MP All Models Should I Purchase a 2023 M2 Mac Pro (24core/192gb/76gpu/2tb) for $4900?

[Photios]

I have the opportunity to purchase a 2023 M2 Mac Pro in like new condition for $4900. It has completely maxed out ram and GPU (192gb ram, 76 core GPU) and has a 2tb SSD. 2 years remaining on AppleCare.
I know the Mac Studios will arrive something between now and June (most likely). I think however, that the Mac Pro should last me at least several years. This particular model sells for over $10K new. Of course it's almost 2 years old at this point being an M2.

I'm just curious what you all think... should I get it or wait for the M4 Mac Studio.

Thank you!

 

[mattspace]

I have the opportunity to purchase a 2023 M2 Mac Pro in like new condition for $4900. It has completely maxed out ram and GPU (192gb ram, 76 core GPU) and has a 2tb SSD. 2 years remaining on AppleCare.

For that money, does it provide a utility you do not have now, that is preferable to the opportunity cost of not having the money to do something else?

I know the Mac Studios will arrive something between now and June (most likely). I think however, that the Mac Pro should last me at least several years. This particular model sells for over $10K new. Of course it's almost 2 years old at this point being an M2.

You do not know that.

Apple has shown no ability to deliver an "Ultra" chip based upon the M3 or M4 generation. Apple has not delivered an M3 Max, or M4 Max Studio. What reason is there to assume this will change?

I'm just curious what you all think... should I get it or wait for the M4 Mac Studio.

Or the M5 Mac Studio, or the M6... maybe we can wait for Apple to deliver Copland as well.

 

[Mac3Duser]

I think this is a good deal, the price as it should be.
But, I prefer a 2019 Mac Pro for half this price because I can put several graphic cards inside, windows 11, AMD and nvidia GPU, three nvidia pro GPU + an AMD, and things like this, thanks to the pci lanes and almost open system which is the most important for me when I choose a workstation.
So you, what do you want to do with this mac pro ?

 

[bmoraski]

My understanding is that you can't upgrade, replace parts or repair these machines yourself. Is that correct ?

 

[mattspace]

My understanding is that you can't upgrade, replace parts or repair these machines yourself. Is that correct ?

the I/O card is a PCI card (IIRC), and the storage is a proprietary but user-serviceable part.

The main use case for the 2023 over a Studio is for users to install PCI NVME storage. Shame therefore that the entire Sonoma release, an entire YEAR or more of the operating system, lacked reliable functionality for PCI NVME storage.

 

[avro707]

I'm just curious what you all think... should I get it or wait for the M4 Mac Studio.

Do you need that functionality or can you get by using the computers you have?

$4900 is still a hefty chunk of money for a used machine, especially one that Apple could drop component support for at any time they desire (eg, the expensive Apple specific storage).

Would a max spec M4 Pro Mac Mini do the job? 64GB, top storage, top CPU, etc? Also a new computer.

With Apple now the safest bet is spend least money that will get the job done.

Alternatively iPowerResale has M1 Ultra Studios for sale new in box with a $100 cash back? They are 64GB RAM and a cheaper price.

There are a lot of speculative future computers here that people absolutely are buying - but Apple never ends up building.

 

[Mac3Duser]

With Apple now the safest bet is spend least money that will get the job done.

That's so true...

 

[slythfox]

Another angle: Looking at price and specs alone, it seems to be offered at a discount compared to a brand new Studio of the same specs.

We can extrapolate the performance of a future M4 Ultra based on what we know about M4 versus M2 so far, as well as how the base M2 -> Ultra scaled. The used M2 machine should be discounted by at least the amount of expected performance from a top-of-the-line M4 Ultra, assuming pricing for the M4s remain. Then you have wear and tear to consider, etc

But... what do you need a big, clunky (beautiful?), soon-to-be-outdated, top of the line machine?

 

[avro707]

We can extrapolate the performance of a future M4 Ultra

But can we extrapolate anything until it's built? Apple might just drop the Studio completely and the Mac Pro with it.

After all, look at all those 70+ users in another topic who were all buying the M3 Studio instead of a 2019 Mac Pro. And you can see how that went, Apple built no M3 Studio and those people didn't get their computers.

 

[slythfox]

I was not surprised that Apple didn't bother updating the Studio with M3. It was an incremental change, and M2 was late. There's a cost-benefit tradeoff calculation they're doing. And do most people replace their machines annually anyway? (Yes, it feels like a broken promise in Apple's rationale for switching from Intel!)

Considering that all the cores within each M-series are the same design and the only chip missing is the Ultra: How often they're going to bother updating the Ultra? Are they going to abandon it? Probably not. Is the Studio a dead product line? It's a new product line, probably not unless it was a flop.

But yes, nothing is guaranteed. I suspect they'll be a lower update cadence on the lower volume Macs. I don't buy these higher end desktop macs, so you tell me?

 

[Regulus67]

... should I get it or wait for the M4 Mac Studio.

Thank you!

