design standpoint, the iMac is brilliant, but the massive amounts of white plastic can distract you from what’s on the display.
- Which Intel Macs Take CPU Upgrades?, $2 802.11n Enabler, USB Drive Adapter, and More, Mac News Review, 2007.02.02. Also a DST fix for Panther, Logos coming to Macs, Intel’s chip breakthrough, iConnect iPod integration for GM vehicles, a waterproof iPod, and more.
- ‘Poor boy’ .mac alternatives, Mac Pro ruled in 2006, Apple closing on HP, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.01.05. Also Mac mini in a Subaru, frugal Mighty Mouse, what to do when your 2006 iMac won’t start, compact Pentax scanner, wireless USB extender, new drive enclosures, and more.
- Parallels Revisited: Release Version Far More Polished than Beta, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2006.11.21. Parallels lets you run Windows or Linux without rebooting your Intel-based Mac, and it’s made great strides since the beta came out earlier this year.
- To AppleCare or not to AppleCare?, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.11.20. Consumer Reports, which generally recommends against extended warranties, says AppleCare makes sense. But does it?
- Mac Pro blows away competition, extended warranties crummy deals, firmware updates for Intel mini and iMac, more, Mac News Review, 2006.11.17. Also 7 free Mac maintenance utilities, dual LCD monitors, a vacuum tube amp for the iPod, and more.
- Pre-2006 Software: The Big Reason You Shouldn’t Buy an Intel Mac in 2006, Ted Hodges, Vintage Mac Living, 2006.11.09. If you work with software that predates the Intel transition, you may be better off sticking with PowerPC Macs. And if you use classic apps, you definitely want to avoid Intel.
- New iMacs have 802.11n, Apple may go AMD, Japan’s PM uses a Mac, a germ free mouse, and more, Mac News Review, 2006.09.29. Also Intel offers a million dollars for a Mac mini killer, 24″ iMac ‘a great system’, a new ergonomic keyboard, and Windows-to-Mac migration software from Laplink.
- Apple II Greatest PC Ever, Core 2 in a Mac mini, iMac Core 2 Duo ‘Ultimate Mac Value’, and More, Mac News Review, 2006.09.22. Also firmware restoration for Intel Macs, Mac Pro firmware updates, iron on iPod nano cases, Boot Camp beta 1.1.1, and more.
- Core 2 iMac Praise, Windows Vista ‘a Pile of Crap’, Cube Redux?, High Capacity iPod Battery, and More, Mac News Review, 2006.09.15. Also the Mac Pro’s ‘pure, unadulterated power’, Parallels now runs on the Mac Pro, iMac Core 2 specs, dual G4 upgrade for MDD and Xserve G4, and more.
- Region Free DVD Viewing Options for Intel and PowerPC Macs, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 2006.09.12. Several hardware and software options that will let your view ‘wrong region’ DVDs on your PowerPC or Intel Mac.
- Core 2 7% Faster, iMac Goes Core 2, G4/1.6 GHz Dual, SAFE Drive Secures Data, Wireless Headphones, and More, Mac News Review, 2006.09.08. Also how to share a printer with OS 9, more praise for Logitech Revolution mouse, CrossOver lets you run Windows apps without Windows, a USB car charger for the iPod, and more.
- The iMac Core 2 value equation: Practically perfect pricing, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2006.09.06. The new iMacs, build with Core 2 Duo processors, are a great value – and refurbished prices on the older Core Duo models are right where they should be.
- Is 512 MB enough?, Macs gain share in business, wireless Mighty Mouse, Toast adds Blu-ray support, and more, Mac News Review, 2006.07.28. Also OWC’s FireWire 400 & 800/USB 2.0/eSATA drives, miniXpress 160 GB drive, Jeep flash drives, SteerMouse supports up to 8 buttons plus vertical and horizontal scrolling, and miniStat2 system monitor.
- Edu-iMac too compromised, Mac Portables return to mothership, SheepShaver unstable, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2006.07.12. Thoughts on the education iMac, the Mac Portable, and the value of a Mac Plus in 2006. Also SheepShaver feedback, OS X ligature problems, and MP3 software for OS 8.
- Is the new edu-iMac a good value or simply too compromised?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2006.07.10. The new education-only iMac is mostly the same as the consumer model, but how big an impact will the Intel graphics have on performance?
