New Mac Pro Receives FCC Approval Ahead of Launch

[Jerion]

SIX THOUSAND dollars and you get a 256GB SSD

It's a lot of dough to be sure. No question.

But...

If you're seriously budgeting to pay six grand for a workstation, you're actually budgeting to pay more than that for your specific upgrades and software and external hardware. And you probably aren't working with local storage either.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

When you can build a PC with an AMD 12 core for a fraction of the price why bother with this?

Because a PC can’t run Final Cut Pro X or Logic Pro? From the preview, it’s clear this is geared for those that, due to preference in tools, are locked into Apple. You could provide better performance and expansion and only charge $12 for it, but if it doesn’t run FCPX, it’s a no go for these people.

No one buying the Mac Pro is buying it because they want the best performance per dollar. They’re looking for the best performance for the apps they use.

 

[mannyvel]

i spent almost 7 k on my system and it would run circles around this thing. LOL

That's great, enjoy your PC! I'm sure it'll provide great service for years. Windows 10 isn't that bad, for the most part.

 

[ssgbryan]

Does that build-your-own PC come with support, a warranty, and optional AppleCare that most companies/professionals want? macOS?

You don't have to build your own - lots of companies out there will build and support what they build.

My 1st Post-OSX box will be from velocity micro.

 

[konqerror]

Recurring Silly Comment 1) $6000 gets you something laughable.
Most race cars are sold without engines. No one says "$200,000 and it doesn't even run! Hurr hurr." The base model will boot, but NO ONE will leave it that way.

Actual problem: The high-end dual socket workstations (better than the Mac Pro, which is single socket) from Dell, HP, Lenovo all start at around $2500. The equivalent single-socket base model is $1300 from Lenovo.

You're making the argument that it's acceptable that a V8 Mustang GT costs $115,000 compared to a V6 base-model Camaro at $25,000.

Recurring Not Silly Comment - Doesn't run Invidia/CUDA.
Well, there are two possibilities. Major modeling/ML software will get ported to Metal, in which case this is a good machine for that. Or it won't, and only Video people will want/need it. Ok. True.

Actual problem: I'll tell you it won't happen on the ML and scientific computing because Metal isn't available on clusters or AWS/Azure. The point is to prototype and develop on your desktop then upload the code to a cluster.

 

[FaustsHausUK]

I have no rightful reason to ever buy one of these, but spec drool is real.

 

[JosephAW]

Can't wait to hear in a few years that macOS 10.18 is not compatible for the 1.0 pro machines.
Apple did that for my G5 tower. It came with 10.4 and upgraded to 10.5. That was the last update for my machine. Bought a Mac Pro 1,1 and got a few more updates to macOS 10.7 without a hack. Same thing here with these new machines.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Don't tease me MacRumors - that image and headline is NSFW

 

[Schizoid]

I’m guessing those default SSD module are proprietary so we won’t be sticking in a third-party 1TB anytime soon... (crazy Promise MPX module excepted)

 

[dazzer21-2]

Because cost and value are not the same thing and use cases vary wildly. People have a right to be disappointed when the kind of machine they like now costs three times as much as before.

I appreciate the use case varies. Just as the use case for the original Mac Pro and the use case for this new Mac Pro are POLES apart. You can do the things on a high end iMac/iMac Pro what you can do on an old Mac Pro. The prime difference is modularity. The facts are, if you want to buy today something remotely similar to the old Mac Pro, and you HAVE to have a Mac Pro, it's going to cost you an arm and a leg - period; and for what it costs, if you're not getting value from it, it's a LOT of money down the drain. It's just a lot less painful if you spread the payments...

 

[Nugget]

I’m guessing those default SSD module are proprietary so we won’t be sticking in a third-party 1TB anytime soon... (crazy Promise MPX module excepted)

For the boot/system volume, yeah. But for $16 you're good to go with any off-the-shelf M.2 ssd. Won't it be great to have slots again?

 

[theluggage]

Recurring Silly Comment 1) $6000 gets you something laughable.
... The base model will boot, but NO ONE will leave it that way.

...and until Apple launch the thing and publish the price of CPU upgrades, MPX-format GPUs, Afterburners, SSD upgrades etc. we have no idea how much those upgrades are going to cost (and par for the course, if you look at iMac prices, is about a 2x+ markup on retail prices of comparable components). Unless, of course, you're going to void the Applecare on day 1 by doing a DIY CPU upgrade and/or hope that your unsupported 3rd party GPU with an unofficial BIOS works... (things which contradict the argument that 'this is for serious professionals who will amortise it against their income')

 

[konqerror]

For the boot/system volume, yeah. But for $16 you're good to go with any off-the-shelf M.2 ssd. Won't it be great to have slots again?

