Apple Continues to Work on All-New Mac Pro With Upgradeable Design

[MacRumors]

With the iMac Pro release dominating headlines on Thursday, we want to highlight that Apple also reiterated some other exciting news for pro customers: a modular Mac Pro is in the works.

2013 Mac Pro on left vs. 2012 Mac Pro on right​

The brief mention came at the very end of Apple's press release about the iMac Pro becoming available to order:

In addition to the new iMac Pro, Apple is working on a completely redesigned, next-generation Mac Pro architected for pro customers who need the highest performance, high-throughput system in a modular, upgradeable design, as well as a new high-end pro display.

While this isn't new information, it does let us know that Apple remains committed to an all-new, powerful Mac Pro with an upgradeable design after first teasing the news to a group of reporters back in April.

We don't know what the new Mac Pro will look like, but given it will be a modular system, Apple could return to a tower design like the 2006 to 2012 Mac Pro with a case that could be opened with a lever on the back.

The promise that it will be a high-performance, high-throughput system suggests the modular Mac Pro could be even faster than the iMac Pro, which itself is easily the fastest Mac ever with workstation-class tech specs.

The maxed-out iMac Pro, for example, costs $13,199 and is equipped with an 18-core 2.3GHz Intel Xeon W-class processor, 4TB of SSD storage, 128GB of ECC RAM, and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64 graphics with 16GB of HBM2 memory.

It's also good news for customers who were sad to see Apple discontinue its standalone Thunderbolt Display, which will be revived in the form of an all-new Apple-branded high-end display geared towards pro customers.

Apple's discontinued Thunderbolt Display​

What we also don't know is when the new Mac Pro is coming. Apple only revealed that it wouldn't be ready this year. It could certainly be released at some point in 2018, or it could take a little bit longer--it's anyone's guess right now.

Apple hasn't updated the current Mac Pro in just shy of four years, beyond reshuffling some configurations and pricing back in April.

At the time, Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi admitted that the 2013 Mac Pro's so-called "trash can" design has a limited thermal capacity that doesn't always meet the needs of the most demanding workflows.

"I think we designed ourselves into a bit of a thermal corner, if you will," said Federighi, according to multiple reports.

It isn't often that Apple pre-announces new products in its pipeline, but there were growing concerns the company was no longer focused on professional users, evidently to the point that it felt the need to respond in a big way.

"We're committed to the Mac, we've got great talent on the Mac, both hardware and software, we've got great products planned for the future, and as far as our horizon line can see, the Mac is a core component of the things Apple delivers, including to our pro customers," said Apple's marketing chief Phil Schiller.

Article Link: Apple Continues to Work on All-New Mac Pro With Upgradeable Design

 

[M.PaulCezanne]

Phil Schiller: I’ve created a literal trash can fire. Can’t innovate anymore my ass!

Yeah, I’m not going to hold my breath on this one.

 

[Stella]

"At the time, Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi admitted that the 2013 Mac Pro's so-called "trash can" design has a limited thermal capacity that doesn't always meet the needs of the most demanding workflows."

Apple thought "Pros" preferred Form over Function. How could Apple be so out of touch?

 

[newyorksole]

I have no need for the computer or display, but am curious as to what they’ll come up with.

Also curious to see what will come of the Mac Mini.

 

[BornAgainMac]

When it was introduced the Mac Pro, they bragged how the thermal cooling worked.

 

[asdavis10]

For the complainers of the computer (iMac Pro) they won't buy or can't afford, Apple is working on another pro desktop that you won't buy or can't afford. But, upgradeability! TGIF!

 

[Da Hurdler]

Don’t need a computer but I look forward to see what they got down the pipeline.

 

[firewood]

My guess, given Apple’s interest in machine learning, is that the new Mac Pro’s will be optimized to support multiples of the new GPGPU cards popular in ML research. That’s a fairly high thermal envelope.

 

[pete2106]

Maybe they will remember that pro users care way more about scaleability and compatibility than they do about 'revolutionary' design features. The tower was always the best form factor for a pro machine.

