Zarni, where do you get that E5v4 16XX series will have 105W of TDP?
I think that is the sweet spot for Broadwell desktop chips for perf/watt with six cores. Around 17W per core maximum. When they keep levels under that they'll have best ratio for pref/watt. There are three 105W models for 2600 class. Sure there are 120W and above too. It is matter of number of cores of course. But the increased power consumption above 17W per core returns worse performance and generates just more heat.
E3 v5 is 80W chip.. that is interesting too! Skylake can give better perf/watt ration up to 20W per core.
Anyway, my point was that if Apple wants to keep its current Tube without refinements, they could lower CPU TDP without sacrificing performance from last previous model. It is just a matter of need, which one is more important, CPU or GPU.. for gamer it is obvious... 54W Skylake i3-6000 series gives best performance per price and watt for gaming. All money spent on i5 or i7 gives poorer return. The extra 100 or 200 spent on GPU on the other hand...
With nMP is is more complicated. That's why the Tube is a mess. It can't be universally good machine.. it can be excellent on some works, but not for everybody.
They should but two - three categories of nMP to choose of. One for more CPU oriented, another with focus on GPGPU and third perhaps for lower price point, but still awesome universal machine.
nMP cat 1 = 1 with high TDP or DUAL socket, one GPU
- E5-2600 v4, DDR4 ECC, one GPU up to 130W TDP
- Starting price USD 2999
nMP cat 2 = 1 CPU normal TDP, dual GPU
- E5-1600 v4, DDR4 ECC, DUAL GPU max 130W each
- Starting price USD 2999
nMP cat 3 = 1 CPU lower specs, one GPU
- E3-1500 v5 (up to 4 cores), DDR4 ECC, one GPU 200W max
- empty place of second cpu/gpu could be used for an optional storage.
- Starting price USD 1999
And this is just if they really want to keep the tube as is.
