Mac Pros May See Bus Speed Increase With Penryn

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

Intel's latest roadmap reportedly includes higher front side bus speeds for Penryn-based Xeons (http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=8656), according to DailyTech.

The site lists 3 processors slated to include a 1600 MHz front side bus, up from today's 1333 MHz front side bus, 2 of which are quad-core. The E5472 and E5462 are clocked at 3.0 GHz and 2.8 GHz respectively, and will feature Penryn's 12 MB L2 cache previously described (http://www.macrumors.com/2007/08/15/intels-penryn-xeon-processors-due-in-november/).

Since transitioning to Intel, Apple has elected to put the highest-end Xeon 51xx ("Woodcrest") and 53xx ("Clovertown") series processors in its Mac Pro line. Quad-core Penryn-based Xeons will be using the 54xx numbering scheme, and are expected to be used by Apple.

Apple has also twice used unreleased processors in its products, so a Penryn based Xeon based on the new bus speed faster than 3.0 GHz should not be discounted at this time.

Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/2007/08/30/mac-pros-may-see-bus-speed-increase-with-penryn/)

[Anonymous Freak]

Well, these are the next update in Intel's product lineup that the Mac Pro is part of. So this is an obvious one.

That's the fun of moving to Intel. We know for certain, months in advance, what is coming down the pipeline. The only thing we don't know is when Apple will release it. (The G5 was close, but we didn't knowwith even 75% certainty that Apple was going to even use it until they announced it. With this, we can be about 99% certain that, unless Apple decides to switch to AMD or something, Penryn will be the next Mac Pro.)

And, again, because Apple likes having the top-of-the-line, even unannounced top-of-the-line, parts, it can be pretty certain that Apple will be using the 1600 MHz bus parts exclusively.

With the Xeon Penryns moving to a 1600 MHz bus, while the desktop chips will be staying on the 1333 MHz bus, I hope this gives Apple enough of a differentiation factor to release a desktop based on the desktop Core 2 chips. While Santa Rosa is a nice upgrade, I'd much rather have seen a P35-and-Conroe-with-optional-Kentsfield based iMac. (i.e. using the just-released desktop chipset, with desktop Core 2 Duos standard, and a built-to-order option of Core 2 Quad.)

I honestly don't care if they do it in the iMac, or in a new headless mini-tower, I just want desktop-level components in a Mac desktop. (Not laptop, not workstation.)

[Roller]

I honestly don't care if they do it in the iMac, or in a new headless mini-tower, I just want desktop-level components in a Mac desktop. (Not laptop, not workstation.)

I'd go for a mini-tower to fill the gap between the current Mac Pro workstations (too big, too expensive for many) and the iMac (no way to swap the video card or hard drive.)

[twoodcc]

well I hope apple uses them, and starts as soon as they're released, if not sooner

[dmw007]

Looking forward to seeing Penryn & the Seaburg chipset in the Mac Pro, I might be tempted enough to buy one then. :) :apple:

[KindredMAC]

I really don't care what goes in it I just want to see a change to the design of the from factor at this point. The G5 look is really out dated now and looking über unsexy when compared to everything else.

[macintel4me]

The iPhone, iPod, AppleTV rumors are interesting, but the Mac Pro info is what is engaging for me. The enclosure hasn't seen a major update in years, the internals haven't been updated on over a year and it isn't price competitive now. The day the updated Mac Pro is released in Oct or Nov, I'm putting down my credit card and buying one of these bad boys; 8-core, great video card, RAID 0 HDDs, ports galore, Leopard, iLife '08 all in a silent beast ready and waiting for it's appropriate seductive 30" 160dpi LCD companion. :D

[brianus]

The G5 look is really out dated now and looking über unsexy when compared to everything else.

Compared to what? The other "..Pro" product also has the aluminum look, and the iMac has just joined it. And I haven't seen anything in the PC world that looks "sexier".

[KindredMAC]

Compared to what? The other "..Pro" product also has the aluminum look, and the iMac has just joined it. And I haven't seen anything in the PC world that looks "sexier".
You're kidding right?
I've never been impressed with the cheese grater.

