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Apple's New 8-Core Mac Pro Shows Up in Benchmarks

croooow said:
Whenever I saw a silver Mac Pro (or the older yet similarly designed G5 Power Mac) it usually had a bunch of devices attached to it...
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Now, imagine all the internal drives plus the extra devices not fitting into the new Mac "Pro". Not pretty.
 
What don't people get about wanting to do BOTH?

I've been gaming on my Mac Pro systems since I first bought a new 2006 model. (Still using my 2008 model today with an upgraded video card in it.)

I didn't "buy a Mac Pro for gaming" though. Actually, I bought the first one primarily to edit video imported from my Sony camcorder, which just wasn't working well on a Windows-based machine at the time. But since then, my Mac systems have been used for designing a company logo, business cards, and advertising flyers for my on-site computer service business, making as much of a "paperless household" as possible by scanning in all of my receipts, statements and other important documents, hosting an ftp server for some of my friends, maintaining my music and photo libraries (and editing photos where needed), converting video between formats with tools like Handbrake, creating expense reports for my day job, tracking my finances with iBank, and much more. Gaming is ONE of the things I want to do on it though.

I don't get why people would want to buy a nice desk, nice comfortable computer chair, and set everything up nicely with an expensive desktop computer system, and then NOT ever want to sit there for gaming entertainment? I owned an iMac for a short time and just felt like it was a compromise in too many respects. Great computer for what it is ... but at the same time, only mediocre gaming performance and limited expansion capabilities without going with a bunch of external boxes with their own AC power cords hanging off of them. (Kind of ruins the beauty of an "all in one" machine at that point.) Only the Mac Pro really delivers everything in one unit.


macguy360 said:
Have you looked on the mac app store? Top selling apps are always games. People don't buy macs anymore for productivity. They buy them to game on apparently.
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sigmadog said:
I'm not sure of your point.

My post was in reference to the article which seemed to indicate the 8-core as a lower-end version of the new Mac Pro line (as opposed to the 12-core model).

I never implied that an 8-core Xeon processor is "low-end" by itself, but if the new Mac Pro line were to consist of a range of Xeons from 8-core to 12-core, which one would be the "low-end Mac Pro"?

As an aside: This is one of my frustrations with this forum: there are too many people waiting to pounce on the most minor difference of opinion, and argue it as if it were factual and all the data were in. It makes posting here a real pain in the butt at times.
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OK, fair point. But don't you think there will be a 6 core model for the low end? That's the only way Apple will be able to offer a system for under $4k, which they probably want to do. Either that, or it's all in on "high end" and the 8 is the low end, with a 10 core option in between.
 
I know I'm crazy...

OK, so I'm crazy... but I have a Macbook Pro Retina, Macbook Air, etc. However, it would be awesome to have that extra "umph" of say 8-cores, RAM and graphics. What would be hot? Thunderbolt cable to my laptop and use the MacPro as the processor and graphics and the laptop as keyboard, mouse, display and HD. In essence, a very capable dumb terminal. That would let me back this beast in a bag and pull out the thunder when needed.

Hrm?
 
clamnectar said:
OK, fair point. But don't you think there will be a 6 core model for the low end? That's the only way Apple will be able to offer a system for under $4k, which they probably want to do. Either that, or it's all in on "high end" and the 8 is the low end, with a 10 core option in between.
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Though likely, until announced by Apple, a 6-core version is only speculative. Until then, the lowest-end model appears to be the 8-core. I was simply posting about what was presented in the article, not what I think Apple will do.

It's possible the configurations will be 8-core and 12-core, with differing processor speeds providing the range of models. Who knows? We're all just talking out of our rear ends at this point.

At any rate, it's exciting to see some real information come out on the new Mac Pro. It's a frustrating wait, to be sure.
 
The MacPro is a way to shovel large piles of money to Intel with Apple getting a piece. I agree a MacPro as a Grid utility box is smart. Have your main stuff on a portable and run stuff where the power is. That's where we are going with "cloud" grid computing anyway. Might as well begin perfecting the processes. Control a dual Pro process from your iPhone?

SAP is already running ads for it on CNBC for goodness sake.
 
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macguy360 said:
Have you looked on the mac app store? Top selling apps are always games. People don't buy macs anymore for productivity. They buy them to game on apparently.
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i mean..i agree that mac is getting little more popular with games...but productivity is still hot in mac.

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kobalap said:
Mom and dad might have good jobs. You never know.

Frankly, gamers whining about needing higher end GPUs and what not annoy the heck out of me. I would be embarrassed if the main driver for my computer purchase was my gaming needs.
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yeah..
 
Anyone else feel like they might have been holding this thing back a bit to launch the iPhone? I know there isn't any direct connection between them, but it seemed like they had a nice prototype quite some time ago.

Let's get this guy out there. I'm ready for the "Made in America" campaign add. It will be silly to advertise this device on TV because so few people can afford it (or use its capabilities). But there might be a nice halo effect to show that Apple can mean serious horsepower.

Also, I'm quite sure that thousands of rich folks out there will buy this and a 4K monitor just for the heck of it. This could be quite the Christmas present around the 1% households.

And us MacNerds will drool and want it and not even be close to be being able to justify its purchase.
 
mysticalos said:
Also, how about those skilled SC2 players (or other professional and competitive gamers) that make 100k a year PLAYING GAMES on high end rigs are doing it wrong.

