If the Mac Pro comes out in 2018, will you buy one?

[Flint Ironstag]

I don't have time to wait and, honestly, I don't think they'll launch a product that will be at a reasonable price. They will put a huge markup on the sticker price as always.

I agree on the time to wait thing. I'm experimenting with an old super micro workstation and eGPU on nMP in the meantime.

The price argument always comes up, and there are inevitable comparisons (usually to HP & Dell workstations). The cMP was always competitive in the mid range. HP and Dell just offer way more configurations than Apple will, and thus had much cheaper, and way more expensive offerings than the cMP. The cMP was expensive sure, but competitive and a decent value, especially considering the longevity of the thing.

In short, I fully expect mp 7.1 configured to my needs will be expensive, but not prohibitively so, and definitely in line with similarly specced WORKSTATIONS* from HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc.

Here's what I'd like to see:

- greater emphasis on the whole ecosystem. new monitor and tighter iPad integration are good signs

and for MY workstation I'd like:

- dual socket CPU (probably a step down from the fastest clock speed available)
- 2TB ECC RAM
- (4) full strength x16 slots for off the shelf GPUs
- (1) PCIe x16 dedicated expansion slot to connect to eGPU or other expansion chassis (Netstor, Magma, etc.)
- (2) 10GbE and (1) LOM
- fast, abundant internal storage
- tons of thunderbolt ports
- an attractive, quiet, tool-less case
- backlit keyboard

You know the more I think about it, someone posted a link to a Supermicro barebones system - I think this was it:

https://www.supermicro.com/products/system/4U/7048/SYS-7048GR-TR.cfm

Really, they need to give us a current version of something like this. With NVlink, TB4, PCIe 4 in a slick package.

 

[DPUser]

It all depends on whether my 4,1>5,1 Macs are still cutting it in my studio.
As an audio guy, I am a CPU, not GPU, hog.
Going to 12 core 5,1 or buying a low-end 6,1 and swapping CPUs are other possibilities.
Time will tell!

 

[jjhny]

Yes, I might buy a few of them.

But they would have to be powerful, not crippled toys for web surfing.

 

[prowlmedia]

Since I still have to raise the money, Im comfortable with 2018.
Of course, it largely depends on the machine released.

For me, the current form factor is fine, except for the inability of upgrades - Its compact design suits my needs.
But, I reckon that a more modular design has a lot of advantages. I just hope it's not bulky and messy.

The problem is you have just described a big standard ATX case. 4 PCI and 4 Hard drive slots will mean its bulky.

The issue with the old box was it weighed a ton used a lot of power and had many many fans! The nMP has one. Which is its downfall...

I suspect we'll get a component box system each with its own fan
base unit
With
Power pack
Single or dual CPU
1 PCI slot for GPU
1 chip based Hard drive in the base unit
4 Ram slots
6 thunderbolt / usb3 / c connectors
Audio

The add on stackable apple boxes that feed directly in to the PCIe pipe. No extra cables they just lock together in some clever way

PCIe card unit for additional GPU / other PCIe stuff
Hard drive units- perhaps slim 4 x 2.5 SSD or thicker 4x3.5 HDD
just add as many as you want
Additional port unit

 

[pat500000]

I get the feeling apple will their own gpu like 5870 or whatever but isnt limit to nvidia gpu.

 

[Yahooligan]

I get the feeling apple will their own gpu like 5870 or whatever but isnt limit to nvidia gpu.

What?

Apple won't make their own GPU (if that's what you're saying), the 5870 is AMD and not Apple-only as PC cards with the 5870 GPU were widely available.

Still not sure I understand what you were trying to say, though.

 

[pat500000]

What?

Apple won't make their own GPU (if that's what you're saying), the 5870 is AMD and not Apple-only as PC cards with the 5870 GPU were widely available.

Still not sure I understand what you were trying to say, though.

Due to iphone typo, let me clarify that. Im saying they might offer 5870 type ...meaning from different company but wouldnt be limited to other competitors as well.

 

[Miguel Cunha]

I suspect we'll get a component box system each with its own fan

• Base unit.
• The add on stackable apple boxes that feed directly in to the PCIe pipe.

No extra cables they just lock together in some clever way

If this happens, we would have the best of both worlds.
I really like the mobility of a base unit to work on the go and the power of a complete system to more demanding, careful and finishing projects.

