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Concept Imagines What a Modular Mac Pro Might Look Like

I don't get it, Apple announces a long-sought new computer and the internet is instantly flooded with insultingly ugly mock-ups of it. When they do release a computer, it looks good, but people complain about the internals.
 
The Mac Pros from 2006 until 2013 were arguably the best pro machines Apple ever built, at least from an expandability/service standpoint. The optical drives slide out easily, the primary fans are on tracks and slide out after removing only two screws, the drives slide out with on pull, and even the heat sink covers are cleverly held on with magnets and pull off very easily. It will be difficult to replicate this in a small package like the concept shown.
 
GeneralChang said:
Yeah, I had an Atari with a similar setup back in the day. I suppose I was just going off of your comparison to the logic board in the rMB. And you're right, that would be a hard left turn stylistically.
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As I said it is entirely predicated on if it turns out for TouchID on the TouchBar it has to be on the system unit or it breaks security. Without that consideration I'd also be very happy with a revival of something like (or advanced from) the cheese grater.
 
The old Mac Pro. casing was perfect. Plenty of ventilation. It was a tool and not a fashion accessory.

The cheapest option remains converting a PowerMac G5 case and building a Hackintosh out of selected components . That way you have macOS and the performance at a fraction of the cost.
 
xkmxkmxlmx said:
Man, I just don't know. I feel like you can already achieve that with a high end MBP. I mean, why go with a crazy good CPU/Processor and have that built in a case, and just not have everything else in there as well?

I guess with the whole dongle aspect of the new MBPs, and just using it over the last MP version because I didn't think it was worth the upgrade for me, I am just tired of external everything. My desk has hubs and wires and just stuff everywhere. I want a singular device with easily swappable components. Personally, of course. To each their own.
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It's a fair point, and the 15 inch MBP does just about hit my sweet spot, if I could get it without an internal discrete GPU for less money.

And I think my issue is I've been rooting around inside of towers almost constantly for a few weeks now testing spare components, and I just really wish I had a PC that was designed around external hot-swappable modularity. I guess we're both just annoyed with what we've been dealing with. :D
 
Was that a slot he was inserting a DIMM into? That'll never work! I actually like this design, has the best of the cheese grater and the trash can. If the trash can was marketed as a Mac Mini (Pro/Plus) and cheapter hardware, I would have bought it up as a better version of the mac mini. Since I didn't need to tinker with components much from what was configured. Despite how neat the cheese grater look is and how neat this mockup looks, I really hope it is a radical yet functional system!
 
That screen is gonna fall the first time someone tries to lean it forward (which looks not contemplated at all).
The touch bar exist because Apple thinks you shouldn't put your hand on a vertical surface nor take it far from the keyboard when using a computer.
The design is a vertical Mac Mini with powermac's holes.
I see no cool ideas here, sorry.
 
They are not setting themselves up for a big "oh come on Apple, not again *facepalm*" uproar moment next year when they'll show it.

They can't be that stupid.

Every speculation should be checked against this principle.
 
xkmxkmxlmx said:
I wrote it because you wrote it - obviously? You're getting a bit weird over all this. I should probably stop replying to you. Try and not let other people's tech opinions get you so mad :)))))
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so for you getting mad over the internet its a real thing ?! jesus...so stop imitating people
 
I could see this as a Mac Mini redesign. Not a Mac Pro. No way.

Where would you fit a full-sized GPU card? What about expansion bays?

Like it or not, there is a reason why the ATX case has been around now for decades. It's a tried and true form factor that allows computer professionals easy access, expansion, upgradability, and workability. Apple simply needs to go back and revisit its silver Mac Pro ATX case, and update it a bit for modern parts. Done.
 
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They know we want it.
 

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iReality85 said:
I could see this as a Mac Mini redesign. Not a Mac Pro. No way.

Where would you fit a full-sized GPU card? What about expansion bays?

Like it or not, there is a reason why the ATX case has been around now for decades. It's a tired and true form factor that allows computer professionals easy access, expansion, upgradability, and workability. Apple simply needs to go back and revisit its silver Mac Pro ATX case, and update it a bit for modern parts. Done.
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current mac pro has dual full sized gpu and its small case
 
StrangeNoises said:
As I said it is entirely predicated on if it turns out for TouchID on the TouchBar it has to be on the system unit or it breaks security. Without that consideration I'd also be very happy with a revival of something like (or advanced from) the cheese grater.
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... but they could bring that out practically tomorrow. It does seem as if they're trying harder than that. Better? We hope to be pleasantly surprised1
 
There's no f'kin way they would be able to cool a Titan and a 12 core processor in there.

redheeler said:
It looks like that would be a thermal nightmare. Nice work on the concept but it's not practical, just give us a more traditional tower form factor and we'll be happy.
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This. No fancy BS, just give us a damn tower FFS. Trying to do fancy BS when it wasn't wanted/needed is how Apple ended up in this situation with the current Mac Pro.
 
peter2 said:
Yes, and if you run something close to 100% utilization of the CPUs (not to speak GPUs) on it, it sounds like a drone about to take off.
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you are using the current mac pro? i have with dual d500 and 8 cores and no problems with heat or sound...i think you are talking about an non apple product :)
 
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Don't care what it looks like, my image is not defined by the desktop Mac I use. It does however, need to have replaceable and expandable RAM and SSD. It does need to have several common ports; video ports, ethernet, some form of USB, digital audio in/out, headphone/microphone, high speed storage interface, and if a laptop Magsafe. And most importantly it needs to have all software that reduces CPU clock speed based on temperature removed completely. The design should support the CPU running at full clock speed. Otherwise it is only a cute toy.
 
I'm intrigued by the idea of an OLED display strip on the case. CPU, MEMORY, DISK, TEMP displayed. Like having the performance tab of task manager on the case itself.
 
fokmik said:
you are using the current mac pro? i have with dual d500 and 8 cores and no problems with heat or sound...i think you are talking about an non apple product :)
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I have seen a review where the reviewer run some renders for an extended period of time and complained about the noise. Just count the watts to be dissipated out of that minuscule volume and it's clear it cannot work without a lot of air going through, or a lot of throttling.

What I have is 2 of the dual 6-core CPU Mac Pros 5,1 and I don't even notice whether they run at 2% or 100%, for arbitrarily long periods of time. And that's how it should be.
 
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This entire situation is incredibly stupid.

All Apple has to do is dust off the 2012 Mac Pro plans, slap in a new MoBo, and call it a day.
Fearful they are going to mind-**** this thing to death, over-engineer it, and miss the mark agin.

It is INCREDIBLY simple.
Hell, Apple could just log onto New Egg and build the new Mac Pro using off the shelf parts and it would give users exactly what they want/need.
 
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