MP 7,1 Waiting for Mac Pro 7,1 A1991 (no more)

[H2SO4]

Here's a question, from a different kind of power user - not video, phono-real rendering or music...

Are those patiently (or not) waiting for a new MP really waiting on memory access bandwidth and updated graphics? Are those the real-world, meaningful performance improvements, 2013 - to - today? Is this why Apple takes so very long between updates? Because to make a real difference - which seems to be a criteria for them - it requires a complete machine redesign?

It seems Apple takes a fundamentally different approach than, say, Dell, which will stuff the latest processor into a cheap and ugly plastic "workstation" box, and charge you almost exponentially more for the high end ones.

I'm an engineer running 3D CAD (Siemens NX) on my MBP, driving the original, true 4K LG monitor, plus Autocad on occasion. For most design tasks, this thing smokes most reasonably-priced Dell workstations in NX - even the common Xeon ones, and even when I run NX in Parallels (I can run it native Mac too, it's just an ugly interface). I've always attributed this to the SSD being particularly helpful with model loading (LOTS of seperate files) and to the fact that single core processor speed, plus enough graphics to keep up, is more important for many of the modeling operations and constraint-matrix-solving.

That said, while 90% of the work is great, I do run into a performance wall in really big assemblies, something I blame on being limited to 16 Gb, and secondarily on asking the 2Gb Nvidia 750M graphics to drive a monster monitor.

Anyway, it's for that reason that I was disappointed to see the MBP remain at 16 Gb (although I understand the power thing), and started thinking again about maybe a MP. If the biggest gains will (maybe eventually please?) come from a huge jump in memory access speed and graphics, I might join the "we're still waiting" gang. If I misunderstand the new processor advantages (hey, I'm a mechanical engineer), then maybe "only" a 5K iMac, or the maybe-year-away 32 Gb MBP would be a big step up.

I’m not a professional, in fact I don't even think I meet the criteria for power user. One thing I do know is that I like to have a lot of apps open at the same time without slowdown. Usually I have the following apps open at any one time;

Omniweb.
Safari.
EyeTv.
Mail.
Outlook Parallels, (Win10). With a game like Mortal Kombat or Assassins Creed running sometimes. (AC does get a little choppy at times).
Messages.
iTunes.
Word.
Excel.

Periodically, I will add;
Handbrake and/or VLC.
Powerpoint.
Terminal.
TextEdit.
Calendar.

Yes I could close some down but I don't want to. Im fortunate to be able to afford a Mac Pro, (should I choose to allow myself to get ripped off).

 

[rgdigital]

I'm getting the feeling that Apple has abandoned the pro creative market in exchange for the phone and tablet market. The pro creative market is who kept Apple afloat during the turbulent years, and now they seem not to care. Sure the iMacs are nice, but the old, uber-customizable towers were where it's at. Without an option, either updated Mac Pros or something else, they will turn away the very customers they can thank for still being here today.

Update the Mac Pros, giving us many more options, from bare bones (affordable) to a balls out option like now. Otherwise, goodbye creative market.

 

[crescentmoon]

We may very well be talking about waiting next year at this time.... What Apple is hoping to do is to wean pro users off the mac pro by delaying it to the point that our old machines can no longer accept the latest mac os.... then they will force feed us the mbps and imacs hoping that we will just take what they have to offer.

 

[Barry Bishop]

Here's a question, from a different kind of power user - not video, phono-real rendering or music...

Are those patiently (or not) waiting for a new MP really waiting on memory access bandwidth and updated graphics? Are those the real-world, meaningful performance improvements, 2013 - to - today? Is this why Apple takes so very long between updates? Because to make a real difference - which seems to be a criteria for them - it requires a complete machine redesign?

It seems Apple takes a fundamentally different approach than, say, Dell, which will stuff the latest processor into a cheap and ugly plastic "workstation" box, and charge you almost exponentially more for the high end ones.

I'm an engineer running 3D CAD (Siemens NX) on my MBP, driving the original, true 4K LG monitor, plus Autocad on occasion. For most design tasks, this thing smokes most reasonably-priced Dell workstations in NX - even the common Xeon ones, and even when I run NX in Parallels (I can run it native Mac too, it's just an ugly interface). I've always attributed this to the SSD being particularly helpful with model loading (LOTS of seperate files) and to the fact that single core processor speed, plus enough graphics to keep up, is more important for many of the modeling operations and constraint-matrix-solving.

