Penryn Based Mac Pros Soon?

[volvoben]

Although Apple could still anger me with their announcement, I think there are 2 options for what will happen, and truthfully both will make me quite happy.

1-lineup is replaced with all 8 core models, ~same prices, 2.5, 2.8, 3.2ghz
2-lineup has 8 core top models including 3.2, as well as $2000 or less quad

I suppose I'd prefer having both options, just adding a lower model that i might be able to get for $1800 with the girlfriend's edu. I understand the mini-tower just isn't in the business plan, but a quasi-affordable expandable tower would be great for me, plus i could probably afford a MB sooner thereafter...

still, 8 cores, maybe 500gb hdd, 2gb ram, 7800 or 8600 etc. to start at $2500 would make a modern machine with some great legs to last a good 4 years in my photo/print workflow.

 

[darthraige]

I hate to break everyones bubble but many applications use multi-core CPU's poorly or not at all. Keep Activity Monitor open and display the CPU usage while you work. It's not a pretty sight. I'm hoping for some improvement with Leopard but the developers need to get on the stick and start coding for Multi-Core.

Yea but all future production programs will be 8-core function-able I'm sure.

 

[Sincere]

Case redesign?

I've been waiting for an upgrade diligently as many of you have... I'm using a rev1 17" powerbook, and it's just not capable of doing my audio work anymore. My 1Ghz machine can't even run Logic Studio! So, I too want to upgrade, and have been waiting for the rumored Mac Pro refresh, but I also was hoping to wait out a case redesign too... And then of course the rev2 of it.

No one has talked about this much, but it's wayyy overdude, IMO, as they're still using the G5 case. Most people here are more interested in function over form, but I will be one salty cracker if they introduce a new case (and matching display?) in the spring after I've shelled out $5000 for a matching "G5-look" setup.

Does anyone have any thoughts on when we might see a case (and display?) redesign and what internal benefits might come along with that?

 

[iPhil]

I wasn't familiar with the motherboard improvements Multimedia was talking about... so a Google search pulled up this article:

http://techreport.com/articles.x/13224

Definitely worth a read to get more of the technical details of what's to come...

In addition to the extra throughput, Stoakley can house twice as much memory as Bensley—up to 128GB—and will support FB-DIMM fail-over for high-reliability systems. Seaburg also doubles the number of PCIe lanes and upgrades those links to second-generation PCI Express.

that quote seemed the juiciest tidbit for me

Not if you buy a 1600 MHz FSB model. You'll need the faster ram to take advantage of the faster motherboard's FSB as dictated by the processors. But the difference is only going to be about $230 more so no biggie.

Is there any current apps capable of using the 1.6Ghz FSB fully and the possible 128GB from the quote above ?

 

[ma2ha3]

brillant CPU
but probably come with a weak GPU

3.2 oct? cannot afford. not interested.

 

[Jade Cambell]

Why didn't this rumor come along with a rumor about updated displays? Wouldn't Apple update their dinosaur displays at the same time as the Mac Pros?

 

[rsoerensen]

New ACDs as well!

I think it's very likely that there will be some update of the display line as well - either a refresh or a total redesign. It definitely needs a redesign, thinner and sleeker - and is as much (over) due as the mac pro - luckily, all displays have been updated every time the mac pro has seen an update (except for one time in 2003 i think it was).

Since there has been no news regarding a new Mac Pro tower design, I do doubt that there will be a new design for the ACDs. But with the iMac being thinner and sleeker than the ACD's while it carry a powerfull computer on the inside, ACDs needs to be updated. Simple as that

Steve will also have a real screen to show off his Leopard then

I know a lot of you think that the ACDs are beautiful as they are and all... Well I agree some extend - they are nice, but some new **** has come to light.. And given the nature of all this new ****, you know.. This could be a lot more complex!

 

[chedda]

2x x16 lanes pcie ?

So does this mean 2 x16 lanes is possible in the new mac pro ?

 

[Multimedia]

Some Very Popular Applications Already Fight For Four Cores With Others

I hate to break everyones bubble but many applications use multi-core CPU's poorly or not at all. Keep Activity Monitor open and display the CPU usage while you work. It's not a pretty sight. I'm hoping for some improvement with Leopard but the developers need to get on the stick and start coding for Multi-Core.

I hate to break your bubble but if you use mundane applications like Toast 8 & Handbrake they both use all 4 cores and EACH will use all 8 cores of the new Mac Pros. I have to separate work between two Quad Macs just to maximize speed right now that I could do on one 8 core Mac Pro even faster. But that will not obsolete using these Quad Macs for more work at the same time.

