Any predictions for Mac Pro for WWDC?

[justflie]

Hey guys. Any ideas on what might be coming along (if anything) for a Mac Pro update at WWDC? I'm going to get one but am trying to convince myself that I should wait another month until the conference. :D

[aaronw1986]

Nothing at WWDC.

[rockinrocker]

yeah, no way. they barely have the current generation running right.

[Tallest Skil]

They just updated and there's nothing else to update to.

BluperDrive option, though, and HDCP support. That's about it, but don't count on it.

[OddThomas]

New ACDs please please please.. 24", 32" with HDCP, HDMI and other 3 and 4 letter acronyms.

[faumble]

YEAH NEW ACDs! ITS BEEN 404 DAYS!!

[Wild-Bill]

No chance of a Mac Pro update at WWDC.

It would be nice to see some updated displays, though. It's been a while, and it'd be nice to have something up-to-date.

[justflie]

I was hoping they could at least offer the new line of nvidia cards (if they finally have the drivers in decent shape).

[vansouza]

I am beginning to think that WWDC will on be for some super special announcements; Tuesdays are not that sacred any more. Good news will come when it needs to and be tied to a date ... I think.:cool:

[chewietobbacca]

I was hoping they could at least offer the new line of nvidia cards (if they finally have the drivers in decent shape).

The 9600GT and 9800GTX or 9800GX2 would be nice, but the 9800GX2 is really the only new card (9800GTX is just a faster 8800GTS 512 which is a slightly better 8800GT). More likely than not, Apple is waiting until the ATI 4xxx series (RV770/R700) battle with the Nvidia 9900's (GT200) gets settled before an update on video cards, since that battle is rumored to be due sometime in June

[justflie]

Well let the battle begin. I'm planning on purchasing the MPro mid-to-late June, depending on when I sell my laptop. Maybe that will allow sufficient time for this to play out.

[Lord Zedd]

Maybe Blu-Ray and/or new displays. But don't hold your breath.

[Tallest Skil]

Well let the battle begin. I'm planning on purchasing the MPro mid-to-late June, depending on when I sell my laptop. Maybe that will allow sufficient time for this to play out.

Mmm... nah. There won't be a graphics card update until Nehalem comes out.

[MaximusNL]

The upcomming WWDC is not going to bring new MacPro's. Since the last update is not far behind us. I do hope that the ACD's are going to be updated. Mainly because the last update dates back to 2006.

I hope the 30" ACD's will feature HDCP support and that is all I need. That gives me the "go-signal" to order a 30" ACD with a Quad Xeon 2.8GHz

[nick9191]

They have some ATI 3870 cards for the mac pro, but they wouldn't announce that at WWDC.

The ACD's are still at a pretty good price for what they are, although many people would like to buy one who don't need such a high quality display. I think they should have a cheap 20" model at £199 for those who want one with their mini etc.

[netdog]

ATI 3870
BluRay option
Maybe a little speed bump. Maybe maybe maybe. Probably not.

[MaximusNL]

With just an ADC update the Pro users should be satisfied. I think it isn't possible Apple will update the MacPro's specs.

[supercooled]

Historically, hasn't this been an iPhone/iPod event?

I would like to see an introduction of a true-form tablet but that won't be another year I suspect.

[CWallace]

Intel has no new workstation CPU or systemboard plans until Nehalem and the new 12-core Dunningtons coming later this year are targeted for servers only and would not bring anything to the Mac Pro.

So as others have noted, the only thing Apple can offer is new video cards and Blu-Ray. ATI is already going to create new Mac Pro-compatible cards and WWDC would be the logical place for Apple to announce Blu-Ray authoring support, however I believe they will not so as to not impact the iTunes store.

[JeffDM]

The 9600GT and 9800GTX or 9800GX2 would be nice, but the 9800GX2 is really the only new card (9800GTX is just a faster 8800GTS 512 which is a slightly better 8800GT). More likely than not, Apple is waiting until the ATI 4xxx series (RV770/R700) battle with the Nvidia 9900's (GT200) gets settled before an update on video cards, since that battle is rumored to be due sometime in June

And "they" said that graphics cards weren't confusing.

Historically, hasn't this been an iPhone/iPod event?

What? Not at all. It's a Mac developer conference. They have announced updates to the towers there in the past, but I doubt they will this year. They touched on how to do an iphone web app last year, until then, they didn't touch ipods because they weren't officially programmable anyway.

