2022 Mac Pro-prophecy

[Paradiseapple]

Hi,

after seeing the Mac Studio I am tempted to buy it because I am afraid the Mac Pro might start at 6.500 Euro in the smallest configuration. What could be it's advantages over the fully spect out Mac Studio? Higher single core performance with M2? The ability to insert SSDs? As I do 4k edit in Final Cut X and challenging sample-projects in Logic I might be ok with the Mac Studio and maybe no additional drive can compete with the internal storage. I consider to get 8Tb even kit would kill my wallet...

So would you recommend waiting for the Mac Pro? Thank you for your advice!

 

[leman]

At this point Mac Pro is likely to be a $10k+ modular workstation with some degree of internal expandability (my bet us still multiple NUMA compute boards connected by a very fast bus and shared DDR5 RAM). If you don’t have a five or six digit computing budget it’s probably not a product for you

 

[Paradiseapple]

This is a smart answer bringing me down to earth. I already was smart enough not to get the Mac Pro 2019 16core for around 12.000 to 16.000 so you are right about that. Would you recommend 8Tb of storage for the Mac Studio? And which version is the sweet spot in your eyes?

 

[Andropov]

I am afraid the Mac Pro might start at 6.500 Euro in the smallest configuration.

Most likely, if not more.

Higher single core performance with M2?

If they go for a M2 SoC, yes, single core should be 7 to 20% faster than the current M1-based SoCs (hard to say since Apple hasn't released any M2-based SoC, but those are reasonable lower and higher bounds for what we can expect).

The ability to insert SSDs?

Doubtful, since the existing Mac Pro doesn't have that either (they are not user-accessible, although at least they're not soldered).

 

[cupcakes2000]

Doubtful, since the existing Mac Pro doesn't have that either (they are not user-accessible, although at least they're not soldered).

Pretty sure you can swap them in or out yourself on the current mac pro.

 

[Pilot Jones]

I personally anticipate putting even the M1 Ultra in overdrive (maybe 4 M1 Max's vs. the 2 used for the Ultra), substantially higher RAM + more IO and more extensive cooling.

While I'm hoping for more modularity within the system, I'm not sure if that'll happen given the ARM SoC direction, even with a full-fledged desktop tower. Whatever they do with it will most certainly be interesting, whether its a crowd-pleaser or not.

 

[Andropov]

Pretty sure you can swap them in or out yourself on the current mac pro.

Ah, they offered expansion kits later. Didn't know that. I think at release they required them to be changed by Apple due to them being tied to the Secure Enclave.

 

[MayaUser]

Hi,

after seeing the Mac Studio I am tempted to buy it because I am afraid the Mac Pro might start at 6.500 Euro in the smallest configuration. What could be it's advantages over the fully spect out Mac Studio? Higher single core performance with M2? The ability to insert SSDs? As I do 4k edit in Final Cut X and challenging sample-projects in Logic I might be ok with the Mac Studio and maybe no additional drive can compete with the internal storage. I consider to get 8Tb even kit would kill my wallet...

So would you recommend waiting for the Mac Pro? Thank you for your advice!

why are you saying 2022 mac pro since macrumors and some others believes Kuo twitter and says that mac pro is an 2023 device?!
I would suggest for 4k you are fine with an M1 ultra. I mean if the mac pro comes in December , from May to December it is worth for you to take this Mac studio and return your investment until then and more?! then go for it, and see what mac pro has for you...maybe the mac pro will be available for customers in 2023 so from now and then you can lose a lot of money if for you time is money

 

[Basic75]

If they go for a M2 SoC, yes, single core should be 7 to 20% faster than the current M1-based SoCs (hard to say since Apple hasn't released any M2-based SoC, but those are reasonable lower and higher bounds for what we can expect).

We don't even know whether M2 will use the cores from the A15 or jump straight to the A16. Of course we don't know anything about the A16 either.

 

[AmazingTechGeek]

We don't even know whether M2 will use the cores from the A15 or jump straight to the A16. Of course we don't know anything about the A16 either.

A14->M1
A14->A15
M1->A15->M1 Pro/Max
M1 Max->M1 Ultra

The A15 and M1 Pro/Max are 2nd gen derivatives of the M1. The M1 Pro/Max are not directly derivative of A14, but only aspects of M1 redesigned that became the improved process resulting in A15 and M1/Pro Max. A14 is not the basis of M1 Pro/Max, only M1.

The M1 had to be worked architecturally to create the Pro/Max/Ultra.

 

[Basic75]

A14->M1
A14->A15
M1->A15->M1 Pro/Max
M1 Max->M1 Ultra

The A15 and M1 Pro/Max are 2nd gen derivatives of the M1. The M1 Pro/Max are not directly derivative of A14, but only aspects of M1 redesigned that became the improved process resulting in A15 and M1/Pro Max. A14 is not the basis of M1 Pro/Max, only M1.

The M1 had to be worked architecturally to create the Pro/Max/Ultra.

On an SoC level you are right, there are significant differences. But I was talking about the CPU cores. We find the same Firestorm at 3.2GHz and Icestorm across the A14, M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max and M1 Ultra. The single-core scores of all of these chips are the same, there is no micro-architectural improvement in the M1 Pro/Max/Ultra over A14/M1.

 

[AmazingTechGeek]

On an SoC level you are right, there are significant differences. But I was talking about the CPU cores. We find the same Firestorm at 3.2GHz and Icestorm across the A14, M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max and M1 Ultra. The single-core scores of all of these chips are the same, there is no micro-architectural improvement in the M1 Pro/Max/Ultra over A14/M1.

That's a good point. I don't think we will see M2 until this October when the Mac mini and MacBook Air is updated (With iPad Pro's updated in Spring 2023). Logistically speaking, it is smart to use the same core architecture in all M1 iterations while waiting to release M2. I think using the same cores is what is allowing them to release iterative architecture improvements so quickly in the past 18 months.

M2 will probably be based off of A16 since A15 is a more efficient version of A14 with only significant changes to the low power cores and the GPU.