What do you guys think the future landscape for MPX Module releases will look like?
Maybe a w6800x and 6900x? By the end of the year?
Closer to end of the year? possible.
AMD Radeon Pro W6800 gets 32GB of memory A new leak confirms we have the first Navi 21 graphics card with 32GB of memory. On UserBenchmark an unreleased Radeon Pro graphics card has been spotted. The card is recognized as ” AMD Radeon Pro W6800 32GB (1002 73A3, 1002 0E1E)” basically confirming...
videocardz.com
Once AMD does a "workstation" 6800 (and/or 6900) variant then an Apple 'workstation' variant is probably not that too far behind. Vega II has 32GB of HBM. This is 32GB of DDR6 which is probably a 'fair trade' , and wouldn't change 'RAM working space" pressure for large footprint jobs.
If Apple does some "half sizesd" Mac Pro late in the year then a decent chance they'll be coupled to some MPX updates that could "trickle down" to the full sized Mac Pro. ( if they run both at same time). [ Fit the half sized model into the iMac Pro pricing space. Half sized Mac Pro and top end iMac 27-32 inch shared. SoC implementation. Performance wise the 'regular' 27" iMac could take the iMac Pro slot and price wise there would be a "hole". ]. the "half sized" Mac Pro's SoC would probably have a iGPU that could rival the 5500 so the standard minimal base config just wouldn't have any MPX module. ( That cheapest possible GPU can get away with role would be a replacement for the 580X. AMD is probably going to have a tougher time trying to fill that half-wdith MPX module solution role even if Apple opens up the driver path. )
Timing additionally is likely someone dependent on if Apple is putting 3rd party GPU support into macOS 12 . If not, then the Mac Pro replacement ( either partial or complete ) probably is sliding into 2022. And the MPX module updates probably right along with them. Without a M-series "pull" to get the newer MPX modules done, IMHO it is doubtful getting new MPX modules out is a "front burner", priority project at Apple. Apple can fill the time gap just by working with AMD to do drivers for "regular" 6800-6900 cards which should work just fine in Mac Pro 2019 systems. ( especially for folks with non XDR displays and/or just need them as "compute" cards. ).
I'm sure they'd likely remove the 580x, and keep the w5500x and possibly w5700x as lower options.
The W5770X isn't an option as a replacement because it is a full width MPX module. The replacement has to be a half width. ( so have an extra slot to use for other stuff). The W5500X has a newer foundation but doesn't drive as many DP streams.
If the introduction is late enough in the year , then a slippery slope they would keep the W5700X option since the RDNA2 (Navi2 ) replacement in workstation class could be out then also. ( W6700). [ Although the 6700XT has been more than scarce. ]
Could easily see a W6900x going for at least 2500-3000, though - with current GPU prices it's not far off the windows PC equivalent, and the performance may justify it if it's significantly more than the Vega ii.
if Apple cranks up the VRAM and puts it in a MPX module it is unlikely to cost less than the Vega Ii did. ( even more so if the crypto mining mania continues. ). Conceptually should be saving on swapping HBM for DDDR6 but if streety prices for the "consumer" cards remains inflated I don't see Apple skipping on taking the profit. Especially if relatively low volume.
forums.macrumors.com
