iMac Pro Updated With 256GB RAM and Radeon Pro Vega 64X Graphics Options

[LordVic]

and btw, I am liking the fact that Apple is rolling out upgrades like this. I guess I should be amused that people who complain that apple hasn't updated now just find new things to complain about. nothing is every going to be perfect. I like knowing what my options are.

Apple should be doing internal refreshes at minimum once a year.

people complaining about them are just crazy who think there needs to be a full brand new design every year. that's unreasonable. But it's not unreasonable to at least have internal refreshes.

 

[dannys1]

iunno. to me that does scream more "pro" than soldered in memory.

"Pro" to me isn't necessarily what you do with a device, but the fact that the device can be adaptable to the job. Replacable and expandable hardware are "pro" because it allows for the user to tailor the hardware to fit their needs to maximize productivity (regardless of what they deem productivity to be).

it's not necessarily about "not being able to afford RAM". Especially when Apple's upgrades for their soldered solutions are several times the cost of retail pricing (even expensive side).

it also means longer longevity of the hardware as it can be expanded to further adapt to use.

Soldering RAM and STORAGE are the two things that should be avoided in any professional grade machine. I'll give RAM a benefit of the doubt in ultra portables where SODIMM slots take up a lot of space. But in a desktop computer there is literally zero reason to solder down storage or memory except as planned obsolescence.

It doesn't have soldered in memory - it's just difficult to open. But then a "pro" would know how to open a device wouldn't they...

 

[zosobao5150]

This is nice... but if iMac Pro was really “pro”, the memory would be upgradable.

For it to be pro...to me. I would need the capability of getting dust out of the inside without taking apart the monitor. It would have upgradable RAM and SSD storage. It would have the best thermal cooling ever seen on a machine. Then. It would be pro.

 

[1050792]

People ask for updated Macs and when they get them they complain about the prices? How long do you know Apple? Macs were never cheap in the first place.
"Apple give me a new Mac Pro!"
"It's too expensive!!!"

 

[az431]

This is nice... but if iMac Pro was really “pro”, the memory would be upgradable.

Thank you for your subjective definition of "pro." Others would define a "pro" computing device as a one that allows them to provide professional services for hire, which an iMac Pro clearly does.

That said, if your professional endeavors eventually justify someday upgrading from 64GB to 128 GB of memory they will more than pay for the next iMac, and probably a brand new Ferrari.

 

[LordVic]

It doesn't have soldered in memory - it's just difficult to open. But then a "pro" would know how to open a device wouldn't they...

yeah. I'm not impressed with how difficult they made it. it's almost like they wanted to go soldered but realized it wasn't the smartest move.

and yes, A " pro" would either know how to do it, or know where / who they can go to for service to do it for them. There's a reason why IT is an absolutely massive industry

 

[chooyoshi]

Will it run Horace Goes Skiing in 720p?

Obviously yes. But that's not the main purpose of this machine.

 

[LordVic]

Thank you for your subjective definition of "pro." Others would define a "pro" computing device as a one that allows them to provide professional services for hire, which an iMac Pro clearly does.

well, based on this definition, a MacBook is a "pro" device if it allows for the user to sell their services. Again, Pro doesn't necessarily mean that the machine is meant to make money. But that it needs a certain level of flexibility to accomplish a wide array of tasks in order to provide the widest possible options for the most productivity.

we tend to try and relate "pro" with the user. Not the machine's capabilities itself. I don't think anyone of us considers the Macbook a "Pro" computer, even if the user can do their entire job on it. Because the MacBook has no scalability of work.

 

[69Mustang]

1/4 the price? Apple would be burning money at that price. Apple's gross hardware margins are in the low 30% range (net hardware margins are likely in the 15% range). So selling the $5000 iMac Pro for 25% of the cost ($1250) is more than $2000 less than Apple's gross margin breakeven point (again ignoring taxes and other expenses that Apple pays). Let's assume Apple nets a 20% margin on the iMac Pro (it's likely less than that; services have higher margins and Apple's overall net margins are just over 20%). This means they have a true profit of about $1000 per base iMac Pro (higher with higher margin upgrades). Instead, if Apple sold for $1250 (1/4 price), instead of making $1000 per iMac Pro, they lose $2750 per iMac Pro. That's not exactly a great business plan.

I think you did a lot of math for nothing. It seems pretty obvious @centauratlas was referencing the RAM at a 1/4 of the $5200 price tag for the option. He even said: "That is a nice option" He's also right about user upgradeable RAM and SSD's in a desktop.

 

[now i see it]

$5200 of RAM soldered into an iMac that even Apple can't/won't repair. What a great purchase.

 

[Spytap]

Thank you for your subjective definition of "pro." Others would define a "pro" computing device as a one that allows them to provide professional services for hire, which an iMac Pro clearly does.

That said, if your professional endeavors eventually justify someday upgrading from 64GB to 128 GB of memory they will more than pay for the next iMac, and probably a brand new Ferrari.

Not really, since depreciation is a write-off.

 

[MattA]

$5200 of RAM soldered into an iMac that even Apple can't/won't repair. What a great purchase.

