Mac Pro Update ? - Page 2

Sure, the cards will be there but DX10 wont be. Not on a Mac. It'll be driven on OpenGL 3.0

OpenGL 3.0 to bring DX10 features to every OS

It could be part of the reason for Leopards Delay. OpenGL 2.x and 3.0 APIs arrive this year

Been looking in to upgrading my Mac Pro video card for a while now, but recently (at least the last week or two) the damn thing has been listed as 7 - 10 weeks as delivery.

Really don't want to order it and wait that long in case they do update the cards while I am waiting for delivery.

he probably means a card that will be capable of using DX10 when dual-booting in windows

Ahh... One of them. I forget about them.

Do you think the Mac Pro will go 8-core across the family?

I think there will be more 8 core options, but they will still keep a lower end 4 core option for those that don't want or need to more expensive options.

I am now convinced they will change to the new processor design. Beyond that I can not say.

Intel has announced price cuts for the quad Xeons (nothing for the dual-cores).

processor_price_list.pdf

X5355 (8M L2 cache 2.66 GHz (120W) 1333 MHz FSB 65nm) $1,172 $744 37%
E5345 (8M L2 cache 2.33 GHz (80W) 1333 MHz FSB 65nm) $851 $455 47%
E5335 (8M L2 cache 2.00 GHz (80W) 1333 MHz FSB 65nm) $690 $316 54%
E5320 (8M L2 cache 1.86 GHz (80W) 1066 MHz FSB 65nm) $455 $256 44%
E5310 (8M L2 cache 1.60 GHz (80W) 1066 MHz FSB 65nm) $316 $209 34%
L5320 (8M L2 cache 1.86 GHz (50W) 1066 MHz FSB 65nm) $519 $320 38%
L5310 (8M L2 cache 1.60 GHz (50W) 1066 MHz FSB 65nm) $455 $273 40%

Apple currently uses (in bold):
5160 (4M L2 cache 3.00 GHz (80W) 1333 MHz FSB 65nm) $851 $851
5150 (4M L2 cache 2.66 GHz (65W) 1333 MHz FSB 65nm) $690 $690
5140 (4M L2 cache 2.33 GHz (65W) 1333 MHz FSB 65nm) $455 $455
5130 (4M L2 cache 2.00 GHz (65W) 1333 MHz FSB 65nm) $316 $316

Note: The quad 3.0GHz is still not listed (!)
All I can say is that you could now have 8 cores for the cost of four (almost).
Depending on their current inventory, Apple could certainly move most models of the Mac Pro to 8 cores, before the end of the quarter.

$2200 dual quad 2.0GHz
$2499/2699 dual quad 2.66GHz
$3298 current dual dual 3.0GHz
$3997 current dual quad 3.0GHz

All updated with 2GB of RAM standard (those are PRO machines!).

If they do (and by now they should) come out with a Mac "Semi-Pro" I think they would probably but the two dual cores in there, and move the pro line to all quad core processors.
That sounds like an Apple move to me.

If Apple comes out with a Mac "Semi-Pro", it won't be dual-dual, it'll be single-socket Quad-Core, as that'd be way cheaper for them. The Q6600, which is a 2.4 GHz quad core desktop chip is $266, and it's slightly faster brother at 2.66 GHz is like $330 or something. That's WAY cheaper than two Dual Core Xeons. Not to mention moving away from expensive 2S boards and FBDIMMs.

The single quad is something that totally escaped me, but your probably right. It would definitely help keep costs down too.

Yeah, but one of the ways it might hurt costs is by creating another SKU - you'd need another CPU, motherboard, and RAM. And since you can't use RAM risers, you might need to re-design the case (although probably you could fit four slots where the 2 RAM risers are now.

They wont use the same expensive Mac Pro case for a semi pro Machine. If Apple decides to jump in with this they will use another motherboard and a different case. THe Mac Pro will remain a the BIG GUN, but this will take on iMac color design to be a cohabitant with the consumer side.

Thats my guess.

Depends on if this Single Socket mac is a Mac Pro or another line. Apple has consistently mixed 1S and 2S computers in the PowerMac line during the G4 and G5 years. It's not unthinkable to have a 1S quad-core computer in the Mac Pro line. If it's outside the Mac Pro line, we're in the xMac or "headless Mac Midi" territory again.

Could someone please sticky this? This will be the next Mac product to be updated (all other products have had one or more updates since the Mac Pro was introduced).

Apple introduced the Mac Pro on August 7, 2006, which of course is more than a year ago. In that time, the singular update is the introduction of the quad core chips, without even a price impact on the rest of the components. In years, I can't think of a product that has seen no update for more than a year. When and what will Apple introduce, as clearly it can't keep this product going forever at this price point and feature-set? As an example, two of my company's employees, who currently use Windows machines, would like to buy Mac Pros, but they aren't going to do it until the graphics are updated at least (better QUADRO for one and better more-consumer oriented card for another).

I'll put this out there: Apple will introduce an updated Mac Pro in the next month (make it 9/15 for good measure). I can't have total confidence in this, but there would have to be a groundbreaking introduction following for a wait that long without an update or price reduction.