Yea but all future production programs will be 8-core function-able I'm sure.

Zactly. Plus I think your Activity Monitor is in for a rude awakening when it is looking at a Leopard system instead of a Tiger system.

The future will be all multi-threaded. Deal with it.

 

[Jade Cambell]

Can I hope to get at least $4500 for this setup if I sell it before the new ones are announced?

Quad 3.0Ghz Intel Xeon.
2GB ram. (4x 512mb).
1.2TB hard drive space. (2x 320GB seagate. 1x 500GB Maxtor. 1x 160GB Seagate)
ATI Radeon X1900XT/512mb + Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT.
Two 16x Superdrives.
AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth built in.
Single user retail version of Mac OS X Leopard.

Latest revision 23" Apple Cinema Display with no ghosting or backlight bleeding.

Everything like new with all original packaging, cables, and documentation.

 

[4God]

Can I hope to get at least $4500 for this setup if I sell it before the new ones are announced?

Quad 3.0Ghz Intel Xeon.
2GB ram. (4x 512mb).
1.2TB hard drive space. (2x 320GB seagate. 1x 500GB Maxtor. 1x 160GB Seagate)
ATI Radeon X1900XT/512mb + Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT.
Two 16x Superdrives.
AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth built in.
Single user retail version of Mac OS X Leopard.

Latest revision 23" Apple Cinema Display with no ghosting or backlight bleeding.

Everything like new with all original packaging, cables, and documentation.

Maybe, put a feeler in the marketplace thread.

 

[netdog]

Based on the photo posted, I guess we can assume the cheese-grater case will remain the same? Not that I mind it, but I was curious if Apple would be doing a cosmetic update as well.

LOL. Somehow I don't think that Apple provided this graphic.

 

[netdog]

Like the PowerMacs of yester years.

Only way faaaaaaaaaaasssssssssster.

 

[Multimedia]

Not Likely Jade

Can I hope to get at least $4500 for this setup if I sell it before the new ones are announced?

Quad 3.0Ghz Intel Xeon.
2GB ram. (4x 512mb).
1.2TB hard drive space. (2x 320GB seagate. 1x 500GB Maxtor. 1x 160GB Seagate)
ATI Radeon X1900XT/512mb + Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT.
Two 16x Superdrives.
AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth built in.
Single user retail version of Mac OS X Leopard.

Latest revision 23" Apple Cinema Display with no ghosting or backlight bleeding.

Everything like new with all original packaging, cables, and documentation.

Doubtful. I paid $2700 for a 2.66 with a 150GB 10K Raptor, two 500s, the 250 it came with, 5GB of ram and bluetooth + a 23" ACD HD both only 2 months old in August.

But you never know. You might get lucky and find someone. It all depends on how lucky you are to find a buyer in what context. Good Luck.

 

[iMartini]

LOL. Somehow I don't think that Apple provided this graphic.

Heh... Yeah, I sort of figured it was a Photoshop job the minute I hit the "Submit Reply" button. But it seems like if they were updating the Mac Pro cases and/or the ACD's, we would have heard something to that effect by now? Seems like the news stories have all been about under-the-hood changes.

I think the Mac Pros look pretty sharp as is, but such a substantial jump in processing power begs for a redesigned case. New wine skins for new wine, you know. It would be interesting to see what Apple comes up with.

I agree with the previous poster who said the Apple Cinema displays could stand to be slimmed down a bit, and maybe incorporate LED technology.

 

[ggk]

8Gb or 16Gb ?

I've been waiting for a new MP for a long time (for my standards, which is a few months) I plan to buy the monster with the basic memory configuration and then by the extra memory somewhere else.
My questions is: Is there any real and visible advantage of having more than 8Gb of RAM? Do you think Leopard or any application will have any improvement above 8Gb?
Thanks !!!

 

[blybug]

I am a stickler about keeping the internals of my computers cleaned. About every 3 months I clean the internals which include the fans to ensure that the computer continues to run cool & quite.

Do you have a resource on how to go about this correctly and safely? My PM G5 sounds like a vacuum cleaner running most of the time, and I swear it's getting louder as the old horse gets older. Maybe a good cleaning would help a little...

So aside from the obvious "open up the box and clean everything you see..."

• What kind of "cleaning solution" do you use?
• Are there parts that should/can be really broken down and taken apart down to their innards?
• Should I actually bother...is the PM G5 just inherently loud?

