Next-Generation Mac Pro to Receive Temporary Exclusive of Six-Core 'Gulftown' Processor?

[MacRumors]

Hardmac reports that an early 2010 revision to Apple's Mac Pro may see the inclusion of Intel's forthcoming six-core "Gulftown" processor as a temporary exclusive prior to the full mass release of the processor in the second quarter of 2010.

This Xeon is an evolution of those already powering Mac Pro 2009 with some new features:

- 6 cores and 12 threads for each CPU.
- 12 MB of shared cache instead of 8 MB today.
- 32-nm engraving vs. 45 nm today.
- Power consumption of future hexacore Xeon 32 nm will be slightly lower than the one of current quad core Xeon engraved at 45 nm.

The report's source also indicates that the Mac Pro will see the addition of 10 Gbit Ethernet connectivity and support for 8 GB and 16 GB RAM modules, pushing total RAM capacity to an astounding 128 GB.

Hardmac is unsure whether use of the Gulftown processor, to be branded Intel Core i9 and be part of Intel's Xeon 5600-series, would extend to the entry-level Mac Pro model or whether Apple will continue to use lower-level quad-core processors in those machines.

It is not unusual for Apple to receive early access to Intel's latest processor for use in the Mac Pro, with the most recent instance being the current generation, which received Nehalem processors prior to them even having been announced by Intel.

Article Link: Next-Generation Mac Pro to Receive Temporary Exclusive of Six-Core 'Gulftown' Processor?

 

[thegoldenmackid]

Nothing new, just when is the release date.

 

[zedsdead]

I was really looking at the new iMac (if it goes Quad-Core with Clarksfield), but a Gulftown 6-Core Mac Pro sounds far more enticing (and far more expensive).

 

[macfan881]

in the words of peter griffin, Holy Crap!

 

[Maserati7200]

*jaw drops* sounds amazing!!!!

 

[Eidorian]

Nothing new, just when is the release date.

I was about to say the same thing.

We've know about Gulftown for some time and get snapshots of CPU-Z. Under the Xeon name you might see other variants beyond an Extreme consumer offering at US$999.

 

[Wotan31]

Nothing new, just when is the release date.

x2 nothing new, been on intel's road map for a while now. I just want to know which day I can buy one.

 

[Rocketman]

Those MacPro specs will make Intel's Core i9 look great! What applications will they use to demo this processing power?

4K theatrical video composition anyone? Play on how many screens? TV station in one box?

Light peak debugging?

Rocketman

Now I ask this simple question. Will they offer this in dual processor or also in quad processor? 24 cores.

 

[fruitpunch.ben]

Wow

That sounds amazing!
I'd love to be able to afford a mac pro and 30 inch cinema display, but the student budget won't stretch that far!
So looks like i'll have to wait for the new iMac which will hopefully be out soon because I want something faster to use than my PowerBook G4!

 

[Sun Baked]

Seems the 10GB ethernet is long past due, sort of expected this years ago on the Mac Pro line.

Especially since their ethernet vendor of choice at the time (Broadcom) had it soo long ago.

Guess this was one of the foot dragging Apple episodes.

 

[Fwink!]

This rumor comes, of course, on the very day I finally break down and order a 2.66 refurb. It's not a bad thing, I would only crap my pants if they released something very soon that was that much better & cheaper. So no worries.

I wonder if these 6 core processors are backwards compatible, for some (way off in the future) upgrade?

 

[Full of Win]

This time Apple...update the freakin' case.

 

[MattInOz]

I guess this machine will see the first LightPeak connectors as well.

 

[Full of Win]

I guess this machine will see the first LightPeak connectors as well.

Don't hold your breath.

 

[Michael73]

Here's the thing...take a look at my sig, I've got an '08 MP and I certainly don't feel like it's even peaked yet. SL put us in a good place for developers to take advantage of the hardware for 2010 and 2011 where we'll see programs that can finally take advantage of our 4 and 8 core variants as well as our high(er) end graphics cards.

Everyone knows Apple already charges crazy premiums for RAM and while 8GB RAM sticks are out in the wild they're OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive so I can only imagine the markup Apple will slap on them. 16GB...I didn't know they were out there yet.

I guess while all this is very interesting and certainly nothing here is really new, such gratuitous hardware specs seem pointless until there's something that can take advantage of the current gen or even the rev prior's hardware architecture.

 

[matthew.russo]

This new mac pro sounds as exciting as urinating in public

But seriously, that will definitely have some punch... Pro workstations like this are just blazing awesome!

 

[fef714]

This time Apple...update the freakin' case.

When you have a Mac Pro, the last thing you care about is the case (even tho I personally like it)

 

[jhead]

Sounds like a bundle of serious grundle of fun ... would a bonus if the majority of non-apple apps would start utilizing this audacious capacity.

 

[DoFoT9]

Now I ask this simple question. Will they offer this in dual processor or also in quad processor? 24 cores.

*drool*

Light peak debugging?

Rocketman

I guess this machine will see the first LightPeak connectors as well.

Don't hold your breath.

you never know. apple did develop the thing. i legitimately think that they might include it.

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

6 in the Mac Pro. How about 4 in the iMac?

 

[mdriftmeyer]

If this becomes true, including the RAM it will be my next purchase. I'm hoping the SLI option is in there for x16 on 2 GPU cards and thus have one beast for OpenCL coding.

 

[skyline r34]

I'm so glad that I hold off on buying other Mac Pro, time to clean off the old 2008 3.2GHz 8-Core and put it up for sale before these new Mac Pro arrive, been putting away cash every month sense I bought my current Mac Pro back in February of 2008 and i got $7,600 saved but some of that will goto my Apple's LED 30 inch when ever that may be but for now i'm going to keep on saving up until these new Mac Pro are released and sale my current Mac Pro can't wait.

 

[DoFoT9]

6 in the Mac Pro. How about 4 in the iMac?

i wish! apple isnt going to put desktop CPUs in the iMac, and mobile quads are just silly. so they will take the stupidest option and leave dual core in there (for now)

 

[Peace]

Those MacPro specs will make Intel's Core i9 look great! What applications will they use to demo this processing power?

4K theatrical video composition anyone? Play on how many screens? TV station in one box?

Light peak debugging?

Rocketman

Now I ask this simple question. Will they offer this in dual processor or also in quad processor? 24 cores.

I think it's a 6-core processor so if you had dual 6-core it would be 12 cores.

The current one is dual quad core. 8 cores in all.

 

[DoFoT9]

I think it's a 6-core processor so if you had dual 6-core it would be 12 cores.

The current one is dual quad core. 8 cores in all.

is he talking HT cores?