[ViennaKey] I've only just begun to get used to the new rig so this write up will serve more as a commentary at this point, but I expect the transition will be smooth and am now convinced that it was the perfect time for an upgrade. It's pricey (what Apple product isn't?), but well worth the expense if you are already working with Mac hardware. I purchased this Mac Pro as an upgrade for a early 2009. While still a trusty workhorse, it is getting a bit long in the tooth, and really isn't suitable for 4K, which for us, is just over the horizon. The mix of features it provides are ideal a solid GPU, plenty of memory with room to upgrade, high-performance expansion capability (Thunderbolt 2, USB3.0, HDMI 1.4) and compact size. My home is my studio, so freeing up physical workspace is a must, as my gear load is certainly not getting any smaller. I have to comment on the design it really does look like a goofy little trashcan (albeit lovingly crafted), or some sort of droid reject from star wars: it's certainly hefty enough. Cute though: it's tiny compared to the 2009! It's really startling when you have them sitting side by side in the studio. The performance, as expected, is excellent thanks to the modern processors, GPU and the SSD. There is not much in the way of local storage space, but it's more than adequate for OS X and applications. Anyone working with video on a regular basis isn't going to waste time with internal storage anyhow - external expansion is a must. Instead of choosing PCIe Expansion chassis I bought a $699 highpoint rocketstor6328 thunderbolt2 raid adapter which allow me to connect g-speed minisas configured with RAID 6, hp LTO6 drives and even my esata drives. It's a owesome Thunderbolt2 RAID Adapter so basically any devices with minisas or eSATA you can simply make them accessible to the new Macpro! I'm quite satisfied that my money was well spent at this moment. For anybody with an older Mac Pro, now is a good time to take the plunge.

[ViennaKey] FCPX is a monster on this one.

[ViennaKey] I bought this to use with our recording system. I love the sleek look and small footprint but am most impressed with what it can do. Very fast, incredible memory and space. Awesome product!

[ViennaKey] Pro Blazing fast execution of video conversion and rendering using built in SSD driveNot a sound: so quiet I sometime forget it is on! Con Quiet slow with older FireWire 400 external DVD players.

[Percussion] Very fast and as quiet as my G4 Cube (which has no fan). My biggest apprehension was the noise from the fan and COMPLETELY unfounded!

[ViennaKey] This machine is not for everybody, but you are are a video editor, a vfx artist, or colorist, then this is what you want. I can now render video faster than real time. I can grade using Davinci Resolve with real time performance. My TB flash drive redlines the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test around 800mbps. It is a big ticket item, but I got 6 good years out of my last Mac Pro and it is still a very capable machine. Even so not in the same league as this new generation. This will save me a ton of time in the edit suite and will pay for itself in short order.

[ViennaKey] works great, very quiet, added RAM from OWC purchased from B&H.

[ViennaKey] I decided to replace my 2006 quad core Mac Pro with this machine. It is SOOO quiet. It is quieter than my Macbook Pro. I hooked it to my old 30 cinema display and it is terrific. It is fast and makes work a pleasure. As you know all the hard drives are externally accessed. I decided to keep my old mac pro and attached it to one of the ethernet ports on both. It works very well as a file server. I can run the old mac pro through sharing screens.

[ViennaKey] The best computer I ever had. Super fast and silent

[Percussion] This system was well worth the wait. Don't let the processor speed fool you, this thing is fast. FCP X is a monster on this system. 4K with no render time? Yes! It really is worth the price.