How much do you think the 2018 Mac Pro is gonna cost?

[Mr. Dee]

With the base model iMac Pro coming in at $5,000, what would you expect a base model 2018 Mac Pro with Apple Display is gonna cost?

I was playing with some educated guesses.

If you remove the display, Apple might charge about $3,000 to $4,000 or $4,500 for the base model system unit, while a 5K display might go for about $1,500.

Apple might provide a 8K display as an option to provide some differentiation at an additional cost of about $4,000.

I am thinking of making this system my next computer as a vanity purchase and something that will last me a good 10 years. Would use it for both entertainment and work purposes. Certainly, not gonna buy the rev A of it, but probably the 2019 model after I build my home.

 

[Naimfan]

A lot.

 

[mattspace]

With the base model iMac Pro coming in at $5,000, what would you expect a base model 2018 Mac Pro with Apple Display is gonna cost?

The computer on its own is going to cost the same as the iMac Pro, but trade a built in display for user-accessible expansion of some sort as the "free" extra you get with the the processor, ram GPU and storage. Resign yourself to the worst, and anything better is a gift.

 

[Mr. Dee]

The computer on its own is going to cost the same as the iMac Pro, but trade a built in display for user-accessible expansion of some sort as the "free" extra you get with the the processor, ram GPU and storage. Resign yourself to the worst, and anything better is a gift.

Didn't the 2013 Mac Pro start around $3,000?

I suspect part of the reason why Apple chose $5000 price tag for the iMac Pro was partly that 5K display and to provide some form of a hold over for Pro's who wanted updated I/O performance until they could deliver the Mac Pro.

 

[Macintosh IIcx]

With the base model iMac Pro coming in at $5,000, what would you expect a base model 2018 Mac Pro with Apple Display is gonna cost?

I was playing with some educated guesses.

If you remove the display, Apple might charge about $3,000 to $4,000 or $4,500 for the base model system unit, while a 5K display might go for about $1,500.

I'm convinced that Apple will not release a base Mac Pro 2018 that is slower or lower featured than the base iMac Pro, so a 8 core CPU, 32 GB EEC Ram, 1 TB (2x512) and a similar Vega GPU is a lock. Maybe a 10 core CPU if Intel up the game a bit with the Cascade Lake X/W series. I'm thinking $4,500.

That is unfortunately for me as I would prefer a bit lower priced Mac Pro 2018 that I could speck up myself later on.

I'm thinking we will get a preview at WWDC in June and pre-orders in December 2018. By then Cascade Lake and Vega 20 should hit the market.
[doublepost=1514816145][/doublepost]I would love a $3000 entry level Mac Pro 2018, but realistically we are looking at a start price of $4000-4500.

 

[mattspace]

Didn't the 2013 Mac Pro start around $3,000?

I think going back to the drawing board is going to include pricing, and that can go up, as well as down. Where does this next product fit into the range, so that when, not if, people use 3rd party monitors, Apple doesn't lose out on the total revenue they get vs what they'd get by only offering an iMac Pro.

Of course the counter to this might be that the market for the Mac Pro aren't the FCP crowd, who're realistically the only ones whose apps aren't cross platform, so the pricing might have to align with what other workstation vendors are doing.

 

[Macintosh IIcx]

There is also the question about whether the next Mac Pro will allow dual socket CPU or not.

I don't recall how that was handled with earlier Mac Pro models: Did you choose between a single CPU or dual socket CPU motherboard from the start, or did all Mac Pro's ship with dual CPU motherboards even if they had only one CPU socket used?

 

[Naimfan]

There is also the question about whether the next Mac Pro will allow dual socket CPU or not.

I don't recall how that was handled with earlier Mac Pro models: Did you choose between a single CPU or dual socket CPU motherboard from the start, or did all Mac Pro's ship with dual CPU motherboards even if they had only one CPU socket used?

Yes - you picked a single or dual processor MP, although you can replace a single processor tray with a dual processor tray. Note that Apple, IIRC, did not offer dual-processor trays as an upgrade after initial purchase.

