MP7,1: Stock CPU Options?

[bsbeamer]

Appears several from this leaked Cascade Lake-W CPUs (CSL-W) chart lineup almost exactly with the Mac Pro 7,1 CPU Tech Specs list:




https://www.apple.com/mac-pro/specs/
https://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-xeon-cascade-lake-w-3000-series-specs,39278.html

8-Core: Intel Xeon W-3223
12-Core: Intel Xeon W-3235
16-Core: Intel Xeon W-3245
24-Core: Intel Xeon W-3265
28-Core: Intel Xeon W-3275

Something to keep an eye on with supported CPUs for potential aftermarket upgrades down the line after initial investments. There may be a path to 3.7GHz Intel Xeon W-3225's for those trying to be adventurous...

 

[MisterAndrew]

I wonder if the Xeon W-3225 supports 2933MHz memory rather than 2666MHz memory like the Xeon W-3223.

 

[bsbeamer]

I wonder if the Xeon W-3225 supports 2933MHz memory rather than 2666MHz memory like the Xeon W-3223.

Also curious if the boost is closer to 4.4GHz like the others in the line.

Personally will wait for better idea of pricing scenarios, but entry level model and a plan to upgrade CPU 2-3+ years later may not be a terrible idea, especially if buying 3rd party RAM modules that are rated for 2933MHz. Quick research showing 2x64GB (128GB) modules about $900. Maybe running 12x32GB (384GB) or 12x16GB (192GB) could help bridge the gap for a little while.

 

[ssgbryan]

The notes at the bottom of the Mac Pro page say that several were preproduction Xeons.

 

[bsbeamer]

The notes at the bottom of the Mac Pro page say that several were preproduction Xeons.

Yes, and the pre-production Xeon Cascade Lake-W CPUs reported above match up with Apple's tech specs almost perfectly. Due Q3 2019, which times perfectly with the Fall 2019 release.

 

[MisterAndrew]

Intel updated their site with specs for the new CPUs. The W-3225 supports 2666 MHz memory and has a boost frequency of 4.30 GHz.

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/series/125035/intel-xeon-w-processor.html
[doublepost=1559604580][/doublepost]It looks like if someone wants 16 cores it might be better to get the base 8 core and purchase the W-3245M separately since it supports 2 TB of memory rather than 1 TB like the W-3245 Apple is offering.

 

[bsbeamer]

It looks like if someone wants 16 cores it might be better to get the base 8 core and purchase the W-3245M separately since it supports 2 TB of memory rather than 1 TB like the W-3245 Apple is offering.

https://fuse.wikichip.org/news/2400/intel-rolls-out-cascade-lake-xeon-w-processors/



If those prices are accurate, it would change the plan/approach with potentially using W-3245M a lot. Maybe 4+ years from now if/when prices fall it would make more sense.

 

[MisterAndrew]

I just realized that the processors we've been referencing from Intel's site are not the processors in the Mac Pro. The Mac Pro processors are custom made for Apple. They have much higher cache. So they are better, but also more expensive. The base 8 core must cost quite a bit more than $749.

 

[frankiee]

Does anyone know whats the status with these new CPUs regarding all those nasty security bugs (eg Spectre, Meltdown and especially the newer variants) we have encountered the last two years?

I.e. are they: unfixed or fixed and if yes: how? Only via software, via microcode patches or even in the silicon itself?

 

[Clint_Barton]

I just realized that the processors we've been referencing from Intel's site are not the processors in the Mac Pro. The Mac Pro processors are custom made for Apple. They have much higher cache. So they are better, but also more expensive. The base 8 core must cost quite a bit more than $749.

Nope, AFAIK those Cascade Lake W-Based chips are indeed the ones that Apple are using. The quoted cache on Apple's site seems to be the L2 + L3 cache added together

 

[CWallace]

Does anyone know whats the status with these new CPUs regarding all those nasty security bugs (eg Spectre, Meltdown and especially the newer variants) we have encountered the last two years?

These are Cascade Lake CPUs and CL has in-silicon patches for Spectre and Meltdown.

 

[MisterAndrew]

Nope, AFAIK those Cascade Lake W-Based chips are indeed the ones that Apple are using. The quoted cache on Apple's site seems to be the L2 + L3 cache added together

Hmm, interesting.

 

[deconstruct60]

These are Cascade Lake CPUs and CL has in-silicon patches for Spectre and Meltdown.

Technically no. They have more fixes. They don't fix the general class of issues with these names. Only a subset of the subvarients have hardware fixes.

Cascade Lake still has just as many non hardware fixes as hardware ones. See the table in this article.

https://www.anandtech.com/show/1330...e-intel-clarifies-whiskey-lake-and-amber-lake

It is better (both in performance and some of these hardware fixes also crosses off all/most of the MDS problems too as they share root cause vector points that these hardware fixes touch.) . Not completely fixed though; that isn't a good connotation to imply.

 

[bsbeamer]

I just realized that the processors we've been referencing from Intel's site are not the processors in the Mac Pro. The Mac Pro processors are custom made for Apple. They have much higher cache. So they are better, but also more expensive. The base 8 core must cost quite a bit more than $749.

The first chart was a leak, but it may have just been confirmed here:
https://fuse.wikichip.org/news/2400/intel-rolls-out-cascade-lake-xeon-w-processors/

"In tandem with the Apple Mac Pro announcement, Intel has launched their second-generation Xeon W processors."

 

[ssgbryan]

I just realized that the processors we've been referencing from Intel's site are not the processors in the Mac Pro. The Mac Pro processors are custom made for Apple. They have much higher cache. So they are better, but also more expensive. The base 8 core must cost quite a bit more than $749.

The fine print in the notes sections say that they were preproduction CPUs, not custom made.

 

[fs454]

The fine print in the notes sections say that they were preproduction CPUs, not custom made.

They can be custom dies and preproduction at the same time. Not sure they will be non-retail models or not, but it's entirely possible. I'm running a preproduction Xeon E5-2676V3 in my hackintosh - an E5 V3 CPU that's both not the final production and also is a model specifically for Amazon's servers. Wouldn't surprise me to see Apple's intel CPUs with a custom model designation and differences to the box-retail versions.

 

[curmudgeonette]

If those prices are accurate, it would change the plan/approach with potentially using W-3245M a lot. Maybe 4+ years from now if/when prices fall it would make more sense.

Instead of enabling 2TB by using the 3245M in place of the 3245, if 1.5TB memory is enough, it would be cheaper to get the 3265 to enable the 3rd memory channel*.

* Or is it the 5th and 6th channels? Well, anyway, the 24 and 28 core chips enable the last 1/3 of the memory controllers.

 

[bsbeamer]

Based on the Intel's intended roadmap and leaks, I'm fully assuming the next chips in line (3rd generation) will have the same physical footprint and parameters, so hopefully there will be even more options throughout this "class" of Xeon's lifecycle. Then picking up previous generation with either higher clock or more cores (in 1-2+ years) should result in at least some cost savings, even more so over time.

Personally think the W-3225 and W-3235 may be the most attractive all around options initially. Will have to wait for actual prices, however. And only the W-3235 will be available from Apple. If purchasing AppleCare, it's probably just worth it to get that processor and wait 2-3+ years for update. Should (hopefully) have a better idea on Apple's intended roadmap for MP7,1 updates by that point. Some are voicing concerns with the lack of frequent updates for iMacPro as a reason for alarm over MP7,1 but that machine has been given spec bumps...