Has Apple said anything about the next Mac Pro?

[Mactrunk]

I have been out of the infinite loop for a while.

I appeal to all of the Mac Pro folks here.

Has Apple said anything about the next Mac Pro?

I'm not up on all of the latest instafaces and catbook/tubechats etc.

I'm assuming that Apple has some statement about the next iteration of the Mac Pro... but
I can't find it.

The 2013 cylinder is about four years old. Nice for what it is but seriously hobbled and out of date.

What is Apple saying about the next Mac Pro?

Anybody?

Tim?

 

[OllyW]

Apple rarely leak information about product updates and have said nothing about the Mac Pro.

It's not 4 years old either. While it is getting on a bit and is long overdue an upgrade it only went on sale in December 2013.

 

[JesterJJZ]

I think he means the hardware was already about a year old when it launched.

Bring back a traditional power tower already...

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

I don't think much will change if they keep the line. The possibility of eGPU over Thunderbolt 3 means they don't need to change the form factor. Just that OSX needs to support hot swapping graphic cards and I don't think that exists yet.

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

Right, because I need high power graphics cards dangling from thunderbolt in addition to reasonable storage options to make for a complete cable, noise, and power draw nightmare.

Anyway, to OP, there are just rumors and hopes that based on intel's roadmap and chipset availability, that we'll have something by winter time to early 2017. There is always a chance something could be announced at WWDC as well. Not sure I'm up on the latest gossip; hopefully someone more up to date can share the latest/greatest rumors.

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

Right, because I need high power graphics cards dangling from thunderbolt in addition to reasonable storage options to make for a complete cable, noise, and power draw nightmare.

That's what I thought a very short while ago but now I see what is going on in the PC hardware and it's pretty good. Your main computer or notebook can be compact and minimal. You can tuck it out of view and connect it to powerful hardware residing in a desk side case that resembles a workstation and includes not just the GPU but also storage and a hub for more connections.

 

[H2SO4]

That's what I thought a very short while ago but now I see what is going on in the PC hardware and it's pretty good. Your main computer or notebook can be compact and minimal. You can tuck it out of view and connect it to powerful hardware residing in a desk side case that resembles a workstation and includes not just the GPU but also storage and a hub for more connections.

You know what though. I don't mind paying a little extra to have all of that power in the one box.
Even if still proprietary I wouldn’t mind being able to buy another even more powerful graphics card from even another vendor from the Apple store like I could with the tower. I wouldn’t mind having the option of being able to plug an, (again proprietary), additional hard drive into one of the card slots.
All of that money would STILL go to Apple.

 

[Hank Carter]

829 days since release and no word.

But Tim did unveil some amazingly innovative Apple Watch bands last week.

My guess is we'll see another trashcan in June or the fall with eGPU support. That way you can run a GPU of your choice in an external cage over Thunderbolt3 at a fraction of the speed of a real PCI slot.

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

You know what though. I don't mind paying a little extra to have all of that power in the one box.

Neither would I, but then I think about it and wonder how great it would be to plug any computer into that Thunderbolt 3 case and have immediate access to more GPU power and possible my main back up storage. I can plug a PC, or an nMP or laptop into it. I no longer need to buy the most expensive of each type of computer to have workstation or gaming features.

 

[H2SO4]

Neither would I, but then I think about it and wonder how great it would be to plug any computer into that Thunderbolt 3 case and have immediate access to more GPU power and possible my main back up storage. I can plug a PC, or an nMP or laptop into it. I no longer need to buy the most expensive of each type of computer to have workstation or gaming features.

Maybe not, but internal storage doesn’t preclude the use of external storage. I guess Apple were pitching this as an alternative to a MacBook Pro. I still think that even if it were an inch and a half bigger in diameter and height it would have better cooling and still be portable and needn’t be noticeably heavier.

 

[Pakaku]

I think he means the hardware was already about a year old when it launched.

Bring back a traditional power tower already...

I think the Tube is a step in the right direction, since Thunderbolt is meant to be a PCIe replacement that also does more. If Thunderbolt wasn't so expensive, and Apple stopped treating everything they touch like a "premium", the transition would probably have gone a lot smoother.

 

[filmak]

The 2013 cylinder is about four years old

4 years? that's nothing...
We have to be patient, very patient...
We have at least 6 more years to reach the "new design's" decade target as per Apple's bold statement at nMP's launch day. We didn't give much attention at the day but now we get it.

Schiller's words: "this is the design for the next 10 years" or this is your MP for the next 10 years, enjoy it/leave us alone, we 're very busy making "high tech" watch bands...

 

[AidenShaw]

I think the Tube is a step in the right direction, since Thunderbolt is meant to be a PCIe replacement that also does more. If Thunderbolt wasn't so expensive, and Apple stopped treating everything they touch like a "premium", the transition would probably have gone a lot smoother.

It certainly takes more time, due to its speed being so much slower than PCIe can do.

I can simply plug a GPU into a PCIe slot on an Apple, but it's quite an effort to plug a GPU into a T-Bolt port on an Apple.

