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Mac Pro Xeon Processors 'Imminent'

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Apr 12, 2001
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The Register repotrs on comments from Intel executives about the upcoming "Nehalem" Xeon EP processors due at the end of this quarter. During a briefing with reporters, Intel's vice president and director of operations at Intel's digital enterprise Group said that the new Nehalem EP chips are "currently in production, and we expect to have a system introduction later this quarter. So it is imminent."

The Nehalem Xeon EP processors are widely expected to power the next generation Mac Pro that has not seen updates for over a year. The Xeon EP processors should offer substantial performance boosts over existing models despite comparable clock speeds.

Previous reports have pinpointed a date of March 29th as a possible ship date.

Article Link: Mac Pro Xeon Processors 'Imminent'
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2009/02/11/mac-pro-xeon-processors-imminent/
A lot of us have been waiting to buy a Pro, including me! But I've learned not to trust everything you hear :p

Barbie.
 
About time! My PowerMac G4 is going to enjoy being an iTunes server when the new Pros come out.
 
Will this be the time Apple introduce a new case to go with the new underlying tech? Regardless, this should also bring with it the new display's if there is a new case design. I would assume so anyway...
 
I got a Mac Pro 6 months ago. I still have space to put HD and memory.
I don't think that this change will be so big for hardware.

But I expected a very big change in design.
 
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I may wait til westmere arrives... looks like westmere could be here early q1 2010. If the new Mac Pro arrives in June, seems like a short cycle for the processors and maybe bump in early 2010.
 
Lets hope all the new MP's are on the production line just waiting for this "Nehalem" Xeon EP component ;-)
Soon i hope... ;)
 
Cool, add this to the delayed 17" MacBook Pro and Apple will have announced products that cover all our needs, shame they probably wont be on anyones desks until long after that. I want my MacBook Pro to arrive now :-(
 
patricksan said:
I got a Mac Pro 6 months ago. I still have space to put HD and memory.
I don't think that this change will be so big for hardware.

But I expected a very big change in design.
Click to expand...

In terms of hardware change it is a big deal. The Xeon EP chips use an onboard memory controller similar to AMD chips, not to mention the Xeon is roughly 50% faster than the current Yorkfield based Harpertown Xeons in the Mac Pro. Also using DDR3 memory with the new QuickPath technology, we should see improved performance with regards to memory bandwidth which in my opinion cripples the possibilities of the current gen Mac Pro.

Design wise, I am unsure what they will do to change it. In my opinion the Mac Pro really falls into to area of "if it aint broke, don't fix it". It is already built like a tank, and is also easy to access for upgrades. I could maybe see Apple adding some extra HDD bays, adding Mini DisplayPort, but aside from that I am not seeing much change to the design.
 
My Jan 08 Mac Pro is not too worried about this news. She'll be singing for at least another 15 months yet.

FYI I really don't see a major case change - the only reason would be practical, i.e cooling issues but my MP is currently running at a whopping 26 degrees C so i really don't see why they'd need to redesign to improve on that.

I could see a different colour though, anthracite/anodised aluminium maybe?
 
I think the update will bring a single cpu for now, then update later in the year with a dual processor. Will have to wait and see though. My current 2.8 will be fine until 2010. By then, we will see the single cpu being 16 cores total.
 
i just think it's unbelievable, that there's a pro apple product which is not updated for over a year. i mean, even in times of g4 and g5 it didn't happened ...
can't wait to see new modo 401 to run on the new machine www.luxology.com/modo/401.introduction
 
.a said:
i just think it's unbelievable, that there's a pro apple product which is not updated for over a year. i mean, even in times of g4 and g5 it didn't happened ...
can't wait to see new modo 401 to run on the new machine www.luxology.com/modo/401.introduction
Click to expand...

Talk to Intel. Tell them to release chips more often.

The last one had a 518 day wait to be updated. Whose fault is that? Intel.
 
Tallest Skil said:
You couldn't possibly have that more backwards.

Tell me what they would change the design to, anyway.
Click to expand...

I totally agree with you.

It's implied using the new Xeons and Chipsets will absolutely destroy the current Mac Pro and the fact updates have being expected for a long time now, buying 6 months ago then kidding yourself it's only going to be a case re-design sounds like denial to me :D

Years ago, when I bought a 300Mhz Beige G3 and the 400Mhz B & W model I got at work a few months later wiped the floor with it I was really annoyed I hadn't being more patient and sort of justified it to myself by thinking, "At least it's got a floppy drive and SCSI"

The difference between the current Mac Pro and the one to come is going to be staggering from the look of things.
 
barkmonster said:
The difference between the current Mac Pro and the one to come is going to be staggering from the look of things.
Click to expand...

I've been eyeing the Mac Pro for ages now, as my MBP is just a bit slow with Aperture, and my giant photo libraries are on external drives. Seriously looking forward to getting a new Mac Pro, which by kicking the current Mac Pro into the ground, must totally stomp over my MBP.
 
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