Gurman: All-New Mac Pro Still in Testing, But 'M2 Extreme' Chip Likely Canceled

[MacRumors]

Apple continues to test an all-new Mac Pro with an M2 Ultra chip, but the company has likely abandoned plans to release a higher-end configuration with a so-called "M2 Extreme" chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

In the latest edition of his newsletter today, Gurman said the Mac Pro with the M2 Ultra chip will be available with up to a 24-core CPU, up to a 76-core GPU, and at least 192GB of RAM. Like the current Mac Pro, he expects the new model to remain expandable, allowing for additional memory, storage, and other components to be inserted.

The higher-end model with the M2 Extreme chip would have been available with up to a 48-core CPU and up to a 152-core GPU, according to Gurman, but he believes that this configuration was scrapped due to cost and manufacturing complexities.

"Based on Apple's current pricing structure, an M2 Extreme version of a Mac Pro would probably cost at least $10,000 — without any other upgrades — making it an extraordinarily niche product that likely isn't worth the development costs, engineering resources and production bandwidth it would require," he wrote.

The current Intel-based Mac Pro was released in December 2019 and starts at $5,999 in the United States. Barring any further delays, the new model will presumably launch at some point in 2023, but Gurman did not provide an updated timeframe.

Article Link: Gurman: All-New Mac Pro Still in Testing, But 'M2 Extreme' Chip Likely Canceled

 

[iBreatheApple]

Apple’s nomenclature sure is something…

 

[SuprUsrStan]

Apple’s nomenclature sure is something…

Next up, Apple Watch Extreme 👏🏻

 

[0134168]

What about PCIe??

 

[MayaUser]

what the point of Mac Pro with M2 ultra since we already have mac studio for that
Mac Pro it should stand above or way above of Mac Studio

 

[dantracht]

I was hoping for M2 Ludicrous.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

Well this is interesting; this means the Mac Pro’s modularity and expandability is the main selling point over the Studio, rather than processing power. But what will “modularity” actually look like? How will the performance of memory added via expansion compare to the built-in memory?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Are we going to get M2 Mac Pro Ultra Wheels as well?

 

[giggles]

The fact they are scrapping the M2 Extreme could be seen as a clue the MacPro is going to support add-on GPUs. (maybe not by AMD but Apple GPUs)

And definitely add-on RAM sticks.

 

[andrewxgx]

Are we going to get M2 Mac Pro Ultra Wheels as well?

yes, with ads

 

[TheOldChevy]

Are we going to get M2 Mac Pro Ultra Wheels as well?

Yes, 21" slick.

 

[TheOldChevy]

It would be interesting if the Mac Pro goes for a slightly different processor architecture, with more IOs, or different RAM interface, to improve upgradability. Or a different power optimisation.

 

[dantracht]

Are we going to get M2 Mac Pro Ultra Wheels as well?

Yeah for $1299.

 

[macsplusmacs]

n/m. I misread the post.


How many actual CPUs would be in a base unit do you think? 2 or 4?

 

[andrewxgx]

this was my issue with apple silicon transition
intel mac pro made sense as it was using same CPUs as HEDT platforms and severs - so Intel could produce same silicon for everything.
theres zero reason to build such CPU just for Mac Pro, its just too niche.
mac pro might be dead unless they're going to make it multi CPU (ie 2x or 4x M2 Ultra)

 

[Alex Cai]

Then who’s going to directly compete with 4090?
M1 ultra is only half of 4090 in Geekbench gpu
Mac Studio is not a expandable device

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

What about PCIe??

Read the post.

he expects the new model to remain expandable, allowing for additional memory, storage, and other components to be inserted

 

[andrewxgx]

The fact they are scrapping the M2 Extreme could be seen as a clue the MacPro is going to support add-on GPUs. (maybe not by AMD but Apple GPUs)

And definitely add-on RAM sticks.

problem with dedicated apple-branded GPUs would be indentical to M2 Extreme - too niche to warrant development.

 

[ScooterComputer]

I have it on good authority that using a five year old computer is "sad" (—Phil Schiller, 2016). Prorated, what is a "pro" using a 3-years-old Mac Pro? Slightly depressing? Regrettable? (Stupid?)

If Dog years are 7 human years, how many human years are equivalent to each Pro Mac year? (Considering that the $999 M1 stomps the $5999 entry Mac Pro in single core and nearly reaches parity in multicore, and the M2 in the $1199 MBA stomps it in both… 🤔 )

 

[bobmans]

Then what's the point of a Mac Pro if there's the Mac Studio?

 

[alphaswift]

Are we going to get M2 Mac Pro Ultra Wheels as well?

35" all terrains with a 2" lift.

 

[citysnaps]

what the point of Mac Pro with M2 ultra since we already have mac studio for that
Mac Pro it should stand above or way above of Mac Studio

Internal expandability.

 

[BootsWalking]

Vanilla Ice should've copyrighted the expression "to the extreme"

 

[giggles]

problem with dedicated apple-branded GPUs would be indentical to M2 Extreme - too niche to warrant development.

Using add-on M2 Ultra chips with disabled CPU cores would be still more efficient than developing/fabbing the M2 Extreme.

Imagine if one could add up to 4 or 8 M2 Ultra add-on cards..

 

[ilikewhey]

The fact they are scrapping the M2 Extreme could be seen as a clue the MacPro is going to support add-on GPUs. (maybe not by AMD but Apple GPUs)

And definitely add-on RAM sticks.

that would be fantastic, cause this means hello egpu! as much as i like the gpu on my m1 max, but lets be honest apple silicon gpu never held a candle to nvidia and amd's top of the line offering.