New Mac Pro Nearing Release as Apple Advises Technicians How to Place Computer in DFU Mode

[Darth Tulhu]

Tell Apple you want a Mac Mini Pro model. Like all the people who asked for a new Mac Pro and got one
Apple is like Santa They have so much money they can build pretty much anything any thing a large number or even a smaller group might want, and you might get it!!!!!!

Man, I wish that were true.

Still, TB3 is a game changer and with eGPUs now, I think I'm good to go with the modular concept they tried to implement too early with the 2013 Mac Pro.

So either Mac Mini + eGPU + external storage array, or the same but replace the Mini with a MacBook (with a decent keyboard).

The 2010's were hell for an old Power/MacBook-head enthusiast like me, but the 2020's look bright!

 

[Exponent]

I guess I'll get one after our Series A round! Although really, if I was investor I'd be pissed if I saw one of these...

Exactly. If you really are on the verge of getting your FIRST round of investor financing, splurge with a nice champagne, and then save your pennies, save your pennies like your life depended on them.

Sincerely,
Mr. Been There Done That

 

[TMRJIJ]

I'm interested as to how many people will buy these. They seem laser focused on the hollywood/pro video markets, especially considering the new display. Relatively limited market, even for Apple.

Trust me. There will be people taking out mortgages for this beast

 

[Exponent]

Not the same processor, not the same memory ECC or the number of memory slots, not the expansion slots, not the same logic board speed.

I built a Threadripper engineering compute workstation a few years ago, complete with ECC RAM, copious memory and expansion slots, the works.

While putting it all together in a stylish see-through case way was a pain, it certainly blew away any Mac at the time in terms of price for high performance. I suspect the same is true if I had to repeat that task today.

If you don’t have to run Mac OS, there are many more possibilities available.

 

[ptklenk]

Apple today updated its Mac Configuration Utility for authorized technicians with instructions on how to place the new Mac Pro in DFU mode, according to a reliable source. For existing Macs, this software is used to pair components like the logic board to the Apple T2 security chip after a repair is completed.

We have elected not to share any screenshots to protect our source, but a generic image of the Mac Configuration Utility is below. An option for the new Mac Pro has been added alongside the iMac Pro, Mac mini, and notebooks.

Mac Configuration Utility via The iPhone Wiki​

Our source was informed that this move likely means the new Mac Pro will be released imminently. Apple previewed the new Mac Pro at WWDC 2019 in June and said the computer will be available to order at some point this fall, but it has yet to specify a release date.

The all-new ?Mac Pro? is a powerhouse, with up to 28-core Intel Xeon processors, up to 1.5TB of ECC RAM, up to 4TB of SSD storage, and up to AMD Radeon Pro Vega II Duo graphics with 64GB of HBM2 memory. The computer also has eight PCIe expansion slots for maximum performance, expansion, and configurability.

A new design includes a stainless steel frame with smooth handles and an aluminum housing that lifts off for 360-degree access to the entire system. The housing also has a unique lattice pattern to maximize airflow and quiet operation.

Apple says the new ?Mac Pro? provides over 300W of power to the CPU and has a "state-of-the-art thermal architecture" to allow the processor to run "fully unconstrained all the time." This is a significant change from the previous ?Mac Pro?, which Apple eventually admitted led it "into a bit of a thermal corner."

Facing mounting criticism that it had abandoned its professional customers, Apple made the rare move of announcing that it would be releasing a new Mac Pro in April 2017, over two years before the computer was unveiled.

The new ?Mac Pro? will start at $5,999 in the United States with an eight-core Intel Xeon processor, 32GB of ECC RAM, Radeon Pro 580X graphics, and 256GB of SSD storage. Apple will also be selling the 32-inch Pro Display XDR with 6K resolution for $4,999, although the stand for the monitor costs an extra $999.

With the chances of an October event becoming increasingly slim, Apple could announce Mac Pro availability via press release.