"Does more" - really?

 

[richmlow]

Mactrunk,


I too am eagerly waiting for an update to the Mac Pro 2013.

Unfortunately, Apple has said absolutely nothing with regards to an update. =(


richmlow

I have been out of the infinite loop for a while.

I appeal to all of the Mac Pro folks here.

Has Apple said anything about the next Mac Pro?

I'm not up on all of the latest instafaces and catbook/tubechats etc.

I'm assuming that Apple has some statement about the next iteration of the Mac Pro... but
I can't find it.

The 2013 cylinder is about four years old. Nice for what it is but seriously hobbled and out of date.

What is Apple saying about the next Mac Pro?

Anybody?

Tim?

 

[G4DPII]

That's what I thought a very short while ago but now I see what is going on in the PC hardware and it's pretty good. Your main computer or notebook can be compact and minimal. You can tuck it out of view and connect it to powerful hardware residing in a desk side case that resembles a workstation and includes not just the GPU but also storage and a hub for more connections.

Having to connect your laptop/MacPro to a whole new computer to make it a workstation defeats the point. A ******* stupid one at that.

I know i'll buy two computers to do the job one should do. Are you seriusly suggesting this?

 

[JesterJJZ]

I think the Tube is a step in the right direction, since Thunderbolt is meant to be a PCIe replacement that also does more.

It actually does less and at half the speed.

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

Having to connect your laptop/MacPro to a whole new computer to make it a workstation defeats the point. A ******* stupid one at that.

I know i'll buy two computers to do the job one should do. Are you seriusly suggesting this?

Yes.

Because most serious users connect their system to a large external storage box or two anyway. If that box also contained a fully upgradable GPU that's a bonus.

More and more high power compute is being shifted outside a user's computer. Nvidia has been offering Tesla boxes for years for such purposes and now offers Grid technology to let workstation users offload the hard work on to dedicated servers. Compute applications are becoming more mobile aware. Adobe itself removed multiprocessor options in After Effects and in the current beta offers a cloud based renderer.

 

[antonis]

Mind that nVidia is also beginning (and that's on the PC side where form factor is not even a limit) the eGPU support of their existing consumer/gaming cards, according to their drivers' release notes. Looks like the market is going towards this direction, anyway.

However, I still can't see Apple supporting this.

 

[Mactrunk]

Yeah, yeah, yeah....

Apple is now so big and powerful, but they can't give us a current "Pro" computer.
Or even updates about how they will support such a platform.

So many "pros" here would love to know.

Shame on Apple, Shame on Tim.

The Mac Pro?
I have bought in to this ideal for many years.

I have been a loyal customer since the 128K.

Tim... Please give me a call.

I have some great advice.

 

[VikNomad]

Few things to take in account before asking:
1) MacPro generates maybe 0.01% if not less of entire profit. iWatch bands (sic) bring more cash.
2) Apple not being led by man with balls to make decisions and vision (sadly) but salesman who is milking Jobs legacy.
3) Pro line does not give visible advantage anymore (+sales) over iMac line. Thanks to Intel advances.

Therefore there is very little initiative for Apple to release any updates to the current MacPro line. Also AMD is lacking in any advances in GPU area to fit onto current performance vs thermal output footprint. So maybe maybe next year.
I pray for Apple to release "proper" revamp of old boxy MacPro with enough power juice for dual nVidia TitanX. That would be one hell of a Mac.

 

[AidenShaw]

So maybe maybe next year.
I pray for Apple to release "proper" revamp of old boxy MacPro with enough power juice for dual nVidia TitanX. That would be one hell of a Mac.

Why only two?

My weekend project....

​

If you wonder about power for all of that, at the bottom right of the above picture you can see the GPU power panel - six 300 watt 10-pin connectors (yep, 150 amps of +12v):

​

 

[VikNomad]

Why only two?

Fap level: Extreme
Relation to the post: Zero

I am happy for you to have such a nice (but generally useless) hardware. Bitcoin mines shall be empty soon.
Still suck compared to gold plated cars some boys bring to London

 

[Mactrunk]

Ok...
I get it,
Thanks Vic.

Apple doesn't care about the Mac Pro.

It is less than a watch band for them.

I am stunned and saddened.

One last appeal to Tim and Apple.

I have dedicated my business and computing platforms to Apple.

I go way back with you folks.

Hey Tim,

Just tell me that it's true that you don't give a **** about the "pro users" who have bought your stuff for 30 years.

Just say "something".....

A new trash can?

A new something that is state of the art.

A Mac Pro that is state of the art?

 

[VikNomad]

Ok...
I get it,
Thanks Vic.

You are welcome!

However you can mail directly to Tim. Hope he is less on a pu$$y to reply than Steve.

Albeit chances are small - nMP was glorified version of cube Jobs invented ears earlier and status thing in a way. But with current $$$$$$$ vision and literally no ideas where to go. What's next for Apple? (pinch of salt)

 

[AidenShaw]

I am happy for you to have such a nice (but generally useless) hardware.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_learning