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New Mac Pro's soon?
- Thread starter MBX
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Nothing new from Intel on the Xeon front for a little while. Apple doesn't lower prices when processor prices drop either.
What could they update to?
The soonest we'll see an update is January.
The latest (with Beckton, but that's NOT happening) is in June at WWDC.
You could buy now, or wait. Buy when you need it, though.
The soonest we'll see an update is January.
The latest (with Beckton, but that's NOT happening) is in June at WWDC.
You could buy now, or wait. Buy when you need it, though.
MWSF (and WWDC) isn't for updated Macs. Recall that the Penryn Mac Pros were released the week before MWSF 2008.
That being said I think we will see it around January 2009.
Maybe even earlier.
Gainstown comes out in September. Usually, Apple adapts a cpu a week or two after it is released. Why would they allow the competition to gain an extra 4 months over them in the workstation department?
Because they let them have two months with Penryn for the Mac Pro and notebooks.
And don't forget that Apple did not use quad-core CPUs in the Mac Pros until 5 months after the competition, when the 3.0 GHz version came out.
Apple waited for the 3.2ghz Xeon to come out before they unveiled the Mac Pro. They released the Mac Pro several days after the release of the top-end Penryn CPU.
Apple also waited until the 2.6 mobile penryn before they released the notebooks.
Once again, Apple released the Quad Cores after the 3.0 was released. The Xeon quad cores first came out only at a maximum clock speed of 2.66ghz. They did not wait 5 months after the release of the 3.0 quad, as the 3.0 quad was delayed.
It appears that Gainstown will immediately come out at up to 3.2ghz. So we might see a release as early as October.
It should also be noted that no big vendor (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Fujitsu-Siemens) had workstations available on the official release date of Penryn Xeons. Though some started offering servers with a small selection of penryn processors some time in late november.
Dell began shipping workstations at the end of December and HP's shipping date was the release date of the Mac Pro; 2 months after the new Xeons came out. I'd expect the same again, especially with rumours that Nehalem may be limited at release (aren't all processors?
) and because this isn't just a processor update on older hardware.Would you have an article, or is it an educated guess?
The closest I've read so far, was on TGDaily, and going on near a year old. And searching, so far hasn't yielded more info on clock speed.
It should also be noted that no big vendor (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Fujitsu-Siemens) had workstations available on the official release date of Penryn Xeons. Though some started offering servers with a small selection of penryn processors some time in late november.
Dell began shipping workstations at the end of December and HP's shipping date was the release date of the Mac Pro; 2 months after the new Xeons came out. I'd expect the same again, especially with rumours that Nehalem may be limited at release (aren't all processors?
Usually, there is a time lag from the release date of the CPU to a vendor product. Vendors have to sort out parts suppliers/ chain, retooling, manufacturing, and testing (hopefully). Until it gets sorted, and they can ship, consumers wait.
This is just a theory of mine. Apple's Mac hardware sales have been on the rise for the past few years. Therefore, Apple might decide that in order to compete for the pole position in computer sales it might need to diversify its Mac lineup and provide people with more options.
One such option I'd like to see is a headless-iMac. I'd very much like to switch my desktop over to a Mac but can't do so just yet with the Mac Pro since it's much more powerful than what I currently need (that will change in the next year or so though, which is why I'm waiting it out). Are there others out there that wish for this as well? I'd also like to see a beefed up Mac Mini sometime soon. That actually would be a cool option to use as an HTPC.
One such option I'd like to see is a headless-iMac. I'd very much like to switch my desktop over to a Mac but can't do so just yet with the Mac Pro since it's much more powerful than what I currently need (that will change in the next year or so though, which is why I'm waiting it out). Are there others out there that wish for this as well? I'd also like to see a beefed up Mac Mini sometime soon. That actually would be a cool option to use as an HTPC.
Nice theory.
Will Apple actually do something like this? 
Dunno, but more than a few members, me included, would certainly like to see it.
You must be new here - just do a search through the Forums and you will find that this topic has been discussed ad nauseum.
For the record, I am one of the ones who would love an upgradeable headless mini-tower Mac. I don't need the power of the Mac Pro, and although my iMac is amazing, it would be nice to have the option to swap out the hard drive and video card with ease if I wanted to.
The desire for this type of Mac has lead to all those FrankenMac projects out there. I wouldn't know anything about those though... (hopes no one notices hackintosh pirate avatar)
I don't know of any article, but generally high-end desktop chips and DP Xeons top out at about the same clock speed. Bloomfield (high-end desktop Nehalem) tops out at 3.2 GHz.Would you have an article, or is it an educated guess?
The closest I've read so far, was on TGDaily, and going on near a year old. And searching, so far hasn't yielded more info on clock speed.
No regular updates at WWDC 2008, MWSF 2008, WWDC 2007, MWSF 2007, WWDC 2006, MWSF 2006, WWDC 2005, and MWSF 2005 at least.It has been many times in the past though don't forget.
MWSF and WWDC 2006 featured significantly overhauled Macs due to the Intel transition (except for the case). MWSF 2005 featured the NEW Mac mini.
Macs were updated the week before MWSF 2008 and WWDC 2007. The end of January 2005 saw a Mac update.
I think you should just copy paste that for every one of these lame threads.
I think that that (If you need it now, buy it now. If you can wait, do.) needs to be at the top of the Buyer's Guide forum in 96 pt. Myriad Pro Semibold.
Not as a sticky, just at the top of the page before the New Thread button.
I would speculate the low end to be 2.67 GHz, and top out at 3.2 GHz, as you suspect. Similar range to current clock speeds. I keep searching for something concrete though.