Article Link: New Mac Pro Nearing Release as Apple Advises Technicians How to Place Computer in DFU Mode

Unfortunately, the pricing is ludicrous. I have the money for this beast, but refuse to pay this price. I looked an iMac and decked it out with options and I'm still in the $2500.00 range.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I built a Threadripper engineering compute workstation a few years ago, complete with ECC RAM, copious memory and expansion slots, the works.

While putting it all together in a stylish see-through case way was a pain, it certainly blew away any Mac at the time in terms of price for high performance. I suspect the same is true if I had to repeat that task today.

If you don’t have to run Mac OS, there are many more possibilities available.

So true.
You have to be really wedded to macOS, because the price/capability equation here is pretty out of whack.

 

[Porco]

I would dearly love one of these but cost is not always the same as value, and desire does not always overlap enough with justification... Oh well.

 

[sfwalter]

Does anyone else think they will do a November event for the first time? October is already wasted.
I refuse to believe they will launch all those new products without an event.

They’ve already announced the product. What would they do with this product at another keynote? It would probably just be saying the same stuff they already said. The only thing we’re missing is the pricing for all the various options which will be in the store soon

 

[UK-MacAddict]

I'll never buy one - but excited to see one at the store I suppose.
Case design seems very interesting for sure

I see a case which is going to suck in so much dust. The XDR display will be an nightmare to keep dust out as well.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Why do people think they'll be another Mac Pro event?

We already did this...

 

[jlocker]

I built a Threadripper engineering compute workstation a few years ago, complete with ECC RAM, copious memory and expansion slots, the works.

While putting it all together in a stylish see-through case way was a pain, it certainly blew away any Mac at the time in terms of price for high performance. I suspect the same is true if I had to repeat that task today.

If you don’t have to run Mac OS, there are many more possibilities available.

oops my motherboard died from some manufacture no longer is business, who do I call to get a new one, oops, my processor fried because i did not install it right, opps my liquid cooling broke and it fried my computer and so on and so on...........

Also if you had every component exactly the same with the same quality of build, what i have seen is the build PC comes out more. over 25 years of comparing.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Ain't it usually the way that you buy a pro Mac (remembering the cheese grater days) with as little in it as possible and then populate it yourself? Apple is historically the WORST price/performance supplier of storage, RAM and components. That's what raised the ire of pros when Apple tried to shove us all into iMacs and trash cans. They were harder to upgrade so the most cynical of us thought it was an attempt to corral upgraders into ponying up more up front.

Most of what you can populate on your own is SSDs. The GPGPUs are custom. The Afternburner LPGA beauty is custom. The SSDs have to be certified by Apple. Other than RAM what are you talking about? You could slave a NAS, 6 6K monitors and more.
[automerge]1571873260[/automerge]

oops my motherboard died from some manufacture no longer is business, who do I call to get a new one, oops, my processor fried because i did not install it right, opps my liquid cooling broke and it fried my computer and so on and so on...........

Also if you had every component exactly the same with the same quality of build, what i have seen is the build PC comes out more. over 25 years of comparing.

You are correct. What I want to see is Apple move from Intel to Zen2+ or even Zen2 Threadripper. The 64 core/128 CPUs just a few weeks away would stomp. Nothing is stopping them now other than the possibility of some bs contract inclusion by Intel when selling the Modem IP Apple continues using their CPUs.

 

[SomeSoftwareGuy]

I'm still a desktop guy a heart, and I'd love to get one of these. Even the trash cans looked cool, though I know they did have some design flaws, but just were not in the price range of what I'd be willing to pay. I hope this form factor never goes away.

 

[Velin]

A really nice machine. Elite level editing kit.

 

[CarlJ]

Correct, this isn't for 99% of the people on this website. This is for companies that need major firepower for editing etc. Of course there will still be those regular users who claim they really have to have it. So they'll toss cash at it which is also what Apple banks on.

Just imagine how much snappier Safari will be on the new Mac Pro!