- Symantec says buy a Mac, SheepShaver supports Classic on Macintel, painted minis, and more, Mac News Review, 2006.05.19. Also email on a Mac Plus, firmware updates for Intel iMac and mini, $159 G4/933 MHz upgrade, FW800/USB 2.0 to SATA bridge board, and more.
- Apple joins ‘Win on Mac’ army with Boot Camp, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2006.04.07. The hackers did it first, but Apple’s Boot Camp is a much more elegant solution to putting Windows XP on Macintel hardware.
- Boot Camp: Apple officially supports Windows XP booting on Macintel hardware, The Macintel Report, 2006.04.06. No more need to do any hacks to get WinXP booting on Apple’s Intel-based Macs. Apple’s new Boot Camp software fully supports it.
- Windows XP on Macintel a reality, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2006.03.23. It took a while, but it’s now possible to boot Windows XP on the new Intel-based Macs.
- WinXP boots on Macintel, real world thinking about Rosetta performance, and Intel’s impact on future Macs, The Macintel Report, 2006.03.23. If you want to run Windows XP on Macintel hardware, it’s now possible. Also, common sense thinking about Rosetta speed and how Intel’s future CPU plans will shape the Mac.
- Comparing Apples to Apples: When is Macintel faster? When does PowerPC make more sense?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2006.01.29. Benchmarks show the Intel Core Duo flies through native code but plods through PowerPC programs. Will PowerPC or Intel give you the more productive workflow?
- Macintel stumbling block: Sometimes you need Classic, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 2006.01.25. As nice as the new Intel Macs seem to be, the lack of any Classic environment makes it impossible for some people to upgrade.
Keywords: #imaclate2006 #late2006imac
Short link: http://goo.gl/tdc7Ws
searchwords: imaclate2006, late2006imac
Community member Julius Chan has sent us this handy guide to getting a 2006 Mac Pro to run the lastest Mac OS X Yosemite.
Here is his helpful guide.
Disclaimer
First of all, all of the below are regarded as hacks. If you end up with bricked Mac Pro, then it’s your own silly fault. None of this stuff is qualified. You’re building what I refer to as a “Frankenmac”.
History
Part of my day job is building Pro Tools rigs for high-end customers. They can afford the best, so I get to tinker with the latest Avid qualified hardware and software available: “iAshtray” Mac Pros, tank-like rack mounted Sonnet chassis, HDX or HD Native cards etc. All fully qualified, just the way I like it.
This is all jolly nice for my clients, but my own personal 2006 Mac Pro 1,1 with a Cinema display (purchased from a friend for a pittance) sits there languishing quite a few operating systems behind on OSX Lion 10.7.5 running Pro Tools 10.3.10 HD. Bugger…
I’d read that some very clever folk had managed to persuade an old Mac Pro to run Mountain Lion and then Mavericks, and searching the Interwebs, I did indeed find a number of solutions that seemed to require entering a lot of commands in Terminal, creating boot partitions and generally patting your head and chewing gum at the same time. So I decided to wait a wee while until I found a more elegant solution. The wait seems to have been worth it, as I now have my poor old machine running on OSX Yosemite 10.10.2 and Pro Tools 11.3.1
The main restriction for a 2006/7 Mac Pro is that it was designed to boot into a 32-bit environment, even though a lot of the internal hardware was 64-bit capable. The clever bunnies out there in the Wild World Webby, have managed to fool a Ye Olde Mac Pro to run in 64 bit EFI.
Things that you will need:
- A Mac Pro 1,1 or 2,1 Cheese grater desktop with OSX Lion 10.7.5 system drive
- 8GB USB drive
- A graphics card better than a GT120, I used a Radeon HD 5770, original mac version with its appropriate power cable. There are flashed PC cards out there, but they won’t display a boot screen. I like a boot screen, so I purchased a proper Apple card (2nd hand)
- We are sorry but the pre patched version of OSX Yosemite 10.10 is no longer available. It would appear that Apple have asked for it to be taken down.
- Either boot.efi file downloadable here. Black is a white Apple on a black background and Grey is the traditional Apple boot screen:
- Black: Sorry no longer available
- Grey: Sorry no longer available
- I chose the black screen as I dual boot into OSX Lion 10.8.5 or Yosemite 10.10.2. The black screen tells me instantly that I’m booting into Yosemite.
