Monday, June 3rd 2019

Apple Announces Groundbreaking Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR

Apple today introduced the all-new Mac Pro, a completely redesigned, breakthrough workstation for pros who push the limits of what a Mac can do, and unveiled Apple Pro Display XDR, the world's best pro display. Designed for maximum performance, expansion and configurability, the all-new Mac Pro features workstation-class Xeon processors up to 28 cores, a high-performance memory system with a massive 1.5TB capacity, eight PCIe expansion slots and a graphics architecture featuring the world's most powerful graphics card. It also introduces Apple Afterburner, a game-changing accelerator card that enables playback of three streams of 8K ProRes RAW video simultaneously.

Pro Display XDR features a massive 32-inch Retina 6K display with gorgeous P3 wide and 10-bit color, an extreme 1,600 nits of peak brightness, an incredible 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a superwide viewing angle, all at a breakthrough price point. Together, the new Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR are the most powerful tools Apple has ever put in the hands of pro customers and will change pro workflows forever.
"We designed Mac Pro for users who require a modular system with extreme performance, expansion and configurability. With its powerful Xeon processors, massive memory capacity, groundbreaking GPU architecture, PCIe expansion, Afterburner accelerator card and jaw-dropping design, the new Mac Pro is a monster that will enable pros to do their life's best work," said Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "Pro Display XDR is the world's best pro display and the perfect companion to the all-new Mac Pro. With Retina 6K resolution, gorgeous color, extreme brightness and contrast ratio, and a highly functional design, Pro Display XDR delivers the most comprehensive set of features ever offered on any display at this price point."

Tremendous Processor Power and Massive Bandwidth
Designed for customers who demand the ultimate in CPU performance - for workflows like production rendering, playing hundreds of virtual instruments or simulating an app on a dozen iOS devices at once - Mac Pro features powerful Xeon processors up to 28 cores, with 64 PCI Express lanes for tremendous performance and massive bandwidth. It also provides over 300W of power along with a state-of-the-art thermal architecture to allow the processor to run fully unconstrained all the time.

Enormous Memory Capacity and Expansion
For pros working with the largest projects, analyzing huge data sets or running multiple pro applications, Mac Pro provides enormous memory capacity to meet needs as they grow. Featuring a six-channel memory architecture and 12 physical DIMM slots, the new Mac Pro allows for a massive 1.5TB of memory, the most ever available in a Mac. And with eight PCI Express expansion slots, which is twice that of the previous-generation Mac Pro tower, pros can customize and expand their system in ways never before possible in a single workstation.

World's Most Powerful Graphics Architecture
For pros animating 3D film assets, compositing 8K scenes and building complex 3D environments, graphics performance is more important than ever. That is why Mac Pro features the world's most powerful graphics card and up to 56 teraflops of graphics performance in a single system. Its groundbreaking graphics expansion architecture, the Apple MPX Module, features Thunderbolt integration and over 500W of power, both firsts for any graphics card. And for super quiet operation, the MPX Module is cooled by the Mac Pro system thermals.

Mac Pro graphics options start with the Radeon Pro 580X. Mac Pro debuts the Radeon Pro Vega II, featuring up to 14 teraflops of compute performance and 32GB of memory with 1TB/s of memory bandwidth, the highest of any GPU. Mac Pro also introduces Radeon Pro Vega II Duo, which features two Vega II GPUs for an incredible 28 teraflops of graphics performance and 64GB of memory, making it the world's most powerful graphics card. Mac Pro can accommodate two MPX Modules so customers can use two Vega II Duos for a staggering 56 teraflops of graphics performance and 128GB of video memory.

Introducing Apple Afterburner, a Game-Changing Accelerator Card
The new Mac Pro debuts Afterburner, featuring a programmable ASIC capable of decoding up to 6.3 billion pixels per second. With Afterburner, video editors using high-quality cameras that require the conversion of native file formats into proxies for easy editing can now use native formats right from the camera and decode up to three streams of 8K ProRes RAW video and 12 streams of 4K ProRes RAW video in real time,1 virtually eliminating proxy workflows.

Stunning Modular Enclosure with 360-Degree Access
The design of the new Mac Pro starts with a stainless-steel space frame with an aluminum housing that lifts off for 360-degree access to the entire system. The frame provides a foundation for modularity and flexibility, and incorporates smooth handles for easily moving Mac Pro around the studio. The housing also features a stunning lattice pattern to maximize airflow and quiet operation. For customers who want to rack mount their Mac Pro in edit bays or machine rooms, an optimized version for rack deployment will be available this fall.