Let's hope you're right!
[doublepost=1491851054][/doublepost]

- (2) 10GbE

I forgot this one.
SFP+ as an option.

 

[Yahooligan]

Due to iphone typo, let me clarify that. Im saying they might offer 5870 type ...meaning from different company but wouldnt be limited to other competitors as well.

Still not clear. The GPU options are AMD or Nvidia, "5870 type" doesn't explain anything. Are you trying to say that Apple may use AMD or Nvidia GPUs but not be limited to one or the other?

Considering Nvidia is releasing Mac drivers for the 10-series, I'd say they're planning on having something for the new Mac Pro as well. Just a hunch, but regardless I'm glad they are signaling that they are still in the Mac game for now.

It would be a slap in the face for Apple to use commodity GPU chipsets on a proprietary card like they did with the nMP.

 

[JMacHack]

Depends on if I have the dosh/if the Mac Pro is actually good this time around. I'm leaning towards "yes"

 

[bernuli]

Just wondering, is it as some have said? The real pros have already moved away from Macs?
Either a hackintosh or a PC?
I love Macs but I wonder at this point if there will be anyone that wants a new Mac Pro in 2018?

Given the pretty good chance this new Mac Pro will be really good, if it is, I will absolutely be buying one. Can't wait as a matter of fact.

If it sucks, then the 2015 RBMPs I bought will probably be the last Mac(s) I buy.

 

[flyinmac]

The problem is you have just described a big standard ATX case. 4 PCI and 4 Hard drive slots will mean its bulky.

The issue with the old box was it weighed a ton used a lot of power and had many many fans! The nMP has one. Which is its downfall...

I suspect we'll get a component box system each with its own fan
base unit
With
Power pack
Single or dual CPU
1 PCI slot for GPU
1 chip based Hard drive in the base unit
4 Ram slots
6 thunderbolt / usb3 / c connectors
Audio

The add on stackable apple boxes that feed directly in to the PCIe pipe. No extra cables they just lock together in some clever way

PCIe card unit for additional GPU / other PCIe stuff
Hard drive units- perhaps slim 4 x 2.5 SSD or thicker 4x3.5 HDD
just add as many as you want
Additional port unit

What you are describing is the failed IBM PCjr.

The PCjr was expanded both internally and externally. One slot inside. And everything else was "stacked" externally by plug in modules called "sidecars" that plugged directly into the side of the computer's case and interfaced directly into the expansion bus.

There were also units that expanded the machine by snapping onto the top of the computer which increased its height.

And, there were cartridge slots used to install function cartridges which would alter the ROM.

Each add on either increased the width, depth, or height of the computer.

The end result looked like Frankenstein.

It failed miserably.

I'd hope Apple wouldn't go that route.

 

[pat500000]

Still not clear. The GPU options are AMD or Nvidia, "5870 type" doesn't explain anything. Are you trying to say that Apple may use AMD or Nvidia GPUs but not be limited to one or the other?

Considering Nvidia is releasing Mac drivers for the 10-series, I'd say they're planning on having something for the new Mac Pro as well. Just a hunch, but regardless I'm glad they are signaling that they are still in the Mac game for now.

It would be a slap in the face for Apple to use commodity GPU chipsets on a proprietary card like they did with the nMP.

yup. It's just like 5,1 mac pro. nvidia or amd card works.

 

[ctrlzone]

how about easy accessible fans for cleaning/replacing?
since workstations run way longer than normal systems they clog up dust and get noisy, or even better a air filtered system with washable filter

 

[Joe The Dragon]

I agree on the time to wait thing. I'm experimenting with an old super micro workstation and eGPU on nMP in the meantime.

The price argument always comes up, and there are inevitable comparisons (usually to HP & Dell workstations). The cMP was always competitive in the mid range. HP and Dell just offer way more configurations than Apple will, and thus had much cheaper, and way more expensive offerings than the cMP. The cMP was expensive sure, but competitive and a decent value, especially considering the longevity of the thing.

In short, I fully expect mp 7.1 configured to my needs will be expensive, but not prohibitively so, and definitely in line with similarly specced WORKSTATIONS* from HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc.

