suneohair
macrumors 68020
These are workstation/sever chips. No other quads for sometime, unless they release a mini tower Mac.
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Intel Announces 45-nm Penryn Processors
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These are workstation/sever chips. No other quads for sometime, unless they release a mini tower Mac.
liv4Mac
macrumors member
I hear that it's backward compatible with some current MBs in other words the chips have the same pin configurations of the last chipsets. for your sake, I hope the MBs on the current Mac Pros are one of the compatible ones.
If the rumors about Apple ordering the first batch of the 3.2ghz chips then, Apple will most likely have a new motherboard considering that the L2 caches are higher.
suneohair
macrumors 68020
Well you would be losing the benefits of the whole Seaburg platform, which is more significant than just FSB. You would be taking a significant speed hit by using Penryns in the current Mac Pros.
Unacceptable to who? I just don't get it. I needed a more powerful machine for work a over a year ago so I bought the a Mac Pro. When the Quad option became available I thought, that's nice, but I really don't need the extra speed. The next machines we bought were the fast machines, but I still kept my "old" computer. Why, because honestly it didn't make a huge difference.
Do people who say things like the above comment even buy these products and use them in the real world? I'm just curious. You know you could have the fastest CPUs in the world, but if you're just using the computer to surf the web, check e-mails and use iTunes, does it really make a difference?
Honestly I'm surprised more people aren't up in arms that Quicktime doesn't support Dolby Digital or that the same options that exit for the iPod Shuffle does not exist for the iPhone or the other iPods (such as AutoFill or convert higher bit rate songs to 128 kbps AAC.
Wild-Bill
macrumors 68030
Hey, if you don't get it than you don't get it. At least you admitted as much. The Mac Pro has been virtually untouched since its inception and is now the oldest machine in Apple's lineup. The other thing that hasn't changed is the pricing. Hey, if you feel comfortable paying 2006 prices for 2006 technology at the end of 2007, be my guest. I'm not about to pay Apple for old technology, and certainly not at the prices they charge (x1900xt for $400.00 anyone???)
Digital Skunk
macrumors G3
The other issue is that they claim that Pros are the ones complaining, and I can promise them that no professional is wasting their time worrying about when a Mac Pro update is coming. The facts are simple... the current Mac Pro is outdated by more than a year... so what. If you need a Mac Pro now then get one now and upgrade the parts when you need to... the next Mac Pro will be coming SOON. Tomorrow or in January, so what... but for those that are waiting it will come and it will be updated... buy it whenever it comes out.
I am more surprised that Apple hasn't done anything with the ACDs. A new Mac Pro would be very welcomed on my desk, but I would really like some ACDs to go with it, and there aren't any other options that give me Firewire hubs. A new higher spec'd 24" or 30" ACD would be very nice.
AidenShaw
macrumors P6
IlluminatedSage
macrumors 68000
Good catch, My hope is the new Mac Pro's have:
1- Graphics cards with HDMI output, high quality output,
2- Blu Ray player, DVD+/-R Option for Blu-Ray +R and +/-RW
and .... of course new monitors with 2+ HDMI inputs and speakers so that you can use it for other uses, ie TV and etc.
My real hope would also be for a medium sized tower that would be mid range in power and upgradable. those imacs are underpowered and not upgradable. yet i don't know if i need the full power of a workstation. so give us a chance to make up our own minds apple!
liv4Mac
macrumors member
Why would you buy a Mac Pro if your task for using it are not in a professional level?
From Wild Bill's avatar he is probably a musician just like I am. I for sure would benefit from a multi-core processor. The higher the better for me. If one does not understand that, then you are not ready for a Mac "Pro". Not to mention the animation that I also render.
So you would prefer that Apple refreshes their prices and product line weekly like Dell? Also the Mac Pro is just over a year old, so to say that we're paying 2006 prices is a little misleading. It started shipping in late August early September of 2006.
I guess my point is that yes, it would be nice to have faster machines at lower prices, but if Apple chooses to hold off for until January, it's not the end of the world! They're not being stupid. They know what they're doing and they are moving product!
With that said, having bought a Mac Pro, I would consider upgrading to a new system if they changed the enclosure (which is hasn't changed since the G5) and make it smaller (but not a mini Tower!) but still be able to support all of my hard disks.
Also I can't wait to get rid of my 30" ACD for a glass version (like the new iMacs) with a built in iSight, it's so much nicer!
I have been holding out on replacing a dual G5 that badly needs replacing because when the first mac pros came out there wasn't enough of a difference to justify the cost. I figured there would be a few updates since we've moved to intel processors, and so either speed would go up or prices would go down. Neither has happened, and so I, a "professional" graphic designer with a big pile of money waiting to press "buy" on a new, updated mac pro, am in a holding pattern that has lasted over a year. I will not "give in" and just buy the current generation.
Would you buy a G4 iPod for the original MSRP today?
I sure wouldn't.
That's effectively what apple is selling to professionals right now.
400 dollars for a graphics card that goes for 1/3 that in PC land and is WAAAAAAY behind the curve?
Nope.
I'll be needing an 8800 GT, please. My last machine went from 10.3 to 10.5.0. The next one will need to take me through to the end of 10.6 at least, preferably 10.7.
Adobe will have bogged down the creative suite with a million more lines of code by then, and a machine that felt "frisky" last year will feel arthritic by then. My G5 is puttering along, and admirably so, but it was the best of the best not that long before the current mac pros were released. my macbook is actually faster with everything except reading/writing to disc. That's embarrassing.
