[fv]

And actually, just found out that my 8 core Macpro 2.1 can not be updated to OSX 10.8 and so Sketchup 2013 can not be installed and so.... if the Maxwell plugin no longer supports SU8 than....

So, I have to get a new system but Apple no longer makes Macpro's. Its an iMac from now on ( 4 cores). I think a PC of some kind would be the answer. I don't even know how they look like, are they cheaper ?

Anyhow JD, this year it will have to be SU8 or a standstill as far as updates are concerned.
Francois

[JDHill]

Just so you know, your machine should run 10.7 (SU2013 dropped support for 10.6 and lower). But either way, don't worry, there are currently no plans to drop support for SU8. As far as PCs go, I'm sure numerobis will have some good info for you. For me, I have been building my own PCs using Shuttle systems for several years now. They are small, quiet, easy to put together, and relatively inexpensive. To give you a ballpark, here are a couple of machines; first a pretty nice quad-core setup:

• $1340 USD

• Shuttle SH67H3
• i7-3770 3.4/3.9GHz
• 32GB DDR3 1333
• 180GB Intel 335 SSD
• 1TB WD 7200RPM HD
• Quadro K600
• Windows 8 Pro x64

And a bit higher-end six-core machine:

• $2175 USD

• Shuttle SX79R5
• i7-3930K 3.2/3.8GHz
• 32GB DDR3 1333
• 240GB Intel 520 SSD
• 1TB WD 7200RPM HD
• Quadro K2000
• Windows 8 Pro x64

It's difficult to compare those directly to iMacs, since the iMac includes a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Personally, I already have those things, so having them bundled with no choice is a negative. I also don't like that the iMac uses a non-upgradeable mobile graphics adapter. My current machine is similar to the second one above, and runs benchwell in 11m 12s. For comparison, the first one is probably in the 16m range, and your Mac Pro 2,1 is probably at around 20m or so.

[numerobis]

So, I have to get a new system but Apple no longer makes Macpro's.

It seems that there will be a new Mac Pro... but maybe without "internal expandability"

"- It will be heavily reliant on Thunderbolt.
- There will be no internal expandability.
- It will have support for Dual GPU's with three monitor support right out of the box.
- No FW800 or Optical drive
- It will be released in the fall
- It will be a completely new design"

https://www.facebook.com/MacProsPlease/ ... 0514796717

I think "release in the fall" should be clear since the new Ivy Bridge Xeons will be released in Q3...

but one question... you want to buy a new machine for SU 2013? Really?!?

[fv]

for some time I am thinking about giving up on osx. Problem is that if I do I need to update all my applications incl some for the web that run only on osx. Maybe I should keep my osx systems as they are and set up a system aside for my 3D work and switch slowly over the course of a few years.

Your systems look good on specs and appearance and I also see them available here in the Netherlands. I wonder if I will be able to handle running on Windows, esthetically that is ...

tx a lot for your suggestions. No doubt I will upgrade seriously in the next year. At the moment however the pay I get for the work I do does not include budget for updates at all. So its not so bad my systems now exclude updates for technical reasons as well.

numerobis, haha, I will surely not get a new system just to run SU2013... But nearly all updates these days require the latest osx.
Francois

[numerobis]

yes, you can start with one PC and add it into your OSX network.
I have integrated a Windows Vista PC into an OSX network some years ago... no problem.
Not sure about network rendering, but i think there are some people in this forum who know how it works.

I don't know how many computers you would have to replace, but i think 2 workstations and 1 server should be possible to build for the money of one new mac pro...

If you plan to buy a PC, i would wait for Ivy Bridge-E later this year. (Hopefully it will have a soldered heatspreder and no cheap thermal grease like Ivy/Haswell...)

[JDHill]

Yes, you can definitely network them -- I use plink to build OSX plugins on mac over ssh from my windows box, as part of the normal build process. I sure wish Apple would just allow running OSX in a virtual machine, though...as the only mainstream OS to actually require purchasing specific hardware (which is likely to be incapable of running a newer version of OSX at some point), it is pretty annoying.

[fv]

although very off topic, but I was linked from the Sketchucation forum:
http://www.visualarq.com/info/grasshopper-components/

going PC from OSX unlocks a world of new developments as well. I might move over to Rhino, Grasshopper and VisualArch. The times were you model and start all over again in 2D or 3D to get some engineering done are quickly passing by. I love Sketchup as a design tool, especially in combo with Maxwell. Maybe I can get something like it but more sophisticated in Rhino. It doesn't look very attractive that it is a mixup of add ons and plugins but maybe that also how things will be in the future. My iPhone works like that...
Anyhow, the PC is looking more and more like a must if you are into architecture.
Francois