Apple Tells Reseller New Mac Pro Is Arriving in Spring 2013

[deconstruct60]

...
Let's not forget too that the existing Mac Pro, although a marvellous piece of engineering, was designed in the G5 era when chipsets would practically burn a hole through the ozone layer! These days they are much more efficient, as are no-doubt any new cooling processes Apple could use for their CPU's. I for one would welcome a flatbed design with a removal hood.

Actually not. mid-to-high range GPU PCI-e cards run hotter now than they did back in the G5 era. Also the CPU package options at the upper end of the core counts aren't significantly cooler than those old G5s. As long as the "core count war" continues there is no huge savings on power in Mac Pro class hardware. "Cooler" cores just allows more cores to be packed into the same package at the same power levels.

There is a very large difference in power savings at idle, but not under workload.

What has started to go down is mainstream desktop and mobile processors. That is partially because the 'core count' war has been capped. On Intel offerings the cap is 4. Additional transistors and "cores' are being thrown at graphics but the x86 count has been capped. That has lead to significant incremental drops in TDP over time for a count of 4.

There are some tweaks Apple could do to improve cooling but much of the Mac Pro's volume is still motivated by the parts in the workstation class that are likely to be used in a Mac Pro. As long as Apple holds the design objective that the Mac Pro is relatively quiet under load this amounts to what the bulk of air that can be moved (basic thermodynamics). They can either it faster in smaller container volumes or slower in the currently large sized (and unobstructed volume.).


The bigger legacy design assumptions that need to be examined are:

1. GPUs don't suck down more power than CPUs. If targeting high performance that role has shifted.

[ Apple could inhibit Mac Pro's competitiveness but capping GPU power but that is increasingly likely to kill its sales numbers. ]

2. 5.25" bays not used as much as a much higher need for 2.5" bays.
Trading at least one 5.25" bay for 4 2.5" bays would be a huge step foward.

3. CPUs aren't just single function packages anymore. Increasingly the I/O is being integrated into the CPU package. Two Xeon E5's doubles the amount of PCI-e lanes available. The Mac Pro should leverage that somehow in the two package configuration.

Not necessarily more PCI-e slots but "wider" ones. ( 4 x16 configurations instead of just 2 x16 and 2 x4. ). [ Some PCI-e switches and a wider daughtercard socket could still allow the basic board to be reused... Just not as wide in the single package config. )


4. There is no XServe so there is no need for gratuitous rack hostile handles for artificial product differentiation.


5. High speed wireless requires 3 (or more ) antennas.


All of those are much larger physical changes than where the CPU TDP levels have moved to.

 

[spaz8]

Bring on the Crossfire and SLI support!

 

[deconstruct60]

Bring on the Crossfire and SLI support!

Right after they bring back the G4 cube.

Apple has already enabled a $100+ million gaming market without them. Aiming the Mac Pro at gamers is not going to be high on the priority list.

 

[maxosx]

After all this time, I've collapsed any expectations. With some luck, perhaps they'll impress those of us who use them for more than just casual use.

 

[Mac Kiwi]

I just hope the exodus from FCPX does not put a final nail in the coffin for the Macpro......I mean from lack of sales.


If they only do minor updates, then I guess we have our answer on how they see the Macpro, going forward.


Fingers crossed!

 

[charlituna]

5:01 am MDT | Wednesday, March 20, 2013

to

10:58 pm MDT | Thursday, June 20, 2013

Not if you live in Australia.

It is highly unlikely that they told one reseller and no others.so where are all the confirmations by everyone else that was told this info

----------

I wonder if some of the chief boasting points will be;

• Thinner
• Lighter
• No Optical Drive

Those are all possible. They could release some new arrangement where they don't need huge fans etc to run because there is no major heat build up and the tower could be half the depth it is now. And no built in optical drive since we have the same one from the airs. Perhaps they will even cert 3rd party drives to use thunderbolt, particularly for blu-ray drives. Probably overkill for the drive connection but since they will probably continue the move to only TB connectors it would save you needing an adapter. Especially if TB drives come down in price.

