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MP 7,1 Is it worth buying a MacPro7.1?
- Thread starter Krisz
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I assume you're already aware of these two facts — compared to Windows/Linux workstations from the same era(2019), the Mac Pro 7,1 has:
- Limited CPU upgrade options
- Limited GPU upgrade options (due to physical constraints and macOS driver support)
Here are some questions you should evaluate before committing:
- Do you have a clear and ongoing need to run Windows natively (via Boot Camp, not virtualized)?
- Do you need to install Linux natively and have full control over low-level drivers and system resources (not via virtualization)?
- Do you need to run older versions of macOS (e.g., Mojave or earlier) for legacy software or workflows?
- Do you expect your RAM usage to exceed the current Apple Silicon limits (192–512GB)?
- Do you rely on specialized PCIe cards (audio, video capture, scientific hardware, etc.) that cannot be replaced with Thunderbolt alternatives?
- Do your applications require AVX / AVX2 instruction sets, with no available ARM-based or cloud alternatives?
If none of the above apply to your case, I would say the Mac Pro 7,1 is better suited for existing owners who already invested in it — because at that point it's a sunk cost. But as a new investment, it’s hard to justify in 2025. Most of these needs can now be fulfilled with simpler, more modern, and often much more cost-effective solutions.
- Limited CPU upgrade options
- Limited GPU upgrade options (due to physical constraints and macOS driver support)
Here are some questions you should evaluate before committing:
- Do you have a clear and ongoing need to run Windows natively (via Boot Camp, not virtualized)?
- Do you need to install Linux natively and have full control over low-level drivers and system resources (not via virtualization)?
- Do you need to run older versions of macOS (e.g., Mojave or earlier) for legacy software or workflows?
- Do you expect your RAM usage to exceed the current Apple Silicon limits (192–512GB)?
- Do you rely on specialized PCIe cards (audio, video capture, scientific hardware, etc.) that cannot be replaced with Thunderbolt alternatives?
- Do your applications require AVX / AVX2 instruction sets, with no available ARM-based or cloud alternatives?
If none of the above apply to your case, I would say the Mac Pro 7,1 is better suited for existing owners who already invested in it — because at that point it's a sunk cost. But as a new investment, it’s hard to justify in 2025. Most of these needs can now be fulfilled with simpler, more modern, and often much more cost-effective solutions.
It's from here. It even got a littler cheaper since my post. Only 4 left.
The seller changed, maybe the configuration is not only from one seller. But still the same strange downgrade price upgrades.
Apple Mac Pro 2019 - Refurbished Desktop PC
Get the powerful Apple Mac Pro 2019 refurbished. Features macOS, WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, and multiple Thunderbolt 3 ports for connectivity.
www.refurbed.de
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That store even is in Germany. Free shipping across EU. Had they been only on eBay by then?
Are those pictures from the time you purchased? It's €2500 and €2300. This is from their website right now. There is also the one from my post with a similar price (€1599). Preview is showing a wrong price for that one. Not sure what the difference between "very good" (it's in German even if I set the site to English) and A+ (says very good too when I click on the +) for the other one is.
Mac Pro 7.1 2019 16 x 3.2GHz 2TB SSD Pro 580X Top daily deal
At mac-store24.com you can get the Mac Pro 7.1 2019 16 x 3.2GHz 2TB SSD Pro 580X Top daily deal for just €1,999.00
mac-store24.com
And there is that one:
Mac Pro 7.1 2019 Radeon Pro Vega II refurbished used
At mac-store24.com you can buy the Mac Pro 7.1 2019 Radeon Pro Vega II refurbished used for only €2,799.00 at a great price
mac-store24.com
The GPU seems expensive. Is that a good one? Maybe it's also the A+ condition. RAM can be configured up to 786GB. But I think that's a too easy upgrade for letting it do in the store. I have to look for prices of ECC RAM. Is a higher clock speed possible than Apple sold?
Edit: Sorry for the many edits if someone read it before all had been done.
The first one can even be upgraded to 1TB RAM, both might be enough for my use case. Now I have to look for RAM prices. Is Non-ECC also supported?
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Thanks I recently watched a few videos from him. Not sure if also that one. But I will do it now when my coffee is ready.
I love he said "freedom inches"...
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I always look here first when I need information about a Mac. But I think you all know that site already. I also use the MacTracker app in addition but it mostly has less information. Sadly it doesn't support the last 10.14.x with 32bit support. I don't really need it but that would have been nice to have it for who knows what.
Is someone still running it with 10.15.x? I got stuck on High Sierra until early 2023 and don't really know much about anything older than Sequoia because I almost directly after purchasing upgraded to the first Developer Beta on my iMac M3 and can't remember Ventura from my M2 Pro MBP because I was very sick by then.
everymac.com
Is someone still running it with 10.15.x? I got stuck on High Sierra until early 2023 and don't really know much about anything older than Sequoia because I almost directly after purchasing upgraded to the first Developer Beta on my iMac M3 and can't remember Ventura from my M2 Pro MBP because I was very sick by then.
Mac Pro "16-Core" 3.2 (2019) Specs (2019, BTO/CTO*, MacPro7,1, A1991, 3203): EveryMac.com
Technical specifications for the Mac Pro "16-Core" 3.2 (2019). Dates sold, processor type, memory info, hard drive details, price and more.
everymac.com
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Thanks for the help
I watched the video and got a lot of my questions answered
I just need to save up the money and find a 7.1 at a good price.
