Noob question about OSX

[Heabow]

Hey ya'll!

Here is the situation. I work on an iMac that is really slow now and the CPU does not support anymore all the processing and stuff. I'm seriously tired to make 10000 bounces then go back, make some changes and rebounce again then go back... Just to mix one single song. So I try to collect enough money to buy the latest iMac.

My iMac is a 3.06gHz loaded with 4Go. OS 10.6.8. I have one HD with all the programms, plugins, etc. and the current data. I have one backup HD for all my previous work so the system hard drive is never full. My question is can I simply put my current system HD in the new computer to avoid reinstalling all the programs? Also I think about compatibility plugins, latest OS, etc...

I guess it sounds very stupid but hey I don't know so I ask!

 

[Line666]

You should be able to, doing something similar with Windows PCs can cause issues due to changes in motherboards/firmware but because Mac stuff is limited to what hardware it can use then it's easy for it to flip between different models. I've ran hard drive images that were made for iMacs on Mac Pros instead before and never had any issues. The biggest problem you will probably encounter (if its a new iMac you bought) is getting the damn case open.

 

[greyskull]

It depends on what the new machines firmware is.
Some new machines are locked out from a certain os onwards.
But otherwise yes, with Osx you can throw your hard drive in whatever damn mac you want, turn it on and off you go,

 

[Potshot]

You won't be able to run snow leopard in a current mac, they are all designed to run only on the OS they shipped with or above, always have been. Probably easiest for you to just caddy the drive or boot the old iMac in target disk mode and run migration assistant on the new mac to copy all your programs and such across.

 

[Vicioushead]

Yes, I was concerned with this too but migration assistant took care of it without any fuss. Backed up my old system, hooked up the hard drive and it did the business.

 

[Erik Monsonis]

Borrow the latest OSX version installer CD, then update your OS, then transplant the HD into the new machine.
EDIT: I see you fixed it already

 

[Heabow]

I'll buy a new iMac next week. I think I'll take this:
Screen: 21'5
Processor: i7 3.01 gHz - Turbo Boost 3.09 gHz
RAM: 16 Mo

What would you take? The Fusion Drive 1 To or a Flash drive 256 Go ?
Also I wonder if the difference is that big between Core 2 duo 3.06 gHz and i7 3.01 gHz for a PT use exclusively. Someone could tell me?

 

[B36arin]

You should try working from an external HD, if it's fast enough that usually boosts performance.

 

[Heabow]

Also I wonder if the difference is that big between Core 2 duo 3.06 gHz and i7 3.01 gHz for a PT use exclusively. Someone could tell me?

I heard that it depends on the softwares used. Some uses 4 cores and some others use only 2. What about PT? I wanna be sure to get a real improvement by buying this new machine.

 

[Heabow]

Sorry but somebody could tell me how PT deals with an i7 3.01gHz?

 

[jackbraglia]

Sorry but somebody could tell me how PT deals with an i7 3.01gHz?

what do you mean "deals with"? It should run flawlessly.

 

[Heabow]

Well, I don't know how to say it in english but some guys - that don't know anything about PT - told me that some softwares are "optimized for multi-core", some others aren't. And some have their performances limited from 2 cores, some others from 4 cores... So if PT can use the power of 4 cores, it would be a real improvement but if not, so it wouldn't change anything compared to my current computer.
Again, sorry for my shitty english.

 

[Trevoire520]

I'm on a quad core i7 and Pro Tools actually gives me the option of up to 8 cores. I think this is to do with the "virtual cores" when a Mac turbo-boosts to get more power.

 

[Heabow]

Thanks man.