FYI, I make about 2100 a month playing computer games. By no means up to the level of those SC2 champions though unfortunately. I wish!

I see nothing wrong with wanting a MAC that isn't terrible at games. One shouldn't be forced to a windows PC for this. However, that's direction apple is pushing (that or hackintosh). It's a real shame to shrug off such a large market.
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At some point, those professional gamers might have to grow up and move out of their parents' basements. They'll have to make their own beds and do their own laundry. Heck, even take a shower without being prompted.

The good news is, outside of the basement, there is an outdoors. One can play real games like soccer and basketball. Frisbee golf if one is so inclined.

And complaining that Apple does not have a good gaming rig is one thing. Its another thing for gamers to moan and groan about how a pro machine is not loaded with components that gamers want but pros don't need.
 
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H. Flower said:
Yeah, why is everyone so excited? This is HUGE disappointment!
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This computer crushes previous 8 core machines.
There will be a 12 core version. Which will presumably crush previous 12 core models. That's why everyone is excited
 
macguy360 said:
Ill stick to xbox one, ps4 and iMac for gaming. Until Apple finally starts working companies to have games optimized for OSX
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What does the Mac Zpro have to do with gaming? Further who actually buys Mac OS machines for gaming machines?

This is a perfect example of why we need to be able to vote down postings.
 
sigmadog said:
I'm not sure of your point.

My post was in reference to the article which seemed to indicate the 8-core as a lower-end version of the new Mac Pro line (as opposed to the 12-core model).

I never implied that an 8-core Xeon processor is "low-end" by itself, but if the new Mac Pro line were to consist of a range of Xeons from 8-core to 12-core, which one would be the "low-end Mac Pro"?
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It would be the quad-core with a single GTX card. You know that Apple could do it....
 

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macguy360 said:
Have you looked on the mac app store? Top selling apps are always games. People don't buy macs anymore for productivity. They buy them to game on apparently.
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What does the App Store have to do with professional apps. Most of those are direct sales to licensees.
 
MaxBlast said:
YES! i cannot wait to get one! starving for power here!
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I have 20TB external arrays. I am looking for ways to decrease power (electrical consumption) more than anything. With the new larger hard drives, i can move all this inside my MacPro and sell the external drive array, and save a fair amount of 4 in electricity every month.

As for processing power, I am happy with my older 8 core Mac Pro. I will keep it for another few years at least.

 
I'll betcha

Starting price for entry level: $1799.00 8 core

I gots me a used 4,1 8 core machine to do the heavy lifting
that the mac minis can't do. The mac minis for 90% of the time
eat less power than a 60 watt light bulb, each.
I turn on the Mac Pro 4,1 and it gobbles up 900 watts.
So I'm a-hopin this new jet engine design doesn't
chomp down so hard on the electric teat.
 
bassfingers said:
This computer crushes previous 8 core machines.
There will be a 12 core version. Which will presumably crush previous 12 core models. That's why everyone is excited
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I don't think it will crush a well upgraded older Mac Pro. Pop in a PCIe SSD and you will see much of the gains they are reporting. Likewise, video cards can be upgraded. I'd like to see the comparison between an upgraded old style mac Pro with this one. I suspect the difference will be less than you expect.
 
I think yes actual "pro" users will be. You see every actual "Pro" that has a current Mac Pro has all kinds of **** attached to it anyways. If you don't need to attach a bunch of **** to your tower you are not really doing anything "Pro" you are a poser. Video rendering? Yeah you are gonna need 4 or 5 things attached to that box, be it the old one or the new one. Photo/Digital media editor? yeah 3 or 4 things for sure. Get over yourself! See Apple has realized the types of people that have a genuine need for a Pro machine, they can not shoehorn everything into it that they would need. So they have made the most powerful thing they can with the smallest footprint so that actual "pros" can customize them for the task they are doing. Currently we have a 12 macpro array for scientific computing in my lab, man it will be awesome to shrink that bad boy down to fit on a desk instead of taking up an entire room.

MacFather said:
are Pro users satisfied with new design ?


Image
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aidensocal said:
I think yes actual "pro" users will be. You see every actual "Pro" that has a current Mac Pro has all kinds of **** attached to it anyways. If you don't need to attach a bunch of **** to your tower you are not really doing anything "Pro" you are a poser. Video rendering? Yeah you are gonna need 4 or 5 things attached to that box, be it the old one or the new one. Photo/Digital media editor? yeah 3 or 4 things for sure. Get over yourself! See Apple has realized the types of people that have a genuine need for a Pro machine, they can not shoehorn everything into it that they would need. So they have made the most powerful thing they can with the smallest footprint so that actual "pros" can customize them for the task they are doing. Currently we have a 12 macpro array for scientific computing in my lab, man it will be awesome to shrink that bad boy down to fit on a desk instead of taking up an entire room.
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AMEN.

All the other actual pro users I know are itching to get one of these, and they could care less about how it looks - although I like the jet engine look - they are interested in performance. I am completely ready to have a bunch of devices daisy-chained to it and am actually happy to ditch the internal drives.
 
So can we all agree that this puts to rest the ridiculous idea that they'd only offer a 12 core version? Which of course meant the line would start at $6000+.
 
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