Performance to Transform the Pro Workflow
With up to 28 core Xeon processors, 56 teraflops of graphics performance and the groundbreaking Afterburner card, the new Mac Pro delivers performance that will transform pro workflows. A number of pro app developers are seeing amazing results that have never been possible in a single workstation.
  • Blackmagic Design brings full CPU and multi-GPU accelerated 8K real-time editing, effects and color correction in ProRes 4444 for the first time on any system.
  • Avid can enable support for up to six HDX cards, resulting in more IO, increased voice count and two times the real-time DSP processing than any other system can achieve in Pro Tools.
  • Maxon's Cinema 4D is seeing 20 percent faster GPU render performance when compared to a Windows workstation maxed out with three NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 graphics cards.
Pro Display XDR Features Largest Retina Display Ever
Featuring a 32-inch LCD panel with a 6016 x 3384 Retina 6K resolution with more than 20 million pixels, Pro Display XDR delivers a super-sharp, high-resolution viewing experience with nearly 40 percent more screen real estate than a Retina 5K display. With a P3 wide color gamut and true 10-bit color for over 1 billion colors, pros will have a more true-to-life viewing experience - critical for video and photo editing, 3D animation or color grading. Pro Display XDR also features the industry's best polarizer technology, delivering a superwide, color-accurate, off-axis viewing angle, so now multiple people can view more accurate content simultaneously. To manage reflected light, Pro Display XDR has an industry-leading anti-reflective coating and offers an innovative new matte option called nano-texture, with glass etched at the nanometer level for low reflectivity and less glare.

Extreme Dynamic Range Brings Content to Life
To better reflect what the eye can see in the real world, Pro Display XDR takes high dynamic range to a whole new extreme. Pro Display XDR uses a direct backlighting system with a large array of LEDs that produce 1,000 nits of full-screen brightness and 1,600 nits of peak brightness, far surpassing that of a typical display. With an advanced thermal system that uses its aluminum lattice pattern as a heat sink, Pro Display XDR can sustain 1,000 nits of full-screen brightness indefinitely, something that has never been possible before on a display at this price point. And with an amazing 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, images will have the brightest specular highlights, super dark blacks and all the details in between.

Stunning, Flexible and Modular Design for the Way Pros Work
With edge-to-edge glass and narrow, 9-millimeter borders in a stunning, aluminum enclosure, Pro Display XDR features a highly functional and flexible design. The Pro Stand has an intricately engineered arm that perfectly counterbalances the display so it feels virtually weightless, allowing users to easily place it into position. The Pro Stand provides both tilt and height adjustment, and also allows Pro Display XDR to rotate into portrait mode, perfect for tasks like retouching photos, designing a web page or writing code. Easily removable, the Pro Stand quickly attaches and detaches so it is easy to take on location. For pros with unique mounting requirements, a VESA mount adapter is interchangeable with the Pro Stand. With a single Thunderbolt 3 cable, Pro Display XDR connects seamlessly to the Mac product line, including the new Mac Pro, which supports up to six displays for a breathtaking 120 million pixels.

Pricing and Availability
The all-new Mac Pro starts at $5,999 and will be available to order in the fall. Pro Display XDR starts at $4,999, the Pro Stand is $999 and the VESA Mount Adapter is $199. All will be available to order in the fall.
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67 Comments on Apple Announces Groundbreaking Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR

#53
Zareek
ValantarApple are great at marketing, yes, but those specs beat any monitor out there (though not in refresh rate or response times, obviously). The marketing here is mainly just a spec sheet plus some adjectives. And, frankly, Apple's monitor history (unlike their PC history) is quite impeccable even if they failed to update their old cinema display for ages. Of course people should wait for reviews, but there's very little doubt this will be an amazing display for its intended applications - and even great value for those doing color-critical work, if it can match or beat reference monitors like they say.
Okay I guess this monitor lies outside my give a crap sphere. I'm up for good color, 100% sRGB, yes please but sustained 1000nit burn out your retinas bright doesn't seem like a good thing to me. Do people edit photos and videos on the beach or something?
MatsNo.
Specs.
The person who is solely looking at the diagonal size is clearly missing the point.
That doesn't mean that I think it's worth it.
The diagonal size is easy to make fun of because I know you can pay way more than $5000 for a nice 70+ inch display. Despite their above average track record with regards to displays, until a third party reviews one, I believe absolutely nothing Apple says about it. Don't get me started on why...
Posted on Reply
#54
SL2
ZareekDespite their above average track record with regards to displays, until a third party reviews one, I believe absolutely nothing Apple says about it. Don't get me started on why...
So for instance, do you believe that the actual resolution might be slightly under the advertised 6016 x 3384? :D
Posted on Reply
#55
HwGeek
Pro Display XDR produces an industry-leading 1000 nits of full-screen sustained brightness and 1600 nits at its peak.* It gives you the power to maintain extreme brightness without ever dimming.
* In temperatures less than 25° C.
Monitor temp needs to be under 25° C? it's going to be Freezing at the office.

Also can it be used with windows PC's with TB3 too or only Mac/Hakintosh? I love my 5K monitor and maybe in future it could be nice upgrade.
Posted on Reply
#56
Valantar
HwGeekMonitor temp needs to be under 25° C? it's going to be Freezing at the office.