That said, while 90% of the work is great, I do run into a performance wall in really big assemblies, something I blame on being limited to 16 Gb, and secondarily on asking the 2Gb Nvidia 750M graphics to drive a monster monitor.

Anyway, it's for that reason that I was disappointed to see the MBP remain at 16 Gb (although I understand the power thing), and started thinking again about maybe a MP. If the biggest gains will (maybe eventually please?) come from a huge jump in memory access speed and graphics, I might join the "we're still waiting" gang. If I misunderstand the new processor advantages (hey, I'm a mechanical engineer), then maybe "only" a 5K iMac, or the maybe-year-away 32 Gb MBP would be a big step up.

Everyone wants a MacPro in a Macbook Pro form. The argument is, customers value cutting edge parts over weight and thickness. Apple doesn't see it that way, and are essentially releasing an iPhone 5. Next iteration I'm sure we will see the adoption of 32gb of ram. Apple clearly decided that if you want the high end you're going to have to go MacPro or iMac. I would say MacPro users biggest gripe is the GPU, next would be ram, after would be screen or processor, and finally everyone complains about the price. You could say the peripherals, but in the end everyone is happy with the inclusion of TB3 and what it offers.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

You don't think that if a production line in Asia was pumping out parts for Apple that wouldn't fit in the iMac or mbp that someone would raise the possibility that they are destine to the nnMP?

All depends on the analysts insiders and so forth. The qtys are really low. And what do they need ? Some resistors, PCBa , the Intel CPU but that might come from a US fab.

I don't know - it was just a guess.

 

[Daniel Reed]

Why is everyone still talking about a new mac pro?


It's dead, gone, done, over.

The last "pro" option from Apple before the transition away from intel is the iMac "pro" next summer.

If one needs more performance now, go eGPU; otherwise, accept Windoze is all pros have left (or for some a linux box).

Millions of people need computing to enjoy the work of one "pro", Apple is focused on those millions, not the one "rebel".

 

[tuxon86]

All depends on the analysts insiders and so forth. The qtys are really low. And what do they need ? Some resistors, PCBa , the Intel CPU but that might come from a US fab.

I don't know - it was just a guess.

All of the part that could be used in the nnMP but that are different than those used in other product. If "spies" at Foxcon or other asian manufacturer spot parts that could be used in the nnMP we would know about it. Hell, we get whole frontpage article on Macrumors about a new unconfirmed iPhone power button sometime...

 

[pat500000]

Why is everyone still talking about a new mac pro?


It's dead, gone, done, over.

The last "pro" option from Apple before the transition away from intel is the iMac "pro" next summer.

If one needs more performance now, go eGPU; otherwise, accept Windoze is all pros have left (or for some a linux box).

Millions of people need computing to enjoy the work of one "pro", Apple is focused on those millions, not the one "rebel".

Why is everyone still talking about Mac Pro? Because it's a Mac Pro forum.

 

[Daniel Reed]

Why is everyone still talking about a new mac pro?

Why is everyone still talking about Mac Pro? Because it's a Mac Pro forum.

I obviously was referencing the speculation ad nauseam about if/when a "new-er" Mac Pro will emerge to replace the 2013 failure. There will be no update, the Mac Pro line is over. Wait for the 2017 iMac Pro or accept a non-apple solution.

 

[pat500000]

I obviously was referencing the speculation ad nauseam about if/when a "new-er" Mac Pro will emerge to replace the 2013 failure. There will be no update, the Mac Pro line is over. Wait for the 2017 iMac Pro or accept a non-apple solution.

Whether there is future Mac Pro or not is irrelevant. It's still Mac Pro subject. Btw, how do you know there isn't nmp coming out in the future? Curious.

 

[singhs.apps]

We may very well be talking about waiting next year at this time.... What Apple is hoping to do is to wean pro users off the mac pro by delaying it to the point that our old machines can no longer accept the latest mac os.... then they will force feed us the mbps and imacs hoping that we will just take what they have to offer.

That is not happening with me. 5 years is a long time to wait for a pro workstation from Apple that I can use. If it isn't happening, I will go the PC route. The incentive to stay on the mac was mainly the OS and the competitive hardware. Minus the hardware it's not happening.

All I am waiting for is signal from Apple reg its outlook for the desktop workstation - whether it chooses to provide upgrade options and if not, gives the basic hardware powerful enough to see 3-4 years worth of use.
[doublepost=1478820321][/doublepost]

I obviously was referencing the speculation ad nauseam about if/when a "new-er" Mac Pro will emerge to replace the 2013 failure. There will be no update, the Mac Pro line is over. Wait for the 2017 iMac Pro or accept a non-apple solution.