I expect no major updates to Mac Pro. Maybe a minor one at best. I'd love to see Blu-Ray playback but I really doubt it, they're pushing the AppleTV thing for HD, despite the fact that it's not nearly as good.

Apple usually updates their machines a month or two after new chips are available. There will be no new chips until later this year.

[Bubba Satori]

Please Apple, make more than one professional video card available for your Mac Pro. And a $2,500 one, at that. ATI and Nvidia make over a dozen different Quadro's and FireGL's. Please give us the choices that every other professional computer maker gives it's customers. Thank you. :apple:

[Cindori]

the 9800GX2 is really the only new card (9800GTX is just a faster 8800GTS 512 which is a slightly better 8800GT).

The 9800gx2 is only two 8800GTS. How can that be new in any way? None of the 9 series geforce is new, they are just faster clocked 8's.

[rpaloalto]

I'm hoping for 4 gigs standard, and a bto option on a single quad 3.0 instead of the 2.8
and new acd.

I have my funds set aside for the current standard 2.8 with 23'' acd
I'm debating on waiting or just buying now.

If I do buy now. I'm not so concerned with a minor update to the mac pro. Just the acd. I would hate to spend $900 on the current one, to have it replaced by a $700 model with hdcp and isight cam.

[MacsRgr8]

ATI 3870
BluRay option
Maybe a little speed bump. Maybe maybe maybe. Probably not.

The Radeon 3870 is rumoured to arrive this month.
I also don't expect a speed bump. We will probably keep the same line-up until the new CPU's arrive.
Blu-Ray is possible, and maybe even the focus of new software..? Blu-Ray Studio Pro? or, iBlu-Ray? ;)

[aaronw1986]

I'm hoping for 4 gigs standard, and a bto option on a single quad 3.0 instead of the 2.8
and new acd.

I have my funds set aside for the current standard 2.8 with 23'' acd
I'm debating on waiting or just buying now.

If I do buy now. I'm not so concerned with a minor update to the mac pro. Just the acd. I would hate to spend $900 on the current one, to have it replaced by a $700 model with hdcp and isight cam.

Yeah, no...maybe new acd.

[Tallest Skil]

I'm hoping for 4 gigs standard, and a bto option on a single quad 3.0 instead of the 2.8
and new acd.


Okay. But not at WWDC, so not at all.

[fluidedge]

ATI 3870 could well be announced i think.

"...and today we're introducing a new option graphics card - the ATI 3870, shipping today..."

just slipping it in there and having a quick slide on the specs. easy. Takes all of 20 seconds.

[darthraige]

Hey guys. Any ideas on what might be coming along (if anything) for a Mac Pro update at WWDC? I'm going to get one but am trying to convince myself that I should wait another month until the conference. :D

January 2009 my Fenway friend... 2009.

[countryboy24]

I will acknowledge to be one of the few that think that there could be more than one update to the computers this year. Rumors of another chipset bump among the notebooks would point to the possibility of it. Intel's tick tock update strategy is very aggressive, with consistent updates. Apple seems to be updating its own hardware just as regularly, so to ignore the chipset planned by Intel and think that Apple "could" not do the same is just naive. Nothing we are experiencing as far as updates are concerned can really be associated with historical statistics for Apple because they are playing a whole new game with a completely different dealer. I personally think that we will see a twelve core Mac Pro before Nehalem as it uses server grade chips...and Dunny is a server grade processor. Also, my personal opinion is that this will be released the same time as the mobile quad core...whether in the high end Imac or the High end Macbook pro. If any other option gets this chip, then the Mac Pro will be bumped as this will conflict with the high end nature that it represents. Why would anyone get a quad Mac Pro, currently still in the lineup, if they could just get a quad Imac instead? Nah...Apple would have to boost its specs again to make sure that its value fits its specs.

[CWallace]

I personally think that we will see a twelve core Mac Pro before Nehalem as it uses server grade chips...and Dunny is a server grade processor.

The trick is, Dunnington is based on the Tigerton core and Mac Pros use Harpertown cores. The Tigertons run much slower then Harpertowns, in part because they are often used in blade servers where cooling is an issue. Also, Dunnington uses a 604-pin socket while Harpertown (and, by extension, the Mac Pro) uses a 771-pin socket.