Thoughts?

in the g4 days it one 1s with 1 or 2 cpus on the cpu card / socket. The G5 was s1 or s2 latter s1 dual core and s2 dual dual core and xeon chipsets right now use high cost FB-DIMMS later ddr2 or ddr3 ecc ram.

Apple won't release a new Mac Pro before Leopard because of Leopard's better support for multiprocessing.

I am of the opinion that Apple will not release a new Mac Pro until MWSF.

Apple will not release a new Mac Pro until Steve Jobs gets damn good and ready!

I am finding it increasingly difficlt to keep up with the Intel roadmap - thanks for this but not sure I really understand it properly...

Is it possible to do a brief summary of each new processor or chipset, when due & few details - eg 45mn/nos of cores that are likely to find their way into a MP.

I am thinking about getting a new one & this will be helpful!

Many thanks

Apple Expo Paris?

to long to be at its price points for that long of a wait and the newchip should be out before then.

Some people are indeed very confused about Intel roadmap, and they mix cpu names and platform names, and just take guesses on what could fit into what Mac/computer, even "tech" sites.
Penryn will be the base for new mobile, desktop, workstation and server chips, all of them will have new chipsets too for building new motherboards.
For the Mac Pro, which is a workstation, dual processor, type of computer, Apple choosed to use Xeon cpus and the 5000X series of chipset initially.
Today, they could upgrade it to quad-core cpus (just like the dual-quad-core 3.0GHz that has been already released) with "Clovertown" cpus or the Xeon X5300 series that I mentionned earlier.
Next will be the penryn-based Xeon (late 2007 or early 2008 in Mac Pros) which will be based on a 45nm fabrication process (from todays 65nm process), that will mostly have 4 cores, more cache and will be faster. Rumored/leaked prices and specs for those chips make it probable that Apple would move to the following models:
$2200 dual-quad 2.50GHz
$2499 dual-quad 2.83GHz
$3298 dual-quad 3.00GHz
$3997 dual-quad 3.16GHz
If they keep the same price points and number of models.
Two new chipsets will also be available, in different flavors (that's why somtimes it is also confusing). One will be an upgrade from the current 5000X series called Seaburg (chipset) or Stoakley (platform) which will bring a number of improvements like PCIe 2.0. The other one (San Clemente/Cranberry Lake) will be a lower cost chipset with, for example, cheaper DDR2 RAM support instead of the expansive and power hungry FB-DIMMs (used in current Mac Pros). What Apple will choose to use is still a mystery.

Tigerton with Clarksboro/Caneland are server chips/chipsets/platforms and are unlikely be used on a personal computer (Mac or else). While it would be fun to have 16 or 32 cores working for us in the future, I'd better have today (or tomorrow) a single quad-core cpu computer that is affordable (under $2000).


That would be for a Clovertown refresh, which would already be nice, but it may be too much to ask from Apple, and penryn Xeons will start being available a few weeks/a couple of months later. My guess is that AEP will be the new iPods/european iPhone party and that the Mac Pro will have the MWSF spotlight (and if we are lucky, there will be also other announcements...).

Those were still the cheap days. When I took my first computer course at Uni they passed memory around the class in a cup - little magnetic disks that were hand wired. As for programming, we used punch cards and anyone that turned in more than 15 cards got some ugoly looks from the IT guy.


It's the other way around. Consumers go to Best Buy to get a computer and all of sudden they have Macs that they can look at for the first time. There is still the traditional problem of sales staff trying to push computers on them that pay a spiff from the OEM, but at lest it is an option that hasn't been around. From the sounds of things the program seems to be working, which is really nice to read.

As for the MacPro, it appears from the above that there are a lot of options for Apple to take, with new processor availability being one key factor. If Paris is out then I would look to a "media event" when Leopard is released - if Apple has something new worth touting. Otherwise I can see MWSF as a great launch platform for new MPs. The question then is the potential for a single quad in a MP mini.

I don't think any consumer venue (Paris, MWSF) is good for a Mac Pro if its entry-level pricing remains at $2,499. If we're talking $1,499, or even like the big bad days of Mac towers starting at $1,599, then we might be talking...

I would predict the new MacPro around end of October alongside new displays and Leopard.
I agree that Leopard needs to be here in order for us to see the new MacPro.

Interesting...... this smaller midline tower you describe-- a "headless iMac", if you will, with room for more expansion options without the high cost of the Pro towers:

I don't believe I've ever seen it discussed. What do people think of the idea?

If you need me I'll be very far away.

That scenario is the exception. It seems reasonable, but I still think MWSF is what Apple is shooting for. Processor type and availability was not part of my original prediction, just time between previous updates, but now I've noticed that processor choice for their pro line is a factor. I think it would be best for the Mac Pro line if Apple were to wait, and Apple has never been opposed to letting us wait.

Sad but true. I thought that with the transition to Intel, Apple would be more agile in its approach to hardware updates. But it's MOTS. I just don't get it. There's a whole family of processors that Apple is ignoring. WTF?