Upcoming Mac Pro, 20 processors? Comes w/ Cup Holder

[slughead]

So I'm getting a new job and can afford a new toy (at least with the sale of my old one).

I'm planning to buy a new Mac Pro this summer, I can spend up to $6,500 on it.

The buyer's guide has no info at all, I was wondering what do ya'll think is going to be in the thing

I heard Intel is going to release a 10 core processor this summer. Is that true? 2 x 10 = 20 = Just ridiculous enough to be my next computer.

I also game a lot, so I was wondering the video card options that could be available then.

Any other neat features like Cup-holders, Thunderbolt, USB 5.0, a solid gold HD would be welcome


What do YOU think is likely to be in there and what would you like to see in there? (please make a distinction )

 

[Hellhammer]

It's unlikely that Apple will use those new 10-core CPUs in the Mac Pro. The price is astronomical and since they use a different socket, it would require a redesign of the logic board (Apple doesn't really care about MP anymore so they update it as rarely as possible).

I doubt we will see new Mac Pros before Q4 this year or early next year when Sandy Bridge-E hits the markets. What we will see then is probably SB-E, AMD 7000-series graphics (if AMD has released them) and Thunderbolt

 

[CaoCao]

So I'm getting a new job and can afford a new toy (at least with the sale of my old one).

I'm planning to buy a new Mac Pro this summer, I can spend up to $6,500 on it.

The buyer's guide has no info at all, I was wondering what do ya'll think is going to be in the thing

I heard Intel is going to release a 10 core processor this summer. Is that true? 2 x 10 = 20 = Just ridiculous enough to be my next computer.

I also game a lot, so I was wondering the video card options that could be available then.

Any other neat features like Cup-holders, Thunderbolt, USB 5.0, a solid gold HD would be welcome


What do YOU think is likely to be in there and what would you like to see in there? (please make a distinction )

See if you can hold out to February, Sandy Bridge looks to be a major jump

 

[sboerup]

With the latest ThunderBolt tech, I don't see the MP's being around for much longer. Expandability with 1-2 ThunderBolt ports in a suped-up iMac is likely going to be the next route for most.

The next chips will be SandyBridge most likely, not the 10-cores.

 

[JollyJoeJoe]

So I'm getting a new job and can afford a new toy (at least with the sale of my old one).

I'm planning to buy a new Mac Pro this summer, I can spend up to $6,500 on it.

The buyer's guide has no info at all, I was wondering what do ya'll think is going to be in the thing

I heard Intel is going to release a 10 core processor this summer. Is that true? 2 x 10 = 20 = Just ridiculous enough to be my next computer.

I also game a lot, so I was wondering the video card options that could be available then.

Any other neat features like Cup-holders, Thunderbolt, USB 5.0, a solid gold HD would be welcome


What do YOU think is likely to be in there and what would you like to see in there? (please make a distinction )

A Mac Pro based on the LGA1567 socket and respective 10-core processor? I don't think so. That's enterprise grade server platform.

 

[JollyJoeJoe]

I have a feeling we'll see a new Mac Pro, obviously based on Sandy-Bridge-E sokcet 2011, X79 chipset at the end of Q1 2012. Ivy-Bridge-E will not be ready by then, so no chance of it being based on Ivy bridge. Only the mainstream dual/quad Ivy Bridge chips will be around Q1, which is not for dual-processor configurations.

 

[-BigMac-]

So I'm getting a new job and can afford a new toy (at least with the sale of my old one).

I'm planning to buy a new Mac Pro this summer, I can spend up to $6,500 on it.

haha that is one hectic toy

 

[slughead]

Thanks for your responses guys. There was a bigger thread that made me even more depressed for the choice in timing.

I really wanted a big bad, newly-refreshed mac pro so I can use it to play my angry birds and farmville. As eager as I am to dump money, I'm not in a big hurry to get ripped off. Looks like I might just keep my 1,1 Mac Pro and buy a PC for gaming--something I really didn't want to do.

Congrats, Apple, you just lost another customer for another few years.

 

[Joshuarocks]

With the latest ThunderBolt tech, I don't see the MP's being around for much longer. Expandability with 1-2 ThunderBolt ports in a suped-up iMac is likely going to be the next route for most.

The next chips will be SandyBridge most likely, not the 10-cores.

Where are you basing this information off of? I personally don't see the MP being around too much longer either, but its a toss up given FCP X is on the way to being released, but then again no one knows for sure. Both Nano and I along with many others feel that Apple will one day make EOL the mac pro as it is only a small, very small niche in their profits.

