iMac Pro No Longer Custom Configurable, Available 'While Supplies Last'

[baryon]

This is how Apple treats Pro desktops: Make sure it costs astronomically more than your already astronomically expensive computers. Then just let it sit for 5+ years without ever updating or upgrading it, leading to the ironic situation in which new low end laptops are now more powerful. Then discontinue it and never talk about it again. Looking at the Trash Can Mac Pro, the current Mac Pro, the iMac Pro...

 

[joelypolly]

Looking at typical die sizes for TSMC for 7nm its about 700mm², the current M1 is only about 125mm². So in theory you can get around 5 M1s. Do some proper space allocation and you'd probably fit between 26 to 32 high performance cores, 4 low power cores, 4x the current GPU performance, and 2 to 3X the ML performance. Double or triple up on the memory channels and you end up with a very high performance CPU and memory subsystem.

If Apple upgrades to LP-DDR5 with a 256bit memory bus you are looking at around 200GB/s of bandwidth which is about 1/2 what you get from a Nvidia 3070 in bandwidth alone and with CPU and GPU sharing the came space it might not even matter than it is lower.

 

[Will Co]

One explanation of the massive performance increase of the M1 is the SOC - cpu, memory and gpu all on one chip.

What will Apple do for the Pro systems on ARM? Adding the cores (28?) may be feasible on the SOC, but

1. How will they support up to 1.5 TB of memory?

2. How will they support the performance equivalent of 2 graphics cards, 64 GB each?

It seems that these will have to be separate modules.

Now there is a gap between the iMac and the Mac Pro with the iMac Pro high end configurations gone. I hope it doesn't take a year to fill the gap.

This. All of this. As fantastic as the M1 is, and I’m a fan, solving problems like this is going to be very difficult. Perhaps it’s not necessary to solve them all to out-perform the Intel iMac Pro, but that machine has set the benchmark very high for the next gen AS.

 

[MikeyUnix]

Apple appears to be on the verge of discontinuing the iMac Pro, with the store page for the high-end all-in-one Mac including a "While supplies last" tagline and only the base model with no custom configurations available for purchase.

The iMac Pro launched in December 2017, and while there have been a few tweaks to the available configurations over the years, it has received no substantial hardware updates over its lifetime. As a result, we have been recommending for some time that users not purchase the iMac Pro as a high-end standard iMac currently offers a better value.

There have been a few rumors of an updated iMac Pro over the years, including from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo almost exactly one year ago.

It's unclear whether the iMac Pro is being discontinued entirely or if Apple is selling through existing stock in advance of an update, but the unusual note about dwindling supplies suggests that the machine may indeed be on the verge of complete discontinuation. If an updated version is coming, it appears it may not be ready to launch for some time yet and there may be a gap in availability once the current model sells out.

(Thanks, Ben!)

Article Link: iMac Pro No Longer Custom Configurable, Available 'While Supplies Last'

I've had good performance and service from my iMac Pro, but I think it has outlived its usefulness not because of any failing, but because it will be very difficult for Apple with the new silicon to underpower any new iMacs in order to keep the iMac Pro viable. So it would make sense to drop the iMac Pro a different being, and instead have as now different configurations of a new iMac. Economy of production would also make it more efficient to drop the iMac Pro, or they could if they want just the name to continue, just badge up a top configured new iMac which seems a bit blasé.

With 5nm, 4nm and 3nm on the cards, better for Apple to concentrate on core products, as with screen developments on any new iMac, increased gpu cores and performance cores, it will be hard to keep a separately engineered iMac Pro viable.

I will continue using mine, but look forward to a new range of iMacs encompassing all levels of performance, and I'm sure companies who need to refresh their desktop equipment would find it easier to stick to one range, i.e. iMac.

Apart from that it will be very difficult for Apple to sell the iMac Pro, if the next range of iMacs match or exceed the performance of it. This early in Apple's silicon run, its best to shelve it, concentrate on a full range of iMacs, where that enables Apple to update specs on these if need be.

There seems no point in Apple designing a silicon specifically for a new iMac Pro, better to do what it can on its iMac range because Apple could not justify having an iMac Pro as a bespoke chip design, bespoke monitor when the advances in the iMac range provide a much better market.