Also can it be used with windows PC's with TB3 too or only Mac/Hakintosh? I love my 5K monitor and maybe in future it could be nice upgrade.
That sounds like ambient temps need to be under 25° C. That's quite comfy, only a problem if you're in Japan or elsewhere where there's a hard limit on A/C usage.
ZareekOkay I guess this monitor lies outside my give a crap sphere. I'm up for good color, 100% sRGB, yes please but sustained 1000nit burn out your retinas bright doesn't seem like a good thing to me. Do people edit photos and videos on the beach or something?
I agree, it's entirely outside of my give a crap-sphere, other than a general fascination with improvements in display technologies. 1000 nits sustained can probably be useful for editing HDR video and pictures - after all, you might have the same image on-screen for quite extended periods of time while color grading or otherwise adjusting it, even if it'll only be on screen for a few seconds in the final product. It'll also save you the hassle from turning down/off the lights if you're working on HDR material for extended periods - watching HDR in the dark is good for entertainment, but not good for your eyes if that's your work environment.
Posted on Reply
#57
Zareek
MatsSo for instance, do you believe that the actual resolution might be slightly under the advertised 6016 x 3384? :D
There are already 8K 32" monitors on the market why would they lie about it being 6K? No, it will be something like the 1000nits sustained is only when the ambient temperature is below 20c. Something with plausible deniability. Then again, they already have hundreds of lawsuits(the majority of them class action)pending or in litigation against them, what is one more!
Posted on Reply
#60
Red_Machine
It's hardly groundbreaking when they're returning to a form factor that they used five years ago.
Posted on Reply
#61
juiseman
I just can't get past the $1000 monitor stand...lol
This must be one hell of a stand......does it do the dishes? and cook breakfast? take care of other needs on a daily basis?


Apple is getting ridiculous......

I have and like my older Mac Pro; but I got it dirt cheap for under $200 then upgraded and Flashed ect....works great and I do like a lot of things about Mac OS...
There is no way I could ever afford any thing new from them.
I honestly think some people buy their stuff just for appearance or social status.

Maybe when this new Mac pro reaches the 10 year mark I'll buy another one......
Posted on Reply
#62
wiyosaya
"Breakthrough" I think is pushing it.
kapone32With a 28 core Xeon processor, 2 Vega II cards and the amount of pixels a 6K screen must require you will not even have to turn your furnace on in the winter, with the amount of heat the cooling array will fail to keep in check.
I think you have found the proper use for it.
Posted on Reply
#63
shoman24v
The Mac Pro is definitely not for the average consumer market. They are selling this machine to target a very specific use and audience. But, my guess is, you will be able to walk into an Apple store and buy one, just like any other Apple device they sell, giving people the impression that it is for the average consumer.

The monitor price is just ridiculous. They should not have sold the stand separately and said it's $1,000. They should have have packaged them together as one price.

Time will tell whether the Mac Pro or the Pro Display will sell.
Posted on Reply
#64
Valantar
shoman24vThe Mac Pro is definitely not for the average consumer market. They are selling this machine to target a very specific use and audience. But, my guess is, you will be able to walk into an Apple store and buy one, just like any other Apple device they sell, giving people the impression that it is for the average consumer.

The monitor price is just ridiculous. They should not have sold the stand separately and said it's $1,000. They should have have packaged them together as one price.

Time will tell whether the Mac Pro or the Pro Display will sell.
Both will sell. There's enough of a captive audience of professionals using mac-only or heavily mac-optimized software (still!) that any pro-grade workstation will sell in decent quantities no matter what. Heck, even the trashcan did, and that was pretty much universally hated by its users. The monitor will sell simply because pro designers and photographers are always looking for better display technology, and for photographers buying multiple $3-5000 cameras and lenses each year, a price like this isn't much of a hindrance. For video work those budgets usually at least double (and scale far, far higher - Red cameras easily hit $50 000, and Arri or other more established brands easily double that, making this even less of an issue. Never underestimate the ridiculous equipment budgets of the creative industries.
Posted on Reply
#65
Valantar
Yeah, even if steel tariffs made the Caselabs bankruptcy happen quicker, it is very likely that it would have happened no matter what. Low sales volumes, extremely high prices, probably coupled with expensive/cost-be-damned R&D/design processes, and not a single mass-market/low-end case to serve as an entry model - that's a very tough business model to maintain.
Posted on Reply
#66
sneekypeet
not-so supermod
ValantarYeah, even if steel tariffs made the Caselabs bankruptcy happen quicker, it is very likely that it would have happened no matter what. Low sales volumes, extremely high prices, probably coupled with expensive/cost-be-damned R&D/design processes, and not a single mass-market/low-end case to serve as an entry model - that's a very tough business model to maintain.
Steel tariffs closing a company that made aluminum cases. Yeah, I can see where that works.
Posted on Reply
#67
bogmali
In Orbe Terrum Non Visi
Thread cleansed of political non-sense and infractions/thread bans to follow
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