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MP 7,1 Radeon Pro W5700X and the Mac Pro
- Thread starter pierre1610
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It's an easy excuse at this point for the delay and/or added delay, but "coming soon" in December 2019 and not even pricing is available in March 2020. The white paper is/was an advertorial for the W5700X configuration. Not exactly inspiring signals from Apple with the (supposed) new Pro-focus.
There certainly is work to do with AMD 5XXX series drivers in Catalina. With the MBP16,1 already available and using those dGPU variants, there should be enough machines and user base to make this a priority in at least some capacity.
There certainly is work to do with AMD 5XXX series drivers in Catalina. With the MBP16,1 already available and using those dGPU variants, there should be enough machines and user base to make this a priority in at least some capacity.
Currently NAB is still on for April 2020, but there are discussions from major vendors on 100% cancelling their participation. A lot depends on what happens in the next 7-14 days. If enough of those vendors drop out, the event might not have a viable path to continue for 2020. NAB claims registration is high. From the people I've been talking to, attendance will be low and many who are registered will not be attending.
AJA just backed out of NAB 2020. More will follow, likely this week.
www.aja.com
AJA Video Systems Withdrawing from NAB 2020 - What's New - News - AJA Video Systems
It is with a heavy heart that AJA is withdrawing from the NAB 2020 show in Las Vegas due to the risks from the Coronavirus. We have made this decision out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our employees and partners worldwide.
Waiting for the W5700x brings to mind the quote:
A watched pot never boils.
Why do I keep checking the Apple website every day?
A watched pot never boils.
Why do I keep checking the Apple website every day?
Same. Coming soon since December 2019. We're almost at the end of Q1 2020 already... I really just want to know the pricing at this point. If it doesn't make sense for my needs, I'll move on and figure something else out.
Which at this point fine, I guess. Don't tease W5700X at MP7,1 release with "coming soon" banner. Don't release White Papers that clearly recommend the W5700X config for multiple scenarios.
It's one thing if they're not available, but to not even have pricing available is absurd. Just does not make sense for the "PRO" focused service that Apple was supposed to be getting back towards.
Had to move onto another machine as a stopgap for extended work from home situation. Will revisit MP7,1 and reevaluate in 6-18 months. Likely 100% out for 2020 unless there is a massive sale.
I am sure they won't release it until the Navi drivers are mature. Considering the improvements they did so far (none) I am sure this will still take a long time.
Am I correct that the 580x provides no additional Thunderbolt 3 ports beyond the one used to connect to the XDR?
Unbelievable ??? Really?? The Mac Pro was introduced in June 2019. Pricing for the video card options of the Vega II wasn't released until December; about 6 months. So 3+ months is 'unbelievable'? Not based on Apple's relatively consistent behavior It is more so not what you want it to be, but Apple approach is relatively consistent. When it ships it will be priced generally. Major direction change or brand new product they may set some grounding of the base price but all options are not typically enumerated.
The Afterburner card just got made available as separate purchase.
Apple makes Mac Pro Afterburner Card available as standalone purchase - 9to5Mac
Sneaking in with the major product releases today, Apple has started selling its Mac Pro Afterburner Card as a separate...
9to5mac.com
Not sure how long for for Vega II modules but they are too ( which hasn't been case for a long while after start as BTO options. ).
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Even longer in the context of where the graphics drivers developers may be located (home lock down , etc) . And if the workload is split over AMD and Apple the cross company communication is likely substantially more flakey now also.
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Because Apple pre-planned the virus response 3-4 months ago. Apple just did a major product release across several product categories with no dog and pony show done at the Steve Jobs Theater for the press at all. You think that was the grand plan 3-4 months ago?
If they are supply constrained enough that they will only be available as direct BTO options then pushing out the pricing only fuels an expectation that will be able to buy one. They may ship, but not as single , discrete units for a while. If there is long gap then price isn't particularly immediately material for something can't buy. [ I get the long term planning for purchases. But ball park for the card isn't that hard to get given AMD has some pretty close "Pro" version variations themselves. ]
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Seeing the Vega II single and duo cards available for purchase as an add-on makes me hopeful that the W5700X is nearing release.
That they designed the machine, such that you would have to connect any displays to the top of the machine to reach the card's supported maximum, is one of the all-time hilarious "Apple is not actually good at design" moments. It's right up there with putting the charging port under the mouse.
3 XDR displays can be connected to the Vega II and work at 6K #19. No issues found yet to explain why Apple says only two are supported. Maybe the 5700 can run more than 3 XDRs at 6K (4,5, or 6)?
You can save a Thunderbolt port by using DisplayPort input of the LG 5K2K display (single HBR3 mode). That's because a Thunderbolt connection may take two DisplayPort signals from a Thunderbolt controller (dual HBR2 mode). There might be a tricky way to get single HBR3 mode over Thunderbolt to the LG 5K2K (maybe a setting in the monitor, or connect it to the same Thunderbolt bus as a 4K display). DP is a better connection than HDMI so use that if possible but that doesn't matter for 1080p because HDMI 2.0 has plenty of bandwidth for that (only 4K60 has a problem with HDMI 2.0).
