It's pretty disappointing that they choose a design that only allows for expandability outside of the chassis. Thunderbolt does allow for high throughput and effective storage, and perhaps even graphic, options. However, I think most users would prefer to have these upgrades inside of the chassis.
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New Mac Pro thread (merged)
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Ugh. What's the word Pro doing in that name?
It's not Pro. Unless you want your expansion to spread out all over your desk in external devices. There's a reason why workstation tends to be big boxes with lots of space inside. You want your expanding to be inside so you don't clutter.
Sure this black cylinder is nice to look at. But add a few external expansion of different designs and you have a mess on your desk.
Btw, the reset of the new stuff is a bit of a yawn as well. It almost feels like "Steady as she goes, till we figure out what our new vision is".
It's not Pro. Unless you want your expansion to spread out all over your desk in external devices. There's a reason why workstation tends to be big boxes with lots of space inside. You want your expanding to be inside so you don't clutter.
Sure this black cylinder is nice to look at. But add a few external expansion of different designs and you have a mess on your desk.
Btw, the reset of the new stuff is a bit of a yawn as well. It almost feels like "Steady as she goes, till we figure out what our new vision is".
This is complete crap. Thunderbolt does not have anywhere close to the bandwidth of a full pci express card. Also a desk filled with cluttered addons doesn't sound better than one unit with everything in it.
I am wondering whether it is possible to upgrade the GPUs... so far, I like the way they work with storage. The internal SSD storage is faster than anything you could conventionally have and storage expansion via TB is a more flexible solution, IMO.
I am getting the impression GPU's on board may be even faster the GPU in PCIE
Maybe the board will be replacable
Would have liked to have kept dual CPU set ups though, and hope there will be future upgradability
when it comes out though the Pro will legitimately be a powerhouse, just worried about future upgradability.
Maybe the board will be replacable
Would have liked to have kept dual CPU set ups though, and hope there will be future upgradability
when it comes out though the Pro will legitimately be a powerhouse, just worried about future upgradability.
Ok, can someone clear up for me whether you'd be able to put and external graphics card in a TB2 chassis and run it that way?
If the price is right, I'm game. I hope there is an option for more than simply 128GB on the machine itself. Geez, my music collection is 300GB and I'd like to run that without 5 different external HD's.
Basically, they combined what is absolutely essential to most users into a tiny cylinder. Any expandability is going to require cables running here to there and back again.
I do like the HDMI out for video editing. That is nice.
However, Apple again chooses form over function. What is the f$%&ing point of small if I have to have cables running everyone to support externals?!
Basically, they combined what is absolutely essential to most users into a tiny cylinder. Any expandability is going to require cables running here to there and back again.
I do like the HDMI out for video editing. That is nice.
However, Apple again chooses form over function. What is the f$%&ing point of small if I have to have cables running everyone to support externals?!
My initial gripes:
-Don't care for the shape, we use them in live production, box shaped makes more sense for transport and efficient use of space.
-GPU - no nvidia=no cuda, and doesn't seem like there will be swappable GPUs (external TB gpu box is a clumsy and expensive solution)
-All external expansion - they could at least make ram accessible and throwing in a few 2.5" swappable drive bays that could be accessed from the outside would make a lot of sense.
Do like:
-smaller footprint - I didn't think the mac pro needed to be as large as the old one with 2.5" drives and more power friendly tech these days
-6 TB ports, potentially can drive a lot of displays/projectors for our needs.
-and the fact that the mac pro will still exist at all
-Don't care for the shape, we use them in live production, box shaped makes more sense for transport and efficient use of space.
-GPU - no nvidia=no cuda, and doesn't seem like there will be swappable GPUs (external TB gpu box is a clumsy and expensive solution)
-All external expansion - they could at least make ram accessible and throwing in a few 2.5" swappable drive bays that could be accessed from the outside would make a lot of sense.
Do like:
-smaller footprint - I didn't think the mac pro needed to be as large as the old one with 2.5" drives and more power friendly tech these days
-6 TB ports, potentially can drive a lot of displays/projectors for our needs.
-and the fact that the mac pro will still exist at all
With that size, I don't see that much upgradability. Memory for sure. Perhaps even CPU. It should have some space for 1~2 internal storage. (probably not 3.5'')
Definitely non standard VGA, even onboard.
They really don't listen to their customers do they. Sure they could have made it smaller, but it should have kept the tower form.
My understanding of Thunderbolt is that it utilizes x4 lanes, and TB2 is x8 lanes each. If this has six TB2 ports, that could be about the same as x48 lanes, in theory. What is possible in reality worries me.
I already have more than six cables coming out the back of my current Mac Pro, and an external 8-bay RAID box, so the 'mess' of external expansion might not be that big of a deal.
For me, the key at this point is how well an external box with GPU(s) will work, and how RAM expansion will work. If it can play nice with nVidia and AMD cards into the future, it may be quite good.
I already have more than six cables coming out the back of my current Mac Pro, and an external 8-bay RAID box, so the 'mess' of external expansion might not be that big of a deal.
For me, the key at this point is how well an external box with GPU(s) will work, and how RAM expansion will work. If it can play nice with nVidia and AMD cards into the future, it may be quite good.
Perfect example of Form Before Function. =(
Perfect example of Form Before Function. Only expandable with expensive external devices. 1/8 the volume = 1/8 the Mac Pro.
Flash storage instead of 4 HD bays ? Dual AMDs.... No CUDA blows it for me.
Worst case scenario would have been no Mac Pro. This is only slightly better.
Awesome & efficient aluminium case, is now small, cheap shiny black plastic? My current dual CPU coolers take up about the same space. How are they going to keep those dual AMDs and Dual Intels cool in that thing?
So glad I didn't wait and bought a real Mac Pro.
Perfect example of Form Before Function. Only expandable with expensive external devices. 1/8 the volume = 1/8 the Mac Pro.
Flash storage instead of 4 HD bays ? Dual AMDs.... No CUDA blows it for me.
Worst case scenario would have been no Mac Pro. This is only slightly better.
Awesome & efficient aluminium case, is now small, cheap shiny black plastic? My current dual CPU coolers take up about the same space. How are they going to keep those dual AMDs and Dual Intels cool in that thing?
So glad I didn't wait and bought a real Mac Pro.
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