Unconfirmed Mac Pro specs / dual optical drives!
These were submitted anonymously to AppleInsider recently:
Good: Dual-Core 2GHz Intel Xeon, 512MB DDR 667, ATI Radeon X1600 Pro, 250GB Hard Drive,$1799
Better: Dual-Core 2.33GHz Intel Xeon, 1GB DDR2 667, ATI Radeon X1800 Pro, 320GB Hard Drive, $2499
Best: Two Dual-Core 2.66 Intel Xeon, 1GB DDR2 667, ATI Radeon X1800 Pro, 320GB Hard Drive, $3299
The anonymous report also included a prediction of dual optical drives, which lines up with another AppleInsider report.
The specs look friggin' great, I hope there's a way of getting a single-processor 2.66 though.
Good: Dual-Core 2GHz Intel Xeon, 512MB DDR 667, ATI Radeon X1600 Pro, 250GB Hard Drive,$1799
Better: Dual-Core 2.33GHz Intel Xeon, 1GB DDR2 667, ATI Radeon X1800 Pro, 320GB Hard Drive, $2499
Best: Two Dual-Core 2.66 Intel Xeon, 1GB DDR2 667, ATI Radeon X1800 Pro, 320GB Hard Drive, $3299
The anonymous report also included a prediction of dual optical drives, which lines up with another AppleInsider report.
The specs look friggin' great, I hope there's a way of getting a single-processor 2.66 though.
Comments
Originally posted by Placebo
These were submitted anonymously to AppleInsider recently:
Good: Dual-Core 2GHz Intel Xeon, 512MB DDR 667, ATI Radeon X1600 Pro, 250GB Hard Drive,$1799
Better: Dual-Core 2.33GHz Intel Xeon, 1GB DDR2 667, ATI Radeon X1800 Pro, 320GB Hard Drive, $2499
Best: Two Dual-Core 2.66 Intel Xeon, 1GB DDR2 667, ATI Radeon X1800 Pro, 320GB Hard Drive, $3299
The anonymous report also included a prediction of dual optical drives, which lines up with another AppleInsider report.
The specs look friggin' great, I hope there's a way of getting a single-processor 2.66 though.
Assuming that the motherboard supports dual sockets, buying a single socket machine ("Good" or "Better") will give the option of upgrading to Clovertowns in the future. That is, get the 2GHz model now and in Q1 2007 replace it by 2 quad-core Clovertowns. It would be nice if Apple can provide this upgrade path via AppleCare.
Originally posted by Placebo
I think the main limitation to that will be getting the prerequisite cooling system, something that's probably not off the shelf.
And hence Applecare ...
Originally posted by Placebo
You honestly think that Apple is going to aid you in adding new processors to your computer?
I don't expect Apple to sell single socket Mac Pros. As I have said several times on the forum, even the lowest end Macs (Mini, edu iMac, MB) are dual core, the Pro machine has to be much more.
If I am going to spend $1799 + atleast $500 (for more memory, Applecare etc), I might as well spend an additional $350 odd (for another 2GHz Woodcrest) to get DOUBLE the processing power. I have already paid for the more expensive (compared to Conroe) motherboard, and memory (FB-DIMM), etc that's required by the Bensley platform.
SO, if they DO offer a single socket Mac Pro, they are expecting customers to upgrade it now or when Clovertown comes along. It's better for Apple if they offer that future upgradability and get a % of the profit from those sales. If not DON'T sell single socket machines - make that additional $ NOW by selling all Quad core.
Originally posted by Placebo
They're just going to say "if you want dual processors / quad cores, buy another Mac Pro".
If the buyer understands my "double the power for mere $350 more" argument then I don't expect them to buy the lower two models.
Originally posted by Placebo
These were submitted anonymously to AppleInsider recently:
Good: Dual-Core 2GHz Intel Xeon, 512MB DDR 667, ATI Radeon X1600 Pro, 250GB Hard Drive,$1799
Better: Dual-Core 2.33GHz Intel Xeon, 1GB DDR2 667, ATI Radeon X1800 Pro, 320GB Hard Drive, $2499
The specs look friggin' great...
Not to me. Other vendors will be selling Core 2 Duo systems (with the same performance as Xeon) for much cheaper.
Originally posted by Placebo
I think the main limitation to [processor upgrades] will be getting the prerequisite cooling system, something that's probably not off the shelf.
Sure, but the Mac upgrade companies can easily hire somebody in Taiwan to design a cooler that will fit in a Mac Pro.
Originally posted by wmf
Sure, but the Mac upgrade companies can easily hire somebody in Taiwan to design a cooler that will fit in a Mac Pro.
Really now. So why did nobody do this for the G5?
Originally posted by Chucker
Really now. So why did nobody do this for the G5?
I suspect the difficulty in building a G5 CPU upgrade is (1) convincing IBM to sell you the chips at a reasonable price, (2) designing a custom interposer card, (3) setting the right values in the EEPROM, (4) designing a custom heatsink, etc.
Now let's consider upgrading an Intel Mac. The processor is off the shelf, there's no interposer, etc. All you have to do is design the heatsink.
Originally posted by Chucker
Really now. So why did nobody do this for the G5?
Because with the G5, it was the G5 that was in short supply, not the cooling unit.
David
Originally posted by Placebo
These were submitted anonymously to AppleInsider recently:
Good: Dual-Core 2GHz Intel Xeon, 512MB DDR 667, ATI Radeon X1600 Pro, 250GB Hard Drive,$1799
Better: Dual-Core 2.33GHz Intel Xeon, 1GB DDR2 667, ATI Radeon X1800 Pro, 320GB Hard Drive, $2499
Best: Two Dual-Core 2.66 Intel Xeon, 1GB DDR2 667, ATI Radeon X1800 Pro, 320GB Hard Drive, $3299
The anonymous report also included a prediction of dual optical drives, which lines up with another AppleInsider report.
The specs look friggin' great, I hope there's a way of getting a single-processor 2.66 though.
How much faster is a dual core 2.0 Xeon versus a dual core G5?
Originally posted by Chucker
Really now. So why did nobody do this for the G5?
Processor upgrade vendors typically overclock the processor. I see two problems. One, designing a cooler to allow an overclocked G5 to run reliably is a daunting task and may require refrigeration. Perhaps, Peltier cooling would work. Two, each G5 processor must be custom-mated to its cooling unit.
Originally posted by Mr. Me
One, designing a cooler to allow an overclocked G5 to run reliably is a daunting task and may require refrigeration.
But that's exactly what wmf apparently disagrees with:
the Mac upgrade companies can easily hire somebody in Taiwan to design a cooler that will fit in a Mac Pro.
"Easily hire someone to design a cooler" is quite the opposite of "designing a cooler is a daunting task", no?
Originally posted by anand
How much faster is a dual core 2.0 Xeon versus a dual core G5?
A number of sites have said that the high-end Macbook Pro was similar in speed to their quad Powermac. So when we get the quad Xeon, it should be mighty nice.