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Opinion: Would you buy a 7,1 MP if it were offered 'bare bones'?

AnimeFunTv

AnimeFunTv

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 7, 2009
218
45
San Antonio
So the more and more I look at the photos of the 2019 MacPro I see little things such as two internal Sata connectors, one usb-a slot and what looks like a power connector.

Plus there is much dead space in that area which is odd because Apple likes to use every space available for something which makes me wonder (even though Sata drives are not as fast as NVMe M.2) if Apple or 3rd party will make an internal cradle for 2.5 inch SSD's

Also, while it may seem that your required to use the new MPX Module, it looks like you can remove it and install your own graphics card of choice as it looks like their are full sized (unlike the mini 6-pin) power connectors on the main board, hell there is even one for the single-wide slots for like powered usb 3.0 expansion.

All this being said....

Do you think Apple should offer the 2019 MP as a 'Bare bones' system, which means no memory, no SSD, no MPX, only offer a CPU of choice as an option for prosumer's who would rather piece it to gather on their own?

Obviously this is all hogwash as Apple will prolly never do this, but I remember a few rumors about how Apple may have explored the option of creating a main board and letting the pro-users build it to their own liking, if you really think about it, the 2019 MP is pretty much a Main board hanging on a frame.
 
teejayhoward said:
Depending on the price, yes. $2500? Absolutely. $3000? Nope.
Click to expand...

You actually got the same price point I was thinking, I was thinking about $2000-$2500 myself, IMO if a bare bones option was available for that price point I think the 2019 MP wouldn't be able to stay in-stock.
 
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AnimeFunTv said:
Do you think Apple should offer the 2019 MP as a 'Bare bones' system, which means no memory, no SSD, no MPX, only offer a CPU of choice as an option for prosumer's who would rather piece it to gather on their own?
Click to expand...

I think the biggest "problem" might be the one thing you're saying to leave in— the CPU. Based on comparisons to what are supposed to be similar CPUs on the HP Z8 configuration page, the processors in this Mac Pro may be thousands of dollars even for the 8-core. And that high cost may be what's driving the base machine cost so high. I cannot imagine the paltry 256GB SSD, 32GB of RAM, and good-not-great RX 580 equivalent GPU are contributing significant cost to the overall bottom line, so I don't think you'd gain much by removing them to add your own. I think a wider range of CPU options, such as what the iMac Pro features, might yield a more doable, "typical Pro" price tag for those of us wanting expandability and upgradability.

EDIT: Looks like the Xeon Gold CPUs with up to quad-processor interconnect-ability on those Z8s is what I’m talking about and not what’s in the Mac Pro. So CPU shouldn't be driving price up that much.
 
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fhturner said:
Based on comparisons to what are supposed to be similar CPUs on the HP Z8 configuration page, the processors in this Mac Pro may be thousands of dollars even for the 8-core.
Click to expand...
People need to stop comparing to the Z8. It's a bad comparison. The entry-level processor is only $750, not $3000. In terms of just components, you can build the Mac Pro for $2500 all-in. $3000 will get you features the Mac Pro doesn't have, like redundant power supplies and lights-out management. $6000 will get you 7x the GPU power, twice the RAM, and hell, you can even throw in a cheap monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
 
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Apple made the comparison, not people:
[doublepost=1559632577][/doublepost] upload_2019-6-4_9-15-50.png
 
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Take the internals of the Mac Mini or iMac (Core i7 or i9, Radeon Vega 56/64/Radeon 7 graphics) and put them into that chassis with the PCI slots and say, an 800w power supply, and price it under 3 grand and I'd buy one tomorrow.
 
Never going to happen, so for this purpose if it was reasonably priced without CPU, RAM, SSD, or GPU - yes, would likely purchase barebones option. Have all components except this class CPU on-hand. Already likely limited to entry level model if I'm in on MP7,1 with plans to update/upgrade through the next several years.
 
AnimeFunTV

You should add a POLL with various purchase prices and setup choices .. . so Apple ( Tim ) can see it for the future 7.2
 
AnimeFunTv said:
I highly doubt anyone from Apple looks at these forums and threads. lol
Click to expand...
Perhaps Macrumors members bug reports plus the efforts of dosdude1's ROM tool & the fact that Gilles Aurejac's success in booting M.2 was so highly publicised here and many other forums played a part in Apple granting us official NVMe booting. I presume that Apple has someone whose sole job is to monitor Mac users opinions.
I also wonder how many Apple Beta developers are Macrumors members.
 
AnimeFunTv said:
Do you think Apple should offer the 2019 MP as a 'Bare bones' system, which means no memory, no SSD, no MPX, only offer a CPU of choice as an option for prosumer's who would rather piece it to gather on their own?
Click to expand...

Man, a bare bones would be neat, but it would include a boot/system SSD (which you would want to upgrade to at least the next tier, the 1TB dual NAND modules setup...

SSD(s) aside, a true bare bones would NOT include the CPU, or even the CPU heat sink...

In this instance, Apple would have to include the CPU heat sink in the bare bones because the mount is unique...
 
fhturner said:
I think the biggest "problem" might be the one thing you're saying to leave in— the CPU. Based on comparisons to what are supposed to be similar CPUs on the HP Z8 configuration page, the processors in this Mac Pro may be thousands of dollars even for the 8-core. And that high cost may be what's driving the base machine cost so high. I cannot imagine the paltry 256GB SSD, 32GB of RAM, and good-not-great RX 580 equivalent GPU are contributing significant cost to the overall bottom line, so I don't think you'd gain much by removing them to add your own. I think a wider range of CPU options, such as what the iMac Pro features, might yield a more doable, "typical Pro" price tag for those of us wanting expandability and upgradability.
Click to expand...

teejayhoward said:
People need to stop comparing to the Z8. It's a bad comparison. The entry-level processor is only $750, not $3000. In terms of just components, you can build the Mac Pro for $2500 all-in. $3000 will get you features the Mac Pro doesn't have, like redundant power supplies and lights-out management. $6000 will get you 7x the GPU power, twice the RAM, and hell, you can even throw in a cheap monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
Click to expand...

AppleCare is not even remotely comparable to HP's on-site and often same-day service. Good luck if your nMP breaks down in the first couple months getting up and running again even within a week or two -- plus you have to haul your system to an Apple store or mail it. Lots of people are making silly comparisons between Intel Part number A vs B -- nitpicking even though it will make zero difference in terms of performance, just in hopes of justifying the price. Well the customer service is an actual significant difference between these supposed "workstations." I've dealt with Applecare on a "pro" desktop previously. It's crap. Just check out this video--forget how badly Apple messed up, perhaps that's just a one-time deal, check out how long it took him to get his computer back. That seems to be consistent.

Then of course there's the bad behavior when it comes to recalls, I even got nailed on my iPhone 7 which they bricked with a software update -- took them 2-3 weeks to tell me they couldn't fix it.
 
Socket said:
Apple made the comparison, not people:
[doublepost=1559632577][/doublepost]View attachment 840658
Click to expand...

Yes, they did...and I legitimately think whoever looked that up (and perhaps influenced how high they decided to price the Mac Pro) may have been confused about what that Z8 cost included. They include Xeon Gold CPUs that can be several thousand $$ for an 8-core. But that’s not what Mac Pro is using, as has been pointed out in several places. So since their keynote slide Z8 pricing is so far off, it really makes me wonder if this jaw-droppingly high cost of the Mac Pro is actually a mistake...
 
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