 

[nanofrog]

A Mac Pro based on the LGA1567 socket and respective 10-core processor? I don't think so. That's enterprise grade server platform.

Exactly. Apple's never gone for Multi-Processor based systems (i.e. 4+ CPU's), and would be too expensive.

I have a feeling we'll see a new Mac Pro, obviously based on Sandy-Bridge-E socket 2011, X79 chipset at the end of Q1 2012.

LGA2011 is the most likely option.

LGA1356 could possibly be used instead, but I'm not sure it will offer enough of a performance increase over current systems to attract buyers (i.e. better deal to buy a 2010, possibly a 2009 model of sufficient clock speed and cores for the usage requirement of the buyer, even if they are a bit slower due to lower prices <better cost/performance ratio>).

I really wanted a big bad, newly-refreshed mac pro so I can use it to play my angry birds and farmville. As eager as I am to dump money, I'm not in a big hurry to get ripped off. Looks like I might just keep my 1,1 Mac Pro and buy a PC for gaming--something I really didn't want to do.

If you're set on a MP, then waiting for the next system to release may not be a bad idea, as it would reduce the prices of current models (clear them out via the Refurbished page). If not, then a refurbished or used system might be the way to go.

But I'm wondering if a Mini could handle your OS X usage (iMac for sure, but presume your objections are due more to the built-in monitor than a lack of slots, as I'm not under the impression you need slots for upgrades to use those particular software titles ).

 

[cube]

If they switched to AMD, they would be able to put 16 Bulldozer modules in the Mac Pro (32 integer cores + 16 floating point units).

 

[thermodynamic]

It's unlikely that Apple will use those new 10-core CPUs in the Mac Pro. The price is astronomical and since they use a different socket, it would require a redesign of the logic board (Apple doesn't really care about MP anymore so they update it as rarely as possible).

I doubt we will see new Mac Pros before Q4 this year or early next year when Sandy Bridge-E hits the markets. What we will see then is probably SB-E, AMD 7000-series graphics (if AMD has released them) and Thunderbolt

That's a shame they're not fond of the MP anymore. I dig iMacs overall, but the Mac Pro does have internal expandability for multiple hard drives at ideal transfer speeds AND desktop-grade CPU -- so they are going to be somewhat more powerful than iMacs, and MPs have much better cooling.

 

[thermodynamic]

If they switched to AMD, they would be able to put 16 Bulldozer modules in the Mac Pro (32 integer cores + 16 floating point units).

Intel stills beats AMD in CPU performance tests. ATi has, without a doubt, the better GPU, but Intel's CPUs are still the best.

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

 

[slughead]

If you're set on a MP, then waiting for the next system to release may not be a bad idea, as it would reduce the prices of current models (clear them out via the Refurbished page). If not, then a refurbished or used system might be the way to go.

Yeah, not only that, but the current models are $500-$2,000 over-priced. I was looking at the 12 core and I must say I'm not thrilled about donating to Steve Jobs' crack cocaine/hooker fund.

But I'm wondering if a Mini could handle your OS X usage (iMac for sure, but presume your objections are due more to the built-in monitor than a lack of slots, as I'm not under the impression you need slots for upgrades to use those particular software titles ).

I have multiple monitors, about 12 hard drives (using a SATA controller), and I do play the occasional game requiring a decent graphics card.

If a New Mac Pro isn't in my future, a PC is

 

[Hellhammer]

Yeah, not only that, but the current models are $500-$2,000 over-priced. I was looking at the 12 core and I must say I'm not thrilled about donating to Steve Jobs' crack cocaine/hooker fund.

I just specced Dell Precision T5500 and it ended up being 4959$, only 40$ less than 12-core Mac Pro. The specs were:

Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
Dual Intel X5650 2.66GHz 6-core
6x1GB of 1333MHz DDR3
ATI FirePro V5800 1GB (AFAIK the closest match to ATI 5770 in terms of specs)
1TB 7200rpm HD

DP Mac Pro is actually reasonably priced, even now. The SB Xeons for DP systems are not out yet so other OEMs use the same CPUs as Apple.