[toke lahti]

Blu-Ray is possible, and maybe even the focus of new software..? Blu-Ray Studio Pro? or, iBlu-Ray? ;)
Yeah, FCS3 is due @NAB2009...
I doubt that iBR ever comes, they try to convince consumers that optical media is history...

[Mugs]

Hey guys i'm looking to get a mac pro around September time, but i'm just wondering is the update in January (if thats when it will be) going to be quite a big one, what with nehalem on the way! Which would be the best idea, buy the current mac pro n keep it, buy the current mac pro then sell just before christmas or just wait? Thanks, its going to be used for final cut studio and photoshop! Thanks again

[jjahshik32]

I think the mac pro will get an update to the nehalem (the desktop always gets the update much earlier than the laptop, even if its 7 months). If not then its all about the iphone + new cinema displays.

[Mugs]

I think the mac pro will get an update to the nehalem (the desktop always gets the update much earlier than the laptop, even if its 7 months). If not then its all about the iphone + new cinema displays.

So when do you think they r going to come out? Id love it to be before Christmas this year but I duno! :)

[Tallest Skil]

I think the mac pro will get an update to the nehalem (the desktop always gets the update much earlier than the laptop, even if its 7 months). If not then its all about the iphone + new cinema displays.

That'd work... if the chips existed. No Nehalem before MacWorld '09.

[CWallace]

Hey guys i'm looking to get a mac pro around September time, but i'm just wondering is the update in January (if thats when it will be) going to be quite a big one, what with nehalem on the way! Which would be the best idea, buy the current mac pro n keep it, buy the current mac pro then sell just before christmas or just wait? Thanks, its going to be used for final cut studio and photoshop! Thanks again

I myself am waiting until Nehalem, which I hope will show up on a Mac Pro around Mac World. If Intel meets plan, the "Mac Pro-spec" CPUs and chipset will be available around November of this year.

So if you can wait...

[rockinrocker]

I myself am waiting until Nehalem, which I hope will show up on a Mac Pro around Mac World. If Intel meets plan, the "Mac Pro-spec" CPUs and chipset will be available around November of this year.

So if you can wait...

and so it begins....
:eek:

[Tallest Skil]

and so it begins....
:eek:

Begins?! It began when I started waiting in December of last year!

[rockinrocker]

Begins?! It began when I started waiting in December of last year!

oh yeah, i should have said...

"and so it continues..."
:D

[shinji]

I'd love to see an ACD refresh, but I'm not sure why they would. There is no Blu-Ray player standard in any mac right now, so why would Apple need to update the monitor to include HDCP? You don't need HDMI for your mac right now anyway.

The ACD is targeted at professionals who need an S-IPS monitor. They aren't pricing it for gamers. What doesn't the monitor do right now that designers and the like need?

I'm torn between waiting for the ACD or picking up an NEC 2470WNX or LaCie 324. But I just don't see why Apple would or needs to refresh the ACD right now.

[JeffDM]

I'd love to see an ACD refresh, but I'm not sure why they would. There is no Blu-Ray player standard in any mac right now, so why would Apple need to update the monitor to include HDCP? You don't need HDMI for your mac right now anyway.

The ACD is targeted at professionals who need an S-IPS monitor. They aren't pricing it for gamers. What doesn't the monitor do right now that designers and the like need?

I'm torn between waiting for the ACD or picking up an NEC 2470WNX or LaCie 324. But I just don't see why Apple would or needs to refresh the ACD right now.

Aren't there improved S-IPS panels available now? HDCP would be nice to have, just for futureproofing. The HDMI connector really isn't necessary to make that work. Some people want an iSight-like device, which hasn't been available for a year or two now.

[shinji]

Aren't there improved S-IPS panels available now? HDCP would be nice to have, just for futureproofing. The HDMI connector really isn't necessary to make that work. Some people want an iSight-like device, which hasn't been available for a year or two now.

There are better panels available but there have been for a while now and no refresh from Apple.

[phakebrill]

I'm hoping for 4 gigs standard, and a bto option on a single quad 3.0 instead of the 2.8
and new acd.

I have my funds set aside for the current standard 2.8 with 23'' acd
I'm debating on waiting or just buying now.

If I do buy now. I'm not so concerned with a minor update to the mac pro. Just the acd. I would hate to spend $900 on the current one, to have it replaced by a $700 model with hdcp and isight cam.