If all goes well, I can start looking for a machine to sell in 2 months
I really wanted to try the Until Dawn Remake game but unfortunately it wouldn't start on 5.1
I think it won't be a problem with 7.1 either
It's true that I'll rarely use the computer for gaming, but it's still nice to be able to use it for that sometimes.
Thanks for the help
I watched the video and got a lot of my questions answered
I just need to save up the money and find a 7.1 at a good price.
If all goes well, I can start looking for a machine to sell in 2 months
I really wanted to try the Until Dawn Remake game but unfortunately it wouldn't start on 5.1
I think it won't be a problem with 7.1 either
It's true that I'll rarely use the computer for gaming, but it's still nice to be able to use it for that sometimes.
Just watched it too finally.
16-64GB ECC DDR4 modules seem to be pretty rare and expensive and there is not even a big price difference between 16, 32 and 64GB modules. Even the upgrade in that store to for example 512GB (I think that's enough) is much cheaper (€1150) than buying it new. But I don't now what they use and how much slots will be filled.
I have to find used ones, the prices on Amazon are insane.
I wonder if those would work too. (CL22 1.2V) The others have CL19 and 21.
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Any chance a Late 2025 Mac Pro will be released maybe in November? That could drop prices for the 2019.
I am aware there is no answer. I fear the 8,1 this is another 6,1 moment.
It's unbelievable they don't give any information about their most expensive outdated Mac.
I am aware there is no answer. I fear the 8,1 this is another 6,1 moment.
It's unbelievable they don't give any information about their most expensive outdated Mac.
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I didn't know they had a web site. Thank you for the link
I bought mine from mac-store ebay 26 June 2024. It came with a Radeon Pro 580X.
Higher price than today, of course.
€1.200 extra for the Vega II card is to much. When there is a brand new card for sale at €1.249 in Netherlands.
Apple Radeon Pro Vega II 32GB MPX Module for Apple Mac Pro 2019 | eBay.de
Entdecke Apple Radeon Pro Vega II 32GB MPX Module for Apple Mac Pro 2019 in groÃer Auswahl â Vergleichen Angebote und Preise â Online kaufen bei eBay.de â Kostenlose Lieferung für viele Artikel!
www.ebay.de
The Vega II card is more or less like a Radeon VII card. The advantage is 32GB VRAM and 4 Thunderbolt ports and 1 HDMI port. But the 6xxx serie cards are two generations newer.
No, it should be 2933 MHz ECC memory.
Apple used LPDDR in 768GB and higher configurations.
Low-Power DDR can not be mixed with normal DDR modules.
You can find 768GB for €1.450. Or 1.5TB for €3.250 from the same seller.
I bought 192GB memory €450, from this seller in July 2023
Attachments
I think the prices will go lower mainly because macOS will not support Intel machines next year. And not because a new machine may be released.
I didn't know they had a web site. Thank you for the link
I bought mine from mac-store ebay 26 June 2024. It came with a Radeon Pro 580X.
Higher price than today, of course.
View attachment 2537080
€1.200 extra for the Vega II card is to much. When there is a brand new card for sale at €1.249 in Netherlands.
Apple Radeon Pro Vega II 32GB MPX Module for Apple Mac Pro 2019 | eBay.de
Entdecke Apple Radeon Pro Vega II 32GB MPX Module for Apple Mac Pro 2019 in groÃer Auswahl â Vergleichen Angebote und Preise â Online kaufen bei eBay.de â Kostenlose Lieferung für viele Artikel!www.ebay.de
The Vega II card is more or less like a Radeon VII card. The advantage is 32GB VRAM and 4 Thunderbolt ports and 1 HDMI port. But the 6xxx serie cards are two generations newer.
No, it should be 2933 MHz ECC memory.
Apple used LPDDR in 768GB and higher configurations.
Low-Power DDR can not be mixed with normal DDR modules.
You can find 768GB for €1.450. Or 1.5TB for €3.250 from the same seller.
I bought 192GB memory €450, from this seller in July 2023
Thanks, that is looking much better than what I found on Amazon. There wasn't even 64GB modules from Samsung only smaller ones. OWC also only had smaller modules in stock there.
The problem Apple will be coming up against, is it's really difficult to justify the cost of a Mac Pro, when it's a disposable consumer electronics product. An iPad, you can pretty much use for ever, it only ever does light duties, it doesn't need to stay cutting edge, and the envelope of necessary performance for what it can feasibly do was reached by desktop computers more than a decade ago.
But the AS Mac Pro, even the high end Studios, they're inherently non-viable - unless you need more than 4 displays, you can buy a string of lower end machines over the cost life of one "ultra", and spend more of that time closer to the cutting edge of performance.
With an upgradable computer, this isn't really an issue.
There really isn't a point to making a new Mac Pro without slot-based GPUs.
The 2023 really only exists so Apple can say they "transitioned" the Mac Pro (and the whole Mac line) to Apple Silicon, to show they could. It's largely a PR exercise.
The ones with 2666MHz are much cheaper than the 2933MHz ones in your link. €825 instead of €1450. I could get 512GB for only €549. 🤔
When I only check new, those are on top:
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Have a look at the ones on eBay. There are much cheaper ones. But I don't know if all those work for the Mac Pro.
This configuration would be perfect for me
16 cores 96 GB I don't need anything better than this
I would just replace the video card in it