 

[kodos]

Seeing that Mac Pro on the right (the old cheese-grater) brings back some great memories. That and my Apple 30" display made my system not only better looking, but plain better, than competing PCs. I was such a happy camper. I still remember the day I booted it up. It was a great companion for three years.

Now though, I'm on a PC -- because Apple saw me as no longer a focus. I saw the trashcan and knew the writing was on the wall.

I might come back if we get the promised modular Mac Pro. That will be an exciting time for me.

Until then, I have no major complaints with Win10 especially with the Windows Subsystem for Linux.

 

[PortableLover]

Seriously Apple. Look at the HP Z8. Something like that. Offivial support for pascal and volta. Two cpu slots. Couple of 3.5 drive bays. A good amount of pcie slots.

 

[thekeyring]

This is good news. I asked my boss today what he thought of the iMac Pro and he said he thought it looked good.

However, he doesn't want us to use-built in displays, and he doesn't like it isn't upgradable. (Not that he thinks it should be, it was simply a comment on the design versus what we need in an ideal world).

I'm interested to see what the Mac Pro will offer that isn't simply iMac Pro level specs in a Mac Pro-style case.

 

[Aluminum213]

So what do I do with the $13,000 iMac Pro that I just bought?

 

[Chazzle]

I mean, the trash can was cool, but not cool enough.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

I'm pretty sure Apple could have taken the old Mac Pro aluminum chassis and thrown in a new, modern system board with a few m.2 pci-e connectors and the latest/greatest ports sticking out the back, a dual XEON CPU tray that takes the latest/greatest XEONS, and it would have been affordable and would have sold like hotcakes. Instead, we'll get some super-expensive, art museum like design that no one (except "Pros") can afford.

 

[Scottsoapbox]

The default for desktops is to be "modular": Parts are manufactured to connect via longstanding standards.

Apple not preventing users from doing this is not innovation.

 

[scrapesleon]

Release in 2018 please can’t wait any longer

 

[dysamoria]

Thanks for pointing out this little nugget of info, Macrumors. This forthcoming machine and display are the products I've been waiting years for already. I hope they are worth the wait (and affordable with my "one-time-only nest egg" saved away for it).

 

[deanthedev]

Maybe they will remember that pro users care way more about scaleability and compatibility than they do about 'revolutionary' design features. The tower was always the best form factor for a pro machine.

Maybe Apple won’t put some fake definition on what “Pro” means and just make the best product for the intended audience.

 

[Martyimac]

This is good news. I asked my boss today what he thought of the iMac Pro and he said he thought it looked good.

However, he doesn't want us to use-built in displays, and he doesn't like it isn't upgradable. (Not that he thinks it should be, it was simply a comment on the design versus what we need in an ideal world).

I'm interested to see what the Mac Pro will offer that isn't simply iMac Pro level specs in a Mac Pro-style case.

Personal opinion only. I don't think that is such a bad idea. Basically what I want is a headless Mac. While the iMac Pro is way overkill for what i need, the specs in it are pretty impressive but overshadowed by the no upgrade/repair possibilities. Yes I like to tweak things.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

I'll pre-order today if they'll let me

 

[rizzo41999]

I'm not sure why people are complaining about the price tag for Pro computer models. These aren't intended for the average consumer. These are for volume enterprise purchases.

 

[imran5720]

Apple bring on the Display please, cannot see all these ugly 4k,5k displays currently on the market

 

[Chupa Chupa]

So what do I do with the $13,000 iMac Pro that I just bought?

Well, hopefully, you had a full calendar of clients and are ready to bang out their projects so you can make bank. I mean that is why businesses buy expensive equipment. Waiting around for a new machine won't get the work done.

 

[rizzo41999]

I'm pretty sure Apple could have taken the old Mac Pro aluminum chassis and thrown in a new, modern system board with a few m.2 pci-e connectors and the latest/greatest ports sticking out the back, a dual XEON CPU tray that takes the latest/greatest XEONS, and it would have been affordable and would have sold like hotcakes. Instead, we'll get some super-expensive, art museum like design that no one (except "Pros") can afford.

The aluminum design was introduced in 2003 and it still looks like it could have been designed yesterday.