Wednesday, April 5th 2017

Apple to Update its Mac Pro Line of Desktop Computers

by
Raevenlord
 Discuss (18 Comments)
For some users, it's been a long time coming. For others, it just meant that Apple had given up entirely on the desktop ecosystem, choosing to focus on its "mainstream luxury" approach towards selling phones with a BOM of $219 for $1000. Most others, though, will probably look at this update as more of a passing shot than an actually thought-out product development.

For now, Apple is going to update the innards of its Mac Pro line with some pretty interesting (if expectable) hardware: the $2,999 model sees a two-core bump from the quad-core Intel Xeon E5 3.7 GHz processor towards a six-core Intel Xeon E5 3.5 GHz. The same path will be followed by the $3,999 model, bumping towards an eight-core Intel Xeon E5 3 GHz processor from the six-core Intel Xeon E5 3.7 GHz processor that just kept on giving since 2013. Both models have also been updated with dual AMD FirePro D500 and D700 GPUs. The $2,999 model also sees an increase in its available memory, from 12GB of DDR3-1866 memory to 16GB.

A Apple spokesperson said that the company was actively working on redesigning its Mac Pro line with a new design that enables for higher thermal output from its components, so as not to sacrifice performance and hardware on account of difficulties in thermal dissipation. This new redesigned Mac Pro is still a way to go, however; users will have to make do with the updated hardware configuration on the current design.

What do you think? Are these new hardware configurations to push you over the edge towards the mac line of living?

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18 Comments on Apple to Update its Mac Pro Line of Desktop Computers

#1
FPSPusher
Alright the trashcan get's an update, finally. Not that I would ever buy one. But the old mac pro was so much more stylish. If anything the design plus hardware still wouldn't do it cause I'm broke!
Posted on Reply
#2
dao
My only concern is for the next gpu(s) support for my dual boot hackintosh. Just want a good perf/price graphic card supported for both games on Win10 and smooth/fast images and video editing on OSX.
Posted on Reply
#3
Ubersonic
Not sure updating the trashcan is going to win many customers, $4000 for a 6 year old GPU and a CPU that gets ragdolled by an entry level Ryzen is a lot to ask. Even the most diehard Mac fanboys would have reservations of basically paying $3000 for a copy of OSX.

If they do replace the design with a "modular" one that will be great however I worry it will be "modular" as in you can upgrade it with proprietary Apple components not you can upgrade it with off the shelf components like the old MP...
Posted on Reply
#4
ironwolf
Did my eyes see DDR3 still being used on this? :wtf:
Posted on Reply
#5
TheMailMan78
Big Member
Not a fan of Apple but, DAMN those are sexy IMO.

Hardware.......meh.
Posted on Reply
#6
peche
Thermaltake fanboy
ironwolfDid my eyes see DDR3 still being used on this? :wtf:
RaevenlordThe $2,999 model also sees an increase in its available memory, from 12GB of DDR3-1866 memory to 16GB.
guess i did saw it too...


and finally... Apple will never made again a mac pro as cool as this one, period

Posted on Reply
#7
Octavean
The late 2013 Mac Pro was basically built on Intel hardware that was released in 2011. It was old when it was new. Waiting until 2018 just makes it that much older. There really is no excuse for that kind of neglect of their own product lines.
Posted on Reply
#8
Derek12
"towards selling phones with a BOM of $219 for $1000"


At least try to hide personal opinions in news
  • iOS (develop and maintain their own OS instead of choosing a predeveloped one)
  • Develop their own SoC
  • iCloud
  • App Store
  • All physical stores around the world
  • Customer service
  • R&D
  • Marketing
  • Plus they have to earn money like any other company :D
Everyone knows that an iPhone or any other phone is just a piece of metal/plastic and glass and nothing more :slap:
Posted on Reply
#9
Static~Charge
ironwolfDid my eyes see DDR3 still being used on this? :wtf:
Considering that DDR3 was the type of RAM in common use when the Mac Pro was released, this shouldn't come as a surprise. The Mac Pro is old, and it shows.
Posted on Reply
#10
djisas
Derek12"towards selling phones with a BOM of $219 for $1000"


At least try to hide personal opinions in news
  • iOS (develop and maintain their own OS instead of choosing a predeveloped one)
  • Develop their own SoC
  • iCloud
  • App Store
  • All physical stores around the world
  • Customer service
  • R&D
  • Marketing
  • Plus they have to earn money like any other company :D
Everyone knows that an iPhone or any other phone is just a piece of metal/plastic and glass and nothing more :slap:
Customer service, cough...
Your iphone blew and they blame you for sitting on it...
Bad battery? you should take better care of it...
Posted on Reply
#11
ironwolf
Static~ChargeConsidering that DDR3 was the type of RAM in common use when the Mac Pro was released, this shouldn't come as a surprise. The Mac Pro is old, and it shows.
Yep, didn't occur to me that they are not moving up chipset wise to a DDR4-supported board.
Posted on Reply
#12
Totally
Derek12"towards selling phones with a BOM of $219 for $1000"


At least try to hide personal opinions in news
  • iOS (develop and maintain their own OS instead of choosing a predeveloped one)
Everyone knows that an iPhone or any other phone is just a piece of metal/plastic and glass and nothing more :slap:
Then why aren't OSX updates costing people $800-$1000? Do you honestly think people are that stupid?
Posted on Reply
#13
Derek12
TotallyThen why aren't OSX updates costing people $800-$1000? Do you honestly think people are that stupid?
Why should a macOS update cost $800-$1000
And yes, paying that for a single software update is stupid, BTW
Also do you think developing and maintaining a entire OS doesn't have a cost:kookoo:
Also why did you remove the rest of the list in the quote:D


Do I have to explain the greatest difference between Apple and the rest of OEMs?
Really?