 

[barmann]

Who knows what it will be , much less what it will cost ?

I suspect - and hope - the days of the Apple tax might have come to an end for the MacPro .
You can sell watchbands from an ivory tower, but workstations are a different kettle of fish .

My guess is future MacPros will have to become more competitive with Windows PCs than ever, in pricing and expandability .
It's that or a swan song .

 

[Naimfan]

I would LIKE to see the Mac Pro start at $2999, with the basic hardware of the iMac Pro but without the mouse, keyboard, etc.

I THINK it will start at $3999, with the basic hardware of the iMac Pro, but with user-upgradable options. I have no idea on whether it will be offered with a single or dual processor socket; I would think at least offering a dual processor socket machine would be the better move.

 

[pl1984]

I'm with barmann, we have no idea what it will be (we can't even agree on what Apple means by modular) and therefore it is almost impossible to guesstimate a price.

 

[tillsbury]

I'm not particularly fussed about the exact pricing, what's far more important to me is that there's a menu of upgrades available at a later date.

I still don't understand why Apple didn't offer upgrades to the tcMP, which they could at least have done with RAM, processor (within limits), video cards, and internal SSDs. I can't see why these upgrades weren't available after purchase from the Apple store, even with inflated prices.

Unless it's possible to upgrade the new MP afterwards, I can't see why it's an advantage to be modular anyway.

Personally, I'd be looking for a spec towards the low end of the iMac Pro, but with a bigger SSD and external large 8k monitor (32" upwards). That's my dream machine for 2018, and the reason I'm not upgrading to the iMac Pro.

 

[AidenShaw]

I would think at least offering a dual processor socket machine would be the better move.

I'd guess at $9,999 to $10,999 starting price for a dual socket system.

This might seem high, especially when the Dell dual-socket workstation starts at $2449. However, if you bring the Dell up to a reasonable configuration:

• Dual Intel Xeon Gold 6134 3.2GHz, 3.7GHz Turbo, 8C, 10.4GT/s 3UPI, 24.75M Cache, HT (130W) DDR4-2666
• 1 TB NVMe drive
• 128 GiB RAM
• Quadro P4000 8 GiB GPU

you're looking at $10,750.

Few will buy a stripped dual-socket workstation - so Apple won't lose many sales with a hefty base model.

(For what it's worth, you can push the Dell 7920 far north of $100K - the 3 TiB RAM option alone is $92K. And you can still add high core count CPUs, triple Quadros and at least 8 M.2 NVMe slots full....)

 

[InuNacho]

More than the $2,499 we all got used to.

 

[Mr. Dee]

Well, I have committed myself to spend 8 to 10 grand on it - this includes the Apple branded displays Apple promises to make. But not until I build my home. Will be a little reward for myself and to just consolidate all my machines. I work from home, so, I don't need a laptop much, but I need to run a lot of VMs.

 

[AidenShaw]

Well, I have committed myself to spend 8 to 10 grand on it - this includes the Apple branded displays Apple promises to make. But not until I build my home. Will be a little reward for myself and to just consolidate all my machines. I work from home, so, I don't need a laptop much, but I need to run a lot of VMs.

Apple OSX VMs?

If they're Linux or Windows VMs, there are far cheaper solutions than a Mac Pro - and they're just as good.

 

[barmann]

I'd guess at $9,999 to $10,999 starting price for a dual socket system.

This might seem high, especially when the Dell dual-socket workstation starts at $2449. However, if you bring the Dell up to a reasonable configuration:

• Dual Intel Xeon Gold 6134 3.2GHz, 3.7GHz Turbo, 8C, 10.4GT/s 3UPI, 24.75M Cache, HT (130W) DDR4-2666
• 1 TB NVMe drive
• 128 GiB RAM
• Quadro P4000 8 GiB GPU

you're looking at $10,750.

Few will buy a stripped dual-socket workstation - so Apple won't lose many sales with a hefty base model.

I have to disagree; I believe Apple will need to return to moderatly priced base and 2nd tier models, including dual socket options .
Not just because that's what I want to see, I think they are getting close to losing the workstation market for good if they don't go for the biggest possible user base with the next model MP .

