Expected software support for M2 Ultra?

[TECK]

I'm coming from a 13 years old Mac Pro 2010, which I fully upgraded and running OpenCore on it.

I'm curious what is the expected Apple software upgrades support timeline? If I could get 5-7 years of upgrades, it will be satisfactory for me. My new M2 Ultra specs:

Old Mac Pro:

 

[Longplays]

I'm coming for a 13 years old Mac Pro 2010, which I fully upgraded and running OpenCore on it.

I'm curious what is the expected Apple software upgrades support timeline? If I could get 5-7 years of upgrades, it will be satisfactory for me. My new M2 Ultra specs:

View attachment 2223215

Old Mac Pro:

View attachment 2223217

Likely 9-11 years like most 2007-2017 Intel Macs.

I am so excited for you.

Jumping from a 32nm chip to a 5nm chip.

Your 2023 Mac Studio's final Security Update will occur between 2032-2034.

By 2032 0.5nm (A5) to 2034 0.3nm (A3) chips will be out.

 

[TECK]

For current Mac Pro, I have another year on Monterey until security updates stop being provided. I could technically wait for the M3, but I think Studio M2 Ultra is an amazing upgrade for my Mac Pro. I'm wondering if Apple will have different support lifetime spans for each M chip? For example, an user who bought a Studio M1 Ultra will have their support ending two years earlier, vs a Studio M3 Ultra.

 

[Longplays]

For current Mac Pro, I have another year on Monterey until security updates stop being provided. I could technically wait for the M3, but I think Studio M2 Ultra is an amazing upgrade for my Mac Pro. I'm wondering if Apple will have different support lifetime spans for each M chip? For example, an user who bought a Studio M1 Ultra will have their support ending two years earlier, vs a Studio M3 Ultra.

macOS Intel version	Latest update	Final update
2022 Ventura	Jun 2023	2025
2021 Monterey	Jun 2023	2024
2020 Big Sur	Jun 2023	2023
2019 Catalina	Jul 2022	2022
2018 Mojave	Jul 2021	2021
2017 High Sierra	Nov 2020	2020
2016 Sierra	Sep 2019	2019
2015 El Capitan	Jul 2018	2018
2014 Yosemite	Jul 2017	2017
2013 Mavericks	Jul 2016	2016

M3 Ultra's likely to be out Q1 2025. You willing to wait 21 more months?

If I had your 2010 Mac Pro I would have bought into the 2021 Mac Studio M1 Ultra.

My guess is you waited to see what the 2023 Mac Studio had to offer hoping for swappable CPU, dGPU, eGPU, RAM, SSD & logicboard?

 

[TECK]

M3 Ultra's likely to be out Q1 2025. You willing to wait 21 more months?

I already ordered the M2 Ultra, delivery July 23th.

I was simply curious if the software updates end of support might change based on the M chip type. I think is all based on software but Apply could say, this macOS release can run on an M3 but not on an M2 chip.

 

[Longplays]

I already ordered the M2 Ultra, delivery July 23th.

I hope to see unboxing photos/videos and your observations of a 32nm chip vs 5nm chip.

 

[Longplays]

I was simply curious if the software updates end of support might change based on the M chip type. I think is all based on software but Apply could say, this macOS release can run on an M3 but not on an M2 chip.

Windows by comparison...

Version	Release Date	End Support Date	Months
Windows 11	10/5/2021	12/5/2031(?)	122
Windows 10	7/29/2015	10/14/2025	122
Windows 8	10/26/2012	1/10/2023	122
Windows 7	10/22/2009	1/14/2020	122
Windows Vista	1/30/2007	4/11/2017	122
Windows XP	8/24/2001	4/8/2014	151
Windows 2000	2/17/2000	7/13/2010	124
Windows 98	6/25/1998	7/11/2006	96
WIndows 95	8/24/1995	12/31/2001	76

 

[handheldgames]

Unless your workflow includes the requirement for Apple ProRes media acceleration, jumping to a M2 Ultra may not be necessary. Ramdisk benchmarks show M1 and M2 memory <-> CPU bandwidth has not significantly jumped from M1->M2. Likewise GPU bandwidth has similarry had a minimal increase (at least for my lice streaming workflow). Depending on your workflow, a M1 may perform similarly for a significant savings over a M2.

While my 5,1 Mac Pro at 96gb, and Ryzentosh at 128gb, had similar workflows, I've never found the 64GB on my M1 MacStudio Ultra to be a limiting factor. In my area, raw Open GL Performance is needed to support OBS, which is an area Mac Silicon has performance scaling issues with.

GPU's and media engines aside, the M2 Mac Studio Ultra offers a Minor uplift to the M1 Mac Studio Ultra that negates the cost of a yearly upgrade.

 

[TECK]

@handheldgames for sanity reasons, I went with the 128GB upgrade. You're telling me I could very well stick with the 64GB option and save $1000? The current Mac Pro 2010 fully upgraded satisfies my needs, the main reason to upgrade is software support, I've chosen the Ultra for performance reasons. Additional storage, if needed will be handled through TB4 external drive and a NAS with 75TB storage (on 10GB network), that's why I stay with the minimum 1TB setup.