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Apple Working on Redesigned Mac Pro With Smaller Form Factor and Apple Silicon Chip

apple lab can make different prototypes of apple models -- what it seems right now it might not be the final model. plus current town design is not about heat issue it is about expandability and configuration so let's see what apple can do with apple Silicon
 
Didn't the Pro lot want a larger Mac Pro for expansion reasons, which was the issue with the Trash Can? Now it's half the size.... limiting upgrades.
 
WiseAJ said:
Back to the trash can design?
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No. To make it simpler comparison use a rectangle to calculate Mac Pro 2013 volume.

6.6 x 6.6 x 9.9 (inches ) = ~ 431 inches^3

Mac Pro 2019 ( shaving off 2" and 2" on Mac Pro for handles and feet. )

8.58 x 17.7 x 16.8 (inches ) = ~ 2,551 inches^2

The Mac Pro 2019 is about 5x as big as the Mac Pro 2013.

If cut the Mac Pro 2019 height in half would still have 1,275 inches^3 ( 8.58 x 17,7 x 8.4 ) which is still ~3x bigger than the MP 2013.

So no .... not going back to the MP 2013 at all. Even half as tall , you can put two whole MP 2013's inside the reduced enclosure.

Cutting the MP 2019 in half might put the system on the slippery slot of going back to being a primarily literal desktop targeted design (as opposed to desk side / under desk ) design. But probably heavy enough that still better sitting on the floor. May not need wheels to move it.
 
Until I know what the software ramifications are this is a look but don't buy. I have quit being an early adopter. I'm not predicting anything, if I KNEW it would succeed and run what I wanted and wasn't more expensive then I would be willing to buy it now, or if I KNEW the software was buggy or the performance was wildly uneven or that a lot of software companies are going to sit on the sidelines and see how it sells before they commit then I wouldn't. So from me there will be no predictions of either doom or glory. I'll wait and see.
 
JPack said:
"Apple and overseas suppliers are ramping up production of three new Mac laptops with Apple processors: new 13-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros and a new 13-inch MacBook Air, according to people familiar with the matter. Beyond the processor switch, the devices won’t have significant design changes."
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That may not be a bad thing. Less things to go wrong. Changing the architecture of the CPU, ensuring the CPU works with existing components under stress, long term usage, carries a fair amount of risk.
 
-BigMac- said:
Wtf? Is it april fools already?
I thought Apple had finally woken up regarding its Mac Pro and they choose to go back to small form factor?
Trash can 2.0:confused:
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If they cut the height in half that really isn't "small" . Especially if still put 2 inch handles and feet on it. That would be about

( 8.4" + 4" ==> 12.4" ) H x 17.7" W x 8.58" D

two of those dimensions are bigger than the largest Mac Pro 2013 ( "Trash Can" ) and one is almost twice as big. The smaller dimension there is just a little over an inch away of the largest dimension of the MP 2013 ( 9.9" H ).

Not particularly close to "version 2.0" of the same design constraints of MP 2013 at all.
 
Hodar1 said:
Wonder how the price and performance is going to compare?
When they say "Pro", that generally means way beyond the Consumer level ....
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Does it? I don’t think there’s anything genuinely pro about my AirPods Pro, iPhone Pro or even iPad Pro!
 
Stella said:
Didn't the Pro lot want a larger Mac Pro for expansion reasons, which was the issue with the Trash Can? Now it's half the size.... limiting upgrades.
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But some of them also didn't want multiple GPUs. Mac Pro 2013 came with two. The April 2017 meeting Apple had on direction of Mac Pro said there were substantive numbers of folks who just want one "big" GPU.

So if have the one "big" one that would be enough for more than a few.

The Mac Pro 2019 really more so covers though who thought that two GPUs was better. And two "large" ( power and size) ones. There is a big sizable pricing mismatch with those who just want a single upper midrange GPU and a Mac Pro because of the double max GPU infrastructure they have to buy.

IMHO, it is likely that Apple doesn't have a very large I/O bandwidth SoC ready any time in next year or so. Doing something with a smaller I/O bandwidth SoC is something they could do. Slap Mac Pro name on it and call almost all of the transition "over" by end of 2021.

Apple may not really want to do the very large I/O bandwidth SoC. So this would be a good way to "kick the can". Loop back to the edge of the xMac zone and old entry Mac Pro 2013 price zone and drop a SoC closer to the limits they want to do . Decent chance doesn't get close to 1TB max RAM capacity. Less than 40 PCI-e v4 lanes. Probably don't have to go over 20 core count (just top the iMac Pro max core count and other 'max' capacity stats. ) .

