5K Monitor direction spells redundancy for my 8 month old Mac Pro

[goMac]

While there is obviously history that I don't know about being that many posters called out MacVidCards for something that seems kinda obvious I can't figure out where he's wrong. We're probably big Maxwell away from 5K especially with Apple right now and Dell before the new year with 5K displays.The cMP I keep at work and the D600 sitting on my desk at home will likely be able to drive 5K but the nMP might not.

Given that DisplayPort 1.2 nMP compatible 5k monitors are on the way, suggestions coming from professionals that the nMP hardware is incompatible with 5k is scaremongering, at best.

The discussion has mostly been if the 5k Thunderbolt display will work with the current revision nMP. The nMP is possibly in a better place because the cMP has no Thunderbolt, and therefore will never support a 5k Thunderbolt display.

 

[Asgorath]

Are you seriously saying Apple is expecting us to just "dispose of" and upgrade our $3000 - near $10,000 Macs every time there's a new one? I don't think they are at all. Even for businesses this is unreasonable. I think we haven't seen a new TBD yet because Apple is trying to figure out a way to get a 5k display running with the current MP with an elegant solution.

Given the lack of core upgrades with the nMP, just like every other Mac product now, I think the answer is obviously yes. Apple would much rather sell you a whole new computer, because they make a lot more money that way. You don't necessarily need to upgrade every single time, since the lifetime of a computer is probably longer than a phone (where most people will update every 2 years, i.e. skipping one update cycle each time). There's a limited number of things you can expand via Thunderbolt, in particular storage, but for the core components like CPU and GPU it seems pretty clear that Apple wants to sell you a whole new computer as opposed to making it easy to swap in new components for the next 5+ years.

 

[theSeb]

Given the lack of core upgrades with the nMP, just like every other Mac product now, I think the answer is obviously yes. Apple would much rather sell you a whole new computer, because they make a lot more money that way. You don't necessarily need to upgrade every single time, since the lifetime of a computer is probably longer than a phone (where most people will update every 2 years, i.e. skipping one update cycle each time). There's a limited number of things you can expand via Thunderbolt, in particular storage, but for the core components like CPU and GPU it seems pretty clear that Apple wants to sell you a whole new computer as opposed to making it easy to swap in new components for the next 5+ years.

The CPU is easily swappable in the nMP and this is proven. You would think that after all the time the nMP has been out people would stop posting hearsay.

 

[Gav Mack]

It's not going to be that long till Dell bring out their 5k 27 using the same panel as the retina iMac. Most likely a 6,1 will be able to drive two of them very easily.

If anyone who can't wait wants to punt their redundant 6,1 my way I'm sure I'll find a use for it.

And it must have been a mirage of myself that has dropped a pair of 3.3 8 core Xeons into two 6,1's but don't tell Apple cos they are unauthorised CPU's and only in my imagination!

 

[Redneck1089]

The CPU is easily swappable in the nMP and this is proven. You would think that after all the time the nMP has been out people would stop posting hearsay.

Oh please. You know what he means. His point is still valid, despite the ability to replace the CPU.

 

[MacVidCards]

Apples getting their money's worth out of their PR folks.

 

[Gav Mack]

MacVidCards practices in hyperbole, he works in a legacy business that is dying

Unless a firm like Quo release a Haswell E or even EP chipset open firmware motherboard, hopefully one that will fit in a case with a cheesegrater front which would be really convenient.

 

[Asgorath]

The CPU is easily swappable in the nMP and this is proven. You would think that after all the time the nMP has been out people would stop posting hearsay.

I never said it was impossible, I said Apple wants to sell you a whole new system every N years. Your average nMP (or even cMP) user is not going to replace the CPU anyway, though it was much simpler to just drop an after-market GPU into the cMP's PCIe slot. Apple makes no money off that no matter what, which is the point I'm trying to make.

 

[calaverasgrande]

While there is obviously history that I don't know about being that many posters called out MacVidCards for something that seems kinda obvious I can't figure out where he's wrong. We're probably big Maxwell away from 5K especially with Apple right now and Dell before the new year with 5K displays.The cMP I keep at work and the D600 sitting on my desk at home will likely be able to drive 5K but the nMP might not.