I agree about the RAM. I think 2GB is a bit stingy... Whilst I'm not in the market for a Mac Pro or display, I would like to see the introduction of a new display.

[Mugs]

I myself am waiting until Nehalem, which I hope will show up on a Mac Pro around Mac World. If Intel meets plan, the "Mac Pro-spec" CPUs and chipset will be available around November of this year.

So if you can wait...

Okay thanks a lot, I think I'll wait with you....Is anyone able to give me a few of the key improvements that Nehalem will bring! I don't really understand when people say stuff like, "it will have on-die memory controllers" and how does it have no front-side bus? Thanks, I know im a bit amatureish! hehe

[fernmeister]

There will be no Mac Pro related updates and no new ACD.

[G4DP]

These threads are funny, normally from people who are to lazy to look for the information themselves.

Anyway.

No Mac Pro updates until MWSF09 at the earliest. This WWDC will all be about the iPhone and how wonderful it isn't. The Macbooks and Mini will get a silent update the week before.

[Pressure]

ATI 3870 could well be announced i think.

"...and today we're introducing a new option graphics card - the ATI 3870, shipping today..."

just slipping it in there and having a quick slide on the specs. easy. Takes all of 20 seconds.

Seems like a waste of time, seeing as the Radeon HD 4800 series is inbound a week or two later.

[MacsRgr8]

I doubt that iBR ever comes, they try to convince consumers that optical media is history...

That's good thinking.
Apple's next step (nope.. not NeXTSTEP) could be something like sharing HD home-made movies via .Mac (possibly via en extended version of "back to my Mac"?), Bonjour or iTunes-share..., and not burning it to an optical medium anymore.

[Bubba Satori]

Seems like a waste of time, seeing as the Radeon HD 4800 series is inbound a week or two later.


The 3870 will be available as an "upgrade", ala the 8800 fiasco, six months after the whole world has had 4870s in their computers. My inescapable conclusion is that Mr. Jobs hates video card technology. :rolleyes:

[CWallace]

Okay thanks a lot, I think I'll wait with you....Is anyone able to give me a few of the key improvements that Nehalem will bring! I don't really understand when people say stuff like, "it will have on-die memory controllers" and how does it have no front-side bus? Thanks, I know im a bit amatureish! hehe

This article (http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/intel/showdoc.aspx?i=3264&p=2) from AnnandTech is a good back-drop. Essentially, Nehalem will be both faster and more efficient at processing data, especially in systems with four or eight cores. So while the current 8-way Mac Pro is a screamer, the Nehalem 8-way will comprehensively outperform it.

[Mugs]

This article (http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/intel/showdoc.aspx?i=3264&p=2) from AnnandTech is a good back-drop. Essentially, Nehalem will be both faster and more efficient at processing data, especially in systems with four or eight cores. So while the current 8-way Mac Pro is a screamer, the Nehalem 8-way will comprehensively outperform it.

Oooooooh! Thanks a lot it makes a bit more sense now! hehe, I think I mite wait until then! Also gives me a bit more time to save up! hehe Thanks

[m1stake]

The Mac Pro is going to sit through WWDC, a new graphics card could pop up. My money is a redesigned mini, possibly something new in the laptop ranges?

MWSF09, as other people have said before. GTX 260 (The next 8800GT) for the card?

[JeffDM]

This article (http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/intel/showdoc.aspx?i=3264&p=2) from AnnandTech is a good back-drop. Essentially, Nehalem will be both faster and more efficient at processing data, especially in systems with four or eight cores. So while the current 8-way Mac Pro is a screamer, the Nehalem 8-way will comprehensively outperform it.

But Anand didn't benchmark the chips, so the answer is ambiguous because the actual speedup is unknown. If Intel states a speedup, it's best not to trust that unless they are extremely detailed about how they measured it, even then, I'd prefer to not trust it until a few third parties have tried it.

[CWallace]

But Anand didn't benchmark the chips, so the answer is ambiguous because the actual speedup is unknown. If Intel states a speedup, it's best not to trust that unless they are extremely detailed about how they measured it, even then, I'd prefer to not trust it until a few third parties have tried it.

True, but with the new CPU interconnect, new cache design, and integrated memory controller, performance should increase a good clip based on what happened when AMD did all of this to their line.

