8-Core Mac Pro with Clovertown... in November?

[Multimedia]

Dual 2.66GHz Clovertown Will Probably Cost + $1100

If the pricing is any indication, the (low end) Quad Core 2.33GHz Clovertown is the same price as the (high end) 3.0GHz Dual-core Xeon...

so unless the bottom of the line Mac Pro is expected to start at $3298, the current Dual-Core Xeon Mac Pros will stick around.

Right. According to Apple's current pricing, the 2.33GHz Dual Clovertown would be +$800 IF they offer it. However, Apple may only offer the 2.66GHz Dual Clovertown for + $1100 and keep the rest of the offerings priced as they are now.

That way they keep the top 8-core more expensive than any of the less expensive and way less powerful 4-core models. From a marketing point of view this makes a lot more sense to me - since I plan on buying the Dual 2.66GHz Clovertown for +$1100, total $3599 BASE or more if they insist. This is one time when I don't care how much it costs - I need it NOW.

 

[killr_b]

I can't really decide what to think of an 8 core mac pro.

Right now FCP barely uses all four of mine.
It seriously seems that they a) haven't updated software pending an OS update, ie; leopard, to take advavtage of them or b) more cores really only helps the multi-tasking.

In any case I think my mac pro isn't quite as fast as it could be sighting the activity of my cpus during a render.

HDV render = 60% on every core. WTF?

 

[mahonmeister]

I just got my mac pro a month and a half ago.

And you shall continue to enjoy it. Like Arn has stated, this likely isn't replacing any current configurations, just adding to them.

This seems really exciting. All these cores are gonna pump out some serious power. Now if they could just mash together that processor that IBM made at like 50GHz (I think they cooled it with dry ice or something) with a multi core processor they'd have something! Bring it.

 

[jholzner]

I can't really decide what to think of an 8 core mac pro.

Right now FCP barely uses all four of mine.
It seriously seems that they a) haven't updated software pending an OS update, ie; leopard, to take advavtage of them or b) more cores really only helps the multi-tasking.

In any case I think my mac pro isn't quite as fast as it could be sighting the activity of my cpus during a render.

HDV render = 60% on every core. WTF?

True but that new color correction software Apple just bought has some pretty steep requirements. I bet the next version of FCP will really be able to take serious advantage of their new wares. Also, I bet Leopard is going to be optimized to the limit for this type of hardware. Just my guess.

 

[IlluminatedSage]

This is starting to sound like the war of the razors...

Anyone remember when the Mach-3 came out, and everyone thought "wow... three blades. that's a lot!" Now we're up to FIVE... and an extra one on the back.

Just more proof positive that when it comes to Apple you should buy when you need, and enjoy what you've got, cause in two months it'll be replaced anyway.

... okay, I'm done. Eight cores is pretty wild.

S
Dude, your so funnnnY!!
but this is a happy time, tech advancements are a great thing.

this is happily something better than how long it took with G5 to update.

Hope they do an update with Blu-Ray option.

 

[Lepton]

It's nice that the quad cores will drop into the Mac Pro. Will they drop into the new XServe?

Say, aren't the new quad cores AND the new XServes coming out at almost exactly the same time?

-Mike from myallo.com

 

[killr_b]

True but that new color correction software Apple just bought has some pretty steep requirements. I bet the next version of FCP will really be able to take serious advantage of their new wares. Also, I bet Leopard is going to be optimized to the limit for this type of hardware. Just my guess.

I hope so man, 'cause it's like having a ferrari and driving the speed limit.
Also can't wait to see what happens with the new CC aquisitions.
FCP color corection never impressed me.

 

[ricgnzlzcr]

Right. According to Apple's current pricing, the 2.33GHz Dual Clovertown would be +$800 IF they offer it. However, Apple may only offer the 2.66GHz Dual Clovertown for + $1100 and keep the rest of the offerings priced as they are now.

That way they keep the top 8-core more expensive than any of the less expensive and way less powerful 4-core models. From a marketing point of view this makes a lot more sense to me - since I plan on buying the Dual 2.66GHz Clovertown for +$1100, total $3599 BASE or more if they insist. This is one time when I don't care how much it costs - I need it NOW.

