Apple Afterburner Card for Mac Pro Now Available as Separate Purchase

[MacRumors]

Apple today made its $2,000 Mac Pro Afterburner Card available as a separate purchase, having previously been offered only as a build-to-order option when configuring a new Mac Pro.

Apple Afterburner is a PCIe accelerator card specifically for the 2019 Mac Pro, created to enhance Apple ProRes and ProRes RAW workflows for creative professionals by accelerating the decoding and playback of multiple streams.

Afterburner supports playback of up to 6 streams of 8K ProRes RAW or up to 23 streams of 4K ProRes RAW. It accelerates ProRes and ProRes RAW video codecs in Final Cut Pro X and QuickTime Player X, as well as supported third-party applications.

The Afterburner can be installed in any full-length slot in the 2019 Mac Pro, but it delivers maximum capability in a PCIe x16 slot. Apple Afterburner Cards ordered today from Apple's online store currently ship in five to seven business days.

For more information on the Mac Pro accelerator card, check out Apple's Afterburner FAQ.

Article Link: Apple Afterburner Card for Mac Pro Now Available as Separate Purchase

 

[ChrisMoBro]

I’m sure I read somewhere that theoretically this can be reprogrammed so it could be used for Octane and other GPU renders. Has anyone else heard of this?

 

[TheDevler]

Let the 5,1 experiments begin!

 

[Quu]

I’m sure I read somewhere that theoretically this can be reprogrammed so it could be used for Octane and other GPU renders. Has anyone else heard of this?

It can be reprogrammed as it's an FPGA. But that can only be done by Apple and they have given no indication of doing so. Do not buy this card now hoping it'll be more useful later.

(Not saying you would, just anyone reading etc)

 

[XDR]

Well, I would be more grateful if Apple finally decides to release the Radeon Pro W5700X, which is in "limbo" for months now ?

 

[citysnaps]

Well, I would be more grateful if Apple finally decides to release the Radeon Pro W5700X, which is in "limbo" for months now ?

I'm waiting for that as well.

 

[avkills]

I'm waiting for that as well.

Me as well.

 

[SvenSvenson]

Well, I would be more grateful if Apple finally decides to release the Radeon Pro W5700X, which is in "limbo" for months now ?

Why? Does that accelerate Prores processing?

 

[avkills]

Probably not, but it accelerates everything else that matters compared to the 580x GPU. And how much is yet to be known; it is possible it could encode faster than the Vega II cards.

 

[frou]

This audience doesn't need the price reduced by a cent so that it starts with a 1?

 

[McG2k1]

Did they give it a reason to exist yet?

 

[XDR]

Why? Does that accelerate Prores processing?

My pain is related to the fact, that we are waiting for the W5700X for too long. "Comming soon" is stretched in this case extremely, and it causes frustration. Technology getting older, and some of us, including me, who are not that rich (who planning that kind of purchases) waiting for the price announcement of the card. It would be kind to know at least that, so we can do some moves.

So personally I would prefer to hear news regarding that, rather than about Afterburner, which is a bit of "gimmicky" for most people (but of course I respect what it is and the small number of people, who can benefit from it).

peace!

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Well, I would be more grateful if Apple finally decides to release the Radeon Pro W5700X, which is in "limbo" for months now ?

It’s in limbo because RDNA 2.0 cards are imminent once the PS5 & XBOX arrive. These new cards blow the doors off of what were to be offered.
[automerge]1584550717[/automerge]

It can be reprogrammed as it's an FPGA. But that can only be done by Apple and they have given no indication of doing so. Do not buy this card now hoping it'll be more useful later.

(Not saying you would, just anyone reading etc)

If you are like me and use LPX buy Afterburner

 

[yurc]

Let the 5,1 experiments begin!

Putting on PCIe3 based hackintosh would be interesting as well.

 

[citysnaps]

It’s in limbo because RDNA 2.0 cards are imminent once the PS5 & XBOX arrive. These new cards blow the doors off of what were to be offered.

Are they compatible in the new MacPro?

 

[seek3r]

Should be addable to a cMP now...

 

[ksec]

Are they compatible in the new MacPro?

It is just PCI-E Card, Apple will release update with its MPX module once they are out.

Does any know have any update on RED RAW? They said they were working with Apple with it, but nothing nothing has come out yet.

 

[MisterAndrew]

Standalone Vega II and Vega II Duo MPX modules are available as well.

 

[12vLego]

My Afterburner Card just came in, so I posted a simple unboxing video on my 12V Lego YT channel; I hope I can give some export test results soon (aiming at checking if exporting improvements can be made in 'regular' 4K ProRes projects)!

nb. the Card has a really nice luxurious Apple packaging that resembles the MPX-module boxes!

 

[12vLego]

My Afterburner Card just came in, so I posted a simple unboxing video on my 12V Lego YT channel; I hope I can give some export test results soon (aiming at checking if exporting improvements can be made in 'regular' 4K ProRes projects)!

nb. the Card has a really nice luxurious Apple packaging that resembles the MPX-module boxes!

see

for the test results

unfortunately, the Afterburner Card may even slow down 'normal ProRes' exports on a 16 Cores machine (so I returned it).

I think Apple should provide better information concerning this card: it is advertised as accelerating ProRes, however, it does not do so most of the times in my system.

"might accelerate or decelerate ProRes" would be a better description...

 

[avkills]

see

for the test results

unfortunately, the Afterburner Card may even slow down 'normal ProRes' exports on a 16 Cores machine (so I returned it).

I think Apple should provide better information concerning this card: it is advertised as accelerating ProRes, however, it does not do so most of the times in my system.

"might accelerate or decelerate ProRes" would be a better description...

I am surprised it helped at all with non-Apple Pro-res source footage. But those are interesting results. My guess is the card is going to be used more for playing out ProRes files for live shows.