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8 Core Mac Pro By End Of Year?

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AppleInsider reports that Apple may update its relatively recently announced Mac Pro machines with 4-core-per-CPU Cloverton (Xeon 5300 series) anytime after mid-November.

As it stands, the release of the eight-core Mac Pro hinges on both Intel and Apple. But following Intel's mid-Nov. quad-core Xeon launch, the ball should be completely on Apple's side of the court. It'll be strictly a marketing decision from there, say insiders, as the Mac maker wrapped up hardware preparations for this brawny beast during the tail-end of the back-to-school season.
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AppleInsider points out that the most likely candidate for use in the Mac Pro are the Xeon X5355 (2.66 GHz) and the Xeon E5345 (2.33 GHz), which both employ the Mac Pro's 1333 MHz front side bus. Of course, it is expected that Apple would employ the chips in an dual-CPU configuration, which would amount to an 8-core system.

The Xeon X5355 will be selling for $1172 in lots of 1000; considerably more than the current top-of-the-line 3 GHz Woodcrest ($851) that is currently offered as a build-to-order option in today's Mac Pros.
 
This is almost word per word identical to the rumors that is rumors below this one. Even comes from the same source and quotes the same text.

Is this the first duplicate on MR? Editors sleeping?
 
I don't really see the benefit of 8 cores for most users (or even 4 for that matter). Are there any applications out there that are that multithreaded?
 
jamdr said:
I don't really see the benefit of 8 cores for most users (or even 4 for that matter). Are there any applications out there that are that multithreaded?
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Yeah, there are programs that are that multi-treaded, and there's always the ability to run multiple programs on single cores with no performance hit.

But bottom line, these computers aren't for "most users." They're for the most professional of pros.

I don't see Apple getting rid of the quad-core machines... 8-core will be an option like the G5 quad was.
 
Apple should get into the habit of releasing new models as soon as Intel releases faster chips to keep in lockstep with the rest of the industry.

This whole 'releasing every 4-6 months or so' really hurts Apple. (and reduces the amount of whining by MR members 😉)
 
NorCalLights said:
I don't see Apple getting rid of the quad-core machines... 8-core will be an option like the G5 quad was.
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I concur, this is going to probably change the lineup around a little, making the 8 core the top of the line, although who knows at what cost. Right now, we are at $3300, with 8 cores, we are talking at least $4k, that a bit pricey.

Then again, assuming the thermal and power requirements are good (amandtech has tested the chips, but that doesnt gaurantee it meets apples specs) it doesnt cost Apple anything to offer this machine. Stores wont stock it, and its just an option like the 3.0Ghz chip is now. No engineering, design, programming, etc.
 
I think this will just add two more options above the current processors on the Mac Pro configuration page. I don't think it will replace the dual cores unless Apples got a good pricing deal with Intel.
 
mdntcallr said:
this is great news.

while i wont need bleeding speed. maybe this will lower the price of the dual core mac pros.
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This is what I'm waiting for too ...
 
ChrisA said:
This is almost word per word identical to the rumors that is rumors below this one. Even comes from the same source and quotes the same text.

Is this the first duplicate on MR? Editors sleeping?
Click to expand...

Sssh, we don't want to wake them 🙂 Previous discussion thread on this story can be found here.
 
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