I suspect though that the Mac Pro will be kept, as its a much more upgradeable beast, possible multi chip configurations and any power computing requirements could be met by the Mac Pro

 

[yurc]

deleted

 

[loby]

Keep in mind the cooling is also superior in the iMac Pro. It doesn’t sound like apple
Silicon needs such powerful cooling. I hope this means we’ll see new machines soon, but it could just be that it’s EOL with no replacement. I’d imagine an Apple silicon iMac would run circles around the iMac Pro, but there haven’t been any reliable leaks yet, so it’s all unknown.

Makes sense, for I am sure the high end M? In the iMac category will be a pro version.

My thoughts:

iMac M?(3) Pro (High end)
IMac M?(2) 27” (ish) (Medium end)
IMac M1 21 or 24” (Low the end)

Desktop: (same High, Med, Low)

Mac Pro MX? (Replaces current intel - last in replacement)
(Maybe..M?2 Mac mini pro (or whatever naming)
Mac Mini M1 (current)

So it makes sense to started discontinuing the intel iMac Pro. Has not been updated for some time (end of cycle) so next along with redesigned iMacs to be updated.

Standard stuff.

 

[bluecoast]

Curious to know who would still buy this. Presumably video production shops that have standardised on a particular (intel) software/hardware solution and who are going to wait to see how the Mx desktops play out.

It feels as if there’s going to be a March iMac announcement though.

 

[Freeangel1]

I don't like even the regular iMacs anymore. They are the worst machines to try to upgrade. along with MacBook Pro's

And Big Sur boots up very slow on them.

I settled back on a 12 core 2.7 Trash Can Pro for $1500 off of eBay. LOVE IT. Bought 2. What use to cost like $5k NEW.

Still have a 5.1 12 Core 3.46 Mac Pro Also.

The new Apple Silicon machines are going to be EVEN LESS upgradable . More color options. Big Deal

 

[Le0M]

Question for the experts: can two or more M1 chips be combined?
If so, it's not hard to imagine the iMac to get 2M1, and the Mac Pro to get like 10M1 or something like that.

 

[RPhoto]

My iMac Pro has and continues to be be a true workhorse. We knew this day would come but it’s sad to see it phased out. Even sadder is the resale value will hit the floor when the M powered high end machines replace it, making the iMPro look like a Sinclair Spectrum 🙈😂

 

[Realityck]

Apple appears to be on the verge of discontinuing the iMac Pro, with the store page for the high-end all-in-one Mac including a "While supplies last" tagline and only the base model with no custom configurations available for purchase.

It's unclear whether the iMac Pro is being discontinued entirely or if Apple is selling through existing stock in advance of an update, but the unusual note about dwindling supplies suggests that the machine may indeed be on the verge of complete discontinuation. If an updated version is coming, it appears it may not be ready to launch for some time yet and there may be a gap in availability once the current model sells out.

I suspect that apple will offer a redesigned iMac that because of the reduced heat of their Apple Silcon CPU/GPU and the amount of space inside larger models they no longer need anything like a iMac Pro. Especially if its 30 or 32" in size.

 

[myrtlebee]

Forgot it even existed.

 

[cocoua]

This is how Apple treats Pro desktops: Make sure it costs astronomically more than your already astronomically expensive computers. Then just let it sit for 5+ years without ever updating or upgrading it, leading to the ironic situation in which new low end laptops are now more powerful. Then discontinue it and never talk about it again. Looking at the Trash Can Mac Pro, the current Mac Pro, the iMac Pro...

Always like that. G4 dual core 1,25ghz was USB 1.0 while PC industry embraced for 2 years already USB 2.0. So they waited until the G5 to make look it even faster and great.
2 years selling the most expensive personal computer with USB1.0

 

[kazmac]

As many have said, a stop gap Pro machine. Would like to see that cooling system (or a mod of that cooling system) find its way into another iMac though.

 

[retta283]

2017 event when this was unveiled it seemed like it was certainly a stopgap, but I thought they would continue to make it for a long time until 2019 refresh came and went with no Pro update. Interesting timing for it to be discontinued or stock expended, considering the long-rumored March update. It very well could be the time for the new iMac.

