Modular Mac Pro Mentioned in iMac Pro Press Release

[aaronhead14]

I believe this is the first time Apple has mentioned the new modular Mac Pro on their own website:

"In addition to the new iMac Pro, Apple is working on a completely redesigned, next-generation Mac Pro architected for pro customers who need the highest-end, high-throughput system in a modular design, as well as a new high-end pro display."

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2017/06/imac-pro-most-powerful-mac-arrives-december/

2018 can't come soon enough!

 

[Joe The Dragon]

the imac pro only has 2TB buses over 4 ports. So an modular mac pro better have pci-e slots or about 4-6 TB buses.

 

[aaronhead14]

the imac pro only has 2TB buses over 4 ports. So an modular mac pro better have pci-e slots or about 4-6 TB buses.

It better dang well have PCI-e slots for sure.

 

[William Payne]

I'm glad this thread was started as people are acting like it's the end of the world in other threads. They think the iMac pro means no new Mac Pro even though they said both were coming a few months back.

 

[slughead]

I'm glad this thread was started as people are acting like it's the end of the world in other threads. They think the iMac pro means no new Mac Pro even though they said both were coming a few months back.

Well to those peoples' credits, the rumors about the iMac Pro being the promised "new pro machine" were very pervasive.

I don't think Apple is going to ditch their promises of a new Mac Pro, I am highly skeptical about its actual "modularness," especially if it takes a year for them to design it. Also, with the advent of an 18 processor iMac, and given that Apple doesn't like product overlap, I wonder what such a machine might look like. What proprietary linkages between the "modular" components are we talking about?

 

[aaronhead14]

Well to those peoples' credits, the rumors about the iMac Pro being the promised "new pro machine" were very pervasive.

I don't think Apple is going to ditch their promises of a new Mac Pro, I am highly skeptical about its actual "modularness," especially if it takes a year for them to design it. Also, with the advent of an 18 processor iMac, and given that Apple doesn't like product overlap, I wonder what such a machine might look like. What proprietary linkages between the "modular" components are we talking about?

Hoping for minimal or no proprietary crap in the modular Mac Pro. We need to make it clear to Apple that that is NOT what professionals want. We want non-proprietary components.

 

[BB8]

I actually think it's more likely that the modular mac pro comes out and then they never update the iMac Pro. Which would be a bummer for whoever goes and buys one.

 

[mavericks7913]

But Im quite worrying about the word "Modular". Modular means like this Razor modular computer.

There are no computers called modular computer but that Razer modular computer.

I thought Mac Pro 2018 will be like Mac Pro 2010 but I guess not? Like a computer with their own parts. If so, I really doubt about Mac pro 2018.

 

[flat five]

Hoping for minimal or no proprietary crap in the modular Mac Pro. We need to make it clear to Apple that that is NOT what professionals want. We want non-proprietary components.

for clarity, maybe you're saying you don't want Apple's proprietary components.. instead, you want other companies' proprietary components inside an Apple built computer?

also, are you saying you don't want a W1 chip, and the like, in a mMP?
or just certain non-apple-proprietary parts?

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Hoping for minimal or no proprietary crap in the modular Mac Pro. We need to make it clear to Apple that that is NOT what professionals want. We want non-proprietary components.

So you want Apple to build you a Hackintosh? Good luck with that.

And, as always, one segment of the market assumes that it speaks for the entire market.

 

[ixxx69]

So you want Apple to build you a Hackintosh? Good luck with that.

And, as always, one segment of the market assumes that it speaks for the entire market.

Yeah, most of the people posting here keep asking for Apple to be what it is not, and in most cases, has never been. Because their "usage" may have overlapped a specific Mac model being offered for a period of time (e.g. cMP), they think Apple has changed or Apple was smart and is now dumb. Apple has not changed.

You can go back to nearly any point in time in Apple's 40 year history and see the same kind of arguments and complaints about Apple.

A bunch of guys here who are tinkerers and hardware enthusiasts, and they think they are the market.

 

[h9826790]

But Im quite worrying about the word "Modular". Modular means like this Razor modular computer.

There are no computers called modular computer but that Razer modular computer.

I thought Mac Pro 2018 will be like Mac Pro 2010 but I guess not? Like a computer with their own parts. If so, I really doubt about Mac pro 2018.

Don't worry. Apple define "Retina", "Pro", "Magic"… in their own way. I expect they will have their own definition of "modular" as well

 

[BB8]

speaking of the press release... I'm actually more excited about the new display coming. I saw the LG monitors in an Apple store today and holy god... those things are awful looking. The glossy glare is just as bad as the old Thunderbolt displays.