----------

This makes sense given the recent EU changes, and how long since the last update.

Personally I don't think the case needs any external changes as people who by the Mac Pro don't get it as a fashion device, its a work machine. :

Being a work machine doesn't mean it has to be ugly to be powerful. A smaller footprint could for many be better. Might be easier to access ports, easier to rack etc.

If apple can put the power in it why not let them also make it pretty

----------

I'd be willing to bet Apple shows off the new Mac Pro at WWDC in June along with new pro apps and some new technology in 10.9. with the Mac Pro and pro apps coming out 2 months later in August.

I suspect something like this. Or they might pull another trick like when Final Cut X was previewed for the broadcasters and demo the Pro and Pro apps at some outside event. Then WWDC would just be Mac 10.9, iOS 7 and maybe iWork, iLife (those perhaps releasing right away)

 

[danielsutton]

Yeah!!! This made my day.

My ideal:

Small form factor a la the ill fated "G4 Cube"

- SATA III
- 2-3 internal HDD/SSD bays
- 2x PCIe slots
- Processor(s) - 1-2 processor configurations (Xeon or Ivy-Bridge EX processors for heavy lifting, or i7 for light needs)
- USB 3.0
- Thunderbolt ports (perhaps for additional non-PCIe graphics box)
- Of course RAM

Run a Thunderbolt cable to a workstation for display(s) and HID's, leave it stashed out of sight. Would lower costs, allow for low to high end configurations, upgradability/expandability, use of non-Apple displays and HID's, and smaller form factor would benefit shipping footprint and ease of use. Bring it.

And I would add that it would be great if Apple could build the Mac Pro in a configuration that is rack-mountable so that people who were left out in the cold by the discontinuation of the XServe can use their machines as bona fide servers. OS X Server is still being sold and improved, so I would expect that Apple did not intend to leave the server market.

 

[imageWIS]

Would be a good tiem to update the thunderbolt displays to iMac style as well. too much to ask?

Yes, because the iMac doesn't support VESA.

 

[danielsutton]

Not if you live in Australia.

It is highly unlikely that they told one reseller and no others.so where are all the confirmations by everyone else that was told this info

----------



Those are all possible. They could release some new arrangement where they don't need huge fans etc to run because there is no major heat build up and the tower could be half the depth it is now. And no built in optical drive since we have the same one from the airs. Perhaps they will even cert 3rd party drives to use thunderbolt, particularly for blu-ray drives. Probably overkill for the drive connection but since they will probably continue the move to only TB connectors it would save you needing an adapter. Especially if TB drives come down in price.

----------



Being a work machine doesn't mean it has to be ugly to be powerful. A smaller footprint could for many be better. Might be easier to access ports, easier to rack etc.

If apple can put the power in it why not let them also make it pretty

----------



I suspect something like this. Or they might pull another trick like when Final Cut X was previewed for the broadcasters and demo the Pro and Pro apps at some outside event. Then WWDC would just be Mac 10.9, iOS 7 and maybe iWork, iLife (those perhaps releasing right away)

I would think that a developers' event like the WWDC will center more around software than hardware. Agreed that 10.9 will likely be announced then, as well as a new Maps app for both 10.9 and iOS.

 

[DoFoT9]

You don't know what a GPU is.

What? What does that even mean... But of course the ability to attach/utilise GPUs via TB will be made available in the coming years..

 

[Peace]

I would think that a developers' event like the WWDC will center more around software than hardware. Agreed that 10.9 will likely be announced then, as well as a new Maps app for both 10.9 and iOS.

I've posted this here before but I believe it merits a repeat :

Outwardly, the Mac Pro resembles the last version of the Power Mac G5, and has similar expansion capabilities. An Intel-based replacement for those machines had been expected for some time before the Pro was formally announced on August 7, 2006 at the annual Apple Worldwide Developer's Conference.[4] The first Mac Pro was based on dual Dual-core Xeon Woodcrest processors.

