In reference to your original question, I’m in the process of purchasing Mac Pro equipment for the upgrade of my present system and wanted to share my opinion on the matter.
Back in 2004 when I first purchased a G5 and VSL I got the top of the line G5 – at time a dual 2GHz. It seemed plenty powerful at the time and for the times. It seems necessary to look at the purposes of the machine(s) of which you will be the proud owner for some time to come. The main reason is that the process of upgrading a composition rig is time consuming, project-endangering, mind numbing and least importantly more expensive. I’ve been putting it off for some time.
There seem to be two main technical purposes which we all have to address: sample playback resources and processing speed.
VSL (mainly speaking of VE3 here since that will be the place where most of us will be living in the foreseeable future) doesn’t use a lot of processing power – according to Herb and cm. It’s main needs are RAM, adequate disks (a separate conversation) and, if applicable, communication of MIDI and audio between Master and Slave(s). On the other hand, the Master (or only computer in your stated case) will need processing because of reverb and other audio plugin processing and most likely other virtual instruments used simultaneously in conjunction with VSL to complete the sound of your compositions.
Given these considerations, I’ve chosen to use two computers. Without going into great detail, the Master will be a 3.2 Ghz Mac Pro with 16GB of RAM. It will house Logic, VSL Percussion & WW, Kontakt and other virtual instruments. The 3.2 is going to have to be my main computer for several years and a lot of work, and software will come and go in that time. There will incredible, unforeseen advances in software that will be looking for processing resources. I’m sure it will run out of processing resources long before I want it to – and long before I get around to changing it out.
My G5 has lasted since 2004. And not because I was short on cash but because of what a great pain it will be to change it all out. Buying every last GHz possible puts off the inevitable a bit longer. My second computer will be a 2.8 GHz four-core. It will have 24GB of RAM and will (only) house VSL Strings, Brass and when available, Choir. It’ll be connected to the Master via VE3’s ethernet. It does not need a lot of processing resources – only adequate RAM and hard drives.
So basically, buy processing for processing and get only what is needed for sample playback.
Best regards,
Jack