Hands-On With Apple's New 2019 Mac Pro

[Stephen.R]

Is 6-channel memory that big a deal?

Well in quad channel mode, the memory has a peak of just under 80GiB/sec, in hex channel it has a peak of just under 120GiB/sec. So you tell me, is a 1/3rd reduction in memory speed a big deal for a top-of-the-line workstation? I'd say yes, it is. But then, my intended use for a Mac Pro is making money, so I guess our priorities may be different.

Okay, but still, it's a major PITA to do the upgrade on the 21" iMac.

... I'm not sure what your point is there. I don't think anyone is tossing up between a Mac Pro and a 21" iMac?

And the Mac Mini's RAM has been soldered to the logic board since 2014.

By "since 2014" you mean, "in the 2014 model" right? Because the models pre-2014 used socketed DIMMs and the 2018 uses socketed DIMMs.


I'm honestly not even sure what your point is any more. You're complaining they went "too far" with the expansion capabilities of the Mac Pro, and suggesting that it's the only way to get e.g. user upgradable memory, when the reality is that in 2019/2020 every desktop Mac has upgradable memory - some admittedly are more involved/not "user" upgradable according to Apple.

 

[jblagden]

Well in quad channel mode, the memory has a peak of just under 80GiB/sec, in hex channel it has a peak of just under 120GiB/sec. So you tell me, is a 1/3rd reduction in memory speed a big deal for a top-of-the-line workstation? I'd say yes, it is. But then, my intended use for a Mac Pro is making money, so I guess our priorities may be different.

I see your point. That is a rather substantial difference.

... I'm not sure what your point is there. I don't think anyone is tossing up between a Mac Pro and a 21" iMac?

I'm sure you're right. I just meant that if someone were to purchase an iMac and they wanted to be able to upgrade the RAM without having to remove the monitor, they'd have to go with the 27" iMac. The iMac has some good specs, and is at least a little upgradable, but it's definitely not easy to get into. What would really be nice would be a mid-range desktop with similar specs but with desktop GPUs and CPUs and at least a couple hard drive bays.

By "since 2014" you mean, "in the 2014 model" right? Because the models pre-2014 used socketed DIMMs and the 2018 uses socketed DIMMs.

I either hadn't heard about that or I'd heard about it and forgot. Either way, I'm glad to hear that Apple finally reversed that decision after four years.

I'm honestly not even sure what your point is any more. You're complaining they went "too far" with the expansion capabilities of the Mac Pro, and suggesting that it's the only way to get e.g. user upgradable memory, when the reality is that in 2019/2020 every desktop Mac has upgradable memory - some admittedly are more involved/not "user" upgradable according to Apple.

Well, at least there's that. I'm glad to hear they're finally getting back to making their stuff at least a little upgradable. I guess I've just been too focused on the laptops in terms of upgradability.

Really, I just wish they made an expandable tower with Core-X CPUs that was more of a middle-ground between the Mac Mini and the Mac Pro. I'm not quite sure what they'd call it. Maybe something like Mac Mid or Mac MT.

 

[Stephen.R]

Really, I just wish they made an expandable tower with Core-X CPUs that was more of a middle-ground between the Mac Mini and the Mac Pro.

that is apparently a somewhat common wish amongst users of this forum, but somehow I don’t think it’s particularly common amongst the majority of Mac buyers.

 

[jblagden]

that is apparently a somewhat common wish amongst users of this forum, but somehow I don’t think it’s particularly common amongst the majority of Mac buyers.

Yeah, I know most Macs sold are laptops. Which is another thing that should be upgradable and repairable. I'm not spending $3k on a laptop that can't be upgraded or repaired. I've come across plenty of forum posts from people who've left Apple for Dell XPS laptops.

 

[Stephen.R]

Yeah, I know most Macs sold are laptops. Which is another thing that should be upgradable and repairable. I'm not spending $3k on a laptop that can't be upgraded or repaired.

I don't think it's even related to that, honestly.

The majority of Mac users are not going to tinker with it - heck even the majority of PC users don't tinker with their computer.

The Venn diagram of computer users who use a Mac, want to tinker with the hardware, and aren't using it in a professional setting (i.e. targeted by the Mac Pro) is essentially a 3 leaf clover, theres almost no overlap.