Here's what I'd like to see:

- greater emphasis on the whole ecosystem. new monitor and tighter iPad integration are good signs

and for MY workstation I'd like:

- dual socket CPU (probably a step down from the fastest clock speed available)
- 2TB ECC RAM
- (4) full strength x16 slots for off the shelf GPUs
- (1) PCIe x16 dedicated expansion slot to connect to eGPU or other expansion chassis (Netstor, Magma, etc.)
- (2) 10GbE and (1) LOM
- fast, abundant internal storage
- tons of thunderbolt ports
- an attractive, quiet, tool-less case
- backlit keyboard

You know the more I think about it, someone posted a link to a Supermicro barebones system - I think this was it:

https://www.supermicro.com/products/system/4U/7048/SYS-7048GR-TR.cfm

Really, they need to give us a current version of something like this. With NVlink, TB4, PCIe 4 in a slick package.

you are going to need AMD for that Intel 44-46 pci-e per cpu.

5 x16 slots is 80 giving you just a few for storage and TB3.

 

[AidenShaw]

you are going to need AMD for that Intel 44-46 pci-e per cpu.

5 x16 slots is 80 giving you just a few for storage and TB3.

Just put in a PCIe switch, and as many slots as you want. And accept the fact that most of the devices will be able to run at full bandwidth most of the time - but if you try to run all of them at full bandwidth at the same time, there will be some throttling.

That's not a bad thing, it's a great way to better utilize the available PCIe lanes.

 

[Miguel Cunha]

Just wondering, is it as some have said? The real pros have already moved away from Macs?
Either a hackintosh or a PC?
I love Macs but I wonder at this point if there will be anyone that wants a new Mac Pro in 2018?

I do, but until it arrives at a competitive price as it did in the past, I'm recommending HP and Dell.
Presently, Mac Pro is too expensive and barely customisable.
A Professional needs to configure his machine to his needs, something the current model doesn't allow. He also needs a good return of investment.

 

[JedNZ]

Nope - won't be upgrading to a MP18/19. I've invested a lot of time, money and effort into my cMP and it mets more than my current and immediate future needs. Cost and Need aren't determining factors for me to upgrade.

 

[prowlmedia]

What you are describing is the failed IBM PCjr.

The PCjr was expanded both internally and externally. One slot inside. And everything else was "stacked" externally by plug in modules called "sidecars" that plugged directly into the side of the computer's case and interfaced directly into the expansion bus.

There were also units that expanded the machine by snapping onto the top of the computer which increased its height.

And, there were cartridge slots used to install function cartridges which would alter the ROM.

Each add on either increased the width, depth, or height of the computer.

The end result looked like Frankenstein.

It failed miserably.

I'd hope Apple wouldn't go that route.

Ha yes. I suppose it is similar.... however that was 30 years ago with very limited connectivity/speed and with IBMs daisyball printer design skills...

Funny you say it looked bad... actually think it looks pretty good compared to most 1980s kit.

I Don't know what the perfect form factor is... but ATX only exists as a form ITX is almost as usable and a 1/4 the size... apple created something fantastic but probably made it Too small. 1 fan instead of 8+ as per the old machine

 

[flyinmac]

Ha yes. I suppose it is similar.... however that was 30 years ago with very limited connectivity/speed and with IBMs daisyball printer design skills...

Funny you say it looked bad... actually think it looks pretty good compared to most 1980s kit.

I Don't know what the perfect form factor is... but ATX only exists as a form ITX is almost as usable and a 1/4 the size... apple created something fantastic but probably made it Too small. 1 fan instead of 8+ as per the old machine

I had the PCjr. And it's still a fond memory. But it's not a good design factor to be reimplemented in the Apple market.

I performed a lot of customizing on mine.

I changed its ID from PCjr, to PC XT. Which enabled it to lie to software that was written to deny running on the "home" computer.

I remapped it's memory to move video ram up to beyond the 1 GB memory space, so that I could upgrade it to 1 GB of RAM.

I added standard PC ports to replace the PCjr only proprietary connections.

I added DMA (direct memory access) and a buffer that enabled you to keep typing while drive access was occurring.

I added any feature that had been deliberately left out of its design to cripple it and keep it from affecting sales of the "business" models.

Upgraded its CPU (minor improvement - not an architecture change, just efficiency).

I added a hard drive to it also. One of them "massive" 20 GB hard drives. Lol.

I did a lot of tinkering. And even got early windows versions running on it.

By the time I was done, it made a PC XT look humble.

But, it was a face that only a mother could love. I liked it. But, it wasn't exactly a "clean" look in the end.