I've always hated the fact that if you had a light source in front of the G5, you can see the fans spinning inside.

It's about time to get back to something that isn't so industrialized.

[brianus]

You're kidding right?
I've never been impressed with the cheese grater.

I've always hated the fact that if you had a light source in front of the G5, you can see the fans spinning inside.

It's about time to get back to something that isn't so industrialized.

Why? With the Mac Pro continuing to be positioned as an out-of-reach-to-the-consumer, "workstation" machine, an 'industrial' look is more appropriate now than ever (whereas in the G4 and early G5 days, there were still some lower priced, lower spec'd machines). You still haven't identified what's "out of date" about it either.. what do you imagine it's competing with?

[Pressure]

Why? With the Mac Pro continuing to be positioned as an out-of-reach-to-the-consumer, "workstation" machine, an 'industrial' look is more appropriate now than ever (whereas in the G4 and early G5 days, there were still some lower priced, lower spec'd machines). You still haven't identified what's "out of date" about it either.. what do you imagine it's competing with?

I would say it looks state of the art compared to a Dell or HP workstation... :D

[Umbongo]

Well, these are the next update in Intel's product lineup that the Mac Pro is part of. So this is an obvious one.



I wouldn't say it it was obvious, as there are only two processors that Apple would likely use, 2.8GHz and 3GHz, which I wouldn't think offer enough difference for a whole line.

I think they would struggle to upsell .2Ghz (x8), just a 7.4% theoretical performance increase for what would likely be $400-500 (Apple's pricing). They may, as I've speculated a couple of times in the MP&PM subforum, have access to the 5482 3.2GHz versions, which would give them a much better chance on the upsell and in that case I think it more likely. I could even see them foregoing having a lower speed downgrade in such a case.

The 1333MHz FSB Penryn Xeon range however is far more filled out, cheaper* too ($100 less for 2.83GHz, $150 less for 3GHz), and we haven't seen the real performance differences between the two yet. Apple could likely make more far more profit here and with a 2.83GHzx8 base system, 2.33Ghz downgrade and 3.16GHz highend maintain similar pricing differences to the current 2GHz and 3GHz quad upgrades while remaining competative with other dual Xeon workstation vendors.

On a personal level, I hope you are right, in addition I hope Intel continue to use Apple as a showcase and that they have 3.2GHz 1600MHz FSB Penryns as an option really putting the MP out there as a solid workstaion choice regardless of the software/OS you will be running.

I also would like to see this enable enough seperation between pro and consumer systems for Apple to fit a Core 2 Quad range in to their offerings, whether it be Kentsfield or waiting for Yorkfield. I'm not sure a $1,199, $1,499 and $1999 lineup at 4x2.4Ghz, 4x2.66GHz and 4x3GHz (with similar base GPU to the MP and 2GB of RAM on a solid x38 systemboard) would hurt Apple's iMac sales. I would think if anyone could balance such a thing in to their product range Apple could.

*I've based my prices on Intel's per 1000 unit prices for the sake of comparrison, although Apple no doubt get them far cheaper than that, I would think prices are still in proportion to each other across processor lines.

[Wild-Bill]

Well whenever Apple decides to give the Mac Pro a much overdue update, I certainly hope they offer current and powerful graphics card options. The Mac Pro is severely dated in the video card department. However, judging by Apple's recent inclusion of the ATI HD 2400 and 2600 Pro cards in the new iMacs, I tend to think they'll screw up this refresh too.

[MikeL]

I really don't care what goes in it I just want to see a change to the design of the from factor at this point. The G5 look is really out dated now and looking über unsexy when compared to everything else.

I could care less what it looks like. It'll sit under my desk, just as my G4 and G5 did. The problem with the G5 was that the case was huge, and the internal expansion was small. The MPs are much better in this regard. That's all I really care about.

My guess is that most MP customers will take function over form.