- A spare hard drive, mechanical or SSD for the new system drive. You could partition your old Lion drive, but I prefer to build on drive that’s minty fresh. If I stuff anything up, I can always boot back to my untouched Lion system drive. Contingency plan…
- A download of Yosemite 10.10.1 or 10.10.2 Combo updaters http://support.apple.com/kb/dl1786?locale=en_US
- A download of Diskmaker X http://liondiskmaker.com/
All of the above cost me around $200 US, I had a spare 1TB 7200 rpm SATA drive, USB drives are cheap and seem to breed like rabbits. They also seem to disappear down the black hole that guitar picks, iLok 2 lids and single socks end up.
Preparation
I’m going to assume that you’re booting from your old Lion system drive, so go ahead and download all the bits and bobs from the links above. Depending on your internet speed, this may take some time, so make a nice pot of tea. If you’re in Australia, as I am, you have plenty of time to make a nice batch of scones with jam and cream, thanks to our advanced network infrastructure.
Once you’ve finished downloading, place the files somewhere safe, it could be on a USB drive etc
2006 Mac Pro Editing Software Reviews
I popped the files on one of my media drives temporarily so I could access them from my old system drive or my new system drive. (yet to be created, mwahhahaha)
Hardware Installation
Open up your Mac Pro, take the nasty GT120 graphics card out and pop in the ATI Radeon 5770. This card takes its power from the motherboard, so make sure you’ve got the correct power cable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUh0uvUHn68
Fashion design software mac. Ready for macOS 10.14 & macOS Catalina 10.15. Support save your label as PDF, TIFF and PS file. Choose and use your own backgrounds, graphics and fonts, insert geometric shapes, create curved text and add data and contents tables.
Install your new system drive, but leave the Lion drive in for the moment. I usually put new, unformatted drives in bay 4… Just so I know…
Reboot your rig into OSX Lion and make sure the new graphics card is AOK. You could format your new system drive at this stage as well. Call it something like “Yosemite HD” or “Kevin” if you wish.
Double and triple check that you’re formatting the correct drive… (Doh) Bay 4, remember??
Software Installation
Open up Lion Diskmaker X and follow the instructions to create a bootable USB “special” Yosemite installer from the big Yosemite image you download before. This is the patched version of Yosemite.
Don’t install the Apple App store version as this does not have ze patch…
This can take some time, so be patient and do something useful for the planet, like knitting a vest for our wee penguins on Phillip Island.
- Install Yosemite from USB drive to your new “Yosemite HD” system drive. Bay 4, remember?? Hold down the Mac option key to choose your boot drive after start up chime.
- Install the boot.efi patch, I used the black version. Restart the mac, hold down the mac option key to choose your boot drive after start up chime You should now be able to boot into either OSX Lion or Yosemite 10.10 flat. Woo Hoo!
- Install either OSX 10.10.1 or 10.10.2 Combo updater
You’re done. I then optimise OSX Yosemite for Pro Tools, turning off mission control, notifications, silly kitten desktop pictures etc.
More Hardware Options
This not a job for the faint-hearted, but it’s still pretty easy to do if you like to get your hands dirty.
I replaced the old processors (dual cores) with SLAED Xeon 5355’s. EBay again, cost $80 US each.
This mod doubles the amount of processor cores giving a significant speed bump.
Videos here:
Conclusion
I now have the choice to boot into OSX Lion 10.7.5 with PT10.3.10 HD OR boot into OSX Yosemite 10.10.2 with PT11.3.1. As an added bonus, my processor cores have gone from 4 to 8 at 3GHz.The new graphics card no longer struggles like the old GT120 did.
Both the software and hardware changes, including the processor upgrades were done comfortably in an afternoon. Download times were about 7 days with our advanced Australian Internet speeds.
The main reason why I wanted PT11.x running was for the video engine and faster than real-time bounce as I have recently completed a filum project that required a whole bunch of stems.
I used PT10HD for the editing and mixing, then bumped over to PT11.3.1 for stem creation.
Next thing to do for the ye olde Mac is to find some more RAM and change the Yosemite system drive to an SSD. It seems that I should be able to get quite a few more years of life from a machine that officially could not run a 64 bit OS or applications. For a machine from 2006, this is pretty cool and I’ve managed to spend under $400 US to achieve it.
Thanks
2006 Mac Pro Editing Software Download
Don’t forget to offer up some shekels for the shareware products.