Mac Pro CPU and GPU Upgrades See Significant Price Drop

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced price drops for its Mac Pro lineup ahead of a major revamp coming in the future, dropping the 4-core option and significantly lowering the prices of its new baseline 6-core and 8-core machines.

Apple has also made Mac Pro build-to-order processor and GPU upgrades much more affordable for pro users who need higher-end specs than the base machines provide.

Upgrading the new 3.5GHz entry-level 6-core Mac Pro to the 3.0GHz 8-core processor now costs $800, while upgrading to the 2.7GHz 12-core machine costs $2,000. Prior to today, the 8-core upgrade was priced at $1,500, and the 12-core upgrade was priced at $3,000.

GPU upgrades are also more affordable. With the 6-core machine, upgrading from the stock dual AMD FirePro D500 to the FirePro D700 now costs $200, an upgrade that was previously priced at $600. The GPU upgrade isn't necessary on the new stock 8-core machine, as it ships with the D700s.

RAM and flash storage upgrade pricing has not changed, however. It continues to cost $400 to upgrade to 32GB RAM and $1,200 to upgrade to 64GB RAM. 512GB flash storage is available for $200, and the 1TB flash storage upgrade costs $600. Prices on flash storage were lowered back in October alongside the launch of the new MacBook Pro.

All in all, a maxed out Mac Pro machine with a 12-core processor, 64GB RAM, 1TB flash storage, and dual AMD FirePro D700 GPUs will now cost $6,999 instead of $9,599.

The Mac Pro lineup has not gained any refreshed or updated hardware -- all that's changed is configuration and price. The machines continue to use Ivy Bridge E Xeon processors, dual AMD FirePro GPUs, and Thunderbolt 2.

Apple's reconfigured Mac Pros are available starting today from the online Apple Store and Apple retail stores. The 6-core model can be purchased immediately, but the 8-core model is listed as "currently unavailable."

Today's price drops come ahead of a promised overhauled Mac Pro that will be introduced sometime after this year. Apple is working on a high-end high-throughput modular Mac Pro system that will facilitate regular upgrades to meet the needs of Apple's pro user base.

Article Link: Mac Pro CPU and GPU Upgrades See Significant Price Drop

 

[keysofanxiety]

Does anybody know if the SSDs in the Mac Pro pricing refresh are quicker like the ones in the 2016 MBP? I imagine not as there's no 2TB option but I was just hoping for some confirmation either way.

 

[Blackstick]

Temporary measures until something new/truly awesome in 2018? We hope.

 

[MellowFuzz]

The new design is going to be shaped like a cube...

 

[Appleaker]

I'm glad they lowered the prices on flash again, hopefully this influences pricing with other Macs in the future.

 

[Chicane-UK]

Glad I wasn't imagining that the prices on BTO configurations suddenly seemed a lot lower! A positive step forward from Apple until we see the new system in 2018. Hopefully.

 

[Fall Under Cerulean Kites]

All in all, a maxed out Mac Pro machine with a 12-core processor, 64GB RAM, 1TB flash storage, and dual AMD FirePro D700 GPUs will now cost $6,999 instead of $9,599.

All of the non-pro users who simply desire a Mac Pro can complain all they want, but this is a significant price reduction, no matter how you look at it. Apple is certainly on the right track, and it was a great move to offer the price reduction in conjunction with the pre-announcement. Shops that need these machines will be happy with this.

 

[jerwin]

something new/truly awesome

The last time Apple released something "new/truly awesome", you guys got the nMP.

Remember when people speculated about the prospect of upgrading the nMP, as new technologies became available?

 

[Scottsoapbox]

Better than nothing, but couldn't something this minor have been done earlier?

Can't help but notice the looming quarterly earnings report...

 

[bladerunner2000]

Too late as people have jumped ship and moved over to PCs or Hackintoshes. The prices are still too high for 5 year old (lousy) hardware.

 

[magicschoolbus]

Apple is looking for a REASON to kill the mac.

They have made it obvious that they do not want the mac in their lineups.

By not upgrading it; sales go down; it gives them reason to put the nail in the coffin.

Just get it over already Apple. Everyone is tired of you dragging us along.

Put a bullet in the mac line up already; the current lineup is a disgrace. No upgrades, glued parts, insane prices, you can't even plug your flagship product into a new 3k macbook without a freaking adapter.

This has all been done intentionally - to slowly kill off your Mac line up because you cannot control the content on Mac. You have tried with your crappy Gatekeeper software (terrible) and it failed. Now, you are trying to kill off the Mac entirely because you can't control the content via the App Store- where you already make most of your $.

Long live the classic macbook pro.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

I heard that the SSD update was stealth.

 

[star_nerdy]

Still overpriced for outdated technology.

It's now like being kissed before you're rapped, rather than just rapped.

Yeah it's just like rape except for the whole consent thing, which is what defines rape

 

[iMcLovin]

Better than nothing, but couldn't something this minor have been done earlier?.

Im thinking the same... Its just a desperate act as Apple notice that the Pro market is slipping and afraid of what impact it may have. THe lack of updates is nothing short of negligence from Apple. THey could have done this almost yearly with very little effort.

But at least we got some unusal news, which is good. Though apples time frames can be painful for pro users. I wouldnt buy this Mac Pro unless I was absolutely desperate for new hardware. Despite the upgrades and price drops - it's still a useless design that looks worse than any pc box once everything is hooked up.

 

[9081094]

Better than nothing, but couldn't something this minor have been done earlier?

Can't help but notice the looming quarterly earnings report...

It's good there is movement but you're very right about this. These are the minimal efforts they should've put in years ago. They still don't understand how the market works it seems. But I'm glad there is movement.

 

[NanoTubeReturns]

Non gratum anus rodentum

 

[Fall Under Cerulean Kites]

Too late as people have jumped ship and moved over to PCs or Hackintoshes.

No true pro is using a Hackintosh. Tinkerers and hobbiests, sure. Pros? Not a chance.

 

[aaronhead14]

This is so great! But it's especially great knowing that Apple will release their modular/customizable Mac Pro in 2018! Thanks for being transparent, honest and forthcoming with us, Apple!

 

[jrlcopy]

Didn't it used to ship with a mouse and keyboard? 3K for a machine and no mouse or keyboard, what a joke.

 

[Floris]

Didn't it used to ship with a mouse and keyboard? 3K for a machine and no mouse or keyboard, what a joke.

It's a server, not a workstation.

 

[violst]

I wonder when and how this will affect the refurbs?

 

[sza]

DDR3 still?!

 

[bladerunner2000]

No true pro is using a Hackintosh. Tinkerers and hobbiests, sure. Pros? Not a chance.

Why? Because it doesn't have the Apple logo on it?

 

[Floris]

The "update" and "price drops" are a joke.

It's 3500 euro for the base model, and it's the only model available, and you get no bluetooth 5, no usb-c, no thunderbolt, 3, yes, you can power 5k monitors but there's a tiny catch for that. the ram is still ddr3, we're on ddr5, ..

I guess this "magical big re-thinking" just means "2016 hardware" i doubt all these 'todays standards' will be in the future mac pro.

 

[m4v3r1ck]

Apple should just aknowledge that they have almost lost the pro market! Many are - have already - jumping ship ans moving to PC mean&lean machines. The upgrades for the trash can is a big laugh.

Cheers