[QuantumLo0p]

Seriously, this has been an issue for a while now. My trusty DP G5 2.7 (actually, all the PowerMac G5's) all they way through the current Mac Pro have absolutely poor FW800 performance.

FW800 RAID will not perform as it should. The only useful purpose for a FW800 port on a PowerMac/MacPro is to free up a FW400 or USB 2.0 port.

This is pitiful considering the scope of the intended user and the price these systems command.

NOT ACCEPTABLE APPLE. PLEASE FIX IT.

Sorry for being nasty but this really ticks me off. We can only hope...

[Pressure]

Seriously, this has been an issue for a while now. My trusty DP G5 2.7 (actually, all the PowerMac G5's) all they way through the current Mac Pro have absolutely poor FW800 performance.

FW800 RAID will not perform as it should. The only useful purpose for a FW800 port on a PowerMac/MacPro is to free up a FW400 or USB 2.0 port.

This is pitiful considering the scope of the intended user and the price these systems command.

NOT ACCEPTABLE APPLE. PLEASE FIX IT.

Sorry for being nasty but this really ticks me off. We can only hope...

Do you have any numbers you can share with us?

And this really belongs in a thread for itself. Tried to google for "Mac Pro firewire performance" and found zero hits that mentioned anything about lacking FireWire800 performance.

[elliottbayman]

I'm only interested in replacing my Dual G4 if I can get a huge increase in speed. My current machine is only lacking when it comes to encoding video but does everything else as fast as it ever did. I would like to encode a one hour video in a few seconds or minutes rather than hours. Now that HD content is becoming more prevalent it seems I will need even more power. How many more years should I wait to get a new Mac Pro?

[KindredMAC]

Do you have any numbers you can share with us?

And this really belongs in a thread for itself. Tried to google for "Mac Pro firewire performance" and found zero hits that mentioned anything about lacking FireWire800 performance.

I don't know so much about performance as I know there is an issue with the FireWire bus on the PMG5's.

With my PMG5 Dual Core 2GHz at home, I have my iPod (3G) hooked up to my FW800 port with a FW800 dock connector and my iSight hooked up to the FW400 port. If the iSight is turned on, the iPod will start clicking as if the HD is going bad. I found out after searching the data banks on Apple that the FW bus gets "corrupt" so to speak and the only way to reset it is to turn the machine off, unplug it from the wall for 10 seconds and then replug it back in.

It's a such a PIA that I don't even bother having my iSight plugged in unless I really need it and then I make sure that the iPod isn't hooked up at the same time.

I don't know if the same problem holds true for the Mac Pros though...

And yes, to Brianus, I own the model that I don't care for the looks of. I love the power and expandability of it, just can't stand the front of it. Anybody else's cat get their claws hung up in the holes on the front when they try to swat at the DVD tray as it pulls back in??? Drives me up the frickin wall I tell you!

[macintel4me]

Seriously, this has been an issue for a while now. My trusty DP G5 2.7 (actually, all the PowerMac G5's) all they way through the current Mac Pro have absolutely poor FW800 performance.

FW800 RAID will not perform as it should. The only useful purpose for a FW800 port on a PowerMac/MacPro is to free up a FW400 or USB 2.0 port.

This is pitiful considering the scope of the intended user and the price these systems command.

NOT ACCEPTABLE APPLE. PLEASE FIX IT.

Sorry for being nasty but this really ticks me off. We can only hope...
Sounds like good fodder for yet another class action lawsuit against Apple, Inc.

[TheMechanic]

I really don't care what goes in it I just want to see a change to the design of the from factor at this point. The G5 look is really out dated now and looking über unsexy when compared to everything else.

Well, the MacPro is a pro machine and I'd say that pros don't care much about the look of it. They want it's power.
And BTW all towers are ugly with all of the cables coming out of them. But the current MP is far sexier than everything I've seen on the PC market.

[Rocketman]

The MacPro's product line advantage is infinite upgradeability. That all passes along processor and bus updates.

A double depth mini with graphics upgrade and HD upgrade would be a good product addition. Same MacBook throwaway motherboards. Mac-si concept. Time Machine compatible.