MacVidCards is saying that the nMP is " a non-upgradeable, disposable computer". This is patently false. At the minimum you can buy one shortloaded for ram and upgrade to a higher amount of ram later on.
It has also been demonstrated, quite early after its release, that you can install other Xeons in there to up your CPU power down the line. And while there does not appear to be any SSD upgrades currently on the market for this model. OWC has shown prototypes that would fit the bill. So it may merely be a matter of time, and of margins getting to the point where it is worth it.
Yes it is harder to upgrade than a 'classic' Mac Pro. But it is much more configurable than any iMac, or the new Mini.

 

[theSeb]

Oh please. You know what he means. His point is still valid, despite the ability to replace the CPU.

Oh please, his point is valid regarding the GPU, not the CPU. Apple has never been keen on people upgrading the CPU on the classic Mac Pro. These are very important details that some folk seem to want to forget about and whine whine whine.

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Apples getting their money's worth out of their PR folks.

Good one! You should get a new writer for your one-liners though.

 

[MacVidCards]

Oh please, his point is valid regarding the GPU, not the CPU. Apple has never been keen on people upgrading the CPU on the classic Mac Pro. These are very important details that some folk seem to want to forget about and whine whine whine.

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Good one! You should get a new writer for your one-liners though.

Yes, let's keep shooting the messengers, that should work.

I guess everyone forgot the OP and what thread was about.

Anyone want to address that?

What is more likely to run a 5K display first? The cMP with a choice of replacement GPUs or the nMP with a 3 year old 7970 or a little 4 lane PCIE window to the world?

Or just keep taking (lame) pot shots at the messengers.

 

[theSeb]

Yes, let's keep shooting the messengers, that should work.

I guess everyone forgot the OP and what thread was about.

Anyone want to address that?

What is more likely to run a 5K display first? The cMP with a choice of replacement GPUs or the nMP with a 3 year old 7970 or a little 4 lane PCIE window to the world?

Or just keep taking (lame) pot shots at the messengers.

Oh, so you're the messenger of the good news?

Regarding the OP and what the thread is about.... let's remind ourselves of your first post in the thread

This shouldn't be much of a surprise.

Apple made a non-upgradeable, disposable computer.

If you buy it you need to be ready to dispose of it and buy new one when technology moves forward.

Yes, that's completely helpful to the OP. Thank you, oh messenger.

 

[wonderspark]

I want to see someone drop new GPUs into a nMP.

It would also be cool if someone could swap the two GPUs with one GTX980 and one Atto/Areca/other hardware RAID card in place of the second GPU. That would be upgradability, in my opinion.

I look forward to seeing what the next Mac Pro has to offer, or if Apple will just focus on tablets and phones in the end. One has to wonder if desktops will end up like turntables and telephone booths.

 

[MacVidCards]

Oh, so you're the messenger of the good news?

Regarding the OP and what the thread is about.... let's remind ourselves of your first post in the thread



Yes, that's completely helpful to the OP. Thank you, oh messenger.

Yep, i told him the truth.

What have you brought?

 

[kendrickhphoto]

Before the new iMac came along, the nMP was unique in its ability to drive three 4K displays. And not surprisingly, still is. Can the iMac do that? No. It's rather limited to a single display (no one in their right mind would have any other display within eyeshot). Get a couple of 24" 4K displays running retina HiDPI and you'll have nearly the same pixel density but 8K pixels across instead of 5K. Alternatively get a pair of 31" 4K displays and run native for the ultimate in desktop realestate.

You can call me crazy but I am trading my just purchased base model Mac Pro for a fully loaded Retina iMac and I'm going to be running it with a 27" Cinema Display and a Thunderbolt Display. It says that it can run an external 4K display and I think for what I'm using it for it should be plenty to power those other two displays.

 

[theSeb]

I think it's interesting how Apples announcement of a 5K iMac display that won't work with the nMP makes a few people (including me) feel "totally left behind". It's either a testament to Apples marketing that they can stir this kind of emotion, or the sad state of peoples insatiable need to always have the latest technology to be happy.

Before the new iMac came along, the nMP was unique in its ability to drive three 4K displays. And not surprisingly, still is. Can the iMac do that? No. It's rather limited to a single display (no one in their right mind would have any other display within eyeshot). Get a couple of 24" 4K displays running retina HiDPI and you'll have nearly the same pixel density but 8K pixels across instead of 5K. Alternatively get a pair of 31" 4K displays and run native for the ultimate in desktop realestate.

The only thing about the new iMac that makes me envious is the price point. If there's one message that comes out of that iMac announcement loud and clear is that we are paying a dear premium for these Mac Pros.