 

[aaronhead14]

So you want Apple to build you a Hackintosh? Good luck with that.

And, as always, one segment of the market assumes that it speaks for the entire market.

No, I want a 5,1 with updated components, just like every other reasonable professional user. The 5,1 had PCIe and lots of room for customization and expansion. I just want something like that but with updated CPUs and graphics, and Thunderbolt 3. And obviously Apple c/should update the "look" of the device as well. But I think any other form of "modular" (like that Razer computer mentioned above) would be counter-intuitive. That's not what Apple pro users want. If we don't get a normal tower computer that we can customize and expand, then Apple will just be painting themselves into the corner even more than they already have been.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

But Im quite worrying about the word "Modular". Modular means like this Razor modular computer.

There are no computers called modular computer but that Razer modular computer.

Pretty interesting design. Can the backbone handle data between all those modules, if it is filled up, or will it bottleneck?

Edit: I wouldn't want to de-dust it though..

 

[calaverasgrande]

Agree with please no proprietary nonsense for the next Mac Pro.
I expect certain Apple-isms. But at least give us a video card slot that other manufacturers use, and a drive interface that other companies use. If the machine is to have a fighting chance it needs to be able to handle 3rd party video cards, and drives.
Likewise, it would be nice if the ram was just standard ECC ram. Not some funny apple part.

 

[darkgoob]

It better dang well have PCI-e slots for sure.

Knowing Apple, "modular" could mean something we don't want it to mean. I'm crossing my fingers but sheesh, it better have:

• upgradeable processors in standard slots with standard heat spreaders
• upgradeable GPUs on standard PCI slots

I would also like to see:
• a gaming oriented version with i7 and gaming GPU
• not everyone is a "pro"

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

Yeah and this time:

- make the motherboard face the correct direction. The back plate of graphics cards are supposed to be on top, fan blower on the bottom.

- don't compartamentalise the machine to make it harder for end users to modify cooling systems and power cables.

- use a modular PSU that can be user serviced

 

[darkgoob]

Yeah and this time:

- make the motherboard face the correct direction. The back plate of graphics cards are supposed to be on top, fan blower on the bottom.

- don't compartamentalise the machine to make it harder for end users to modify cooling systems and power cables.

- use a modular PSU that can be user serviced

I mean, I was warming up to the idea of nMP/TB3-Mac-Mini-style modularity with eGPUs etc, if the prices of PCIe and SATA RAID enclosures could come down and Apple could offer something of their own.

For cooling purposes and eGPU over TB3 seems better than having it sandwiched in next to all the HDDs, the CPU, etc. So I was not totally against the idea of a "modular processor core" that's like an Intel NUC with a bunch of TB3 ports on it, with just the CPU and RAM and TB3 plus two or four M.2 PCIE SSD slots—plus an eGPU on the other side of the desk with its own dedicated cooling system. The cooling benefit of having GPUs NOT share a small airspace with the processor and HDDs could make it worth the possible extra expense of the enclosures being separate.

If that's the direction they're heading, I would prefer to see an Apple-designed, cMP-quality external enclosure for my HDDs/ODDs and maybe a different one for my GPUs.

But the problem is cost. I originally went with Mac Pro because it was only $1k more than a Drobo at the time, and I got a whole computer with much better build quality. So I would prefer to see Apple leverage economies of scale to make this solution price-accessible. However the iMac Pro debuting at $5k does not encourage me that they intend to do that.

I guess I'm just not going to have my hopes up and if something happens it happens.

 

[theluggage]

Knowing Apple, "modular" could mean something we don't want it to mean. I'm crossing my fingers but sheesh, it better have:

I've not seen any evidence in Apple's statements that, to them, "modular" means anything more than "not an all-in-one", ...and in the Mac Pro "announcement" they used "upgrade" to mean them releasing upgraded models.

• upgradeable processors in standard slots with standard heat spreaders
• upgradeable GPUs on standard PCI slots

I would also like to see:
• a gaming oriented version with i7 and gaming GPU
• not everyone is a "pro"

Flap. Oink.

This is just trying to read between the lines in their comments, and I'd be delighted to be proven wrong...