Rocketman

[zwida]

You're kidding right?
I've never been impressed with the cheese grater.

I've always hated the fact that if you had a light source in front of the G5, you can see the fans spinning inside.

It's about time to get back to something that isn't so industrialized.

To each his own, I guess. I've always been happy with the cheese grater. It's a nice complement to the 30" Apple Cinema Display sitting next to it.

[zap2]

I'm a fan of the Mac Pro look, although I can see it get an update soon.


It is after all from 2003.

[Wild-Bill]

Ditch the FW800 Apple and give us eSATA. That is the way forward. :apple:

[macintel4me]

Ditch the FW800 Apple and give us eSATA. That is the way forward. :apple:
I'll second that. eSata is double the throughput of properly working FW800.

[echoout]

EXACTLY! My Sonnett E4P eSATA card has gotten the job done for me for a year. After endless issues with the reliability of FW400/800 drives through the years I just won't touch them. eSATA has been flawless and wicked-fast. It would be righteous if they put 4 eSATA ports in the back with port multiplication abilities.

Ditch the FW800 Apple and give us eSATA. That is the way forward. :apple:

[QuantumLo0p]

Do you have any numbers you can share with us?

And this really belongs in a thread for itself. Tried to google for "Mac Pro firewire performance" and found zero hits that mentioned anything about lacking FireWire800 performance.

Go to Barefeats.

[Bregalad]

Well whenever Apple decides to give the Mac Pro a much overdue update, I certainly hope they offer current and powerful graphics card options. The Mac Pro is severely dated in the video card department. However, judging by Apple's recent inclusion of the ATI HD 2400 and 2600 Pro cards in the new iMacs, I tend to think they'll screw up this refresh too.

Nothing like using parts that retail as PCIe cards loaded with RAM in the PC world for $55 and $110 in your new "showcase" desktop. I think it was BareFeats that showed the old 2.16GHz iMac beating the 2.4GHz new one in almost every 3D game because the RadeonHD is so lame.

I think eSATA should be added to the pro machines even though there are already 4 internal drive bays, however, FW800 allows MUCH longer cable lengths so it still has a place.

[abrooks]

With my PMG5 Dual Core 2GHz at home, I have my iPod (3G) hooked up to my FW800 port with a FW800 dock connector

Sorry guys, million miles off topic. But they made a FW800 dock connector for the 3G?!? :confused:

[Pressure]

I'll second that. eSata is double the throughput of properly working FW800.

Why should they ditch the single most important port in the media world?

Come on, use your brains please.

FireWire is used for more than driving hard drives afterall.

[pagansoul]

I just purchased my Mac Pro 2 months ago. I've been wanting it for 3 years. I love the current design. I love that adding RAM and HDs was so easy. It sits between my 2 desk so my cat has not discovered the tray, he spends too much time watching the printer spit out paper.

[netdog]

I could care less what it looks like.

You would care if it were as gaudy as the new iMac. :D

[k2k koos]

great CPU power and buss speeds, I just hope, it being a Mac, that we'll see a new case too, although the current one is great, and very practical:apple:

[mashny]

As someone said earlier, I really don't care what the Mac Pro looks like since it will sit under my desk. I have an eight-year-old, single-processor G4 400 and really hope the Penryn Mac Pros will be released during Macworld SF in January.

[dante@sisna.com]

I'm only interested in replacing my Dual G4 if I can get a huge increase in speed. My current machine is only lacking when it comes to encoding video but does everything else as fast as it ever did. I would like to encode a one hour video in a few seconds or minutes rather than hours. Now that HD content is becoming more prevalent it seems I will need even more power. How many more years should I wait to get a new Mac Pro?

You've got to be kidding!

A Quad Mac Pro or Quad G5 WILL be a "HUGE Increase in Speed" compared to any Dual G4. There is no comparison.

[bilbo--baggins]

I'm waiting to get an updated Mac Pro. I like the G5 casing - and now that they've redesigned it internally to provided decent function I will be very happy with it. I would be worried that if the produced a redesigned case, that they might stuff up again like they did with the G5's. Perhaps they might make the whole case smaller and only have space for 2 hard drives. I would not be impressed - I'm looking forward to getting rid of my G5 for that reason.