:p
Posted on Reply
#14
Totally
Derek12Why should a macOS update cost $800-$1000
And yes, paying that for a single software update is stupid, BTW
Also do you think developing and maintaining a entire OS doesn't have a cost:kookoo:
Also why did you remove the rest of the list in the quote:D


Do I have to explain the greatest difference between Apple and the rest of OEMs?
Really?


:p
Well with your previous comment you were implying that a large portion of the cost was going to r&d, and maintenance of their software, I was pointing out that is a bit of a stretch. The rest of your points were just dumb and not worth a reply but since you insist.
  • Develop their own SoC - An SoC that is used across many devices, which drives down costs.
  • iCloud - this is a paid service, it
  • App Store - not only do they charge developers for access they take a significant cut of ad revenue
  • All physical stores around the world - that isn't specific to iphones since that's not the only product sold there. Apple isn't the only company with a brick an mortar presence yet others are getting by without heavily inflated margins
  • Customer service - Serious question here, have you actually ever tried to interact with apple? If you did you'd realize that the isn't that much money spent here.
  • Marketing - With respect to others, when was the last time you've seen marketing material for an apple product outside the initial release window. Their products sell themselves at this point, not much money spent here either.
Posted on Reply
#15
Derek12
Well with your previous comment you were implying that a large portion of the cost was going to r&d, and maintenance of their software, I was pointing out that is a bit of a stretch. The rest of your points were just dumb and not worth a reply but since you insist.

Do you think R&D and develop your OWN OPERATING SYSTEM costs money? YES OR NOT? :eek:

Obviously, leaving your phones and their users in the dark after 1 or 2 updates (yes, Android OEMs, I am refering to you), doesn't cost any money

Speaking of dumb points, here we go :D
  • Develop their own SoC - An SoC that is used across many devices, which drives down costs. Apple DESIGNS each year their OWN SOCS, that cost MONEY, other companies just buy wholesale third party SoCs from Qualcomm, Mediatek and others, the only exception is maybe Samsung (Exynos) and Huawei (HiSilicon) and their high end phones with those SoCs are almost on par with iPhones in terms of price.
  • iCloud - this is a paid service only if you want extra capacity. You get all features by using the free plan. And that costs money.
  • App Store - not only do they charge developers for access they take a significant cut of ad revenue Why do most high profile developers prefer App Store to Play Store even if it's more expensive... better app SECURITY, better INTEGRATION and less to none PIRACY, and that also cost money to maintain.
  • All physical stores around the world - that isn't specific to iphones since that's not the only product sold there. Apple isn't the only company with a brick an mortar presence yet others are getting by without heavily inflated margins How many physical stores have the rest of OEMs compared to Apple?
  • Customer service - Serious question here, have you actually ever tried to interact with apple? If you did you'd realize that the isn't that much money spent here. Yes I had to interact with them, and always was successful Everyone, including me, knows Apple has one of the best customer service out there. Obviusly doesn't mean perfect, as perfect things don't exist
  • Marketing - With respect to others, when was the last time you've seen marketing material for an apple product outside the initial release window. Their products sell themselves at this point, not much money spent here either. Irrelevant, marketing is marketing and costs money, specially if they use non-conventional ways.
  • R&D, Everyone with half a brain knows that Apple is one of the most innovative companies in the world, do you think it doesn't cost money *facepalm*
And I am out of this thread to avoid derailing it
Posted on Reply
#16
Caring1
So what Apple are implying is they are working on a new range of products, so in the interim, here's some old stock tarted up with the price jacked to keep fanboys happy.
Posted on Reply
#17
wurschti
Derek12"towards selling phones with a BOM of $219 for $1000"


At least try to hide personal opinions in news
  • iOS (develop and maintain their own OS instead of choosing a predeveloped one)
  • Develop their own SoC
  • iCloud
  • App Store
  • All physical stores around the world
  • Customer service
  • R&D
  • Marketing
  • Plus they have to earn money like any other company :D
Everyone knows that an iPhone or any other phone is just a piece of metal/plastic and glass and nothing more :slap:
Kudos to the OS, that's the biggest benefit for the iPhones. Apart from that, Android and even Windows Mobile offers everything you just mentioned. And if it weren't for the fanbase, it wouldn't matter. And the apple ecosystem is much more closed than android. just saying. gives less freedom for modding or customising.
Posted on Reply
#18
SkullFox
Derek12
  • R&D, Everyone with half a brain knows that Apple is one of the most innovative companies in the world, do you think it doesn't cost money *facepalm*
And I am out of this thread to avoid derailing it
Everyone knows that Apple is one of the companies that uses very little money in R&D, around 3-5% of total revenue. Samsung in their phone division alone uses 3 times as much.

All of the arguments you used, are valid for almost all companies. Even though they don't waste money in developing an OS they still waste money on it.

Where I live we have Samsung and Sony stores all over the country.
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