Lemme see if I can remember the timeline release of MPs:
2006 - Aug?
2008 - Feb
2009 - ????
2010 - Aug
So if the consensus is to keep the 2008 machine until the next iteration, do you think that comes at the end of 2011 or first quarter 2012??
If the refresh happens in the next 12 months, then it seems pretty obvious the specs will be those of "Sandy Bridge" although it's possible they could add some goodies like USB3, SATA3 and Light Peak.
Apple could however choose to forego Sandy Bridge, get an exclusive on some new 22nm chip in 2012 and then do some more radical things like redesign the enclosure and add even more tech goodies.
I know a lot of people would get their panties in a bunch if Apple waited 16-18 months to do a MP update and the forum would fill with threads about how apple is abandoning the "pros" and there'd be more "Waiting" threads than people in New York City but seriously every couple revisions, Apple does seem to hit a sweet spot and by many accounts the 2009 and 2010 MP revisions were lackluster so maybe the third is a charm.
Thoughts?
I suppose I'll just quote myself from another thread - saves time typing
Next generation might be 2012....
Cause, all the server grade Sandy Bridge processors don't get released till Q3/Q4 2011. And seeing that it took 5 months after the release of Westmeres to make an appearance in the 2010 Mac Pro... well, I imagine the same will occur with the next generation.
If i'm right though, you'll probably appreciate the wait since Sandy Bridge server processors are planned to come not only in 6 core flavours but in 8
I see a 16 core MP in the future! (anyone wanna guess what the price of that would be, heheh)
As for the 22nm CPU's... that'll begin with the die-shrink of the Sandy Bridge to be called Ivy Bridge. To be released approximately a year after Sandy Bridge - you probably won't see server grade stuff till late 2012/early 2013. That's assuming the world doesn't end of course.