After years of lacklustre cMP upgrades, ever more limited expansion options, the trash can fiasco , and now the mind boggling iMac Pro move, I think Apple need to start from scratch and cover the basics more than anything .

No affordable and desirable mMP - assuming this is the official abreviation now - and there go the rest of the big production houses, the smaller ones, the ad agencies, and all those Macbooks and front desk iMacs the buy along with it .
Eventually the remaining freelancers like myself will switch to the new Windows industry standard , the developers will lose interest, and so on .

So , I think the mMP will have to start at 2999 and go up to 4500 for all base and tier 2 models, including dual socket options ; server grade hardware, internally expandable with regular SSDs and a couple of spinners maybe; plus support for most current and future GPUs , PCIe slots, the works .

Apple can easily do it and turn a profit .
Or bust .
Microsoft takes over the lot of it , the iPhone bubble will burst, and our only hope is that someone somewhere is working on a new computer OS .

 

[AidenShaw]

I have to disagree; I believe Apple will need to return to moderatly priced base and 2nd tier models, including dual socket options.

I don't disagree - I think that a single-socket mMP at a base price of $2499 to $2599 is almost imperative - for exactly the reasons that you say.

My comment about the $9,999 to $10,999 dual socket base is meant for a second, separate dual socket system.

Apple should make a price sensitive single socket workstation - but if they make a dual socket system I don't think that there's any need for a low-end dual socket system. The dual socket should clearly be positioned (and priced) above the majority of the single socket systems.

Dell has a lot of overlap between single socket and dual socket systems - but I don't see why Apple would want that overlap.

 

[BornAgainMac]

It should be less than iMac pro. My fear is that Apples modular approach will translate into proprietary modules for memory, GPU, SSD, CPU with no option to use your own stuff.

 

[Martyimac]

It should be less than iMac pro. My fear is that Apples modular approach will translate into proprietary modules for memory, GPU, SSD, CPU with no option to use your own stuff.

That is my great fear. Which means wait for a mini that can be upgraded or back to Windows. No AIO for me.

 

[Mr. Dee]

Apple OSX VMs?

If they're Linux or Windows VMs, there are far cheaper solutions than a Mac Pro - and they're just as good.

Well, takes me away from macOS to begin with. I know I can splurge on a much cheaper Dell and put the rest of money in the stock market or the bank. But, I am honestly doing this as my big getaway from Windows PC hardware overall. Right now, I have a HP Z210 and I have owned another HP workstation prior to that and they have not kept up well with time. I still see Power Macs and Mac Pro's in use up to this day.

Aesthetics is another factor; this machine is sure to look good and its gonna be even nicer with a 5 or 8K branded display.

I might not necessarily spend 10 grand, but thats my budget. If it stays below 6 or 7 grand, even better, I can use the rest for shipping and import duties.

 

[AidenShaw]

Right now, I have a HP Z210 and I have owned another HP workstation prior to that and they have not kept up well with time. I still see Power Macs and Mac Pro's in use up to this day.

So, a nearly 8 year old entry HP workstation at around $2K for a well-configured system "has not kept up well".

Aesthetics is another factor; this machine is sure to look good and its gonna be even nicer with a 5 or 8K branded display.

If someone gets down on their hands and knees and crawls under my desk - I'd worry that they weren't there to look at my workstation.

I pay tens of thousands of dollars for works of art - but a workstation is simply a tool with a limited "best by" date.

 

[OS6-OSX]

 

[Mr. Dee]

So, a nearly 8 year old entry HP workstation at around $2K for a well-configured system "has not kept up well".


If someone gets down on their hands and knees and crawls under my desk - I'd worry that they weren't there to look at my workstation.

I pay tens of thousands of dollars for works of art - but a workstation is simply a tool with a limited "best by" date.

Ok, Dad, I won't spend my own money on what I want.

 

[joelypolly]

Probably 3K for the base model and 5K for the dual socket model. Both will start with very run of the mill GPUs so you'd have to upgrade from there