Two lanes of the Vega II would go to the Thunderbolt controller of the top or I/O card. Two lanes of the W5700X would go to the other Thunderbolt controller.
You can use a bi-directional USB-C to DisplayPort cable like the Moshi cable sold in the Apple store. This connection won't include USB 2.0 which is required for presets, brightness, auto rotate, and USB ports. Methods to include USB 2.0 with the DisplayPort signal have not succeeded or have not been tested (Huawei VR 2 Computer Connection Cable, WacomLink Plus, Sunix UPD2018, Delock 89582, GC-TITAN RIDGE). Only HBR2 link rate is required when DSC is used (as is the case with AMD Navi and Nvidia RTX) but DSC requires DisplayPort 1.4. In that list, only the GC-TITAN RIDGE supports DisplayPort 1.4, but there's no way (that I know) to force USB-C DisplayPort alt mode connection from a Thunderbolt port of the GC-TITAN RIDGE to the XDR and the software to enable Thunderbolt connection is a work in progress.
It would be nice if there was a MPX slot adapter that would allow at least external DisplayPort 1.4 input (bonus points for dual PCIe x4, and USB).
I have a 7,1 NcMP and I have removed the 580X and replaced it with an Aorus RX5700XT. My monitor is an LG 24" UltraFine with a Thunderbolt (USB C) input. I am running the monitor at a resolution of 4096 x 2304. I tried the Moshi cable you mentioned and it worked fine, but for some reason I lost the boot screen
I am currently using the Monoprice BiDirectional cable:Monoprice Bidirectional USB Type-C to DisplayPort Cable - 4K@60Hz, Black, 6ft - Monoprice.com
No longer will you be limited by the direction of your cable! This Bidirectional USB-C? to DisplayPort? Cable allows you to connect your legacy DisplayPort devices to your newest USB-C enabled display
www.monoprice.com
It's far less money than the Moshi cable and acts just like the Moshi. Also, no boot screen. And, IMO, it's a better constructed cable. The sheath is woven.
As far as screen controls I use the LG "OnScreen" and "Screen Manager" and I also use "Brightness Slider" Other functions are of course handled by the MacOS "Display" and Accessibility" Preference Panes.
Lou
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I have been waiting for the W5700X and living with the base 580. I'm about to pull the trigger on the Radeon Pro Vega II which means I might regret it when the finally release the 5700.
The Moshi cable has been VESA certified for DisplayPort 1.4. Maybe that's why it costs more money?https://www.displayport.org/product-category/cables-adaptors/?ps&pcat[0]=usb-c
The no boot screen problem - is that because of the GPU or because of the cable (I think GPU). You can test this using the 580X - connect the display using your cable and a USB-C to DisplayPort 1.4 adapter like the one from Cable Matters, or use a Thunderbolt 3 dock with a DisplayPort output.
You are confirming that the normal macOS brightness control method does not exist when using a cable that does not include USB?
^^^^The Monoprice cable is also DP 1.4 compliant:
Before I had the LG UltraFine I had the vanilla LG 4K monitor that was in no way comparable to the UltraFine, I returned it because I was unhappy with it. And before that I had my old HP HD monitor that I threw in the trash. Both of those monitors had DisplayPort and both showed a boot screen with the RX5700XT and a DP to DP connection. The issue seems to be related to the BiDirectional cable, not the GPU. And again, both the Moshi and Monoprice cables behaved exactly the same way.
What is the "normal MacOS brightness control method?" "Brightness Slider" has been around for years, AFAIK only available in the "App Store."
Lou
Before I had the LG UltraFine I had the vanilla LG 4K monitor that was in no way comparable to the UltraFine, I returned it because I was unhappy with it. And before that I had my old HP HD monitor that I threw in the trash. Both of those monitors had DisplayPort and both showed a boot screen with the RX5700XT and a DP to DP connection. The issue seems to be related to the BiDirectional cable, not the GPU. And again, both the Moshi and Monoprice cables behaved exactly the same way.
What is the "normal MacOS brightness control method?" "Brightness Slider" has been around for years, AFAIK only available in the "App Store."
Lou
Compliant doesn't mean Certified but if the cable works then it's probably ok.
How to Choose a DisplayPort Cable, and Not Get a Bad One! - DisplayPort
DisplayPort makes display cable selection pretty easy. A standard DisplayPort cable is designed to work with any DisplayPort Source device, such as a PC or laptop, and any DisplayPort monitor. This means that a standard DisplayPort cable will work with the very first DisplayPort systems and...
I don't know how it can work fine in macOS but not in EFI during boot. On the computer side, in both cases, you are using a DisplayPort output of the RX5700XT. How can EFI driver have different behavior than macOS driver for the same DisplayPort connection which works when the display is not USB-C? Very strange.
I mean brightness control in the Displays preferences panel, or using the Brightness keys F1 and F2.
How to adjust brightness on the LG UltraFine Display with the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar [Video] - 9to5Mac
One of the perks of using an LG UltraFine Display is its integration with macOS. Instead of a cumbersome, off-putting on-screen...
9to5mac.com