Mac Pros Shipping Times Increasing

[Adam552]

Only the other day, only the 12-core one was on 3 business days or something.
Just checked now, and they've all increased quite dramatically in the UK.

US has increased slightly as well!

Apple will have to release a new one if they run out stock? But the new hardware won't come out for a few weeks at least? :O

 

[Neodym]

It's only the 12-core, so I would not see this to be more than a temporary slip for one configuration. If the other configurations will slip as well it's early enough to speculate...

 

[Metal Dice]

I wouldn't really give it too much attention, unless the shipping time increased on all models.

 

[braindeadfool]

Now quoting 1-3 weeks on custom built core selections across the line. Maybe something is finally instore.

 

[initialsBB]

New processors are on their way, that's a given. Would make sense for Intel to ramp down production of the higher configurations so as to not end up with stock of the most expensive stuff...

 

[DanielCoffey]

Is it likely to be connected to HDD stocks?

 

[initialsBB]

Is it likely to be connected to HDD stocks?

All Mac Pro models ship with the same base HDD, so that wouldn't be the reason.

 

[xgman]

Now quoting 1-3 weeks on custom built core selections across the line. Maybe something is finally instore.

From your mouth to the Apple God's!

 

[Inconsequential]

New processors are on their way, that's a given. Would make sense for Intel to ramp down production of the higher configurations so as to not end up with stock of the most expensive stuff...

I was told recently that Intel/AMD batch order a certain CPU, i.e. they aren't making them all at the same time.

The 2600S is in quite short supply apparently due to them under-producing on the last batch!

So I wouldn't be at all surprised if Intel haven't made any LGA1366 recently and hence shipping times are slipping due to Apple not getting a delivery any time soon.

Very much looking forward to my E5-1650 MP tho.

 

[ActionableMango]

This is clear evidence that in some cases shipping times are somewhat increased for some specific models in certain countries.

 

[PBLRDom]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

Is it likely to be connected to HDD stocks?

It's possible, however it's not probable. The HDD stocks didn't get depleted through the holidays like many thought.
HDD's haven't been an in stock issue yet.

 

[MarkC426]

ALL base configurations on the UK site, are now 1-3 weeks shipping?

 

[Neodym]

Same in Germany. Seems the transition is imminent now...

 

[Inconsequential]

ALL base configurations on the UK site, are now 1-3 weeks shipping?

Yup.

Well if this isn't a sign that something is going to happen then I don't know what is...

 

[MarkC426]

I've also noticed that some UK resellers have no stock of Mac Pro's either.....(I'm not speculating anything)

 

[JesterJJZ]

Has something to do with 1TB hard drives. In the US store while the 12 core base models say 1-3 weeks, if you change the boot drive to a 2TB or SSD it goes to 2-4 days.

 

[VirtualRain]

Has something to do with 1TB hard drives. In the US store while the 12 core base models say 1-3 weeks, if you change the boot drive to a 2TB or SSD it goes to 2-4 days.

Nice buzz kill

 

[goMac]

Hard drive supplies are still constrained.

Offhand, if there was an unexplained shipping delay, I'd consider that sign of a new model. If they are about to discontinue the machine, they'd do what they did with the XServe. Announce that it was the last revision, and continue sales for another few months. We likely wouldn't see a pre-announcement drawdown in that situation as they'd have people making their last orders in those last few months.

Similar situation occurred when Apple discontinued PowerPC machines.

 

[Neodym]

Has something to do with 1TB hard drives. In the US store while the 12 core base models say 1-3 weeks, if you change the boot drive to a 2TB or SSD it goes to 2-4 days.

In Germany it's 4 days for the SSD option and 5-7 days for the 2TB option. Still a little high, but maybe the US market gets preferred delivery. Thanks for pointing it out!

 

[Inconsequential]

Has something to do with 1TB hard drives. In the US store while the 12 core base models say 1-3 weeks, if you change the boot drive to a 2TB or SSD it goes to 2-4 days.

So why isn't the iMac constrained as well?

I suppose they have warehouses full of the thing tho.

Ah well

Still, Dell et al aren't shipping E5s either yet so it's back to the waiting game.

Besides, the longer we wait the better chance of getting 7770&7870s which launch in feb/march

 

[deconstruct60]

So why isn't the iMac constrained as well?

Probably, because they are more popular. You devote limited resources to the products that have higher demand. Why would you hog a scarce resource for a relatively slow moving product that sits on the shelf for long periods of time????

For example, say Apple has contract for 400k 1TB drives per month and that drops 10%. If Mac Pro was pulling 9% of the 1TB pool then they loose, but the iMac still has almost 100% of what they were getting previously (the stock levels in the warehouse are probably smaller but not drawn down to zero. )



[Neither is it a good idea to box up and shelf in large quantities very expensive components (e.g., $3000-4000 of processor parts) long quantities of time. ]

I suppose they have warehouses full of the thing tho.

No, they probably don't. If they had Mac Pro's boxed up with 1TB drives in them, they would ship them. That they don't is indicative that the pre-fabbed versions are not in the warehouse.

Still, Dell et al aren't shipping E5s either yet so it's back to the waiting game.

Not only Dell but every other PC vendor. Intel is only shipping in limited quantities to super computer vendors.

Also the number of people playing the waiting game is probably going up, so it is unlikely Apple is going to "overproduce" Mac Pros. If anything they should have started (or be about reading to start) ramp up on the new model production.

 

[goMac]

The iMacs have also had hard drive constraint delays, FYI.

 

[xgman]

I suppose they have warehouses full of the thing tho.

Apple doesn't really keep warehouses full of anything. They make what they need to sell and sell what is made for the most part via drop ship. My old 2008 MP was made and shipped to me directly from China. Obviously the spec order certain items like ipads etc, but those sell so fast as to never be piled in inventory. Most higher end PC's and components are like this these days.

 

[416049]

Apart from the 12-Core the mac pro is in stock in Denmark,Sweden and Norway so if we were to use the shipping time as an indicator there is no release happening anytime soon.

 

[Inconsequential]

Apple doesn't really keep warehouses full of anything. They make what they need to sell and sell what is made for the most part via drop ship. My old 2008 MP was made and shipped to me directly from China. Obviously the spec order certain items like ipads etc, but those sell so fast as to never be piled in inventory. Most higher end PC's and components are like this these days.

I doubt Apple has no spare inventory at all. I'd put money on Apple having a week or twos supply of all it's base + popular CTO somewhere. Even if it's in a warehouse as a part of the supply chain.

My Mac Pro 2009 was CTO and came from Ireland.

Either way I've just thought:

The iMac has a custom HDD doesn't it? Perhaps Apple have a decent supply of those custom drives as a large pre-order. Hence this sudden drop in supply doesn't effect that line as they don't make that drive on a regular basis, unlike the normal drives the MP have.

Not only Dell but every other PC vendor. Intel is only shipping in limited quantities to super computer vendors.

That's what I said? "Dell et al"...