Rackmountable Mac Pro now available from $6,499
Arriving a little over a month after its desk-based counterpart, the rack-mountable version of the Mac Pro is now available to order, with the high-performance workstation starting from $6,499.
The alternative to the standard "Tower" version of the new modular Mac Pro, the Mac Pro "Rack" has gone on sale via the Apple website as of midday Eastern time on Tuesday. At this early period of availability, the variant is currently listed as having a shipment date of between 1 and 2 weeks, though this is likely to grow longer as orders pick up.
Priced at $500 more than the normal Mac Pro, the rackmount version is effectively the same in the vast majority of respects, including specifications. All internal elements, including processors, memory, storage, GPU, and Afterburner card options, are identical to the desktop version.
It is also just as upgradable, with components able to be added or removed at the user's end, without requiring Apple's support. While the entire case lifted off to access the insides of the standard version, the rack-mountable edition has a lid that can be taken off once the unit is slid out from its mounted position, like many other server cases.
Designed to lie on its side, the rackable model repositions the metal handles to the front, which still sports the unique 3D lattice grille. Locks on the sides, a power button, status indicator LED, and two USB-C ports are also positioned at the front.
Around the back is the same rear access panel as the desk-based version, including PCI card and MPX Module slots and the power connection.
Naturally, the Mac Pro also includes rails for mounting it to a cabinet as part of the order, but Apple warns the rails will ship in a separate box.
Despite the likelihood of being locked away in a server cabinet, Apple is still including peripherals along with the rack-mountable version. A keyboard and Magic Mouse 2 ship with it by default, but the latter can be upgraded to the Magic Trackpad 2, or both the mouse and trackpad can be ordered.
The alternative to the standard "Tower" version of the new modular Mac Pro, the Mac Pro "Rack" has gone on sale via the Apple website as of midday Eastern time on Tuesday. At this early period of availability, the variant is currently listed as having a shipment date of between 1 and 2 weeks, though this is likely to grow longer as orders pick up.
Priced at $500 more than the normal Mac Pro, the rackmount version is effectively the same in the vast majority of respects, including specifications. All internal elements, including processors, memory, storage, GPU, and Afterburner card options, are identical to the desktop version.
It is also just as upgradable, with components able to be added or removed at the user's end, without requiring Apple's support. While the entire case lifted off to access the insides of the standard version, the rack-mountable edition has a lid that can be taken off once the unit is slid out from its mounted position, like many other server cases.
Designed to lie on its side, the rackable model repositions the metal handles to the front, which still sports the unique 3D lattice grille. Locks on the sides, a power button, status indicator LED, and two USB-C ports are also positioned at the front.
Around the back is the same rear access panel as the desk-based version, including PCI card and MPX Module slots and the power connection.
Naturally, the Mac Pro also includes rails for mounting it to a cabinet as part of the order, but Apple warns the rails will ship in a separate box.
Despite the likelihood of being locked away in a server cabinet, Apple is still including peripherals along with the rack-mountable version. A keyboard and Magic Mouse 2 ship with it by default, but the latter can be upgraded to the Magic Trackpad 2, or both the mouse and trackpad can be ordered.
Comments
I assume the whole case doesn’t slide off, and there is a door on the top side to get access to the PCIe slots. But the RAM on the underside of the motherboard? A bottom door? There will be some craning of necks involved?
Now we have a proper Mac Pro again, how about a server version with redundant PSUs and LOM for schools and businesses? Along with a proper version of macOS Server?
I’m still curious if they will ship MPX CPU “blades”. There should be enough room in the MPX platform to have 1 socket per MPX model, possibly 2 CPU sockets per MPX module. This would essentially be for macOS hosting or for iOS and macOS developers who have server apps that are developed for their services. It would offer maximum compatibility and denser cores per rack for these rack mount Mac Pros. If MacStadium can have a business with racks of Mac mini’s, and even 2013 Mac Pros and iMacs, having this rack Mac Pro capable of 3 to 5 sockets sounds like something they could use.
I am a little surprised the server version doesn't have redundant power or a DC option.
Rackmountable Mac Pro now available from $6,499
and 7 people cheered...As for blades, I've asked about these for years. I don't think the current Mac Pro configuration would work for these, however, that doesn't mean Apple couldn't alter the basic Mac Pro interior, especially for the rack mount version, changing how the motherboard is mounted to allow for vertical/horizontal blades along with memory and storage (I'd move storage outside of the box except for a boot SSD, relying on external RAID with HDD or NVMe SSDs. I could see either large NVMe boards inside the Mac Pro or connected via a PCIe bus cable to a secondary box. The same for GPU racks. Of course Apple would need to come up with a viable server OS that works perfectly with Macs to justify looking at this truly modular high power server system.
We can only dream.
Seriously though, I think quite a few pros (myself included) are happy to see this. Rack mounting the trashcan macPros was a bit awkward (I have done many), so a real rack mount option is a welcome development.
We reactively searching for solutions, with Zentyal https://blog.macsales.com/50567-a-possible-successor-to-macos-server/ being the leading contender currently
If the buyer doesn't want to use the keyboard or mouse then sell them. You're not paying extra for them anyway. They would only save you a couple hundred bucks and Apple would need to create special manufacturing workflows to remove them, which would end up costing Apple more money than the cost of these items.
Although if you are buying that many I'm sure your Apple rep can get a special build with any of the consumer packagings. I do wonder if they'd go as far as racking them for you.