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nMP dual GPUs
- Thread starter mjs402
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Your assumption is the far bigger issue. If there is an implication that brand new D700 will flow plentifully on retail exchanges then it is highly suspect. If talking about folks selling 'boneyard" parts from 'retired'/'scavenged' Mac Pros then yes.
So probably will eventually be able to find one at some price. However, it probably will not be on a timetable strictly of your choosing. Will probably find a D500 before a D700.
Apple currently do not sell the (Apple only bespoke) Dx00 graphic cards separately so at this time, no.
The only way to get a replacement is through service/repair at an Apple centre or from dismantled second hand units, of which there will be very few of the current top end D700 machines being sold as parts.
The GPU doesn't use a nice easy clip connector like the Ram, it is more designed for engineers to replace rather than end users which is a worry as graphic cards evolve very quickly and are probably replaced on a 3:1 ratio compared to CPU's.
Anim
The only way to get a replacement is through service/repair at an Apple centre or from dismantled second hand units, of which there will be very few of the current top end D700 machines being sold as parts.
The GPU doesn't use a nice easy clip connector like the Ram, it is more designed for engineers to replace rather than end users which is a worry as graphic cards evolve very quickly and are probably replaced on a 3:1 ratio compared to CPU's.
Anim
Well I'm not assuming that they will begin selling the Dx00 graphics cards anytime soon, I'm rather hoping in the next year or 2 they begin to put them out. I can't imagine the new Mac Pro will see an annual update cycle such as the Macbook Pro, thus perhaps they should alleviate the lack of updates with the release of Dx00 cards in the future.
I'm looking at the Quad-core configuration with either the D300 or D700, I really don't see the point of going the middle route and getting the D500 unless you were choosing the 6-core configuration model. However, that is an (approximate) $1,000 mark-up from the D300 to D700. Sure, it will give some form of longevity to the device - but so would the ability of adding those cards to the Apple Store for a future upgrade.
I'm looking at the Quad-core configuration with either the D300 or D700, I really don't see the point of going the middle route and getting the D500 unless you were choosing the 6-core configuration model. However, that is an (approximate) $1,000 mark-up from the D300 to D700. Sure, it will give some form of longevity to the device - but so would the ability of adding those cards to the Apple Store for a future upgrade.
While it's not impossible that they'll do it, it seems highly unlikely.
Upgrading the graphics cards requires voiding warranty, disassembling the Mac Pro and removing/reapplying thermal paste. Not something that I think Apple would allow the user to do.
I suppose there's also the chance that they'll offer the option to have your Mac upgraded by them for a fee, although again, I wouldn't count on it.
Ya know, it seems some folks ask the same questions over and over
The search function does work:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1687202/
Lou
The search function does work:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1687202/
Lou
Voiding the warranty
How many of us here void the warranty on a Mac Pro Before I even fired up my 5,1 It had a new video card and new RAM. A couple months after I bought it, I replaced the CPUs.Over the years, since 1985, I've found my Desktop Macs to be pretty much bullet proof and have never really worried about the warranty.
Thermal paste on the GPU? Never heard that.
Lou
Ya know, it seems some folks ask the same questions over and over
The search function does work:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1687202/
Lou
Well, to be honest that thread does not really answer much. It became another thread for slughead to share his "my way or the highway" opinions.
Anyway, the iFixit teardown confirmed that the GPUs are removable, so it is possible to change the GPUs yourself, if you manage to get your hands on some.
We're one month into the life of this nMP... You can't honestly expect anyone here to know what the future might hold for GPU updates... Really?!
To be perfectly practical, If you think you might upgrade to the D700s later (if upgrades are possible and available) then you're much less likely to be disappointed buying them now. (BTW... There is zero president to assume upgrades will be offered... Zero!) If you buy the D700s now, you won't have to wait and wonder and risk disappointment or pay a premium and try to turn your old D300s into bookends.
Hm, you do realize there are reports that already confirm that the CPU is replaceable, right? Am I really out of line to assume the GPU is also replaceable, albeit with a proprietary graphics card in the Dx00 series Apple is packaging? I don't believe that my question has warranted that type of response. It's a legitimate question.
There are many review websites that have 2 or more units of the new Mac Pro, is it really that preposterous that I would assume they would try to confirm the potential GPUs swapping?
Regardless, I don't believe there is thermal paste on the GPUs. If so, could you please provide me with a link?
Assuming that the power supply is similar in all units, then really - the only limitation (hardware-wise) would be the lack of someone swapping a Dx00 pair of graphics cards with a Dy00 pair.
There are many review websites that have 2 or more units of the new Mac Pro, is it really that preposterous that I would assume they would try to confirm the potential GPUs swapping?
Regardless, I don't believe there is thermal paste on the GPUs. If so, could you please provide me with a link?
Assuming that the power supply is similar in all units, then really - the only limitation (hardware-wise) would be the lack of someone swapping a Dx00 pair of graphics cards with a Dy00 pair.
Not surprisingly, nobody has done it yet. But according to the iFixit teardown, it certainly seems possible.
The actual wording of the Apple warranty allows for user-replaceable parts to be exchanged out. However, it does not list what user-replaceable parts are, so this is vague. In actual practice, some people have been their warranty was voided for things such as upgrading their CPU, and some people have not had their warranty claim denied despite doing the exact same thing. So your results will vary based on the tech that you get.
In any case, according to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, Apple cannot deny your warranty on items unrelated to what you changed out. So as a matter of law in the USA you might be voiding your Apple's GPU warranty, but the warranty would still have to apply to everything else regardless of what some tech might tell you.
There is thermal paste on the GPUs, it is how they transfer their heat to the thermal core. The iFixit teardown pictures clearly show the paste, although they've cleaned most of it off.
Hey, thanks! This gives me a bit of (however small) hope that we will see upgradability in the future. I may as well upgrade my order to the D700 and just upgrade the quad-core to a sufficient level as needed in the future. I only went with 256gb storage though as I believe an external expansion may be more effective while keeping the main software installed on the internal storage.
Voiding the warranty
Lou
As the tear downs of the machine have shown, the GPUs are attached to the central heat sink with thermal paste in the same way that the CPU is. While they can be swapped out, it won't be anywhere near as simple as it was in the older Mac Pro.