I think the next update should include eSATA as well as Firewire 800. I think it's only recently that they added FW800 to the iMac, so I hardly thing they'll remove it from the Mac Pros.

For me it's a shame they don't put Bluetooth in as standard - seems daft to have to get a CTO just for that (if you don't have an Apple Store nearby). I'm still using my PowerMac G5 with a Bluetooth 1.1 USB dongle - I'd much rather have internal bluetooth.

What I'd REALLY like is for Apple to update the Mac Pros before the expected release of the new chips. Probably just a dream - but with it being such a long time since the current models came out, perhaps Apple are desperate to update them too?

[Anonymous Freak]

I'm only interested in replacing my Dual G4 if I can get a huge increase in speed. My current machine is only lacking when it comes to encoding video but does everything else as fast as it ever did. I would like to encode a one hour video in a few seconds or minutes rather than hours. Now that HD content is becoming more prevalent it seems I will need even more power. How many more years should I wait to get a new Mac Pro?

You may just want to invest in an Elgato Turbo H.264 (http://elgato.com/index.php?file=products_turbo264), which can make an iBook G4 as fast as a MacBook Pro (http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/feedback/turbo.264_speed_tests.html) for encoding H.264.

So if all you want to be faster is video encoding, this is $150 that you want to spend. However, even a Quad Mac Pro is the same speed, and once QuickTime can spawn more than 2 threads for encoding, a Quad or Octo system would be significantly faster. And, yes, a Quad G5, or any Mac Pro, will be "a huge increase in speed".

[toughboy]

You may just want to invest in an Elgato Turbo H.264 (http://elgato.com/index.php?file=products_turbo264), which can make an iBook G4 as fast as a MacBook Pro (http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/feedback/turbo.264_speed_tests.html) for encoding H.264.

So if all you want to be faster is video encoding, this is $150 that you want to spend. However, even a Quad Mac Pro is the same speed, and once QuickTime can spawn more than 2 threads for encoding, a Quad or Octo system would be significantly faster. And, yes, a Quad G5, or any Mac Pro, will be "a huge increase in speed".

I wished there was a USB thumbstick to make my PowerBook play WoW better :rolleyes::o

[Wild-Bill]

The biggest thing they need to address in the next Mac Pro incarnation is the video cards. I think an 8800GTX would be better over an ATI HD 2900xt. Benchmarks have proven that even an 8800GTS (640 meg) handily beats the 2900xt.

I've got a bad feeling though they're going to use the 2900xt. But at least it's an improvement over the year and a half old 1900xt, plus has DirectX 10 capability for those interested in dual-booting with Vista and gaming. I, personally, have no use for Vista or DirectX 10. I just want a current, powerful video card option.

[Mac Kiwi]

I am guessing we will get about half of what we want and the best graphics card {sans the Quadro upgrade} will be one below the best PC game card on offer at the time of launch.

[Pressure]

The biggest thing they need to address in the next Mac Pro incarnation is the video cards. I think an 8800GTX would be better over an ATI HD 2900xt. Benchmarks have proven that even an 8800GTS (640 meg) handily beats the 2900xt.

I've got a bad feeling though they're going to use the 2900xt. But at least it's an improvement over the year and a half old 1900xt, plus has DirectX 10 capability for those interested in dual-booting with Vista and gaming. I, personally, have no use for Vista or DirectX 10. I just want a current, powerful video card option.

There are also cases where the Radeon HD 2900 XT handily beats both the Geforce 8800GTX and Geforce 8800 Ultra, like Bioshock in DirectX 9c.

It really isn't such a bad GPU by any means but if the update comes in November, there will be all new GPUs from NVIDIA.

[bilbo--baggins]

The biggest thing they need to address in the next Mac Pro incarnation is the video cards. I think an 8800GTX would be better over an ATI HD 2900xt. Benchmarks have proven that even an 8800GTS (640 meg) handily beats the 2900xt.