Those require special chipset and firmware support (PCIe bifurcation). They also are no good for high-tier SSDs due to the lack of cooling.

The properly engineered ones look like this and cost $300.

 

[realtuner]

Actual problem: The high-end dual socket workstations (better than the Mac Pro, which is single socket) from Dell, HP, Lenovo all start at around $2500. The equivalent single-socket base model is $1300 from Lenovo.

Curious, do you have links for those systems?

 

[theluggage]

I’m guessing those default SSD module are proprietary so we won’t be sticking in a third-party 1TB anytime soon... (crazy Promise MPX module excepted)

You can get generic PCIe cards with standard M.2. slots and add 'economy' SSD that way (well, there's no particular reason to assume that won't work).

Last I looked, there were 2 Promise HD options - one is a 4-drive RAID MPX/PCIe card but the other is a 2-drive module that fits in the top/centre of the case where there are standard SATA sockets and what looks like a PC modular PSU-like power connector - that may be a bit cheaper and, if not, I'm sure some enterprising person will have a suitable bracket on eBay before long.

 

[konqerror]

Curious, do you have links for those systems?

Mac Pro level single-socket Xeon W: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/think-...series-towers/ThinkStation-P520/p/33TS3TPP520

Precision 5820 High Performance Tower Desktop Workstation | Dell USA

Expand your ideas with the Precision 5820 tower desktop workstation. Featuring high performance in a new innovative, versatile compact design.

www.dell.com

HP Z4 G5 Desktop Workstations

Tackle advanced workflows—from rendering and simulation to advanced video editing and massive dataset preparation.

www8.hp.com

Single-socket Xeon SPs: https://www8.hp.com/us/en/workstations/z6.html

Mid level dual-socket: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/think-...series-towers/ThinkStation-P720/p/33TS3TPP720

High level dual-socket: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/think-...series-towers/ThinkStation-P920/p/33TS3TPP920

Precision 7920 Workstation Desktop Tower with Xeon Processor | Dell USA

The Precision 7920 Tower workstation provides ultimate performance and scalability to grow alongside your vision.

www.dell.com

HP Z8 | HP® Official Site

Top of the line power to fuel those who reimagine our world.

www8.hp.com

 

[realtuner]

Mac Pro level single-socket Xeon W: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/think-...series-towers/ThinkStation-P520/p/33TS3TPP520

Precision 5820 High Performance Tower Desktop Workstation | Dell USA

Expand your ideas with the Precision 5820 tower desktop workstation. Featuring high performance in a new innovative, versatile compact design.

www.dell.com

HP Z4 G5 Desktop Workstations

Tackle advanced workflows—from rendering and simulation to advanced video editing and massive dataset preparation.

www8.hp.com

Single-socket Xeon SPs: https://www8.hp.com/us/en/workstations/z6.html

Mid level dual-socket: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/think-...series-towers/ThinkStation-P720/p/33TS3TPP720

High level dual-socket: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/think-...series-towers/ThinkStation-P920/p/33TS3TPP920

Precision 7920 Workstation Desktop Tower with Xeon Processor | Dell USA

The Precision 7920 Tower workstation provides ultimate performance and scalability to grow alongside your vision.

www.dell.com

HP Z8 | HP® Official Site

Top of the line power to fuel those who reimagine our world.

www8.hp.com

About what I figured. Their prices start low for a reason. The Lenovo and Dell are using the W21xx series of Xeons, not the 32xx the Mac Pro comes with. So not a valid comparison at all.

 

[doncl]

..and a 580X. Really pushing the boat out Apple. *slow clap*

I know this seems silly to a non-software-developer (i.e. a normal person), but....software devs, don't need or want fancy graphics cards. I had two of the 2013 trashcans, one with a pair of D300's, and another refurb with a pair of D600's, and the latter made absolutely no difference to my compile speed, or performance of VMWare Fusion for Linux and Windows VM's.

What mattered, was the number of cores, and the speed of the flash drive, and (to a lesser extent), the speed, or lack thereof, of the RAM.

I'm typing this on a 9 core MBP 15" model, and I can tell you I wish Apple had:

• Left out the discrete graphics card, and let it run on Intel only - better battery life, lower temps.
• Made the machine bigger and heavier, with better cooling, so the CPU never has to throttle. I'd gladly lug around a 7 pound machine (like the old 2011 17 inch MBP); this is emphatically not a problem (weight and size) that I needed them to solve for.

All, that matters to me is, how fast can it compile Swift code (which is glacially slow, even with the 5.1 compiler), and, if I have to use it off AC, does it not waste battery life on unimportant features (i.e. graphics) card. It needs to be able to drive two 34 inch 4K monitors, so I can see lots of code on the screen; and it needs to run the iOS simulators, that's it.

