Phi Processors for new MacPros?

[phoenixsan]

Hello all:

Do you think the Phi processors can get into a new MacPro? If not, what do you think can get into a updated MacPro, regardless an updated one can be called MacPro or whatever name Apple marketing uses?

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

Th answer is no and never. GPGPU does a good enough job on workstations. Phi and Tesla are better to use when scaling up to massive server farms because it helps keep energy use lower than GPUs alone.

 

[phoenixsan]

Th answer is no and never. GPGPU does a good enough job on workstations. Phi and Tesla are better to use when scaling up to massive server farms because it helps keep energy use lower than GPUs alone.

Thanks for address the first part of my question...!.....

 

[Bubba Satori]

Thanks for address the first part of my question...!.....

And for the second part, some cpu upgrade, a mid-range Radeon with a $500 Pro sticker on it,
a dancing emoji bar around the base of the trash can, lots of solder and one port.
Stay tuned.

 

[mathpunk]

Th answer is no and never. GPGPU does a good enough job on workstations. Phi and Tesla are better to use when scaling up to massive server farms because it helps keep energy use lower than GPUs alone.

Xeon Phi is not a GPGPU. It's a multicore (up to 72 cores) x86 processor with two AVX-512 vectors units attached to each core with a 16GB HBM shared memory and a 6 channel DDR4 memory controller than can move > 100GB/sec. You can buy workstations with a Xeon Phi today.

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

Xeon Phi is not a GPGPU. It's a multicore (up to 72 cores) x86 processor with two AVX-512 vectors units attached to each core with a 16GB HBM shared memory and a 6 channel DDR4 memory controller than can move > 100GB/sec. You can buy workstations with a Xeon Phi today.

I didn't say it's GPGPU. Read my post.

 

[F1Mac]

If not, what do you think can get into a updated MacPro,

Honestly I don't care what can get into an updated Mac Pro, as the very idea of an updated Mac Pro feels like a distant dream right now.

Just seeing a new Mac Pro popping out would be a relief. As for what's inside or what can go inside, that discussion will take place when we know that Apple is still interested in their workstation Mac and their extremely patient customers waiting for this new machine.

 

[Flint Ironstag]

I think the OP may be asking about the possibility of using a Xeon phi with the nMP, not if Apple may ship one or if it's possible to retrofit one somehow.

Phoenixsan, I think it's possible. Check out the enclosures made by One Stop Systems. They claim to be completely platform agnostic.

http://www.maxexpansion.com/desktop-enclosures

You might email their support and inquire if they have sold any to be used with that combination (nmp + xeon phi).
[doublepost=1480696598][/doublepost]

Th answer is no and never. GPGPU does a good enough job on workstations. Phi and Tesla are better to use when scaling up to massive server farms because it helps keep energy use lower than GPUs alone.

How can you blindly state this as fact? You have zero idea what the OP's workload is. It may well be optimized for phi and not gpgpu. Nobody said anything about massive scaling either. Shooting off half - baked replies is not helpful to people seeking factual information.

 

[beaker7]

They can't even be bothered to put modern Xeon CPUs or GPUs in them. No chance you'll see a Phi.

 

[deconstruct60]

Hello all:

Do you think the Phi processors can get into a new MacPro?

Extremely unlikely. While there are CPU-type socket Phis coming they are going to be socket compatible with > 1 socket Xeon E5 class processor. Intel is going to split 1 socket workstation processors away from 2 or more socket Xeon E5-E7 processors. Xeon Phi is going with the second of those two groups.

Once 1 and >1 sockets families split it is extremely unlikely, Apple is going to chase after the multi-scocket group with pragmatically a single socket product.

There will be a max 14-20 cores, but nothing like the Xeon Phi class in core count.

If not, what do you think can get into a updated MacPro, regardless an updated one can be called MacPro or whatever name Apple marketing uses?

What can go into a Mac Pro? I am not sure why this is even a question. They can use the same product line they are using now; Xeon E5 1x00 class processors. Just move up. They have done this for the last 10 years. Why go a different path now????? There is little to now rational reason to do so.

They may not be numbered Xeon E5 1600 anymore due to the socket change. Perhaps Xeon E5 1400 ( the second digit is suppose to represent 'socket' class). So either Xeon E5 1600 v4 ( Broadwell-EP for those who want to place codeword bingo as opposed to actual product name. )

http://ark.intel.com/products/family/91287/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E5-v4-Family#@Server

Or if they wait until deep into 2017 something out of the Skylake-W which is essentially a Xeon E5 1600 v5 ( with some probable tweak to socket number designation as it will be different. Or perhaps Intel bumps the > 1 all up to E5 x8xx since E7 class appears to be going away and single socket says at 6... depends upon the numerology mindset the marketing folks are in. ).
[doublepost=1480705471][/doublepost][QUOTE="SoyCapitanSoyCapitan, post: 24009942, member: 976766] .... Phi and Tesla are better to use when scaling up to massive server farms because it helps keep energy use lower than GPUs alone.[/QUOTE]

Phi and Tesla are only hand wavy in the same class. Phi runs an actual operating system ( Linux). Tesla does not. Up until recently the Phi has really been closer to a plug-in board computer than a GPGPU. Much of the technology grew out of a more GPU focused project Intel was running at one time but there is no "raster" , "video" , graphics on fixed function subsystem there are at.

Intel has drivers that you add to the host system ( Linux, Windows ) so that relatively seamlessly interact with the add-in computer as if it was simply a GPGPU extension to the system, but at the core it isn't.

What is going to possible going forward is that there will be Xeon Phi is a "CPU" socket right next to Xeon E5 class packages. They will share memory and resources in a customized OS systems image. It will be possible to build a single socket Phi. However, it is extremely unlikley Apple is going to put time into porting macOS to that. The Phi only system will most likely be Linux..... because Phi has always run Linux..... so it really isn't a huge change.

Personally I think those socket Phi systems will make for extremely poor "day to day" workstations. A deskside computational computer for specialized loads? Yes. The main GUI computer that someone uses on a daily basis for mainstream tasks; not even close.