I've got a bad feeling though they're going to use the 2900xt. But at least it's an improvement over the year and a half old 1900xt, plus has DirectX 10 capability for those interested in dual-booting with Vista and gaming. I, personally, have no use for Vista or DirectX 10. I just want a current, powerful video card option.

The whole graphics card situation is ridiculous. They should update the graphics cards as new ones become available - even without waiting for a major upgrade to the computer as a whole. Even if they don't do that - they should make all the latest graphics cards available as CTO options. Ideally they should make the latest graphics cards available to buy separately.

Mac users are treated really badly when it comes to graphics cards. I remember spending an arm and a leg on one a few years ago, only to see the PC version in a shop a few months later for about a quarter of the price.

When there is no update to the Mac Pro's in over a year (except the top model) surely it would help to maintain sales if they maintained it's value by making easy changes like putting in better graphics cards. Without it, the Mac Pro has become progressively worse value for money as the year has gone on.

I suspect Apple has seen sales remaining fairly healthy due to the introduction of software like Adobe CS3 that people have been waiting for - and so not felt the need to do anything to help sales.

[Nugget]

The whole graphics card situation is ridiculous.

Agreed. This is the sole reason I haven't bought a Mac Pro yet. My guess is that Leopard is the blocker on this front -- Apple don't want to commit to Tiger and Leopard support for any next-generation graphics card options. I'll bet they'd planned to have new cards out already but the delay to Leopard's release date scuttled that plan.

I'm sure we'll see new cards, even if we don't get new Mac Pros, shortly after Leopard's release. And I'll bet they'll require Leopard for people upgrading their existing Mac Pros.

[ABM]

Does anybody think that there is a chance for a iMac processor upgrade araound X-Mas?

I am very unpatient - i know! :D

[Nugget]

Christmas seems too soon to expect iMac updates in light of the fact that the iMac just got a complete facelift just a few weeks ago. Nothing on the Intel roadmap, either, that would seem to encourage such a rapid update.

[bocomo]

Well, the MacPro is a pro machine and I'd say that pros don't care much about the look of it. They want it's power.
And BTW all towers are ugly with all of the cables coming out of them. But the current MP is far sexier than everything I've seen on the PC market.

i agree. i could care less how "sexy" or "cool" it looks so much as how "sexy" and "cool" what i produce with it looks!

probably mostly gamers who worry about the looks, i suppose. (i love games too, just don't have many these days)

[henjin]

Ditch the FW800 Apple and give us eSATA. That is the way forward. :apple:

Apple needs it's Pro line to offer the best hardware configurations regardless of platform. Why no eSATA as standard? Why no offer of a BlueRay drive and burner as part of the configuration process?

OSX is the best of the best. However at this moment my dream MacPro would be built by Alienware not Apple. I'm referring to their line of workstations not the gamer line. Which is still better than Apple's line up.

Apple has its own needs and reasons for limiting choice. But say with Adobe software it does not matter what platform I am using. It might behoove Apple to realize this.

Apple is my preferred choice. I can wait till the end of the 1st quarter 2008. After that I might be enjoying an Alienware workstation with the latest hardware, while Apple sits on its iPhones.

[Nugget]

Why no offer of a BlueRay drive and burner as part of the configuration process?

Probably for the same reason there's no HD-DVD option, either.

[plumbingandtech]

Apple needs it's Pro line to offer the best hardware configurations regardless of platform. Why no eSATA as standard? Why no offer of a BlueRay drive and burner as part of the configuration process?

Please Apple.

BOOTABLE eSata ports on macbook pros and mac pros PLEASE!!!

[henjin]

Please Apple.

BOOTABLE eSata ports on macbook pros and mac pros PLEASE!!!

Seems to me that what we want will never be given by Apple.

[17MBPC2D]

Please Apple.

BOOTABLE eSata ports on macbook pros and mac pros PLEASE!!!

Why stop there....Apple please add eSATA port to the Airport Extreme for AirDisk!!!