Admittedly, my needs are an edge case, but I'm definitely in the camp of the 'Pros' Apple is talking about, albeit one with utterly different needs than post houses and video editors; closer to that of the music studio with 1000 Logic Pro tracks (they don't really need hefty GPU computation, either).

I'm lining up to buy one of the first ones, with 28 cores, 4 TB Flash drive, 64 GB RAM (or 96 if they don't offer it in 64), and.....the lowest end graphics (580X) I can get.

Think Different, guys .

 

[McTaste]

go look at pro workstations... My last PC one cost £18K.

If you need a machine for work and it's primary source of earning money then even 30K is not a lot. My Gardener bought a pick up truck for work and that cost more than that - Wonder if people go on forums complaining that you could buy a Nissan cheaper than a For or whatever?

People might have something to say if he bought a lambo urus!

 

[konqerror]

About what I figured. Their prices start low for a reason. The Lenovo and Dell are using the W21xx series of Xeons, not the 32xx the Mac Pro comes with. So not a valid comparison at all.

Because those are products available today. Nobody sells a Cascade Lake W, Apple included.

Besides, the cores are nearly identical. These are all 2015 Skylake cores with the same cycles per instruction. Prices should be comparable when they come out. If you're paying a significant premium for Cascade Lake over Skylake, then you're getting ripped off.

And the other point is that you can go up to a dual-socket SP at a competitive price. More than doubling your PCIe and importantly your RAM channels.

 

[TwoTabs]

Yeah, I guess Linus and other youtubers might find it difficult finding followers making videos of users having a good/straightforward/painless experience getting their Apple products serviced, that the majority of customers experience day in and day out.

That certainly is my experience.

A professional company that is looking for high-end computers such as the new Mac Pro are not going to deal with a build-your-own box without a warranty or service.

Yes I understand your point but Apple is ripping people off. Charging people thousands of dollars more then anyone, i could see if it was award winning service, we both know thats bot true at all. Samsung doesnt charge people that much! You know why? Their products ate by far way better then apple. When the iPhone finally got wireless charging, samsung had been using it for years.

You don't have to build your own - lots of companies out there will build and support what they build.

My 1st Post-OSX box will be from velocity micro.

And it costs thousands less then this overpriced garbage and it is out performing it

 

[BOOMBA]

I know this seems silly to a non-software-developer (i.e. a normal person), but....software devs, don't need or want fancy graphics cards. I had two of the 2013 trashcans, one with a pair of D300's, and another refurb with a pair of D600's, and the latter made absolutely no difference to my compile speed, or performance of VMWare Fusion for Linux and Windows VM's.

What mattered, was the number of cores, and the speed of the flash drive, and (to a lesser extent), the speed, or lack thereof, of the RAM.

I'm typing this on a 9 core MBP 15" model, and I can tell you I wish Apple had:

• Left out the discrete graphics card, and let it run on Intel only - better battery life, lower temps.
• Made the machine bigger and heavier, with better cooling, so the CPU never has to throttle. I'd gladly lug around a 7 pound machine (like the old 2011 17 inch MBP); this is emphatically not a problem (weight and size) that I needed them to solve for.

All, that matters to me is, how fast can it compile Swift code (which is glacially slow, even with the 5.1 compiler), and, if I have to use it off AC, does it not waste battery life on unimportant features (i.e. graphics) card. It needs to be able to drive two 34 inch 4K monitors, so I can see lots of code on the screen; and it needs to run the iOS simulators, that's it.

Admittedly, my needs are an edge case, but I'm definitely in the camp of the 'Pros' Apple is talking about, albeit one with utterly different needs than post houses and video editors; closer to that of the music studio with 1000 Logic Pro tracks (they don't really need hefty GPU computation, either).

I'm lining up to buy one of the first ones, with 28 cores, 4 TB Flash drive, 64 GB RAM (or 96 if they don't offer it in 64), and.....the lowest end graphics (580X) I can get.

Think Different, guys .

I don't have a problem with an entry level machine for coders and audio professionals with no hard drvie space and a crappy GRFX card.

It just should start at $3200 (and that is me factoring in Apple's markup. It should really be $2500)

 

[triptolemus]

Apple's warranties are horrible and overpriced. I remember seeing a few videos on youtube about how horrid their warranty process was and how Linus Tech Tips almost had to pay 5 grand for a new MacBook pro that was still under warranty because the logic board had something wrong with it. I also remember watching a video of a guy who sent his monitor in to get repaired and they completely ruined it.

You watched a couple of videos, joined MacRumors today, and are going to declare that AppleCare is horrible and overpriced? Gotcha.

Welcome to MacRumors.

 

[ct2k7]

AppleCare for the MacPro is a bit of a joke...

 

[user_xyz]

SIX THOUSAND dollars and you get a 256GB SSD

I was thinking the same thing!! Cheesy.