I think whether they go with 3x1GB or 2x2GB there will be confusion and complaints
The only way to stop it would be to offer 6GB base which won't happen 
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The 2009 (Gainestown) Mac Pro: Everything We Know
- Thread starter Tallest Skil
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I think whether they go with 3x1GB or 2x2GB there will be confusion and complaints
The only way to stop it would be to offer 6GB base which won't happen .We'll be dust first.I think whether they go with 3x1GB or 2x2GB there will be confusion and complaints
As in 3GB per CPU? So little?
Another thing about RAM: Tylersburg supports 12 DIMM slots, so without the gigantic heat sinks of the FB-DIMMs to worry about, will we just see new risers with 6 DIMM slots per riser now?
I just want to take the underline off of the 12 as number of DIMMs.
I just want to take the underline off of the 12 as number of DIMMs.
Apple may still go for risers if it works for their cooling design. They may even go for heatsinks still. There are dual socket boards with 12 and 18 DIMM slots that have already been shown, but I think we will see 12.
Basically although it doesn't appear that risers and heatsinks will be needed don't be suprised if Apple continue with them.
Basically although it doesn't appear that risers and heatsinks will be needed don't be suprised if Apple continue with them.
Another thing about RAM: Tylersburg supports 12 DIMM slots, so without the gigantic heat sinks of the FB-DIMMs to worry about, will we just see new risers with 6 DIMM slots per riser now?
I just want to take the underline off of the 12 as number of DIMMs.
I don't see why not, unless latency is an issue.
How the heck does the whole on-die memory controller thing work with more than one CPU anyway? Does each CPU take half the RAM? Wouldn't that hurt performance unless the load was distributed equally across both sockets? Or does only one CPU directly address memory? Or what?
Excellent post/thread Tallest Skil!
Thank you very much.
As my first post states, I've been updating little things as we've gone along.
I've added questions about Mini DisplayPort on the GPUs, hardware RAID, and more, so...
It's kind of hard to reread through everything, though... anyone have any ideas as to an elegant solution for me to bring new points to attention while keeping to the organization of the post in general?
Colour.
Standard red for the freshest information, a brighter red or orange for last update, normal text colour for "old" info.
Bonus points for putting an explanation of when each colour was updated last.
As in 3GB per CPU? So little?
Is that a challenge, son?
Excellent question, but I would expect each CPU to grab memory as needed. Designating half the memory for each CPU isn't a very smart or efficient way of doing things.
Good thread. I'm kind of hoping that other people will read this before continuing to post about how i7 is going to be in the next mac pro.
My only question, since a lot of that has been discussed before, is why those GPUs? Do you have anything to back that up, or is that just a guess? Is there a particular reason why we're more likely to see those as opposed to similar, yet different graphics cards offered by ATI and Nvidia? And are any of those cards likely to be backward compatible with Penryn Mac Pros? I can't imagine why they wouldn't be, but it's worth asking. For my part, I think it'd be worthwhile to upgrade to an ATI GPU. These slower Nvidia drivers irritate me...
My only question, since a lot of that has been discussed before, is why those GPUs? Do you have anything to back that up, or is that just a guess? Is there a particular reason why we're more likely to see those as opposed to similar, yet different graphics cards offered by ATI and Nvidia? And are any of those cards likely to be backward compatible with Penryn Mac Pros? I can't imagine why they wouldn't be, but it's worth asking. For my part, I think it'd be worthwhile to upgrade to an ATI GPU. These slower Nvidia drivers irritate me...
Each processor has a memory branch connected to its integrated memory controller. Each branch has 3 channels, each channel supporting x DIMMs (x will be 2 on a 12 memory slot Mac Pro). The processors can communicate with each other's branches via the QuickPath interconnect by which they are linked using a NUMA architecture.
I wonder if apple will get a deal with intel for the X-25 SSDs at the same time as releasing the new mac pros and offer them as standard with BTO options to replace it with a 7,200RPM drive. The same way they did years ago with superdrives?
I've always partitioned my system drive to 1/5 "Macintosh HD", 4/5 "Storage".
A mac pro with an 80Gb X-25 in bay 1 and the current 320Gb 7,200rpm drive in bay 2 would SCREAM!
I've always partitioned my system drive to 1/5 "Macintosh HD", 4/5 "Storage".
A mac pro with an 80Gb X-25 in bay 1 and the current 320Gb 7,200rpm drive in bay 2 would SCREAM!
Yes, let's add $500 to a machine that already costs $3k for the base config.
If we did, would you mind if we also sold a three-thousand dollar computer that only came with 80GB of built-in storage?
The only GPU of my creation was the Quadro FX 5800. The rest were suggested by Umbongo, and I assume he's operating on the assumption of similar power draw to the current offering.
This is the part of the show where he comes in and backs up my assumption of his assumption.
The only GPU of my creation was the Quadro FX 5800. The rest were suggested by Umbongo, and I assume he's operating on the assumption of similar power draw to the current offering.
This is the part of the show where he comes in and backs up my assumption of his assumption.
You're correct.
As the lines have progressed the 8800GT has basically been replaced by the GTX260 and the 2600XT by the 9600GT or 4650. If there is to be a low end Nvidia based on the GT200 comming before the new Mac Pros maybe we will see that, same with a 5 series Radeon. I guess I would be suprised if Apple went all Nvidia, so maybe a 4850 or 4870 instead of the GTX 260. Apple could of course also go for whatever replaces the GTX260 next, GTX265?
I doubt their strategy will change so it's likely to be a "low end mid range card" and a "high end, but not the best" and then a high end workstation card.
Hopefully RAM prices will be lower but the fact that Intel is still creating a DDR3 market isn't helping. Moving away from fully buffered DIMMs does though.
I'm going to say 4670 at least in the Mac Pro.
I'm going to say 4670 at least in the Mac Pro.
The next cards aren't coming until Q4 with DX11. What's out now is what we're getting, which definitely isn't a bad thing
As far as drivers, I'll probably go with the Nvidia card - ATI's linux drivers are a joke, and more often; nonexistent.
I wonder if we'll see 3 sets of risers instead of 2? I'm assuming we'll have to organize our RAM purchases in groups of three from here forward, with Gainestown. And having 3 risers would make it easier for me to organize chip sets.
If that's the case, will this force a new case design? I'm hoping no. I like the look as is.
If that's the case, will this force a new case design? I'm hoping no. I like the look as is.
This is my suspicion as well.<snip> What's out now is what we're getting, which definitely isn't a bad thing
I've seen/heard some rumblings that Snow Leopard will expand on ATI driver support. So perhaps there'll be an option or two more than what's been available. Especially as that's the card I'd like to use.
New bit: What is the situation on 3.5" SSDs? Once we see the offering for the iMac refresh, we'll know what is going in the Nehalem Mac Pro, but what kind of market are we looking at in terms of capacity in 3.5" SSDs?
Also, what are the new capacities on the SAS drive front, if any? I only see a 300GB SAS on Newegg; the rest are smaller.
A joke? There won't be any AGP ports...
And what about 10 gigabit Ethernet? What would that mean for the fiber channel card that Apple sells? What protocol does that use?
Also, what are the new capacities on the SAS drive front, if any? I only see a 300GB SAS on Newegg; the rest are smaller.
A joke? There won't be any AGP ports...
And what about 10 gigabit Ethernet? What would that mean for the fiber channel card that Apple sells? What protocol does that use?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geforce2_MX
And after I do that, I was thinking of jumping off of something tall.
And after I do that, I was thinking of jumping off of something tall.
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