Why the Mac Pro is still the king of computers

Even without an M4, the Mac Pro is a sleeper pick for pro users.

www.macworld.com

You would not ask if you did not like it. The article above should give you some insight into the advantages.

 

[TechnoMonk]

Where are you getting this deal? I might get rid of my Linux work station with AmD/Nvidia 4090. 24 GB VRAM on my GPU is a big pain. I doubt 5090 with 32 GB is not very encouraging either.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

For that money, does it provide a utility you do not have now, that is preferable to the opportunity cost of not having the money to do something else?



You do not know that.

Apple has shown no ability to deliver an "Ultra" chip based upon the M3 or M4 generation. Apple has not delivered an M3 Max, or M4 Max Studio. What reason is there to assume this will change?



Or the M5 Mac Studio, or the M6... maybe we can wait for Apple to deliver Copland as well.

Just going to add that one of the biggest reasons that we never got an M3Ultra could be the fact that the entire M3 series was the latest chips from Apple for a total of… 7 months. That’s it.
First M3 chips introduce October 2023, MM4 in May 2024.
Given that the previous ultras came between a year and 18 months after their first numbered generational chip, they’re literally wasn’t even enough time for one of those to exist.

 

[avro707]

I doubt 5090 with 32 GB is not very encouraging either.

How much VRAM do you need?

There are Radeon Pro W7900 at 48GB?

I’m looking at the 5090RTX, it looks good for the money. The lesser ones with 12GB (5070) not so much.

I’m scoping out building something myself. Obviously that’s annoying but I’ve done it before in the old days.

 

[TechnoMonk]

How much VRAM do you need?

There are Radeon Pro W7900 at 48GB?

I’m looking at the 5090RTX, it looks good for the money. The lesser ones with 12GB (5070) not so much.

I’m scoping out building something myself. Obviously that’s annoying but I’ve done it before in the old days.

Around 150-170 GB peak usage. M1 Max MBP has no problem using swap as part of unified memory. I use a cluster of H100s in cloud but I don’t want to waste money on tests and inferences. I Was hoping to upgrade my MBP if it can do 256 GB. Nvidia/AMD is good combo if you don’t have huge VRAM need.

 

[Photios]

Thank you everyone for your recommendations. The deal is local to me. I have an M2 Studio that is actually fine for me, but I want more storage. When the Mac Pro 2023 came available with all that capability of internal storage, I thought I might go for that instead of getting an M4 Studio (with at least a 4tb of internal storage), if and when they are released. Having those PCI slots to put internal drives in the Mac Pro is very tempting. The price of an M4 Mac Pro (if they are released) will be $10,000 or so - much, much more than I'm willing to spend.

 

[throAU]

I have the opportunity to purchase a 2023 M2 Mac Pro in like new condition for $4900. It has completely maxed out ram and GPU (192gb ram, 76 core GPU) and has a 2tb SSD. 2 years remaining on AppleCare.
I know the Mac Studios will arrive something between now and June (most likely). I think however, that the Mac Pro should last me at least several years. This particular model sells for over $10K new. Of course it's almost 2 years old at this point being an M2.

I'm just curious what you all think... should I get it or wait for the M4 Mac Studio.

Thank you!

If you don’t need that ram (and you probably don’t) an m4 max laptop will out perform it at lower cost in both CPU and GPU and even more so in NPU.

If you need the slots for whatever reason or the ram… sure.

Just don’t waste your money if you don’t need those things.

If you’re just considering it because it seems like a bargain…. Don’t.

M2 Mac Pro prices will drop like a stone when the studio gets an m4 refresh any month now.

Again, if you need what that machine provides urgently go for it. But it’s niche, and if you aren’t in that niche it’s a waste of money and going to drop in value a lot this year.

 

[mode11]

Is the Studio a dead product line? It's a new product line

So like the 2013 Mac Pro, 2017 iMac Pro and 2019 Mac Pro were, then?

I'd have thought the Studio will get an M4 Max in June. Though if WWDC comes and goes with no comment from Apple, it would hardly be unprecedented. If for some reason no M4 Ultra is coming, I'd have thought it puts a bit of a question mark over the Studio's future, though.

It's possible the M2 Ultra Mac Pro will just serve as a transitional product, before disappearing one day. They hardly pushed the boat out with its design, and it got about 30 seconds at WWDC on its release.

 

[mattspace]

So like the 2013 Mac Pro, 2017 iMac Pro and 2019 Mac Pro were, then?

I'd have thought the Studio will get an M4 Max in June. Though if WWDC comes and goes with no comment from Apple, it would hardly be unprecedented. If for some reason no M4 Ultra is coming, I'd have thought it puts a bit of a question mark over the Studio's future, though.

It's possible the M2 Ultra Mac Pro will just serve as a transitional product, before disappearing one day. They hardly pushed the boat out with its design, and it got about 30 seconds at WWDC on its release.

There won't be an M4 Studio, unless an Ultra version is available. There's no M4 which supports the 6 displays of the M2 Ultra.