2010-2012 Mac Pro 5,1 Hex Core 3.33ghz

I am looking for a computer that would be a good fit for photo and video editing on a professional level with some adaptability to upgrade in case software demands changes. I am interested in portrait photography and video work for weddings and other events.
I have initially selected this model to focus on due to reading that this may be considered a sweet spot for performance and a price between $1200-$1700.00 depending on where you buy it. I may initially pair it with a used NEC Pa271.

1)Do any of you have experience with this model machine?
2)Is it a mistake to purchase a machine that is 5 years old?
3)Can this machine handle 4k video?
4) Is there a better option?

Thank you for any replies and thoughts.

I have a 2010 12-core with 128 gb of RAM, but it's mostly used for DNA sequencing work. All those are ok but I'm not sure what you're meaning by #3.

"i'm not sure what you meaning by #3"

I know very little about computers. I thought I read somewhere that only certain graphics cards are useful for 4k video or it may have been something to do with connectivity of tower to monitor? One of the reasons I started to look at the mac pro was the possibility of being able to upgrade parts instead of having to buy a new computer every couple of years when software changes.

OK, you're asking if the 2010 Mac Pro can drive a 4k display (3840 x 2160 resolution). The short answer is "no" as the graphics card you likely have is the HD 5770, and it tops out at 2560x1600. You can buy a new graphics card to get 4k, but because of firmware issues the easiest route is the HD 7950 from MacSales.com, but it's about $450. There are software hacks to use other, less expensive 4k graphics cards, but I have no experience with those.

IMO your better off building a new PC w/ Windows or just biting the bullet and start with a fresh Mac Pro when the funds become sufficient. As Tony said, if you drop 1700 on this Mac Pro and then $450 for 7950, your 2150 in and 1k short of having a 2015 model that could come out this year. (Going by MacRumors buyers guide the update should be near at least)

Look at this guy's machine:
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=eGtx-KX4lVU

Although he has a GTX 680 in his which crushes the 5770

If you weren't picky about Windows or OSx then you could always build your own machine. $1200-1700 is quite the system you could probably destroy that 2010 Mac Pro with the same cost build of a 2015 PC but unfortunately doesn't place anything available for newer on the Mac side. You could always stalk the Outlet/Refurb http://store.apple.com …/specialdeals/m​ac/mac_pro for a good priced one.

http://www.tomshardwar​e.com …rmance-pc-build,4049.html

Even their article from the Q4 2014 build you can find these parts for significantly cheaper now, like the GPU is priced 530 there but it is available for 360 (or 330 with rebates):
http://www.tomshardwar​e.com …-performance-pc,3942.html

The thread has great recommendation so far. I'll second what most have said already.

It's time to change to a new machine. Unless you are stuck to OSX, I'd also suggest getting a decently spec'd PC with Win 8.1 and just upgrade to Win 10 when it comes out later in the year. You can get a current gen powerful machine for under 2000$ and have money leftover to get a lightroom PC edition (if you need a new license).

Just another vote for going the PC route and building a machine, or getting a decently spec'd off the shelf unit. If your comfortable with upgrading components in a Mac Pro yourself building a PC isn't much harder and you will ultimatly get a much more powerful machine that has current generation hardware.

I have a 2009 Mac Pro 4,1 that I have upgraded over the last few years.

It started as an 8 core 2.26 machine. It now is a 12 core 3.46 machine with 32 GB ram, Radeon 7950, SSD's for OSX, apps and lightroom cache/catalogs. It chews through my editing in lightroom with ease and anything I do in photoshop is quick as well. I have right about $2k into it at this point (I bought it used about 3 years ago). Figure it should do me for another 2-3 years.

Best desktop I have owned. I did the Hackintosh thing for a few years, but tired of the having to keep up with things that broke each time there was an update.