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Next-Gen Mac Pro GPU "AMD 7970" to launch next week.
- Thread starter Amethyst
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I don't know if I was approaching it from a sales perspective as much as a "Is Apple the sort of company to sell you a tower and then have no monitor to sell you with it?" I just don't see it.
Printers are optional accessories. But a display? Is Apple really going to sell machines that are non-functional until you go to a third party?
For that matter, when was the last time any company sold a computer that was non functional until you went to a third party to buy an accessory?
Errrr. yes..... because they already do ( and have for a very long time.)
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/mac_pro
Go to any of those Mac Pro config screens. In each and every one the default is no Apple monitor selected. In the sever config screen, it isn't even presented as an option. If you just go to the config screen and simply press the "buy" button; no screen sold.
Go to HP , Dell, Lenovo online store sections for workstations. Nope... no monitors preselected.
The huge gaping flaw here is that this an external component that is connecting by industry standard commodity cables and connectors. It is not particularly different from a printer or network local router.
Secondly, A significant number of people will not be buying anything; since already have a functional monitor. There is no necessity to buy. They can simply connect and make a fully functional system.
There is no technical problem here. The handwaving here is about lost opportunity revenue of selling something additional. Not in selling something that is uniquely necessary for functionality. Apple could easily pick 2-3 quality monitors and sell them in the same fashion that printers are optional peripherals in the current config page. The only hang up is there not being an Apple logo stamped on it... not whether they get the revenue.
Server configs actually usually ship with no video cards by default, you're supposed to set them up over ssh/vnc. XServes could actually install OS X without a monitor, keyboard, or mouse (basically consisted of a bunch of light combinations on the front along with hitting buttons.)
My point is that right now, if you don't have a monitor, Apple can sell you one. You can go into an Apple Store and buy a complete system.
If Apple doesn't have a compatible monitor for the Mac Pro... and you go into the Apple Store looking for a complete Mac Pro setup... what is Apple supposed to do? Point to the Microsoft store across the way? I understand it's not an impossible situation, but I really don't see Apple marketing signing off on it.
The HP/Dell/the competitors you can still purchase the entire system and be ready to go, even though it doesn't include a monitor by default, you can opt into a full ready to go setup.
The Mac Mini doesn't come with a display either, but at least if a customer orders one in store or online, and they don't have a display, Apple can fill that gap for them.
What I'm getting at is that if Apple can't sell a complete setup, they're much much more likely to can the Mac Pro.
The articles I read gave the impression it was coming, though a specific product family, let alone specific part number weren't given.
From a technical POV, it shouldn't be that difficult to do. But if they have developed product/s already, they may or may not make it to market, depending on whether or not TB gains sufficient adoption (for some reason, I keep thinking of the "chicken and the egg" argument).
I've noticed.
Have you heard if the lower cost controllers are actually in supply pipelines or not?
I ask, as last I checked, there were P/N's, but no supply.
I expect it to only be part of the top-tier products, not product wide for a few years yet, if ever. I see that as the target user, as buyers of those systems are more likely to be business professionals that could actually leverage the throughput.
They do sell monitors ("One stop shop") for workstation users, but it's more common for those users to go out and buy something else.
The ACD isn't sufficient for things like color critical work, and overkill for a server IMO (where a less expensive display is suitable, if it's needed at all).
Most vendors will sell a monitor, and currently, Apple is able to do so (recall some small specialty vendors don't, such as Boxx).
But in Apple's case, it's such a small number (less than the MP's figures), it's possible that they could decide to cease selling monitors for the MP if they don't create a way to use the TB models.
Maybe.
So far they haven't, but it's possible that they're holding off for either a newer model, and/or to sell of any remaining stocks of the MDP versions. We'll just have to wait and see.
But I don't see continuing with both versions of ACD's as financially viable as one monitor and an adapter for MDP based systems, assuming they mean to continue providing monitors for MP's (also assumes the MP isn't EOL'ed rather than release SB-E5 models).
Well the HD 7970 looks nice but it is not a magic bullet. I will wait to see what nVidia can come up with on the GK104.
Still, I am impressed with Tahiti's smaller die.
Still, I am impressed with Tahiti's smaller die.
I like the power but I am not terribly fond of spending $550 for it. Though expect that to climb once stocks are depleted.Looks nice? Reading the initial reviews, I think I want to marry a 7970.
It feels AMD is rushing this launch out.
$550 is fair for a high end GPU. I haven't seen any OpenCL benchmarks, and given the price I'm curious about that. If the OpenCL performance is just as good, it could spell a lot of trouble for NVidia's workstation cards.
Oh I can easily afford it. I just have little need for it. I am sure AMD feels confident that they can sell them at $550 but I have discussed with my circle of friends and we agree they should have launched in the $449-479 area instead. Though, what do we know?
We are just consumers. Excessive loyalty just leads to mindless sycophancy.
If it can keep pace with lower end Quadros for GPGPU it might be worth the asking price.
For it's graphical performance alone, $550 is a little high, but given that it's the current top card, I'm sure enthusiasts will pay it.
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...s/49646-amd-radeon-hd-7970-3gb-review-22.html
Seems good.
I don't see the point of paying $550 for a GPU. I paid 140€ for my AMD 6850 and I can run most games at high, including BF3. I don't think I'm getting much for my money if I fork off another 400€ for a GPU. Personally I find cutting edge not to be worth it. I rather buy mid-level and upgrade more often.
For workstation it is different though. Faster machine = more money
Interesting that they didn't bench it against an NVidia card, but I'm sure one could look up the scores for the same bench on the NVidia side.
I'm wondering now that CUDA is open source how long it will be before we see ATI CUDA drivers, either from AMD or the community.
Edit: Looked up NVidia results here (seems to be down, had to look at Google cache):
http://www.luxrender.net/wiki/LuxMark_Results
The 7970 is extremely competitive with newer cards for OpenCL, and destroys the Quadro.
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Reading the initial reviews, I think I want to marry a 7970.
Absolutely!!!
$550 is fair for a high end GPU..
I have no problem spending $550 as long as the performance is there.
Why spend thousands of dollars on a Mac Pro and end up with a crappy video card?