[exigentsky]

Wake me up when it has a great GPU (8800 GTX!). There is no reason for not having some good graphics cards options for a machine that can cost $15,000+ when maxed out.

It is a step forward that the Macbook Pro has a good graphics card (even though they chose the lower memory one). However, for every other line, Apple's graphics cards choices are either non-existent (Macbook) or woefully underpowered.

[YoungCreative]

Christmas seems too soon to expect iMac updates in light of the fact that the iMac just got a complete facelift just a few weeks ago. Nothing on the Intel roadmap, either, that would seem to encourage such a rapid update.

Maybe they'll drop the price $200 by Christmas:mad:

[smirk]

With my PMG5 Dual Core 2GHz at home, I have my iPod (3G) hooked up to my FW800 port with a FW800 dock connector and my iSight hooked up to the FW400 port. If the iSight is turned on, the iPod will start clicking as if the HD is going bad. I found out after searching the data banks on Apple that the FW bus gets "corrupt" so to speak and the only way to reset it is to turn the machine off, unplug it from the wall for 10 seconds and then replug it back in.


This sounds more like an electrical issue to me. The iSight probably depletes the Firewire bus of electrical current to the point that the iPod can't get enough. Get a cheap PCI Firewire card and you'll probably be back in business. (But I know, you shouldn't have to do that... but a $15-$20 card will likely solve your problem.)

[jaw04005]

Why stop there....Apple please add eSATA port to the Airport Extreme for AirDisk!!!

Why? The current AirPort Extreme's processor is so slow, it can't even handle USB 2.0 properly.

[BornAgainMac]

This sounds more like an electrical issue to me. The iSight probably depletes the Firewire bus of electrical current to the point that the iPod can't get enough. Get a cheap PCI Firewire card and you'll probably be back in business. (But I know, you shouldn't have to do that... but a $15-$20 card will likely solve your problem.)

You are correct. The power output for the Firewire 800 was underpowered on at least my G5 compared to my Powerbook G4 with multiple devices. I hope the Mac Pro doesn't have that problem.

[ckurowic]

Hey everyone. I noticed a few people talking about performance. Its Apples fault! They have made such an efficient OS :). I have a PowerMac G5 1.6GHz, 4GB of RAM and a Radeon 9600 w/256 vRAM and it opens most applications in one "dock bounce". I have noted no difference in using most apps and just the interface by itself vs. my girlfriends 2.16GHz macbook. Obviously the macbook is "faster", but the G5's are still blazing machines! Even the lowest end, remember they outgunned the 3.2GHz Xeon's when they were released.

[Papajohn56]

I'll second that. eSata is double the throughput of properly working FW800.

Don't ditch FW800. There are still pro applications for this. Keep 800, add eSATA also.

[amacisbetter]

Looks like it's time to update! :p

[unregbaron]

Updates can't be far off.

[Spikeanator6982]

Updates can't be far off.

US store is also now 14 and 15% off...:)

[mandoman]

Please Apple.

BOOTABLE eSata ports on macbook pros and mac pros PLEASE!!!

I'll 2nd that notion for eSata ports on MBP. Gotta keep
firewire around though for my audio interface!

[Transeau]

Ditch the FW800 Apple and give us eSATA. That is the way forward. :apple:

oh hell no.

Some of us keep our MBP's and MP's in sync with FW800. Personally, I DO NOT want to go back to FW400 for dumping 30G+ from my desktop to notebook.

May you should think more along the lines of "ADD eSATA" and NOT "Ditch FW800"

[greenmeanie]

They need to really update the video and stop giving video card leftovers.

[vffikoncer]

Well, the MacPro is a pro machine and I'd say that pros don't care much about the look of it. They want it's power.
And BTW all towers are ugly with all of the cables coming out of them. But the current MP is far sexier than everything I've seen on the PC market.

[RoDe]

Hope that with the bus speed increase the speed of the memory will increase as well, if the bus speed increases it would make sense that the memory would increase in speed too. Otherwise I don't see the use of it (but than again i'm not that technical so I might be wrong). An eSata input would be great too.