However, the inconvenient truth is that Apple can make more money upselling people on BTO options "because future-proofing" than they can selling third-party upgradeable systems - and it also simplifies case design. Would it have been rocket science to include a hatch for RAM upgrades on the iMac Pro? No - but it would have involved extra design effort in order to make less money. Any pro users who had the ability or inclination to switch to PC probably did so a while back - so the remainder will probably pony up for BTO. Plus, a lot of the real "Pro" customers get their equipment on a 3 year cycle with a support plan, or lease them, for tax efficiency so they're probably less worried about mid-life upgrades.

 

[the future]

When you read "high-end" and "highest-end" in an Apple press release, you know it's gonna get very expensive …

 

[AidenShaw]

When you read "high-end" and "highest-end" in an Apple press release, you know it's gonna get very expensive …

Or, it's just expensive and definitely not high end.

 

[the future]

Or, it's just expensive and definitely not high end.

Or it will be expensive but still a pretty good bang for the buck, all things considered. You know, like basically everything else Apple makes or has made. YMMV, of course.

 

[slughead]

Or it will be expensive but still a pretty good bang for the buck, all things considered. You know, like basically everything else Apple makes or has made. YMMV, of course.

They're still selling the 2013 "nMP" at slightly less than 2013 prices, so I'd say that throws a wrench in "bang for the buck." Ignoring that, I'll point out though that while the whole "compare it to PC prices!" thing often comes out not looking too bad, it's mainly because Apple's "high end" stuff often includes parts with absolutely abysmal price to performance ratios.

In the nMP, the main bomb dropped on the price tag was the inclusion of supposed "fire pro" cards. Of course, a real W9000 fire pro includes on-site support, a real warranty, and the ability to swap out a failed card and continue working within minutes to hours as opposed to the days or weeks it takes to do it with Apple. More importantly: As far as an actual Mac OS user is concerned, there was almost no difference between the D700 "Fire Pro" and a Radeon 7970 (consumer card) released in 2011. The fire pros only advantage are in apps that are only available in windows.

That's why a jerry-rigged 2010 mac pro with dual 7970 performed almost identically to a nMP costing twice as much (now probably 3-4 times as much ?? ) in GPU tasks. Of course the nMP will use like 2/3 the wattage, but how many years of running it would it take to have it cost more on your power bill?

But the fanboys at the time went ape over the "screaming deal" they were getting by the inclusion of hardware features they literally could never use.

It's like buying a house with a non-removable mail box which attached to a 10 foot tall bronze statue of Jerry Lewis' old wrinkly butt, valued at million dollars yet you get it at a mere $500k more. You have to keep it covered with a tarp because it makes your kids cry ... Yes, technically a good deal, but probably not something to brag about.

 

[danielwsmithee]

Knowing Apple, "modular" could mean something we don't want it to mean. I'm crossing my fingers but sheesh, it better have:

• upgradeable processors in standard slots with standard heat spreaders
• upgradeable GPUs on standard PCI slots

I would also like to see:
• a gaming oriented version with i7 and gaming GPU
• not everyone is a "pro"

No way any of this will happen. It likely will have upgradeable CPUs, but will use an Apple designed CPU cooler.

Likely will have an upgradeable GPU or two, but I sure hope it uses standard PCIe not PCI.

The tower with an i7 just wont happen sorry. The Mac Pro will start at $5k to $6k...

The other major difference I’m still sure we will see between the new Mac Pro and and most PC Towers. There will not be a single SATA or SAS port or bay. It will be all PCIe attached NVME.
[doublepost=1513487930][/doublepost]

I've not seen any evidence in Apple's statements that, to them, "modular" means anything more than "not an all-in-one", ...and in the Mac Pro "announcement" they used "upgrade" to mean them releasing upgraded models.



Flap. Oink.

This is just trying to read between the lines in their comments, and I'd be delighted to be proven wrong...

However, the inconvenient truth is that Apple can make more money upselling people on BTO options "because future-proofing" than they can selling third-party upgradeable systems - and it also simplifies case design. Would it have been rocket science to include a hatch for RAM upgrades on the iMac Pro? No - but it would have involved extra design effort in order to make less money. Any pro users who had the ability or inclination to switch to PC probably did so a while back - so the remainder will probably pony up for BTO. Plus, a lot of the real "Pro" customers get their equipment on a 3 year cycle with a support plan, or lease them, for tax efficiency so they're probably less worried about mid-life upgrades.

The 3-4 year cycle is really why the iMac Pro will be so successful. Most Corporations with users that need Pro grade computers just put them on a 3-4 upgrade cycle. While everyone else is on a 5-6 year cycle. They don’t bother with replacing components or field upgrading. The 3-4 year old models get either reused by a less demanding user or liquidated.