Mac Pro 7,1 28-core Processor option

[handheldgames]

As we inch towards Apple's long awaited 7,1 announcement...

Intel released the Xeon W-3175X today, with 28 Cores and a price of $2999. I expect this CPU should be available in the BTO 7,1 MP based on the Intel C621 platform/chip set.

Starting today Intel offers their Xeon W-3175X processor, an unlocked 28-core workstation built for select, highly-threaded and computing-intensive applications such as architectural and industrial design and professional content creation.

Built for handling heavily threaded applications and tasks, the Intel Xeon W-3175X processor delivers uncompromising single- and all-core world-class performance for the most advanced professional creators and their demanding workloads. With the most cores and threads, CPU PCIe lanes, and memory capacity of any Intel desktop processor, the Intel Xeon W-3175X processor has the features that matter for massive mega-tasking projects such as film editing and 3D rendering. Other key features and capabilities:

• Intel Mesh Architecture, which delivers low latency and high data bandwidth between CPU cores, cache, memory and I/O while increasing the number of cores per processor - a critical need for the demanding, highly-threaded workloads of creators and experts.
• Intel Extreme Tuning Utility, a precision toolset that helps experienced overclockers optimize their experience with unlocked processors.
• Intel Extreme Memory Profile, which simplifies the overclocking experience by removing the guesswork of memory overclocking.
• Intel Advanced Vector Extensions 512 (Intel AVX-512) ratio offset and memory controller trim voltage control that allows for optimization of overclocking frequencies regardless of SSE or AVX workloads, and allow maximization of memory overclocking.
• Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 that delivers frequencies up to 4.3 GHz.
• Up to 68 platform PCIe lanes, 38.5 MB Intel Smart Cache, 6-channel DDR4 memory support with up to 512 GB at 2666 MHz, and ECC and standard RAS support power peripherals and high-speed tools.
• Intel C621 chipset based systems designed to support the Intel Xeon W-3175X processor allow professional content creators to achieve a new level of performance.
• Asetek 690LX-PN all-in-one liquid cooler, a custom created solution sold separately by Asetek, helps ensure the processor runs smoothly at both stock settings and while overclocking.
• With the Intel Xeon W-3175 processor, build the "Infiltrator Demo" in Unreal Engine up to 1.52x faster compared with the Intel Core i9-9980XE processor.

 

[thornslack]

I feel like this processor would never be selected based on apples usual thermal constraints. But who knows; maybe they’ll build a real desktop this time around.

Also this is still skylake ++. Intel needs to get their stuff together, they’ve been on this node forever.

 

[AidenShaw]

But who knows; maybe they’ll build a real desktop this time around.

That's an LOL suggestion.

 

[handheldgames]

That's an LOL suggestion.

Compared to Apple's current options, 6 channel's of DDR-4 RAM sounds pro, although it's only a single CPU configuration.

 

[Zdigital2015]

Consider the specifications of the unit that Intel sent to Anandtech for testing - https://www.anandtech.com/show/13748/the-intel-xeon-w-3175x-review-28-unlocked-cores-2999-usd - the enormous case, 1700W PSU and the requisite liquid cooler just do not lend themselves to a modular Mac Pro in any way, shape or form. The $62,000 question is whether Apple intends the Mac Pro to be a single CPU workstation or a single AND dual CPU system. If they choose the latter, it will be a Xeon Scalable Professor-based system, otherwise, it will most likely be a Basin Falls Refresh Xeon W-based system. Looking forward to seeing what Apple cooks up.

 

[handheldgames]

Consider the specifications of the unit that Intel sent to Anandtech for testing - https://www.anandtech.com/show/13748/the-intel-xeon-w-3175x-review-28-unlocked-cores-2999-usd - the enormous case, 1700W PSU and the requisite liquid cooler just do not lend themselves to a modular Mac Pro in any way, shape or form. The $62,000 question is whether Apple intends the Mac Pro to be a single CPU workstation or a single AND dual CPU system. If they choose the latter, it will be a Xeon Scalable Professor-based system, otherwise, it will most likely be a Basin Falls Refresh Xeon W-based system. Looking forward to seeing what Apple cooks up.

Good points. While the 28-core monster may be out if question, I have a feeling the single cpu Intel C621 chipset is targeted for the MP 7,1.

 

[ssgbryan]

Or simply use AMD Threadripper and get 32 cores for $1700.

A 32 core system with 128Gb ram, 512Gb NVMe boot drive, WX7100 8Gb video card, 1600 watt PSU = $6,500.

 

[Dean Yu]

The leak from Talosive states the use of a “soldered” Xeon W 3175X with 8 DIMM slots for 512 GB support. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is a downclocked “B” variant designed for apple.

 

[mavericks7913]

If Apple wanna use more than 8 cores, Threadripper or EPYC is way better than cheaper. Even 3rd gen Threadripper and 2nd gen EPYC will going to have max 64 cores.

Current Intel CPU line up is messed up because of 14nm. Overheating too much even with soldering.

