Apple Silicon Mac Pro Reportedly Not Coming at WWDC, Mac Studio Refresh Likely Delayed Until M3

[akatsuki]

The real issue isn't the M3 release, the issue is multi-processor capabilities, which Apple doesn't have yet.

I posted this elsewhere:

The lineup should look like

1. Mac Pro - 1x M3 Max base; 2x M3 Pros or Max
2. Mac Studio 1x M3 Pro base; 1x M3 Max
3. Mac Mini - 1x M3 base; 1x M3 Pro

If they want to create more space, they could let the Mac Mini lag one generation and keep it on M2

But they can't do multiprocessor. So they are kind of stuck with Intel or doing something dumb like reserving M3s for the Pro.

 

[Cromulent]

The real issue isn't the M3 release, the issue is multi-processor capabilities, which Apple doesn't have yet.

I posted this elsewhere:

The lineup should look like

1. Mac Pro - 1x M3 Max base; 2x M3 Pros or Max
2. Mac Studio 1x M3 Pro base; 1x M3 Max
3. Mac Mini - 1x M3 base; 1x M3 Pro

If they want to create more space, they could let the Mac Mini lag one generation and keep it on M2

But they can't do multiprocessor. So they are kind of stuck with Intel or doing something dumb like reserving M3s for the Pro.

Apple already does multi-processor chips. The M1 Ultra is two M1 Max CPUs. If the Mac Pro had an M2 or M3 Extreme, it would likely be two Ultras and, thus, four Max chips.

 

[DavidSchaub]

Apple already does multi-processor chips. The M1 Ultra is two M1 Max CPUs. If the Mac Pro had an M2 or M3 Extreme, it would likely be two Ultras and, thus, four Max chips.

Exactly.

Though I don't see Apple shipping 2 Ultras. It would more likely just be 4 Max chips on an Quadra/Extreme branded package.

 

[avkills]

Standing by to eat crow.....🤣

 

[akatsuki]

So geniuses, tell me why doesn't Apple transition the Pro over.

If you want to count 2x dies on chip as being enough, then the lineup should look like this:

Mac Pro - M3 Ultra
Mac Studio - M3 Pro max

Otherwise, who is going to buy a Mac Pro?

 

[Ethosik]

So geniuses, tell me why doesn't Apple transition the Pro over.

If you want to count 2x dies on chip as being enough, then the lineup should look like this:

Mac Pro - M3 Ultra
Mac Studio - M3 Pro max

Otherwise, who is going to buy a Mac Pro?

Honestly, I would be fine with that. However, I would also have been fine with an i9 version of the older Mac Pro when it was Intel. I think it would have been VERY popular and without the $6,000 price tag. I just need some expandability, but not to the degree the Xeon offers.

 

[akatsuki]

Now I do have to eat my words. But M2 announcement now makes me feel that M3 is at least a year out.

 

[smulji]

But M2 announcement now makes me feel that M3 is at least a year out.

Agree

 

[chucker23n1]

Now I do have to eat my words. But M2 announcement now makes me feel that M3 is at least a year out.

Nah. Probably coming by the end of the year.

I see the cycle being something like 12-18 months, and it's been 11 months since the M2 release.

 

[hardwickj]

If the rumors are true that Apple will be using the N3E node process, then the limiting factor will be almost entirely on TSMC. Their current schedule forecasts N3E to be ready for volume production sometime in "2H 2023". It's ambiguous enough that we could see MacBook Air's in time for the Christmas shopping season, or just as possibly not until early 2024.