MP 7,1 What is the cost of the 12-core CPU and is it worth getting base model now with a view to upgrade CPU later?

[d-squared]

I am considering getting a Mac Pro base model with a view to upgrading the CPU next year, or even the year after. Does anybody know the exact model of the 12-core CPU (or even the 16-core) and how much they are now?

I was going to buy a new 16" MBP - but with everything upgraded to future proof it (64GB ram, 2TB drive, 8GB GPU etc) it would cost me £4,000 - yet a base model MP is an extra 1.5K, which I don't mind spending if I know that I can upgrade the CPU in one or two years time (will also upgrade Ram next year).

Also, has anybody changed out the CPU successfully yet? I've seen ifixit say it's 'theoretically' possible, but I'd like to know for sure. (Would Apple risk pissing off their pro market yet again by not allowing it? They've shown they are arrogant enough to do so in that past so I wouldn't put it past them! <<<Doesn't it make you wonder why nobody at Apple actually care that loyal customers feel like this? Topic for another thread perhaps!)

 

[bsbeamer]

Cascale Lake SP processors:

8 Core is W-3223 and MSRP @ $750
12 Core is W-3235 and MSRP @ $1400
16 Core is W-3245 and MSRP @ $2000
24 Core is W-3265 and MSRP @ $3350
28 Core is W-3275 and MSRP @ $4450

MSRP's at release from Intel in USD, based on June 2019.

 

[jasonmvp]

Cascale Lake SP processors:

8 Core is W-3223 and MSRP @ $750
12 Core is W-3235 and MSRP @ $1400
16 Core is W-3245 and MSRP @ $2000
24 Core is W-3265 and MSRP @ $3350
28 Core is W-3275 and MSRP @ $4450

MSRP's at release from Intel in USD, based on June 2019.

Point of clarity: the 24 and 28-core chips available from Apple are actually the more expensive "M" models. Add about $3K to each price.

 

[d-squared]

Thanks

So here in the UK that is:

Intel 8 Core Xeon W-3223 £746.99
Intel 12 Core Xeon W-3235 £1,394.48 (Apple's cost to upgrade £900)
Intel 16 Core Xeon W-3245 £1,992.98 (Apple's cost to upgrade £1,800)
Intel 24 Core Xeon W-3265M £6,333.49 (Apple's cost to upgrade £5,400)
Intel 28 Core Xeon W-3275M £7,429.99 (Apple's cost to upgrade £6,300)

So makes sense to go for the 12 core on initial purchase, but not so much for the 16 core. 24 and 28 core seems fair.

Hmmmmm I 'could' stretch to a 12-core now...

 

[majus]

1. If you buy the 12-core today Apple will charge you $1,000 more due to the CPU upgrade, which is a saving of $399 over buying the CPU at USD$ MSRP prices ($1,399) and installing it yourself into a base machine.

2. If you buy the 16-core today Apple will charge you $2,000 more due to the CPU upgrade, which is a saving of $0 over buying the CPU at USD$ MSRP prices ($1,999) and installing it yourself into a base machine.

Actual retail prices on the CPU right now are actually up to almost $200 over MSRP from some vendors.

 

[Grumply]

There doesn't seem to be much of a reason to buy the base model and upgrade the CPU to 12-core or 16-core yourself (since Apple are basically charging them at retail cost).

I suppose if you bought the base model, and then sold the 8-core CPU to help fund the 12 or 16-core, you'd be saving a little over having Apple perform the upgrade. Is it worth the effort though? I'd say that's debatable (especially with the warranty issues associated).

Getting the non-M versions of the 24 and 28-cores (for a user upgrade) is a pretty big saving over the M-versions that Apple supply. If you're not planning to put 1TB+ of RAM into your 7,1. Then doing that yourself with save you thousands.

 

[d-squared]

I suppose another consideration is how likely are these chips going to drop in price?

Any predictions on the 12 and 16 core Xeons, in say 12 or 24 months time?

 

[majus]

I suppose another consideration is how likely are these chips going to drop in price?

Any predictions on the 12 and 16 core Xeons, in say 12 or 24 months time?

There is no way to predict that. It is heavily dependent on what Intel does as far as compatible CPU's and what Apple does as far as expanding and/or upgrading the 7,1. If nothing much happens the prices will stay firm.

 

[bsbeamer]

The CPUs deployed in servers will be cheaper as used units when they are decommissioned from server pulls. Usually that’s at least 3-5 year cycles, some go much longer.

If Intel stops microcode updates on these CPUs in 5-7 years (like the MP5,1 and previous CPUs) they’ll be dirt cheap on eBay as they hold no security value for large scale deployment.

 

[jinnyman]

Given it's starting price, I believe almost all will buy Applecare+ for this machine. In that case, upgrading before 3 years period is not a wise choice. And after 3 years, you will definitely not pay today's MSRP for those xeon.

If I was going to buy this for a solely personal use, I'd get the basic, upgrade graphic with 3rd party, and use until 3 years pass. Of course, the reason I'm not going to do is the price I have to pay for the basic is not acceptable.

 

[ssgbryan]

I suppose another consideration is how likely are these chips going to drop in price?

Any predictions on the 12 and 16 core Xeons, in say 12 or 24 months time?

Intel isn't dropping the price of Xeons - even when they are twice the cost of it's AMD and deliver less performance.

 

[Parzival]

Intel isn't dropping the price of Xeons - even when they are twice the cost of it's AMD and deliver less performance.

Wouldn't they have to at some point, though? Those AMDs are getting really powerful

 

[ssgbryan]

Wouldn't they have to at some point, though? Those AMDs are getting really powerful

Everything but the Xeons. They are too important.

Right now, Intel is reduced to pressing their "Financial Horsepower" because they certainly can't push their performance. Can't get 10nm working, can't meet the demand for their 14nm+++, hell, they are even bringing back a Haswell chip from the dead.

 

[bsbeamer]

...but they still did a massive EOL of their old hardware too “early” and refuse to issue microcode updates for those products. They could have AT LEAST issued a six month guidance to say that was happening. As it stands right now, there is no guarantee they’ll patch security vulnerabilities beyond “X” number of years.