Possible Upcoming Mac Pro Reference Discovered in OS X El Capitan

[MacRumors]

It's been two years since Apple launched its radically redesigned Mac Pro, but the professional-level workstation has not seen any updates since that time despite the availability of upgraded versions of many of the components used in the machine. We may be getting closer to an update, however, as Pike's Universum has discovered a reference to a new Mac code name of "AAPLJ951" within OS X El Capitan.

The identity of the Mac corresponding to that code name is not explicitly revealed in OS X, but Pike points to the similar AAPLJ90 code name for the current Mac Pro as a reason to believe this new machine is a Mac Pro.

The data is identical to that of the late 2015 (iMac17,1 in the same file) so it may as well be a remnant of the new iMac, but the strange thing is that the XHCI data for the late 2015 iMac is also there, which is why I believe that this is not/was not added for the/a new iMac but another Mac.

And like I said earlier in the comments, there are too many USB 3 ports defined to fit on a MacBook (Pro) and Mac Mini. This and the fact that there is already support for newer graphics chips [baked] into El Capitan... is why I think that it was added for a new Mac Pro. I personally sure hope so.

Looking toward possible specs for the next Mac Pro, it seems likely it will run on Xeon-branded Broadwell EP chips and include significantly faster graphics based on AMD's Fury platform, along with faster memory and storage and perhaps Thunderbolt 3 connectivity involving a partial shift to USB-C connectivity.

Article Link: Possible Upcoming Mac Pro Reference Discovered in OS X El Capitan

 

[santydolby]

two years since that last shiny mac pro came out?!

OMG, time flies and how!

 

[alexmshore]

Come on Apple, give us what we f***ing want!

 

[Frign]

 

[Hirakata]

I'll believe it when I see it...

 

[ikir]

Very interesting indeed. I have Mac pro late 2013 and it is a dream machine.

 

[Wild-Bill]

I'll believe it when I see it...

Indeed......

 

[Fangio]

Congrats Pike, you've made it to the front page news. Now you're really famous

 

[mozumder]

Is Thunderbolt 3 available yet? And what Broadwell Xeon is suitable for Mac Pro?

 

[jayducharme]

but the strange thing is that the XHCI data for the late 2015 iMac is also there, which is why I believe that this is not/was not added for the/a new iMac but another Mac

Hopefully not a Mac Pro that's been turned into an iMac form factor with non-replaceable components....

 

[TMRJIJ]

Hey @Pike R. Alpha . Your post yesterday made front page news on MR!

 

[soupcan]

Even though I'm not in the market for one I do love to see a refresh. NVMe SSDs with 2GB/sec read speeds, snappy 16-18 core Xeons, even beefier GPUs. Yeah.

 

[funtimeben]

I just really hope they drop the trashcan design for something with a little more expandability. Would love a new Mac, but refuse to buy something I need to plug external hard drives all over to expand.

 

[JoshDoug]

Is Thunderbolt 3 available yet? And what Broadwell Xeon is suitable for Mac Pro?

Thunderbolt 3 is available, it's even in new products like the recently updated Dell XPS range.

 

[acctman]

I just really hope they drop the trashcan design for something with a little more expandability. Would love a new Mac, but refuse to buy something I need to plug external hard drives all over to expand.

The design is not bad... it's a space saver and a conversation piece too. The design really does make sense over something that's going to be bulky and take up 3-4x's the space when not needed.

 

[Aldaris]

Would be great if they finally update the thing. Here's hoping for a more aggressive market mac. (I know it's hoping in vain...)

 

[rrm74001]

Can't innovate anymore, my ass!

What shape do you guys think it will be this time?

I am betting on cone. Because that's innovative. /s

 

[Aldaris]

What shape do you guys think it will be this time?

... /s

Hope the Cube makes a comeback. I love the unified thermal core idea.

 

[TechZeke]

I'll believe it when I see it...

Indeed......

All the El Capitan hints about the iMacs and rumors in-general were all on-point, so I'd consider this extremely good news for anyone waiting on a Mac Pro refresh.

 

[bkkcanuck8]

Hopefully not a Mac Pro that's been turned into an iMac form factor with non-replaceable components....

Or maybe a new "Mac" vs. "Mac Pro" (somewhere between the current Mac Mini and the Mac Pro).

 

[RoastingPig]

sweeeeeeeeeettttt

 

[satchmo]

Can new Mac mini's be far behind?

 

[chriscrk]

Hold a "Pro" event in November releasing the Mac Pro and new Skylake MBP's pleaseeeee Apple! That'd be very exciting

 

[bkkcanuck8]

I just really hope they drop the trashcan design for something with a little more expandability. Would love a new Mac, but refuse to buy something I need to plug external hard drives all over to expand.

The Mac Pro that you keep on pining over is NOT that expandable -- in fact the Mac Pro 2013 is much more expandable. I have a Mac Pro 2008, two graphics cards (5770).... which take up all but the lowest speed PCIe slot (a SATA card in there). All 4 hard drive bays full..... no more expansion possible. With the Mac Pro 2013 it has the two graphics cards in there and up to 36 Thunderbolt devices.... so add a Thunderbolt 4 drive bay (and I have 35 left). Or add a 24 bay one and still have 35 left.....

 

[bkkcanuck8]

Hold a "Pro" event in November releasing the Mac Pro and new Skylake MBP's pleaseeeee Apple! That'd be very exciting

Another post was mentioning how January was the 10th anniversary of going Intel..... which makes it a good opportunity (even if they do it have way through December) to launch new products.