This was the first Mac Pro to use Intel processors. A big deal at the time.
If Apple is going to build a new re-designed Mac Pro it will be shown at WWDC.

 

[3282868]

And I would add that it would be great if Apple could build the Mac Pro in a configuration that is rack-mountable so that people who were left out in the cold by the discontinuation of the XServe can use their machines as bona fide servers. OS X Server is still being sold and improved, so I would expect that Apple did not intend to leave the server market.

Good point(s). I saw someone with a Mac Pro/xServe mockup that impressed me and many others. I must admit, this is the first time since the iPhone launch that I've been excited about a rumored Apple release.

 

[DoFoT9]

And I would add that it would be great if Apple could build the Mac Pro in a configuration that is rack-mountable so that people who were left out in the cold by the discontinuation of the XServe can use their machines as bona fide servers. OS X Server is still being sold and improved, so I would expect that Apple did not intend to leave the server market.

Uhhhh, anybody who uses a Mac Pro as a server is probably not that smart. Redundant PSU? No. Hot swap drives? No. Easily accessible anything? No. 4hr turn around support/parts/warranty? No....

Trust me, as a network engineer, I would LOVE for apple to release more server gear, I just use Linux variants these days.

 

[Solomani]

Will it be a complete refresh or just a new chipset? Only time will tell.

A complete redesign? Umm be careful what you ask for. A "complete redesign" might mean Apple removing this or that. Remember the newest iMac 2012? No more optical drive.

 

[calaverasgrande]

So here is my plan. I'm going to hold on to a big honking chunk of every paycheck until the next Mac Pro refresh. If it's another clunker I'm not going to buy a Mini or an iMac or even a PC. I'm just going to go buy a fancy bass or really obscure synthesizer (OB-x!) and just make do with my laptop. My work pays for those after all!

I really think they should address some of the ports they have.
I for one would like to see firewire 800 remain. I use it daily.
The Optical audio jacks are a joke. Who uses those? I would much rather have a couple ports for a fiber SFP. That shouldnt cost too much to add. And if they do it right it would also eliminate the need to have a PCIe slot for fiber SAN connection.

 

[TechZeke]

Introducing the new Mac Pro:

Image

Post of the f-cking Year and it's only February. Laughed my arse off. Seriously.

 

[throAU]

Im guessing complete refresh/redesign.

They'll take the previous generation iMac chassis, and stick a xeon in it, upgrade the max ram capacity to 96gb and call it a day.

 

[danielsutton]

Uhhhh, anybody who uses a Mac Pro as a server is probably not that smart. Redundant PSU? No. Hot swap drives? No. Easily accessible anything? No. 4hr turn around support/parts/warranty? No....

Trust me, as a network engineer, I would LOVE for apple to release more server gear, I just use Linux variants these days.

Apple has redesigned the Mac Pro, so the new model may offer redundant power supplies, hot swappable drives, and easy accessibility. Rumor has it that when they discontinued the XServe, they quietly told customers not to worry, that they would not be forgotten. Not to mention that the AppleCare extended warranties for those machines expire in 2014, next year. So just in time for the warranty lapse, Apple is releasing new hardware. This could be very good news for customers large and small.

 

[Xiroteus]

This being a standard desktop computer it must have an option of an optical drive, should be easy enough to do and we are talking about a pro system and personally there will not be a time on this Earth I would buy a external optical drive for a desktop computer.

 

[throAU]

Apple has redesigned the Mac Pro, so the new model may offer redundant power supplies, hot swappable drives, and easy accessibility. Rumor has it that when they discontinued the XServe, they quietly told customers not to worry, that they would not be forgotten. Not to mention that the AppleCare extended warranties for those machines expire in 2014, next year. So just in time for the warranty lapse, Apple is releasing new hardware. This could be very good news for customers large and small.