 

[Cindori]

you can't compare firepro to normal desktop GPU


http://www.amazon.com/XFX-Radeon-57...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1303557469&sr=1-1



http://www.amazon.com/ATI-FirePro-2DisplayPort-PCI-Express-100-505605/dp/B003N12E8O


Firepro is Pro GPU and $250 more expensive

 

[Hellhammer]

you can't compare firepro to normal desktop GPU


http://www.amazon.com/XFX-Radeon-57...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1303557469&sr=1-1



http://www.amazon.com/ATI-FirePro-2DisplayPort-PCI-Express-100-505605/dp/B003N12E8O


Firepro is Pro GPU and $250 more expensive

I was thinking that it may not be the fairest comparison but like I said, it was the closest in terms of specs (both have 800 stream cores and 128-bit mem bus). Apple does not offer FirePros and Dell does not offer Radeons so it makes comparing a bit harder. However, we aren't looking at major price difference even if you subtracted 250$ from the Dell's price.

 

[nanofrog]

I have multiple monitors, about 12 hard drives (using a SATA controller), and I do play the occasional game requiring a decent graphics card.

If a New Mac Pro isn't in my future, a PC is

Ah, OK.

TB in a future variant of the Mini or iMac would certainly take care of disk I/O for you, but not so sure on the monitor situation given the GPU chips that tend to be used.

I was thinking that it may not be the fairest comparison but like I said, it was the closest in terms of specs (both have 800 stream cores and 128-bit mem bus). Apple does not offer FirePros and Dell does not offer Radeons so it makes comparing a bit harder. However, we aren't looking at major price difference even if you subtracted 250$ from the Dell's price.

Exact parity is impossible. But I've usually taken the approach that the user will toss in another card if the base model included isn't up to the task (3rd party upgrades = cheapest way to go about it).

BTW, did you add Apple Care in order to bring the warranty up to the same time frame (Dell comes with a 3 year warranty)?

 

[Transporteur]

BTW, did you add Apple Care in order to bring the warranty up to the same time frame (Dell comes with a 3 year warranty)?

Apple Care should be equal to the costs of annually renewing the licence for the anti virus software required for Windows for the period of 3 years.

 

[nanofrog]

Apple Care should be equal to the costs of annually renewing the licence for the anti virus software required for Windows for the period of 3 years.

One problem with that logic... AV software doesn't cover dead hardware like boards, memory, GPU card, PSU's, and the like.

 

[Transporteur]

One problem with that logic... AV software doesn't cover dead hardware like boards, memory, GPU card, PSU's, and the like.

That's why you need Apple Care. What you don't need with OS X is Anti Virus.

For the Dell machine, you don't need an additional protection package as it's already provided (although I've heard it's not the best, so on par with AppleCare ), you need AV software though.

 

[nanofrog]

That's why you need Apple Care. What you don't need with OS X is Anti Virus.

For the Dell machine, you don't need an additional protection package as it's already provided (although I've heard it's not the best, so on par with AppleCare ), you need AV software though.

If the Mac is tied into a network with PC's or it's running Windows, AV software is also a must (virus, trojan,... won't affect OS X, but will mess with the Windows partition or could infect any Windows system connected to it over the network).

As per the warranty support, there's quite a difference between what you get between the consumer and enterprise systems (i.e. common vs. preffered account status, which has a drastic affect on how you're treated, such as how long you're on hold). They used to sell this as an upgrade on the consumer products, but I'm not sure now (also possible that they could do this with some of the enterprise systems, such as business versions of standard PC's).

 

[Fast Shadow]

Mac Pro will be around until Thunderbolt-based things like external video cards and capture cards are available. I bet we'll continue to see the MP for another couple of years.

 

[nanofrog]

Mac Pro will be around until Thunderbolt-based things like external video cards and capture cards are available. I bet we'll continue to see the MP for another couple of years.

Things are definitely adding up to that direction to me as well.

Once more TB peripherals are out and consumer chips have 8 cores per die, then the MP is in danger (expect the last MP to be 2014 model at best). We've got SB, IB, and possibly the following Tick-Tock cycle (expect this one to be used). Past this point however, the enterprise CPU's will be high enough that the MP is priced out of many people's range due to the number of cores and I/O advancements (designed for clusters/cloud computing, so more cores than is necessary for workstation use - I don't expect workstation software to catch up that fast), and I mean professionals, not just enthusiast users (they're already being priced out of the MP). Better GPU chips for embedded systems (soldered to the main board) will be out as well, which will help this along as well.

 

[Transporteur]

If the Mac is tied into a network with PC's or it's running Windows, AV software is also a must (virus, trojan,... won't affect OS X, but will mess with the Windows partition or could infect any Windows system connected to it over the network).

AAHHHHH, stop nit-picking!

But just for the record, I prefer the contaminator role. Windows systems are protected by decent AV software anyway (well at least they should be), no need for redundancy on the Mac side if the software is any decent.
The horror stories about AV software on the Mac wouldn't make me recommending them anyway.