Mac Pro CPU Upgradeability Confirmed With Processor Swap

[Cubytus]

To the one who said that "since a while all Pro level machines have featured a socketed processor", where have you been since the MacBook Pro was born? Show me a MBP with a socketed processor, please.

(...)
I don't believe that. Apple has shown that selling complete systems ( Hardware / Software ) as a total package is what they believe is more stable, reliable and easier to use.

Since they write their own software drivers for selected hardware, you don't have any compatibility issues. its guaranteed to work. Microsoft you have to support thousands of different hardware configurations and still maintain backward compatibility once it becomes obsolete.

Same problems with Android. Android has to run in a virtual machine rather then native code just to run on the thousands of different models it has to support. Then you still have fragmentation, models that rarely get software updates maybe only once during its life cycle. Apple instead has its three different models at any one time, that can have new versions of iOS often 4 generations behind.

They do what works for them and works for the majority of their users.

Well said. The trouble with Microsoft is they will never coerce hardware makers into making a properly functioning peripheral, and that a user will end up with flaky drivers that Microsoft has no control upon. I'd rather have a million available peripherals that are guaranteed to work than 10 millions where buying one amounts to basically rolling a dice. For that reason, I am in strong favor of the so-called Windows Premium PCs initiative, even as we never saw any of their stores.

And the lack of internal expansion, and the lack of 4k monitor support, and the lack of thunderbolt peripherals, and the inability to rack mount.

These are actual functional issues that impact the day-to-day use of the machine.

I don't think anyone that purchases mac pros really cared about the CPU being upgradable.

Also, people complaining about functional issues aren't haters, they either have purchased a machine or want/need to purchase a machine but there are limitations to what they can do with it.

Lack of internal expansion, you said it. And nothing to make for the loss.

 

[andrew78]

yum.

yumyumyumyumyumyumyumyumyumyumyum

 

[ActionableMango]

Too bad you can't order the new Mac Pro without any CPUs in it. The problem with ordering a lower model and then upgrading to a higher CPU model is that you're still stuck with the original CPU. I suppose you can try to sell it, but you're not going to get what you paid for it (relative to the cost of the machine) back. Unfortunately, Apple won't sell bare-bones machines and let users upgrade it themselves because they make all their BILLIONS by bending the customer over and shoving the parts in themselves at 200-600% markup.

1) You could say the same thing about almost every computer maker not selling their computer models without CPUs.

2) Apple makes the vast majority of "all their BILLIONS" by selling iDevices, not Mac Pros.

 

[milo]

The i7s also limit you to 32GB RAM and you aren't going to be overclocking.

Intel lists 64 for all these chips. Otherwise I agree with your post, no good reason to pair this chipset with i7 CPU.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

1) You could say the same thing about almost every computer maker not selling their computer models without CPUs.

2) Apple makes the vast majority of "all their BILLIONS" by selling iDevices, not Mac Pros.

1> So what? It was just a comment. Why are you having a heart attack over it?

2> I wasn't just talking about Mac Pros, but Macs in general. And there was a day when they did make their money from Macs. So an actual Mac fan, rather than a Phone/gadget fan might bemoan that shift too. But then people like you would get upset for people that don't share your beliefs and opinions from disagreeing with them in a public forum.

 

[ActionableMango]

1> So what? It was just a comment. Why are you having a heart attack over it?

2> I wasn't just talking about Mac Pros, but Macs in general. And there was a day when they did make their money from Macs. So an actual Mac fan, rather than a Phone/gadget fan might bemoan that shift too. But then people like you would get upset for people that don't share your beliefs and opinions from disagreeing with them in a public forum.

I'm not upset at all, nor having a heart attack. Just providing counterpoints to your points. If I had some sort of upset tone in my reply, I'm not seeing it.

Cheers.

 

[Tech198]

]I don't believe that. Apple has shown that selling complete systems ( Hardware / Software ) as a total package is what they believe is more stable, reliable and easier to use.

What Apple believes is not best for everyone, even though Apple think it is.

however you said one word here that stood out "Selected hardware"

When OS X comes across attached hardware, there are no OS X drivers for, suddenly, you get the issue "It doesn't just "work" at all'

It only works for those devices only..... I call that a limitation, but Apple's got us in a net of a trade off of just making it all work right IF they make the drivers available.

I'd rather the consumer take the heat any-day for trying to find drivers, than having Apple do it....