Will be interested in seeing if they have any iMac Pro equal in the new lineup or this was a one-time release. It may become worth something as a collectible down the road, so perhaps I end up with one someday...

 

[Royksöpp]

Hello March event 👀🖥😱

March is iPads, sorry to burst your bubble. June is when the fun really begins. WWDC is going to be on Fire this summer. New MacBook Pro's, iMac, MacBook Air, and possibly a mini Mac Pro. Hopefully they will be running a brand new chip, instead of an overclocked M1 variant.

 

[sublunar]

This is due to previously mentioned Intel news discontinuing the Skylake X CPU that Apple use in the iMac Pro. I've mentioned it some time ago (can't find the original PCN from Intel at the moment) but it looks like Apple aren't going to refresh the iMac Pro and instead have placed their last order for the CPU within from Intel.

In other words, it's out of Apple's control - Intel have effectively stopped making the CPU - and Apple aren't interested in the follow-up CPU (Cascade Lake) because they are moving to ARM.

You can now compare and contrast the iMac Pro with the 2013 Mac Pro which also had a late model spec bump which amounted to making the mid range model the new entry level model but keeping the price points the same - effectively a massive discount. But the product change wasn't anything that would have made more than a ripple in sales figures.

It may or may not be related to any forthcoming ARM related iMacs - they will be on their own schedule and I doubt that they'll be overly interested in matching benchmarks in any real way. Any ARM product they come up with to fit into an iMac may well not be analogous to an iMac Pro in the range this year in any case.

It would certainly be interesting to see how an M1X with 12+4 cores and 'adequate' GPU would marry up with a decent panel.

As previously mentioned the Intel iMac can fill the gap at the low-end while anyone who wants to spend more can buy a Mac Pro and attach a 6k monitor to it.

It will now remain to be seen if the regular iMac range will go in one fell swoop or if the range will be split for a year with an Intel SKU hanging around for a bit.

We could certainly see all of the 21.5" range going immediately while a solitary 27" Intel SKU could be kept around with a storage bump for instance (while the rest go ARM).

 

[Royksöpp]

Question for the experts: can two or more M1 chips be combined?
If so, it's not hard to imagine the iMac to get 2M1, and the Mac Pro to get like 10M1 or something like that.

 

[iBungie]

Same 'While stocks last' and only standard 10 core model available on UK store - and with about three week delivery time.

 

[skitidetdu]

I’m excited for the new iMac!

 

[upthetoffees]

Sad to see it go, it’s a fantastic machine. I just wish they carried over the cooling system to the regular 27” iMac.

This is a huge problem with my 2019 imac 27” which has monster specs but sounds like a 747 way too often.

 

[BacioiuC]

The iMac Pro was/is still an amazing machine for business. I'm glad I purchased one in march last year, even at full price. This machine literary saved my business and earned it's money back in literary 2 months after purchase. I tried the 2020 iMac and while on paper it had better value for my use cases the iMac Pro takes it to court and eats it's sandwhich.

Hopefully apple releases an amazing M-based Pro machine. Would love an All-in-one like the iMac pro for the future. For now, this machine will still serve me right for the next 3-4 years!

P.s. IT'S SO Silent it makes the M1 Air jealous.

 

[sublunar]

I don't think discontinuing the iMac Pro would affect the scheduling of an ARM based iMac other than the heavily expected launch sometime this year. October would look like the obvious time to release the ARM iMacs even without the discontinuation of the iMac Pro.

I'm sure some folks would have been interested in seeing how a headless mini-Pro turns out if the M1X CPU has 4 Thunderbolt ports and ability to connect 3 5k monitors.

 

[opeter]

I hope we get a single 27 inch iMac...
no 20 inch.. no iMac Pro...
Just a single amazing iMac with a M2 and a dedicated graphics co processor

Well, I would like to see 3 different sizes of the iMac... there should be a 23/24" version, than a standard sized 27" and for the users, who want bigger screens, something between 30-32".

 

[Bonte]

collectors item