Thanks!

 

[TurboSC]

oh man... now I'm torn between getting a MBP or investing towards a tower.

 

[netdog]

I have had a macbook, imac, mac pro located in roughly the same area of my bedroom at different times. When at idle, they are all so quiet that they are practically silent. Frankly the buzzing from the circuitry of my lcd tv is as loud as the noise the machine makes a few feet away. When doing processing (say, encoding a movie to h.264), the macbook is the loudest, imac second loudest, and the mac pro still virtually silent.

The Penryn-based models could also be quieter as they should run cooler...just as long as they offer at least one video card that isn't a flamethrower.

 

[CWallace]

I'm still hoping for a lower end model under $2,000.

As am I.

When I decided to go to the Mac fully, I looked hard at the Mac Pro, but $4000+ is just a killer, so I went with the new 24" iMac.

If they could give us a single E5405 with 1GB (2x512MB), a 250GB HDD and a SuperDrive for $1499 (with no video), I'd move the iMac into another room and buy the Mac Pro, because I could outfit it myself with more RAM and HDD.

But if the entry price is still $2500 for a basic system with dual CPUs, 1GB, 250GB HDD, SuperDrive, and junk video... I'll work around the iMac.

 

[Eidorian]

As am I.

I looked hard at the Mac Pro, but $4000+ is just a killer, so I went with the new 24" iMac.

If they could give us a single E5405 with 1GB (2x512MB), a 250GB HDD and a SuperDrive for $1499 (with no video), I'd move the iMac into another room and buy the Mac Pro, because I could outfit it myself with more RAM and HDD.

But if the entry price is still $2500 for a basic system with dual CPUs, 1GB, 250GB HDD, SuperDrive, and junk video... I'll work around the iMac.

I might just build my own box then if I can't afford a Mac Pro.

 

[chameleon]

And I would love to see the base price of the MP to come down to $2000, for those that can't save the money and instead whine about how Apple needs to cater to them.

I'd like to see them do better than that. If Dell can sell a machine with a base Dual Core Xeon for $1,400, Apple should at least be able to hit $1,750.

 

[Eidorian]

I'd like to see them do better than that. If Dell can sell a machine with a base Dual Core Xeon for $1,400, Apple should at least be able to hit $1,750.

You should see how low a Q6600 based machine can go.

 

[CWallace]

I'd like to see them do better than that. If Dell can sell a machine with a base Dual Core Xeon for $1,400, Apple should at least be able to hit $1,750.

I'm using an HP xw6400 right now which, for about $2300, has two Intel Xeon 5110s, 4GB of RAM, 2x160GB HDDs, 2xDVD Burners, and an nVidia Quadro NVS285.

I don't expect Apple to be as inexpensive as PC makers because they historically have not been. But the gap between the iMac and the Mac Pro in price is just enormous.

If you only want to restrict sales of the Pro to "Professionals" whose workload pays for the machine (as my HP does), then okay. Charge the Moon and the Stars.

But would it kill them to offer something a little less dear?

 

[BenRoethig]

Since there is no mention of a case redesign, are most people assuming that they'll stick with the same enclosure and just get a new logic board?

They can possibly update the exterior to make it more like the AL iMac, but Apple is already putting a dual CPU workstation inside something similar to a full ATX desktop case with basically no loss in functionality. With designs like the iMac and Mac Mini that give up features for size, I don't think a lot of Mac users appreciate what a marvel the Mac Pro really is.

The CPU upgrade will be terrific! but i am also hoping for:

1- Blu-ray drives - drives which can playback BD discs and option for one that can burn media
2- Graphics cards - Badly need an overhaul and HDCP compliant output. ie a card which can output HD video which is copy protected, ie the majority of them.

Card chips great to use:
GeForce 8800 GTX

midrange ones
GeForce 8800 GTS
Radeon HD X2900 XT

Stock card to use X1950 XT

But obviously check to make sure card is HDCP compliant

3- New Displays: need 1080P type monitors which can also display tv HDMI signals. have a tv type with speakers integrated.

I'm hoping a 256mb FireGL v3600 standard with a choice of mid and high range FireGL and Quadro cards BTO. Apple's decision to try to make the Mac Pro a desktop/workstation hybrid doesn't benefit either the consumers or the pros. Let the Xeon Mac Pro be a full workstation with workstation graphics and also package a sub $2000 versions with a core 2 Duo/ X38 chipset arraignment with consumer graphics. Everyone will be better, including Apple.