I expect to see actual silicon at the San Francisco IDF this summer and likely production units at the Taiwan IDF in October, so we should have "hard numbers" soon enough to compare.

[toke lahti]

How about another row of hdd's to MP?
It would be pretty nice to have internal 7 disk raid6 with spare or biggy zfs pool...

(yeah, most users/buyers wouldn't need it...)

I'm pretty dissapointed to Apple's approach to BD. It will be very good archiving media. And video indies need standard method to deliver.

[zombitronic]

Mighty Mouse Touch (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=325610).

[JonR356]

I think the mac pro will get an update to the nehalem (the desktop always gets the update much earlier than the laptop, even if its 7 months). If not then its all about the iphone + new cinema displays.

Ah, the imbecile returns. With the usual completely inaccurate post, ready to mislead the potential purchaser.

[CWallace]

How about another row of hdd's to MP?
It would be pretty nice to have internal 7 disk raid6 with spare or biggy zfs pool...

Seagate is hoping to have 2TB HDDs in 2009, so those four bays might be plenty. :cool:

[sotofish]

What about "small" things like including better standard features (RAM, graphics card, etc.) or a price drop? Does Apple ever drop prices on their desktops mid cycle?

I am ready to buy finally (already have my order in cart) but am waiting a week to see if anything happens...

[nick9191]

Yep its safe to say this is going to be the most boring WWDC ever. Especially if you couldn't care less about the iPhone like me.

[Tallest Skil]

Does Apple ever drop prices on their desktops mid cycle?

HA!

It will be very good archiving media. And video indies need standard method to deliver.

Oh, it's good for archiving, yes. Contrary to popular belief, you can burn Blu-ray disks in OS X for the purpose of data storage. You just can't play movies, and that's what all the optical mediatards complain about, which bleeds into the idea that you can't use Blu-ray at all.

[toke lahti]

Seagate is hoping to have 2TB HDDs in 2009, so those four bays might be plenty. :cool:
4 bays, let's see...
System disk, 1 bay
Secure home dir raid1, 2 bays
Fast scratch raid0, 2 bays
Backup of system disk, 1 bay
Time machine, 1 bay
So 7 bays for starters, more would be needed for raid10 or for boot camp or for raid5 or for raid-z2 or...

[Lord Zedd]

Looks like somebody needs to learn how to partition a hard drive.

4 bays, let's see...
System disk/boot camp, 1 bay
Secure home dir raid1, 2 bays
Fast scratch raid0, 2 bays
Time machine, 1 bay
So 6 bays is plenty. Add e-sata and you have all the expansion you need.

[Tallest Skil]

Ramblings of RAID

Here's the Mac Pro with eight drive bays. If you want RAID, buy an XServe RAID or other comparable drive system. The Mac Pro is for CPU work.

This thing'd get mighty hot.

[toke lahti]

Here's the Mac Pro with eight drive bays.
Another option with more redundancy would be one row of 6 x 2.5" hdd's. Would be nicer with raid10 or raid5 and wouldn't get so hot? Anyway that's why the fans are for...

[CWallace]

At that point, toke lahti, I'd buy a SAS card and add SAS drives and go:

Bay 1 - OS and Applications
Bay 2 - Time Machine of OS and Applications
Bay 3+4 - RAID 0 Scratch
External SAS Enclosure - As many drives as I need for Data in a RAID 6 configuration.

So four bays would still be fine. :D

[louden]

Do you think Apple would update the ACDs and not have them move to LED and a much more green footprint?

I think they'll wait until they can go LED.

Given that, are there even 30" LED screens out there?

[CWallace]

Do you think Apple would update the ACDs and not have them move to LED and a much more green footprint?

No.

I think they'll wait until they can go LED.

Agreed.

Given that, are there even 30" LED screens out there?

The Samsung XL30 has a 30" LED panel. It runs about $4600+.

[toke lahti]

At that point, toke lahti, I'd buy a SAS card and add SAS drives and go:
Most of SAS stuff is way beyond my budget, but I think I'll go with Highpoint raid5 card & SeriTek 5P.
Any experiences?
Can all Highpoints now boot (with updated EFI)?

[louden]

The Samsung XL30 has a 30" LED panel. It runs about $4600+.

$4600! I don't think even the most diehard Apple fanboy can afford that for a 30" monitor.

Here's to hoping Steve has some pull in the market.