What apple need to do server-wise is partner with Cisco (for example) and license OS X server to run on their UCS platform, and/or under VMware.

Until OS X can OFFICIALLY be virtualised in the server room in a supported manner (and no, under a copy of Fusion doesn't count - under something like ESXi or Hyper-V), OS X server will remain no more than a toy.

Big IT shops gave up running operating systems on physical hardware a long time ago. Dynamic resource allocation, high availability, etc. is just not possible when running on a single physical server.


Being able to say, upgrade RAM or number of CPUs allocated to an OS X server VM with no downtime is something I can currently do with my Windows 2008 server VMs on my vSphere cluster.

Settign up a test version of a server for example is a case of right-click, clone and fire up attached to a different virtual network for testing. Break it until you're heart's content before doing it in production. And in production, you can snapshot the entire machine and roll back a lot faster than you can roll back to a time machine backup.

Also, due to clustering, I can do hardware replacements and repairs with zero downtime to the server OS.

Until OS X Server can be virtualised to enable that, it will remain a toy. Every other server OS can do this, and nerds like me have been running environments like this for about 5-10 years now. It's time apple got on board.


And while they're at it - let me officially run Snow Leopard in a VM, please.




edit:
One piece of maybe related/maybe not news.

VMware have started pushing their previously "Windows only" admin tools for vSphere to become web-based.

They've put out a vSphere management app for the iPad.

Maybe VMware and Apple have something cooking behind closed doors, and these movements are preparation in advance of an announcement? We can only hope.

 

[Lancer]

Sure, for most of the buyers the PCI slot is probably ok but there is alot of people that want to fit more cards than the current MP can handle so no, 4 PCI slots and even 4 is very tight, i can hardly call that "more than enough room"

Thing is just like the rest of Apple's computers they are built for the majority, Apple can't build for every customer and more so for a limited desktop tower like the Mac Pro which percentage wise is at the bottom of the rung compared to the iMac and other Mac's

I've owned a G5 tower for years (just got a new 27" iMac) and with the tower I never added any cards, was going to put in a USB2 but there were conflicts with deep sleep so it wasn't worth it. I know I'd be a low end user for a pro machine, thus the reason I got the iMac now.

 

[Lancer]

Wonder if the new Mac Pro will have optical drive.

I seriously doubt Apple will drop it in the Pro, its one thing for the iMac and laptops to now 'need' one but a Mac Pro is just that. But I could see them leaving the DVD bays empty and them being an 'optional' BTO extra.

 

[macs4nw]

Maybe I'm being a bit too optimistic here, but I'm thinking the upcoming MacPro refresh will be a very nice machine. The Pro market is far from dead; there hasn't been a meaningful update/redesign since what....July 2010?; and last, but not least, they're taking their sweet time with this update, (perhaps waiting for the right components) to get it right. I hope this won't be another disappointment; the long-suffering Pro users amongst us deserve a little TLC.

 

[dragje]

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mac Pro comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
He is standing right next to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree,
There will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is
Still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be. Yeah
There will be an answer, let it be.

And when the night is cloudy,
There is still a light that shines on me,
Shine on until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music
Mac Pro comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be,
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Each rumor of an upcoming new Mac Pro sounds like music in my ears.

 

[asiga]

What I need from a new Mac is:

1- Very durable no matter if you use it at 100% CPU load 24/7, so this means well ventilated, not-too-thin, and far away from the risk of melting without the need of fans kicking at top speed.

2- Ultrasilent: No mechanical HDD. Just SSD. And with the minimum mechanical parts as possible in the box. The active cooling should be as silent as possible even at high CPU loads.

3- As powerful as possible for CPU demanding software (such as LuxRender and similar unbiased renderers).

4- Good GPU (I prefer NVIDIA, but it's just personal preference).

5- Price: More expensive than a PC with the same specs, but please don't make it double the price, a 40%-50% of overprice should be enough.

That's all I need in order to buy a new Mac. period.