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Widespread Availability of Hexacore Xeon Processors for Mac Pro Not Slated Until Late June?
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Have a look around some time. It's available.
These are not Xeons. They are i7-980X hex cores.
http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/CyberPower_X58_Configurator/
Just for grins I threw together a machine with this:
CPU: Intel® Core™ i7-980X Extreme Edition 3.33 GHz 12M
Cooling Fan: Asetek 510LC Liquid Cooling System 120MM Radiator & Fan
Memory: 6GB (2GBx3) DDR3/1333MHz Triple Channel Memory
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 4350 512MB
$1684. It's going to be one ugly computer but it will be fast.
And if you are buying a large order, you can get more discounts from a vendor like dell small business (although Dell's machines are more expensive than cyber power pc). I am not in the position to order a dozen machines, so my choices are a bit more limited.
But it's out there at an affordable price if you want it.
I just found out that Mac Pro update won't come before late Summer or early Fall. This from a source who knows.
I just found out that Mac Pro update won't come before late Summer or early Fall. This from a source who knows.
I fear this to be the case, but still hold out hope otherwise.
I just found out that Mac Pro update won't come before late Summer or early Fall. This from a source who knows.
Can you elaborate on this a little bit? Like maybe why this is the case?
A quick blanket statement like this should ruffle some people around here you'd think, especially with so many looking and waiting for the 2010 MPs!
Can you elaborate on this a little bit? Like maybe why this is the case?
A quick blanket statement like this should ruffle some people around here you'd think, especially with so many looking and waiting for the 2010 MPs!
I have been waiting to buy the new Mac Pro since March. Believe me, my source is from the inside. If I give names, I'll get someone fired. I would love to think my contact is wrong, but don't count on it.
I have been waiting to buy the new Mac Pro since March. Believe me, my source is from the inside. If I give names, I'll get someone fired. I would love to think my contact is wrong, but don't count on it.
I never thought I'd be asking more info from a forums member, but at this point, hope has all but vanished for a "late spring/early summer" release.
But have you heard any further details of the MP tech itself, aside form known processor configurations. Anything out of the ordinary? Also, anything on the rumored 27" ACD?
No info, but I guess the longer it is, the better it will be. One would sure hope so.
Thanks for the response, but I fear this all seems to just point to Intel's low chip supply.
I really hope you're right, but seeing as how the long awaited MBP updates turned out, I won't hold my breath for something spectacular.
Time between major updates - 18 months - that puts it at September.
Fact is, however unpopular it maybe - The Mac Pro update is NOT due until September 2010. November 2010 would make it late!
Fact is, however unpopular it maybe - The Mac Pro update is NOT due until September 2010. November 2010 would make it late!
B
Black Macbook
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Something tells me that the new Mac Pro's are not going to be cheap.
How much are the XEON hexacore processors?
The non-XEON intel hexacore is pretty pricey.
How much are the XEON hexacore processors?
The non-XEON intel hexacore is pretty pricey.
What are you talking about?
According to the Buyer's Guide the last release was March 03, 2009 | Days Since Update 449 | Avegerage is 236
That means we are already 213 days OVER the average release cycle. Where did you get 18 months?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Pro
Bottom of page - release dates. Average time between MAJOR iterations is between 14 and 17 months.
That Mac Rumors cycle is artificially hysterical as it 'resets' on minor updates.
I see where you're coming from! So based on that you are expecting a major update sometime between Sept-Nov 2010?
I guess I'd rather wait and actually have something that is significantly better than have a minor processor/GPU update.
Hope you're right!
There shouldn't be price rises. Three of the processor models Apple use (3.33GHz quad and the 2.66GHz and 2.93GHz quads on the dual processor machine) have been replaced by similar priced processors with an extra 2 cores. The others have versions that are slightly faster at the same sort of price.
Looking at the chart, I don't have the slightest clue as to how you are getting Sept-Nov.
14-17 months from March 2009 is from May - August 2010.
Looking at the chart, I don't have the slightest clue as to how you are getting Sept-Nov.
14-17 months from March 2009 is from May - August 2010.
Exactly. I agree with this.
Two extra cores and 4MB increase in L3 cache. (as well as a few memory channel tweaks that Apple may not leverage.).
But yes approximately the same price points.
3580 and 3680 are both $999.
5550 $958 and 5650 $996
5570 $1386 and 5670 $1400
Not for the "quad" , single processor package line. There were some 3500 series updates in the late fall: the 3530, 3550, and 3565
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Xeon_microprocessors#.22Bloomfield.22_.2845_nm.29_2
http://ark.intel.com/ProductCollection.aspx?series=39717
However, those are primarily the same as the "old tech" that folks are yelping about buying (with GHz tweaks). For whatever reason Intel hasn't fully updated the 3600 series. There is only one entry: the 3680
http://ark.intel.com/ProductCollection.aspx?series=48311
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Xeon_microprocessors#.22Gulftown.22_.2832_nm.29
Apple could drop a mix of 3500 and 3600 series tech in a Mac Pro update, but I would guess that they would much rather do an update of all of the models to 3600 and 5600 tech all at the same time. Intel, has stuck a bit of price creep in the pricing too. Penny pinching Apple will likely attempt to claw that back to the old price point. That will be harder if trying to get parts in restricted supply. However, Apple can't do that, there will be a price increase; Apple isn't going eat even $20-40 dollars out of their margin. That is just an excuse for them to tack another $100 on so keep the $xx99 price point or be cheesy and hold the line on minimum memory config (i.e., take cost out of another system component.).