The riMac does support one more 4K display at 60 Hz.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht6008

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Yep, i told him the truth.

What have you brought?

I reminded people that the CPU is upgradeable in the nMP, because it's clear that many are not aware of this. This is a big advantage over the iMac.

 

[MacVidCards]

I reminded people that the CPU is upgradeable in the nMP, because it's clear that many are not aware of this. This is a big advantage over the iMac.

You should have Apple PR hire you a fact checker.

"Just like last year, the CPU is not soldered to the logic board, and can be easily replaced (we just left it in the socket for the picture)."

https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iMac+Intel+27-Inch+Retina+5K+Display+Teardown/30260

So other than impugning my motives for telling the truth, what have you brought other than misinformation?

 

[theSeb]

You should have Apple PR hire you a fact checker.

"Just like last year, the CPU is not soldered to the logic board, and can be easily replaced (we just left it in the socket for the picture)."

https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iMac+Intel+27-Inch+Retina+5K+Display+Teardown/30260

So other than impugning my motives for telling the truth, what have you brought other than misinformation?

Yeah, but I am not crazy enough to call it upgradeable when one has to tear off the screen and come close to destroying the whole thing to replace the CPU. I can't believe I have to explain that to you. So tiresome.

 

[MacVidCards]

Yeah, but I am not crazy enough to call it upgradeable when one has to tear off the screen and come close to destroying the whole thing to replace the CPU. I can't believe I have to explain that to you and your tirades are tiresome.

Apology accepted. (despite the tiresome tirade)

 

[theSeb]

Apology accepted. (despite the tiresome tirade)

You missed my final edit, unfortunately. So I am going to add it here. Using your logic I could say that the GPUs are, in fact, upgradeable in the nMP. Time to stop before we get time-outs, again.

 

[MacVidCards]

You missed my final edit, unfortunately. So I am going to add it here. Using your logic I could say that the GPUs are, in fact, upgradeable in the nMP. Time to stop before we get time-outs, again.

What?

What logic is that?

CPUs are easily sourced from anywhere. nMP GPUs are completely NOT.

Sometimes it's better to just say "Whoops, I was wrong" rather than keep trying to prop up a lost argument with further nonsense.

 

[Gav Mack]

I must be suffering from iOS 8.1 hysteria now I have an iPad air and a 5s tonight that finally work correctly after a month of absolute utter pants.

But having spent a lot of time with the 6,1 these past six months I can't really think of it as the successor to the old towers it's something totally different. My new clients for the 6,1 who are mostly all Windows based absolutely love them for what they do really, really good on bootcamp. A silent powerful single Xeon cpu compact workstation and have took their anti Apple blinkers right off.

Not for my primary workstation, it's pretty useless to recover data off SATA disks for starters but if anyone wants to loan their useless black can to me because Apple as usual think of their high end users second and stupidly haven't released a 5k screen yet I promise to look after it until it's released. I have about 3tb of 1080p I need converting into MP4 video aac audio and it will be perfect

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Yeah, but I am not crazy enough to call it upgradeable when one has to tear off the screen and come close to destroying the whole thing to replace the CPU. I can't believe I have to explain that to you. So tiresome.

It's about 5-6 minutes on high heat with my missus Braun hairdryer to peel it off nicely.

I think others need to upgrade their iOS to 8.1 on this thread too

 

[Alrescha]

Sometimes it's better to just say "Whoops, I was wrong" rather than keep trying to prop up a lost argument with further nonsense.

Oh Irony, where is thy sting?

 

[MacVidCards]

Yes, let's keep shooting the messengers, that should work.

I guess everyone forgot the OP and what thread was about.

Anyone want to address that?

What is more likely to run a 5K display first? The cMP with a choice of replacement GPUs or the nMP with a 3 year old 7970 or a little 4 lane PCIE window to the world?

Or just keep taking (lame) pot shots at the messengers.

Back on topic.

Anyone have some input?

 

[theSeb]

What?

What logic is that?

CPUs are easily sourced from anywhere. nMP GPUs are completely NOT.

Sometimes it's better to just say "Whoops, I was wrong" rather than keep trying to prop up a lost argument with further nonsense.

Somebody has a lot of free on their hands. Yes, I was totally wrong. This is the FIRST time I have heard that it is possible to upgrade the CPU on the iMac. Much like many of your supporters are not aware of the fact that the CPU is upgradeable on the nMP. Now we are all aware.