When we were sheltered in PPC land, we could pretend like a processor speed bump every year was OK and that our machines were better than PCs anyway, you just couldn't tell because PPC performance "didn't translate" directly to x86 performance. Now that excuse is gone. There are faster processors available for the pro market. There are MUUUUUUCH faster graphics cards available, and some people actually need them. A new Mac Pro with an 8800 GT and plenty of room for RAM and HDDs would future-proof my computing needs for at least a couple of years, probably more like 5.
Get on with it, already, Apple.
Would you buy a G4 iPod for the original MSRP today?
I sure wouldn't.
That's effectively what apple is selling to professionals right now.
400 dollars for a graphics card that goes for 1/3 that in PC land and is WAAAAAAY behind the curve?
Nope.
I'll be needing an 8800 GT, please. My last machine went from 10.3 to 10.5.0. The next one will need to take me through to the end of 10.6 at least, preferably 10.7.
Adobe will have bogged down the creative suite with a million more lines of code by then, and a machine that felt "frisky" last year will feel arthritic by then. My G5 is puttering along, and admirably so, but it was the best of the best not that long before the current mac pros were released. my macbook is actually faster with everything except reading/writing to disc. That's embarrassing.
When we were sheltered in PPC land, we could pretend like a processor speed bump every year was OK and that our machines were better than PCs anyway, you just couldn't tell because PPC performance "didn't translate" directly to x86 performance. Now that excuse is gone. There are faster processors available for the pro market. There are MUUUUUUCH faster graphics cards available, and some people actually need them. A new Mac Pro with an 8800 GT and plenty of room for RAM and HDDs would future-proof my computing needs for at least a couple of years, probably more like 5.
Get on with it, already, Apple.
I think that's the main problem. Since Apple keeps their prices constant (as the rest of the industry gradually goes down), they need to stay on top of updates. When the MBP got SR I bought one immediately. At the time they were a good deal compared to equivalent machines from the other makers. Now that they haven't changed in awhile and their prices obviously haven't dropped, they are generally more expensive than the equivalent competitor.
So yes, Apple either needs to update regularly or lower prices over time.
EagerDragon
macrumors 68020
I've been waiting for a new MacPro for about a year. I could have bought one, but it would have not been cost effective (a waste of my money) since I would then have been stuck with that outdated model for another 3 or 4 years. It's been way too long since there was a 'real' MacPro update.
MacinDoc
macrumors 68020
Well, Intel launched the chips today, so they're not treating it as a holiday. I vote for a Mac Pro release tomorrow. No way it will wait until MWSF. Apple already has the ultraportable to announce there, and maybe an iPhone update and iMac update.
I'm a pro and waiting/wondering when an update will come. In the past year I've gone from shooting jpegs for newspapers to shooting RAW for commercial use and weddings. My 3.5 year old PowerBook is not cutting it anymore and there's no way I'm buying 1+ year old technology when we're so close to an upgrade.
Also, while they do announce some pro technology at MWSF, it's usually not more than one thing (since 2001) and it's very likely they will announce a new ultra-portable, so...
Also, people like Aiden are talking about this mini-tower... If this did come to fruition, would this new machine make the Mac Pro overkill for Photoshop work?
Hahahaha! You're assuming that all professionals who work in this industry are loaded with cash with the work just rolling in and clients beating down the front door like angry Trojans with Trump-like wallets! Hilarious! I've worked in video for quite a long time - for firms, TV stations, and freelance - there is NO WAY that anyone I have worked for, or with, would not be in tune with this update, and unwilling to wait a month or two at this point considering the current Mac Pro is almost 16 months old. We're all waiting, all holding our breaths. Oh, and most of us have and make a lot less money than you realize.
Personally, I think Apple is going to go for the "before Christmas" launch, before waiting until MWSF. Mostly a hunch, sure, but also to match HP's delivery dates, and because they'll have a new laptop (and maybe new CD's) there to show off.
darthraige
macrumors 68000
Wednesday. (Due to Holiday or a major surprise from Apple for tomorrow.) It will either be the best day of our Mac life, or the worst. lol
Today is not a "work" holiday like Thanksgiving.. and technically Veteran's Day was Sunday. Just my little self-assurance that apple will announce tomorrow =P
After looking up PCIe Gen 2 cards, I noticed that the only consumer level card compatible with the faster interface is the new 8800GT. Here's hoping for a BTO option!
After looking up PCIe Gen 2 cards, I noticed that the only consumer level card compatible with the faster interface is the new 8800GT. Here's hoping for a BTO option!
darthraige
macrumors 68000
Interesting. That is true, and also, Apple probably already did press releases early last week since they have this stuff ahead of time. So Apple could be all set to release tomorrow. If the machines are ready to ship, they just need to update the stupid website. lol ... Tomorrow would indeed be awesome!
darthraige
macrumors 68000
Even more true, since I am working today... At a production company. lol ... Tomorrow hopefully is crazy MacPro release day.
darthraige
macrumors 68000
What time for MacPro if it were to happen tomorrow?
At what time did the Santa Rosa MacBook refresh happen at? I forget. Was it at midnight or early early in the morning?
At what time did the Santa Rosa MacBook refresh happen at? I forget. Was it at midnight or early early in the morning?
Yes!
The fact that it is done by Dell and is not done by Apple does not mean it's stupid. Of course, there has to be a happy medium as well. Why not adjust BTO component prices every couple of months, for example?