Along the 5600 line they can go from 5520 to 5620 and get the 4MB boost in L3 cache while still staying at approximately same price point ($373 vs. $387) and 4 cores. If the bottom of the dual processor package line up gets a boost and the single package model's entry point just gets minor 0.14 GHz (5%) speed bump there will be lots of grumbling and proclamations of the sky falling.
However, there is grumbling and "sky falling" if they delay longer too.
Which is what I said
. Slightly faster updates on price points that didn't move to 6 cores with the 2.66GHz quad replaced by 2.8, 2.93 by 3.2 and 2.26 by 2.4GHz. They don't need to update to all 3600 as the UP workstation line is the mix of 3500 and 3600 for now. It will see the middle price point receive a 6 core model in the fall and the low price point early next year. They make more money on the higher end parts anyway, so a line up of 2.8GHz x4 @ $2,499, 3.2GHz x4 @ $2,999 and 3.33GHz x6 @ $3,799 would suite them just fine I'm sure. Not users though .The reason Intel hasn't updated them is purely a business one. There is no competition and they want to sell these processors for maximum profit. Introducing a $600 model basically kills sales of the $999 one in enthusiast markets. They have released a high end $999+ processor many months before other models time and time again. Only when introducing a whole new platform are things sometimes different.
HP has six core xeon systems out. This single 6-core Xeon is pretty expensive:
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/e...9-307907-4050865-3718645-3718646-4193571.html
$3370. Ouch. Lose the expensive quadro card (what is that, $300-$500) and you are approaching apple prices again. I'm not impressed with the clock speed vs. the 6 core i7, either.
Apple was always competitive with HP and Dell on the Xeon systems, but this does not bode well for anything resembling reasonable pricing if Apple goes with 6 core Xeons. Those intel punks are making this next gen expensive as hell.
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/e...9-307907-4050865-3718645-3718646-4193571.html
- Intel® Xeon® Processor X5650, 2.66 GHz, 12 MB cache, 1333 MHz memory, Six-Core
- 3 GB (3 x 1 GB) DDR3-1333 ECC
- NVIDIA Quadro FX1800 PCIe
- 500GB SATA 3Gb/s NCQ 7200
- 16X DVD+/- RW DL SuperMulti
$3370. Ouch. Lose the expensive quadro card (what is that, $300-$500) and you are approaching apple prices again. I'm not impressed with the clock speed vs. the 6 core i7, either.
Apple was always competitive with HP and Dell on the Xeon systems, but this does not bode well for anything resembling reasonable pricing if Apple goes with 6 core Xeons. Those intel punks are making this next gen expensive as hell.
It's expensive because it's a dual processor system just configured with a single processor. You can get a 3.33GHz 6 core single processor Z400 for $2600, and their web prices don't always reflect what you can get them for. You can get a Dell T3500 with 6 cores for $2,300 even. Half the processors Apple currently use have been replaced by 6 core versions at the same or slightly increased price, nothing that Apple couldn't absorb so Intel aren't the ones to blame for pricing. Apple stopped being price competitive in 2009 when they put a $1,000+ premium on the hardware that wasn't there before.
Note that you've configured a dual-socket system with support for a second hexacore processor and up to 192 GiB of RAM. The Z800 is HP's maxi-tower workstation - obviously the price is skewed by the empty CPU socket and empty RAM sockets.
If you'd configure the HP Z400 single-socket minitower with the 2.66 GHz quad, 3 GiB of ECC RAM, and a Quadro NVS 580 with 512 MiB VRAM, the price is $1833. That compares pretty favorably with the quad 2.66 Mac Pro with 3 GiB and 512 MiB GT120 @ $2499 (except for the Quadro vs GT120 part).
Add the 3.33 GHz hex, and it jumps to $3183. That's still much better than the 3.33 GHz quad Mac Pro at $3699. ($500 cheaper and 1.5x as many cores.)
Hmm, didn't even see that one. I chose the cheapest six core listed on their models page - didn't think to add the hex to a base model.
Still, $3183 for a single hex core seems expensive when one can find the i7 hex core, 9GB ram, 1GB video card, and a BD-ROM/lightscribe burner for $1849 (also from HP!):
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s.../psg/desktops/High_performance/HPE190t_series
Just a case of different markets and different marketing strategies for them. Web prices on Xeon based stuff don't mean they are the prices you have to pay to get those systems.