But then again,,, that's the price you pay for convenience.

True, Microsoft maintains backward compatibility, but the good thing there is you KNOW all hardware will work and going forward

With Apple, you have no idea because of the way they decide, with not maintain backward compatibility. They force people to upgrade, just because they want you to.. Not a good reason in my view, but thats the way it is, just because users choose to still have an old iPhone..... Why do they need to upgrade to a new phone, when there one is perfectly fine ?

That's the difference between Apple and Microsoft. Give me freedom any-day, but I like Apple to much ...... And the only solution is Bootcamp/VM. Which, by the way you may as well have got a PC instead...

 

[linuxcooldude]

What Apple believes is not best for everyone, even though Apple think it is.

I don't think Apple claimed it would be, just for the majority of its users.

But Apple's got us in a net of a trade off of just making it all work right IF they make the drivers available.

All operating systems have tradeoffs.

I'd rather the consumer take the heat any-day for trying to find drivers, than having Apple do it....

I think thats for the consumer to decide.

True, Microsoft maintains backward compatibility, but the good thing there is you KNOW all hardware will work and going forward

Microsoft just usually gives you drivers for basic functionality, if that. If you need something more advanced you need to install drivers from the manufacture.

But over time backward compatibility can work against you as it makes the OS more bloated and slow.

With Apple, you have no idea because of the way they decide, with not maintain backward compatibility. They force people to upgrade, just because they want you to.. Not a good reason in my view, but thats the way it is

Apple is not Microsoft and their mission is in quite a different direction that has worked quite well for them. Microsoft wants to keep backward compatibility. Apple prefers to look into the future with their products.

Apple does not force anybody to upgrade. All their products continue to work just fine even though new features in both software & hardware may come out primarily for new products.

Don't forget Apple primarily makes money off their hardware, not software like Microsoft.

Just because users choose to still have an old iPhone..... Why do they need to upgrade to a new phone, when there one is perfectly fine ?

Apples mobile phones & tablets can be updated with new operating systems and features well beyond their expected life cycle. Something that Android users rarely get to enjoy. Sure, some features you may not get unless you upgrade, but like I said before, they make their money primarily through hardware sales.

 

[shyataroo]

Of course you can. It's not superglued to a battery or welded to the case.

true but the motherboard is a custom design, so you can't shove any ol motherboard in there and call it a day.

 

[schizzo]

Too bad you can't order the new Mac Pro without any CPUs in it. The problem with ordering a lower model and then upgrading to a higher CPU model is that you're still stuck with the original CPU. I suppose you can try to sell it, but you're not going to get what you paid for it (relative to the cost of the machine) back. Unfortunately, Apple won't sell bare-bones machines and let users upgrade it themselves because they make all their BILLIONS by bending the customer over and shoving the parts in themselves at 200-600% markup.

Dude, no OEM sells you the computer without the CPU, what are you on about? You're making yourself sounds very ignorant.

 

[Cubytus]

When OS X comes across attached hardware, there are no OS X drivers for, suddenly, you get the issue "It doesn't just "work" at all'

I don't quite get you. Apple software works on Apple hardware. If it works on non-Apple hardware, that's simply because the brand uses common parts. It does "just work", as long as you don't try to hack it.

True, Microsoft maintains backward compatibility, but the good thing there is you KNOW all hardware will work and going forward

Huh, no. There are TONS of peripherals which suddenly stopped working when Vista came out because MS precisely cut support for older hardware. Try to make a HP LaserJet 1100 work on Windows 8. Just for fun.

With Apple, you have no idea because of the way they decide, with not maintain backward compatibility. They force people to upgrade, just because they want you to.. Not a good reason in my view, but thats the way it is, just because users choose to still have an old iPhone..... Why do they need to upgrade to a new phone, when there one is perfectly fine ?

I do agree that their decisions are impenetrable, and technically unjustifiable. However, there's sometimes a license justification, such as the loss of Rosetta, which could have been released as an open-source projects for volunteers to maintain.

I would still disagree about the iPhones. The reason many people choose not to upgrade is the staggering price of the device itself and/or the plan required to run it. Some don't forget they could get a basic MBA for the price of a single iPhone.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

Dude, no OEM sells you the computer without the CPU, what are you on about? You're making yourself sounds very ignorant.

What am I on about? You call me ignorant, but you can't figure that out on your own? My god, I'm not even going to answer that question....