If there are, tell me except for TB3.
TB3 for Apple is not an issue. You can get TB3 working on AMD PC systems already via screwing around, but (and this is the big one) - APPLE were co-developer of thunderbolt with Intel. Apple have whatever they need to make this work out of the box with AMD systems. They part-own the IP.
[automerge]1574930569[/automerge]
Intel is going to be bringing Sapphire Rapids on 2021 with Pcie 5.0 and DDR5, and 2022 with Granite Rapids on 7nm. Since Mac Pro is basically 2020 product, those are most likely going to be next round of updates for Mac Pro.
Intel were going to be bringing 10nm in 2015-2016, and were claiming 10Ghz by 2004. Intel has a history of claiming big things and not delivering.
Sapphire Rapids is not going to get to AMD's CURRENT core count levels.
If Apple are waiting for Sapphire rapids, they're going to be competing against 64 plus core Threadrippers with 10-25% IPC improvement above and beyond what the just released Threadrippers have. It will be a bloodbath.
AMD aren't standing still on process tech either. They're using TSMC who have 7nm+ in advanced stage and are working on 5nm right now. By the time intel get 10nm shipping in volume, AMD will be on 7nm+ or 5nm TSMC.
Basically intel need to do a ground up re-design (like AMD did with Zen, which took 4-6 years) to fix the various problems they have with core count scaling and being able to build many smaller dies instead of monolithic dies to improve yield to be able to compete.
They have been caught napping by AMD in terms of design - who are currently firing on all cylinders, and 10nm is a disaster.
Intel have previously been able to rely on their fab advantage to make up for less advanced processor designs for decades. But now they have (for the first time i can remember, and i've been in tech for 20+ years) both a design problem AND a fab process problem.
Things are going to be ugly for intel for some time. They have the cash to (eventually) dig themselves out most likely, but all the money in the world simply can't buy development time.
edit:
intel may "have product out" on 10nm right now, but it performs worse than their 14nm parts. Yes, even on mobile - in terms of power consumption.
10nm being "out" right now is a face-saving move for the board to be able to claim to shareholders that 10nm is "shipping". 10nm is a total disaster, but intel have shovelled far too much money into it to write it off entirely.
They're only doing tiny mobile processors with it because the process is so broken thats all they can get an acceptable yield on....
Also, for the non-cpu-tech following apple peeps in here... this is why Apple have been dragging their feet on upgrades, etc. Not because of laziness so much. But because despite intel releasing new CPUs, they've all been basically the same damn thing since 2016 with a different badge on them.