I would understand how your Quad G5 is getting a tad on the slow side . I feel pretty intense with my single 1 ghz G4.

Unlike me though, you actually require that processor power. Can't wait till you post your impressions of your OctoMac within an hour of getting it!!

 

[Multimedia]

There Are Many Of Us With Quad G5's That Have Been Expecting To Buy This ASAP

Apple wasn't very quick at adopting the Core2 chips (which are pin-compatible with Core chips), what would make Clovertown any different?

What planet do you live on? Apple not only aggressively adopted C2D into the iMac radically faster than anyone expected, they now ship top speed 2.33GHz C2D MacBook Pros in quantity as well only less than 2 months later.

If history serves as a template for the future, then I wouldn't expect anything new until after the holiday season (even though the Mac Pro isn't a consumer device, companies usually aren't looking to spend money on new machines right before the new year starts)

You are out of touch with reality parenthesis. Certain professions can't get enough cores soon enough. These are industries with workflows known in the business as Multi-Threaded Workloads. It was discussed in depth at the Intel Developers Forum in September. Demand is pent-up for the 8-core Mac Pro and Apple knows it.

I personally don't care one way or the other, but I think the major difference here is volume. The C2D was a VERY high-demand item, and Apple wanted to wait until there was sufficient supply to handle the orders they would receive. The 8-core MacPro is a pretty specialized item, so the quanitites are nowhere near as big an issue.

Zactly. But they are still going to be in the tens of thousands and demand will begin very high. This is going to happen before Black Friday - November 24.

 

[scottlinux]

I think price will be the key. These are pricey chips. Apple will have to work their magic.

I wonder how many current Mac Pro owners will just buy the new chips off pricewatch.com and pop them in.

 

[Cybix]

This is starting to sound like the war of the razors...

Anyone remember when the Mach-3 came out, and everyone thought "wow... three blades. that's a lot!" Now we're up to FIVE... and an extra one on the back.

Just more proof positive that when it comes to Apple you should buy when you need, and enjoy what you've got, cause in two months it'll be replaced anyway.

... okay, I'm done. Eight cores is pretty wild.

i love it! hahahaha...

oh, and I agree.

 

[Multimedia]

New Dual Quad Cores AND The New XServes Could Come Out Simultaneously

It's nice that the quad cores will drop into the Mac Pro. Will they drop into the new XServe?

Say, aren't the new dual quad cores AND the new XServes coming out at almost exactly the same time?

-Mike from myallo.com

Yes Clovertown is pin compatible with teh XServe as well and let's hope they come out at same time.

 

[ricgnzlzcr]

I think price will be the key. These are pricey chips. Apple will have to work their magic.

I wonder how many current Mac Pro owners will just buy the new chips off pricewatch.com and pop them in.

I think price won't be as big of a factor as you'd imagine. These computers are directed towards pros. I'm sure those who need the power will continually purchase at this price. Not too long ago, the stock high-end powermac was about $3500. If they build it, people will buy it .

 

[spicyapple]

HDV render = 60% on every core. WTF?

What type of filters are you applying? Perhaps the plug-in hasn't been optimized for multiple cores.

 

[Multimedia]

No. Clovertowns Are Not Pricey At All

I think price will be the key. These are pricey chips. Apple will have to work their magic.

I wonder how many current Mac Pro owners will just buy the new chips off pricewatch.com and pop them in.

Not pricy at all. 2.33GHz Clovertown are same price as 3GHz Woodies $851. 2.66GHz Clovertown's only $1172 each.

So premium for 2.66GHz 8-Core will likely not be more than + $1100 - $3599. That's down to just over $450 per same speed core from the current price of four 2.66GHz Xeon cores for $625 each.

 

[ender78]

What I see Apple doing is milking their pricing agreements with Intel. The only reason that I can see Apple sticking out so long with Core Duo is that after the Core 2 Duo processors were released, Intel cut prices on the older chips. Intel's manufacturing pipelines are short [announce processor , produce, move on]. Apple must have gotten a great deal on the older Duos [I know they are not old processors, just no longer top of the line].