Just one MPX bay would allow folks to swap out a single GPU every 2-4 years to make them happy for a "bigger" one ( more horsepower for same relatively high power budget ) .
 
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Stella said:
That may not be a bad thing. Less things to go wrong. Changing the architecture of the CPU, ensuring the CPU works with existing components under stress, long term usage, carries a fair amount of risk.
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I don't think it is a bad thing either. It's also the expected thing. Too much engineering risk with changing everything all at once.
 
ChrisMoBro said:
Given that 99.7 percent of businesses in the US are small to medium-sized, maybe Apple will finally focus on that market instead of enterprises. Or the huge freelance market. Whilst they're at it, release a non-6K version of the Pro XDR display.
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It’s also about status in part, I think. Apple being this exclusive, premium, trillion-dollar brand, it needed an ultra expensive flagship product. So when regular people think of buying a Mac (and even an iPhone!) they may associate the Mac with that ultra expensive $12k computer even if they’re just buying an entry level MacBook or a mini.
 
Oh Boy!
Can't wait to BLOW 6 grand on a Mac Pro with a cell phone or tablet processor.
It will be my number one goto computer for 3D graphics and video editing!
Can't Wait!
NOT!
 
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BornAgainMac said:
I feel bad for the people that dropped over 50K for one of the Intel models.
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There are two types of business buyers for 50K Macs.

The first will pay off their investment with a few weeks of work. The price is totally normal when compared with other professional A/V gear.

The second is buying them to look good in executive offices, in which case the high price is actually a bonus because it ensures increased exclusivity from the masses.
 
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I thought we had a deal after the trash can fiasco: Apple fans will stop clamoring for a new MBP form factor, and Apple will go back to a cheese grater design and not try to create a tiny form factor for something meant to be modular?
 
jclardy said:
Ah, they can finally bring back the trash can mac pro since they will control both CPU and GPU...
Click to expand...

This would be GREAT and would fulfill the vision of the Mac Pro 2013 design. Actually, this would be better than a mini pro current design box and would not look like a baby Mac Pro.

Apple silicone and gpu (powerful)
usb-c (4th generation) ports
2 HDMI ports
2 RJ45 ports
one additional slot to add another NVMe SSD****

Price point it between the current Mac mini and Mac Pro 2019.

Wouldn't this sell?????
 
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CWallace said:
I wouldn't. If they dropped that amount of money on an Intel Mac Pro it is because they are generating multiples of that in revenues.



And for the final troll of those asking for one since 2013, it is not Intel and won't run Windows (games).



Apple spent a fair bit of coin to bring the 2019 Mac Pro to market when they could have just updated the iMac Pro in 2019. I believe they did so with the intention of supporting it for many years to come as there are workflows that will require Intel and that power.

If those workflows move to ASi over the next few years, then this ASi Mac Pro may become the only Mac Pro. But that is down the road a fair bit, I would imagine.
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Yes, probably correct. Intel Mac Pro will be around for some time. Probably intel will continue to make their upper end and leave the rest to Apple Silicone.

I would like to see a Mac Pro style trash can with apple silicone and gpu. That might be the in-between of the current Mac mini and the Mac Pro.
 
rafark said:
It’s also about status in part, I think. Apple being this exclusive, premium, trillion-dollar brand, it needed an ultra expensive flagship product. So when regular people think of buying a Mac (and even an iPhone!) they may associate the Mac with that ultra expensive $12k computer even if they’re just buying an entry level MacBook or a mini.
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Er no. I imagine Apple 'regular'customers dont even know the mac pro exists.

I would say the 16"MBP / Imac is the aspiration product for a lot of people.
 
I bought to 2019 model, it’s a great computer. I do miss the portability of the trashcan- alot.

When traveling overseas for work, I could load the trashcan and an OWC drive enclosure into a duffel bag and bring it on the plane as carry on.

Now I have a 74lbs 26x13x26 box I have to ship around, say $400 one way to Germany + Carnet fees.

Id be pretty jealous if Apple came out with a half sized MP with the same processing performance and acoustic properties, but I think it’s a great idea.
 
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THEENDUSER said:
This made me LOL 🤣, but I think at most they'll take off only one wheel and leave it like a rollerblade with three wheels in a straight line.
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Then there could be a new MacPro mini kick stand accessory to keep it from falling over. Only $499.
 
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