 

[gugy]

I am not going to lie. I want this MP and XDR display so bad and even being a Pro, is too much money for me to invest in it. I'm a motion graphics independent contractor and I estimate the ideal set up for me might be around $14-17k. That's quite a lot for individuals unless they are extremely successful with lots of high paying clients. For companies in Hollywood, that's not an issue.

I am waiting to see the final prices and if the iMac Pro will get some love soon to make a final decision.
Ideally, for me, a workstation between the iMac Pro - MP price points would fit me well.

 

[patent10021]

I wonder if it's possible to put Apple Geniuses in DFU mode.

 

[StellarVixen]

Awesome machine!

I can get base model, and throw in Nvidia Tesla, and fire up some insane CUDA computations...


...oh, wait...

 

[jlocker]

Most of what you can populate on your own is SSDs. The GPGPUs are custom. The Afternburner LPGA beauty is custom. The SSDs have to be certified by Apple. Other than RAM what are you talking about? You could slave a NAS, 6 6K monitors and more.

Well you got that wrong, Yes it comes with a Apple PCI because PCI 4.0 was not ready but it still looks like you can still put in a standard PCI PC graphics card in the unit, like the old days. Afterburner is a add on card so you may or may not need it. SSD for the internal storage has to be certified, and you do not think that a vendor like OWC could get it certified? And you can put a hell of a lot of more storage externally with thunderbolt 3. And i am sure we will be seeing multi-port Thunderbolt 3 PCI cards or even Thunder bolt 4 cards someday.

 

[ikramerica]

Just imagine how much snappier Safari will be on the new Mac Pro!

It’s still going to peg the processor and fans on random websites.

 

[MisterAndrew]

I see a case which is going to suck in so much dust. The XDR display will be an nightmare to keep dust out as well.

Yep, but unlike an iMac you can just open it up every now and then and blow the dust out. Also, place an air purifier in the room to reduce dust in the air.

 

[Abazigal]

So true.
You have to be really wedded to macOS, because the price/capability equation here is pretty out of whack.

Based on various sharings with youtubers, it appears they prefer Final Cut Pro due to its simplicity and stability.

Seems there is a hidden benefit here to using a Mac that isn’t readily apparent. That while they may cost more upfront, they quickly pay for themselves in the form of improved productivity and fewer problems overall.

This is something you don’t see factored into cost / benefit analysis because of its subjectivity, but matters nonetheless.

 

[MisterAndrew]

oops my motherboard died from some manufacture no longer is business, who do I call to get a new one, oops, my processor fried because i did not install it right, opps my liquid cooling broke and it fried my computer and so on and so on...........

Also if you had every component exactly the same with the same quality of build, what i have seen is the build PC comes out more. over 25 years of comparing.

And the headache of getting all those parts to work together without conflicts, messing with drivers, etc.

 

[konqerror]

I built a Threadripper engineering compute workstation a few years ago, complete with ECC RAM, copious memory and expansion slots, the works.

I want to know your definition of "copious". In my engineering work, 128 GB is barely enough, 256 GB is OK, and 512 GB is sufficient, 1 TB is preferred.

The workstation I use is designed to support 3 double-wide 265 W GPUs, like Quadro RTX 5000s (2080 Ti+) or 2 300 W cards. Has 5 x16 slots and 3 x4s.

Apple's prices are generally competitive, except that you end up getting a 1 socket system, where the same price will buy you a two socket from HP, Dell and Lenovo, with consequantly better scalability (2x the RAM and PCIe mainly)

 

[jlocker]

We are talking about the introduction of the iPod 18 years ago, but it was also the birth of the OS X operating system running on BSD unix. I remember showing a PC guy a new Mac, that was making fun of the the Apple and i asked him, how many times has your windows XP blue screened on you? Then they said well Mac does not have a real operating system and Linux is much cooler! Then i brought up the terminal window and showed him BSD unix underneath. You mean a Unix operating system like this. He was speech less. So i guess you really do not know that much about the new Mac systems.