It's still somewhere in the family. And been offered back to me. But, aside from just using it because I can, I really have no use for it.

It was essentially the "b@$+@rd" of the PC family. A poor kid that had been so deliberately crippled, that you felt sorry for it. Which seemed to compel me to help it any way that I could. I had to help it prove that it was just as good and just as powerful as any other of its more "blessed" siblings.

I did love that computer. But, I don't think I'd buy a Mac Pro that was expanded in the same manner.

 

[jwpoof]

Unless it's another dumb design, I will buy it the day they're announced.

 

[zephonic]

When my 4,1>5,1 kicks the bucket, I'll look at what is available. If Apple has a reasonably up-to-date MacPro by then, it's likely I'd get one.
It doesn't absolutely have to have the latest stuff in there, but it needs to be sensibly priced.

If the touchbar MBP's price increases are any indication, however, it looks like the future MP will probably start at $3500 or so. But if its prices are comparable to those of equivalent Windows workstations, hell yeah.

 

[tuxon86]

I had the PCjr. And it's still a fond memory. But it's not a good design factor to be reimplemented in the Apple market.

I performed a lot of customizing on mine.

I changed its ID from PCjr, to PC XT. Which enabled it to lie to software that was written to deny running on the "home" computer.

I remapped it's memory to move video ram up to beyond the 1 GB memory space, so that I could upgrade it to 1 GB of RAM.

I added standard PC ports to replace the PCjr only proprietary connections.

I added DMA (direct memory access) and a buffer that enabled you to keep typing while drive access was occurring.

I added any feature that had been deliberately left out of its design to cripple it and keep it from affecting sales of the "business" models.

Upgraded its CPU (minor improvement - not an architecture change, just efficiency).

I added a hard drive to it also. One of them "massive" 20 GB hard drives. Lol.

I did a lot of tinkering. And even got early windows versions running on it.

By the time I was done, it made a PC XT look humble.

But, it was a face that only a mother could love. I liked it. But, it wasn't exactly a "clean" look in the end.

It's still somewhere in the family. And been offered back to me. But, aside from just using it because I can, I really have no use for it.

It was essentially the "b@$+@rd" of the PC family. A poor kid that had been so deliberately crippled, that you felt sorry for it. Which seemed to compel me to help it any way that I could. I had to help it prove that it was just as good and just as powerful as any other of its more "blessed" siblings.

I did love that computer. But, I don't think I'd buy a Mac Pro that was expanded in the same manner.

You mean a 20MB hard drive, not a 20GB one I think...

 

[Yahooligan]

I had the PCjr. And it's still a fond memory. But it's not a good design factor to be reimplemented in the Apple market.

I performed a lot of customizing on mine.

I changed its ID from PCjr, to PC XT. Which enabled it to lie to software that was written to deny running on the "home" computer.

I remapped it's memory to move video ram up to beyond the 1 GB memory space, so that I could upgrade it to 1 GB of RAM.

I added standard PC ports to replace the PCjr only proprietary connections.

I added DMA (direct memory access) and a buffer that enabled you to keep typing while drive access was occurring.

I added any feature that had been deliberately left out of its design to cripple it and keep it from affecting sales of the "business" models.

Upgraded its CPU (minor improvement - not an architecture change, just efficiency).

I added a hard drive to it also. One of them "massive" 20 GB hard drives. Lol.

I did a lot of tinkering. And even got early windows versions running on it.

By the time I was done, it made a PC XT look humble.

But, it was a face that only a mother could love. I liked it. But, it wasn't exactly a "clean" look in the end.

It's still somewhere in the family. And been offered back to me. But, aside from just using it because I can, I really have no use for it.

It was essentially the "b@$+@rd" of the PC family. A poor kid that had been so deliberately crippled, that you felt sorry for it. Which seemed to compel me to help it any way that I could. I had to help it prove that it was just as good and just as powerful as any other of its more "blessed" siblings.

I did love that computer. But, I don't think I'd buy a Mac Pro that was expanded in the same manner.

Not sure if being sarcastic or just making things up... Going with sarcastic.

 

[flyinmac]

You mean a 20MB hard drive, not a 20GB one I think...

Yes. You're right. 20 MB.

It was an interesting time. I remember having to go into Debug and manually marking bad sectors to prevent them from being used.

It was very early. Every hard drive had defects. The technology just hadn't been refined yet.

But it was good times.