What did Apple have to loose by delaying the introduction of the Core 2 Duo [the sales of 10 machines whose sales went to Dell?]. I suspect that anyone that held out for the Core 2 Duo, bought one in the last two days, and did not go to a competitor. Let's not forget that while every other vendor may have announced a Core 2 Duo notebook in the last two months, Apple likely took more orders in the last two days, than some of those vendors have had in the last two months. Apple now has the x86 pipeline open to them, they will make a move when it benefits them financially, and not before.

I personally expect the the 8 Core machine at Macworld. There is little reason for Apple to release the machine before then. I'm itching for a Quad but can easily wait [especially since I do not expect a price premium on the machine, the next processor will cost little more than the four core version today]. I am also hoping to see Leopard at Macworld.

 

[AppliedVisual]

But the octo-core for sure will be faster than the quad G5 for non universal Adobe CS2 apps.

Unfortunately it won't be... Adobe's software in its current CS2 form isn't multithreaded and the only way you're going to get the use of multiple cores is running multiple programs at the same time. So when it comes to running Photoshop, a 3GHz quad-core will run it faster than a 2.66GHz 8-core. Hopefully we'll see some multithreaded enhancements with the CS3 update. Otherwise, buying a Mac Pro for Adobe's software is somewhat overkill unless you have specialized PS filters that are multithreaded to use the multiple CPU cores. For now the hardware has dramatically out-paced the software side of the industry and so we wait... Outside of video encoding apps, 3D rendering, visualization and scientific computing apps, most everything else out there is not multithreaded (which means multi-core ignorant). Know your software before you plunk down your money.

For me, I'm a 3D rendering kinda guy so the 8-core Mac Pro can't get here fast enough. Although, I just bought an MBP about 3 weeks ago since I needed one and my wife needed a Macbook, but I handed that down to her and ordered me a C2D MBP yesterday... And I bought another Maya license, so the budget is a little thin right now.

 

[killr_b]

What type of filters are you applying? Perhaps the plug-in hasn't been optimized for multiple cores.

That was with the flicker filter on max, and a minor color corection using the color corrector.

 

[Dark]

I personally really want this revision to made before the holiday season. I'm really in the market for a Mac-Pro and this would be the perfect Christmas/Birthday Gift. It would really upset me to get one and then shortly after Christmas the update it made. I think Apple needs to make better marketing decisions as to when the update their product lines.

 

[shawnce]

Do either IBM or Motorola have a quad-core chip on the horizon?

IBM has been shipping 8 core POWER5 in a single MCM with 36 MiBs of L3 cache for a couple of years now. IBM has a long history with these types of things. ...of course they cost far more then what Intel is putting out in the near future.

 

[MacinDoc]

Well, it would be easy enough for Apple to replace the dual 2.66 GHz Woodcrest option with a single Clovertown at the same clock speed, while also boosting speed a bit (like when it moved from dual processor G5s to dual core G5s) and reducing power consumption, heat production and fan noise a bit, and dropping the price at the same time. There's no direct equivalent of the 2.0 and 3.0 GHz dual Woodcrests, however, so replacing them could be a bit more complicated.

 

[twoodcc]

well i must say i'd be kinda suprized to see an update this early with apple. especially since i just bought a mac pro. i'd be mad if the prices of the one i just bought goes down

 

[bigwig]

8. Pfft. I'm holding out for 64 cores.

You could just get one of these.

It supports up to 512 processors under one instance of Linux and as much as 128TB of globally shared memory.

Just convince Apple to buy SGI.

 

[bigwig]

Right now FCP barely uses all four of mine.
It seriously seems that they a) haven't updated software pending an OS update, ie; leopard, to take advavtage of them or b) more cores really only helps the multi-tasking.

MacOSX scales very poorly compared to (say) Linux, Irix, or AIX, owing to its Mach underpinnings. 8 cpus won't get you much over 4 until Apple rips out the Mach guts and replaces it.

 

[Multimedia]

BigWig May Be Mistaken

MacOSX scales very poorly compared to (say) Linux, Irix, or AIX, owing to its Mach underpinnings. 8 cpus won't get you much over 4 until Apple rips out the Mach guts and replaces it.

I don't believe you. I use applications that want 3-4 cores EACH. And I need to run 2-4 of them simultaneously. No way is Apple going to ship dual Clovertowns if they provide no benefit. I think AppliedVisual also does not believe you. In other words:

You may be mistaken.