[RoDe]

Oh yeah, forget to mention the graphics cards, the current ones are trully pathetic and not to mention very old. But people must understand that Apple doesn't see this as a game PC/Mac. It's workstation ment to be used for things like FCP. Though it must be said that motion for instance does use the GPU.

Well we will see.

[overcast]

Oh yeah, forget to mention the graphics cards, the current ones are trully pathetic and not to mention very old. But people must understand that Apple doesn't see this as a game PC/Mac. It's workstation ment to be used for things like FCP. Though it must be said that motion for instance does use the GPU.

Well we will see.
Ok fine, so stop charging 2 year old prices for ancient video cards.

[andy721]

It's going to be a bit smaller with a few minor design changes an they'll be different colors :D

[liveexpo]

You've got to be kidding!

A Quad Mac Pro or Quad G5 WILL be a "HUGE Increase in Speed" compared to any Dual G4. There is no comparison.

Will I see a performance boost when I upgrade from my G3 iBook?? :). Handling those 200MB+ TIFF files will be slightly faster me thinks!

[Mozutaka]

Is the US Apple Store down for anyone else?

I couldn't remember what they shipped the current Mac Pros with RAM-wise. Was it 2x512? I sure hope that changes with the refresh. :(

[bokdol]

Is the US Apple Store down for anyone else?

I couldn't remember what they shipped the current Mac Pros with RAM-wise. Was it 2x512? I sure hope that changes with the refresh. :(

it's down for me too

[bokdol]

ok it looks like it's just a holiday face lift.
oh well

[Sun Baked]

The whole graphics card situation is ridiculous. They should update the graphics cards as new ones become available - even without waiting for a major upgrade to the computer as a whole. Even if they don't do that - they should make all the latest graphics cards available as CTO options. Ideally they should make the latest graphics cards available to buy separately.

That would be fine and dandy, but there aren't drivers available for that situation like there are for Windows.

This situation is unlikely to change until a consumer tower shows up and ATI/Nvidia start catering to the upgrade market again. The Mac Pro is a tiny niche, unfortunately.

[axiomission]

I'll second that. eSata is double the throughput of properly working FW800.

I don't understand why we can't have both....

[Artofilm]

I don't understand why we can have updated MacPros already!
November 13, no MacPros... When will they come!!

[law guy]

I don't understand why we can have updated MacPros already!
November 13, no MacPros... When will they come!!

My thoughts exactly - so much expectation for the 12th and then the 13th for a Tuesday product launch. This one had such a feel of certainty to it back in the October rumor mill too.

[Fallencircus]

I usually dont post on here, just lurk. However, if they are planning on "shipping today" when it is announced then it has to be tomorow. Monday was a holiday, meaning no mail, meaning no stock until tomorow. They dont want a lot of stock sitting around in their stores over the weekend, which is why it is always on a Tues. So that being said, it better be tomorow.

[kmkeeler1957]

This morning, Amazon had rebates on Mac Pros that expired October 22 (a Monday) and then one that expired yesterday (November 12 (another Monday)). Those were the only rebates Amazon listed as of this morning. Now, Amazon has just posted another rebate for Mac Pros with purchase by date of December 3. It almost looks like Apple continues to delay announcement (and therefore deivery) and Amazon continues to push out the rebate to Apple's new "release" date.

Just a thought, but, ????

[hobbes3113]

Now, Amazon has just posted another rebate for Mac Pros with purchase by date of December 3. It almost looks like Apple continues to delay announcement (and therefore deivery) and Amazon continues to push out the rebate to Apple's new "release" date.

:(
I think I might vomit if there is no announcement until Dec. 4...

[flyinmac]

:(
I think I might vomit if there is no announcement until Dec. 4...

http://craphammer.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/vomit_6090364_905747850e.jpg

Mac Pro in January. If not, then definitely 100% will be February. If not, then I can guarantee you it will be March. And, if not, then I can say with absolute certainty that it will be April. And, if not, then I can say with the highest confidence that it will be May...