 

[edgerider]

@handheldgames ,

yeah that must be it... the cpu they where waiting for...

but the more I think about it the more i think we are anyway going to be disappointed...

the 3 gpu able high-end xeon modular 2019 cheezgrater for 2000$ we all want is just not possible by apple standards...

just powering and cooling a 1500w computer completely silently would be freaking expensive, and i think the G5 dual « liquid cooling leak after one year » must have been a trauma at apple hardware design : I’m pretty sure that in the deskop hardware developers room there’s a big sign saying : « NO WATERCOOLING ANYHOW ANYTIME »

I just hope they would do the « prothunderbolt » with pciex16 on a cable... and let other manufacturers do the expension hardware on that proprietary connector like they have done it with thunderbolt 3...

it shouldn’t be that hard to blend 4 regular thunderbolt cable in a sleeve with some sort of proprietary connector.

then the computers itself could be a kind of « super mac mini » with just 4 of those port, 10gbe , 4 thunderbolt, and 4 of those superthunderbolt port.

that would lower the price of the machine... to the acceptable sub 5000$ zone with a killer cpu to start with...

 

[AidenShaw]

I just hope they would do the « prothunderbolt » with pciex16 on a cable... and let other manufacturers do the expension hardware on that proprietary connector like they have done it with thunderbolt 3...

Like this?

https://www.onestopsystems.com/product/nvidia-branded-pcie-x16-cable​

or this?

https://www.onestopsystems.com/product/pcie-x16-gen-3-host-target-kit-3811​

 

[sirio76]

the 3 gpu able high-end xeon modular 2019 cheezgrater for 2000$ we all want is just not possible by apple standards...

Post like this remember me why I stopped to write here many years ago.... and I promise I won’t write again for a long time after this post.
Can you show us how to build an highend Xeon system for 2000$? It is not possible by Apple standard.... it’s not possible by any standard if you are able to perform some simple math. Just yesterday I’ve quoted a basic system on the HP shop, it comes out at 2700$ and beside the possibility to upgrade it was far worst than a 2013 MP performance wise. Even if you build a system by your self for 2000$ you can only get garbage workstation components.

 

[edgerider]

Like this?

View attachment 823506
https://www.onestopsystems.com/product/nvidia-branded-pcie-x16-cable​

or this?

View attachment 823507
https://www.onestopsystems.com/product/pcie-x16-gen-3-host-target-kit-3811​

no, this is Epcie16x with amphenol molex connector, I use those everyday and they are a nightmare : the cable are stiff as hell, the cards have to be tuned for each cable length, and they pull a lot of pressure on pcie slot just because of the cable. they are purely pcie, there are no embedded signal at all such as usb or DP.
the way I see it is that one « pro-thunderbolt cable would just be one cable with 4 thunderbolt port in one connector. think it as 4 T3 port side by side in one connector : like this you could use it either as a normal thunderbolt cable (x4) or with 2 x 2 cable (x8) or a one x16 cable...

you do 4 of those and you can plug virtually anything to that machine...

with 64 lane out you have a crazy amount of bandwidth... and you can daisy chain stuff.

that would totally go into apple « dongle » frenzy and very soon you would see a chassis maker doing a 19 inch rack with two « super thunderbolt » port and pcie switch to do x16/x8x8/x4x4x4x4...

Dont get me wrong : I love e-PCIe , but the cables are a nightmare !!!!
[doublepost=1551170768][/doublepost]

Post like this remember me why I stopped to write here many years ago.... and I promise I won’t write again for a long time after this post.
Can you show us how to build an highend Xeon system for 2000$? It is not possible by Apple standard.... it’s not possible by any standard if you are able to perform some simple math. Just yesterday I’ve quoted a basic system on the HP shop, it comes out at 2700$ and beside the possibility to upgrade it was far worst than a 2013 MP performance wise. Even if you build a system by your self for 2000$ you can only get garbage workstation components.

I was doing a bad joke because a lot of blokes here say they want a dual xeon monster, but only have the money to buy a used G5...

what i was trying to say, is that apple might be trying not to please anybody but to do a rational machine this time...

and no one even apple can built a high end dual xeon tower with lots of disk bay and lots of pcie slot for 2000-$.

the truth is my 2009 is now a striped box that only have the processor, the memory and a usb3 card in slot3.

every thing else is on external Pciex16 expender because it is just so much more convenient. the only thing we truly need apple to build is a « brain box » with a intel scalable socket , memory slot, and io conectors to exit pcie lane out of it.

if you think that way there is not a lot of hardware involved on the mobo, and basically it would cost what ? twice or 3 time the price of a mac-mini to build?
add the processor and memory price to that and that could give a not too expensive computer to buy...
and with 2000$ oem can buy some freaking cool xeons... so at 3999 there would still be a lot of profit to be done...

 

[Zen_Arcade]

That's an LOL suggestion.

Still an LOL suggestion?

 

[edgerider]

we almost got it right here, a lot of PCiE slot 1400w psu...
integrated pcie bifurcation.

i’m curious to see what plex chip they use....

and if there will be adapter to convert the extra slot with power in a regular 8pin pcie power.

and most of it I’m very impatient to see what the xserve is going to look like inside because if it aint too loud that is what i will go for!

 

[PickUrPoison]

we almost got it right here, a lot of PCiE slot 1400w psu...
integrated pcie bifurcation.

i’m curious to see what plex chip they use....

and if there will be adapter to convert the extra slot with power in a regular 8pin pcie power.

and most of it I’m very impatient to see what the xserve is going to look like inside because if it aint too loud that is what i will go for!

The Xserve were VERY loud. All the time. Even when idling. They had their uses but I wasn’t too sad to see them discontinued.