It's not soldered. And keep in mind, this is a workstation, not a standard PC. Components cost more (ECC memory, faster SSDs, Xeon processors, etc.) If you want an iMac that isn't as expensive, they sell a consumer grade one for a lot less.

 

[martyjmclean]

Because nothing screams "Pro" more than not being able to afford the RAM you want at purchase but being able to add it later at a cheaper price to get more life out of the system...

Exactly. Expand your machine when your projects AND wallet require.

 

[Razzerman]

Will it run Horace Goes Skiing in 720p?

Ah, good old Horace and his adventures. Such a long time ago.

 

[BigJohno]

Vega x? Clocked up Vega 64?

 

[dannys1]

well, based on this definition, a MacBook is a "pro" device if it allows for the user to sell their services. Again, Pro doesn't necessarily mean that the machine is meant to make money. But that it needs a certain level of flexibility to accomplish a wide array of tasks in order to provide the widest possible options for the most productivity.

we tend to try and relate "pro" with the user. Not the machine's capabilities itself. I don't think anyone of us considers the Macbook a "Pro" computer, even if the user can do their entire job on it. Because the MacBook has no scalability of work.

This is utter nonsense. A professional is just someone who earns money from that job full time. If you use your MacBook Pro or iMac Pro (or non pro models) to earn money, then it's a pro machine, end of.

I just don't know where this bizarre entitlement that computers should be upgradeable came from. Actual pros who work in niche industries spend twice the price of an iMac Pro on a single piece of hardware that does ONE job well and cannot be upgrade. Audio professionals buy a two channel DAC for £8000, all it does is stereo out and you can't upgrade that, or any other audio equipment.

Being able to tinker with an upgrade a computer screams more to be consumer, hobbits and most often gamer. Actual pros value their time much more expensively per hour than to be messing around upgrading RAM when they could earn 3x more than that in their work.

 

[definitive]

That's great news and all, but what's happening with the Mac Pro refresh?

 

[citysnaps]

This is nice... but if iMac Pro was really “pro”, the memory would be upgradable.

Why? It would then be called iMac Tech Hobbyist. "Pro" simply means productivity, an apt moniker for those that produce (more). Still, that's just a marketing label. Nothing to lose sleep over.

It's not about some glamorized notion that one is a professional; which can mean a lot of different things.

 

[LordVic]

This is utter nonsense. A professional is just someone who earns money from that job full time. If you use your MacBook Pro or iMac Pro (or non pro models) to earn money, then it's a pro machine, end of.

I just don't know where this bizarre entitlement that computers should be upgradeable came from. Actual pros who work in niche industries spend twice the price of an iMac Pro on a single piece of hardware that does ONE job well and cannot be upgrade. Audio professionals buy a two channel DAC for £8000, all it does is stereo out and you can't upgrade that, or any other audio equipment.

Being able to tinker with an upgrade a computer screams more to be consumer, hobbits and most often gamer. Actual pros value their time much more expensively per hour than to be messing around upgrading RAM when they could earn 3x more than that in their work.

what the bloody hell are you on about? it's like you didn't even read my post and immediately went into Apple Defense mode...

 

[JTBing]

Upgrade potential is not a requirement for a “Pro” computer. In fact, I suspect that most pro users are the ones who most frequently update their machines on a regular cycle anyway, but even that is beside the point. “Pro” computers receive that moniker because of the capability of their hardware to perform high-performance tasks. Often, reliability goes into the name as well. Lacking mechanical and removable parts benefits longevity. Long story short, a machine is “pro” because of what it can do for you, not what you can do to it.

It’s kind of a useless nickname anyway though. It’s a product line title, not something that we should debate and complain about. The computers are undoubtedly capable of professional work whether so-called or not.

 

[Trusteft]

I can't even make fun of this (RAM related, etc).
It's like making fun of a clown. What are you going to make fun of, his big shoes? His red nose?

 

[UberTiger]

Just placed order. UK fully maxed out with the 256GB Ram. Will be replacing my iMac Pro from Launch.

I'm sure you'll love it, but my goodness. For £14,529 you could buy a brand new £3k rig ever two years for the next 10 years for that much! Or three £5k rigs.

 

[darksithpro]

I bet a lot of people, including small businesses would rather build a thread-ripper machine for a lot less. You can now get a 32 core 2990WX CPU for less than 2 grand.

 

[travis64]

Wow and I thought 16 GB of RAM was a lot

 

[keysofanxiety]

This is nice... but if iMac Pro was really “pro”, the memory would be upgradable.

It's an iMac which has never been a modular machine. It's a Pro (high-spec) version of that iMac. This shouldn't be difficult to grasp as it's all in the name. iMac Pro. Is this really so hard? Really?

And before you cite previous upgrades such as RAM or the HDD if you rip it apart and void your warranty, that isn't a "modular" machine just because you can upgrade the odd component. Modular means fully upgradable: from the graphics, to the CPU, to the cooling, to the expansion ports.

That modular professional machine is coming with the new modular Mac Pro. So you'll finally have that "Pro" machine you need.