Why now? Seriously they might as well just wait a few months more until Ivy-Bridge EX processors are out, with the possible inclusion of a dual 8-10 core, 16-20 hyper threaded cores...using Sandy-Bridge EX processors would be outdated.
Apple isn't going to use -EX processors. Folks seem to be deeply confused.
Core i7 Extreme ===> -E
Xeon E5 1600/2600 ===> -EP
Xeon E5 2400 ===> -EN
Xeon E7 ====> -EX
The E7 ( -EX) are intended for 2-4 socket server machines. There are no 4 socket Mac Pros coming. Which makes the -EX tradeoffs and huge additional expensive not cost effective.
The E5 1600/2600 series are priced and are the natural follow ons to the Xeon 3500/3600 and 5500/5600 series used in the 2009-2012 Mac Pros.
1600's for a single CPU socket model. 2600's for the double socket model.
The 2400 (and 1400 ) models are not targeted toward workstations. They have a more limited PCI-e lane count -24 instead of 40 lanes and more limited memory bandwidth. ( they are for cheaper servers with very limited number of PCI-e slots. )
The E5 1600 and Core i7 Extreme are basically the same design with some options turned on/off respetively. i7 gears more at overclocking (which Apple is extremely likely not going to want to support) and 1600's at classic Mac Pro differentiation like ECC and stability.
I am thinking the same- only it's not going to happen. The Sandy bridge E5-26xx is not (yet) shipping for all SKU's and in quantities. My best guess is that for the E5-36xx you have to wait at least another 12 months !
It likely isn't going to be 36xx. Intel has to adding "v2" after the product to indicate Ivy Bridge. The first two number prefix will stay the same.
Intel is deviating slightly but in general:
[from older article http://www.anandtech.com/show/4259/westmereex-intels-flagship-improves ]
There aren't going to be any 3 socket configs.
as for the E5 series being incomplete....
see for yourself:
http://ark.intel.com/products/series/61422
First you didn't include both the 1600 and 2600 .
1600 series.
http://ark.intel.com/products/series/63197
The roll-out of the 1600 series ( or old Xeon 3600 series ) has been the more problematical issue over the last 3 years; not the dual socket offerings.
The 1600 series is complete enough for a "good, better, best" offering with the E5 1620 , 1650 , 1660 . Those are about the same part price points that Apple has used in those Mac Pro configs in the past.
Likewise in the 2600 series. The E5 2620 (or 2630 with price increase) , 2630 (or 2640 ) , and E5 2665 (or 2670 with price bump) all hit the same part price points that Apple has used in the past.
There are no missing Sandy Bridge offerings that the Mac Pro needs.
All indications that Ivy Bridge isn't really going to substantially change the prices or TDP with the v2 offerings. The top end will get a higher core count and the lower core counts will get a clock speed bump but it is approximately the same design constraints.
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