Is this a confirmed thing or speculation based on some 'info'

I wouldn't be surprised if apple pulled off an iMac pro... but question is, just how good will it be to replace a high end workstation class desktop... and yes I am talking for the 5% who are not supposed to ( based on some of the commentators here ) require more than 16 gb ram or better gpus or processors

 

[briloronmacrumo]

Why is everyone still talking about a new mac pro?

As Pat500000 noted, Mac Pro is the topic

It's dead, gone, done, over.

While Apple's inattention to this machine is undeniable, I haven't seen any evidence ( say a drone flyover showing a vacant manufacturing facility in Texas ) suggesting its demise. They could easily announce its discontinuation ( as they did with the their TB display ) but they haven't. Of course, they could have given us smaller updates ( newer Xeons ) and obviously that hasn't happened either. I'm not saying there will be a Mac Pro update but the lack of real evidence( versus extrapolation based on Apple's inattention ) confirming it will be ( or is ) dead leaves me very cautiously optimistic that either a new Mac Pro or a pro-ish iMac is in progress.

 

[JLOAKS]

Tired of waiting for an update that may never come. Looking to purchase a refurbished 2013+ Mac Pro or a new one with a good deal. With Black Friday events coming up, do any particular websites have good deals on them?

B&H were selling refurbished Mac Pros back in August for $2200, haven't seen a deal that good since.

 

[pat500000]

Tired of waiting for an update that may never come. Looking to purchase a refurbished 2013+ Mac Pro or a new one with a good deal. With Black Friday events coming up, do any particular websites have good deals on them?

B&H were selling refurbished Mac Pros back in August for $2200, haven't seen a deal that good since.

You think you could wait till the end of November? Just in case...there were rumors about it by the end of month. It wouldn't hurt to wait little bit longer to see if the rumor is true?

 

[AidenShaw]

You think you could wait till the end of November? Just in case...there were rumors about it by the end of month. It wouldn't hurt to wait little bit longer to see if the rumor is true?

Keep waiting.... This month.... Next month.... Month after.... Month after....

And if an update ever happens, you'll shout "I WAITED FOR THIS?".

 

[pat500000]

Keep waiting.... This month.... Next month.... Month after.... Month after....

View attachment 671467​

And if an update every happens, you'll shout "I WAITED FOR THIS?".

HAHAHA. I guess if that person needs it so be it. I know i know...another "let's wait" statement.

 

[Ender17]

saw some details about skylake-e platform today, hopefully early 2017 for mac pro

 

[JLOAKS]

You think you could wait till the end of November? Just in case...there were rumors about it by the end of month. It wouldn't hurt to wait little bit longer to see if the rumor is true?

Yeah I heard about that rumor. Will also wait for it, but if I happened to stumble upon a deal like the $2200 refurbished model I'll pick it up and then wait until the end of the month to open it. After November passes the next possible update wouldn't be until March of 2017, and even THAT is a fingers crossed hope.

 

[steveOooo]

iMac Pro - toss away your LG Ultra wide monitors, add a iMac Display and Noisy RAID to your electricity bill

it just works - with an external and dongle.

 

[singhs.apps]

While Apple's inattention to this machine is undeniable, I haven't seen any evidence ( say a drone flyover showing a vacant manufacturing facility in Texas ) suggesting its demise. They could easily announce its discontinuation ( as they did with the their TB display ) but they haven't. ...I'm not saying there will be a Mac Pro update but the lack of real evidence( versus extrapolation based on Apple's inattention ) confirming it will be ( or is ) dead leaves me very cautiously optimistic that either a new Mac Pro or a pro-ish iMac is in progress.

They won't announce a discontinuation unless they have a potential replacement - iMac pro or something else.

Unless I am mistaken they didn't announce the discontinuation of the TB display until they had the LGs 5k displays as a the replacement.
[doublepost=1478864641][/doublepost]But what if Apple demoed an HP workstation certified to run Mac OS...

Hell would feeeze over but hey... might be a nice way to wean us power users off the low margin Mac pros..

Disclaimer: all speculation of course.

 

[rjtiedeman]

Will the existing nMP have processor upgrades or GPU upgrades?

 

[tuxon86]

Will the existing nMP have processor upgrades or GPU upgrades?

Nope for the GPUs as it would also need other modifications to make them work. You can upgrade the CPU in the same family/series ie from a 4 core to a 12 core, OCW does it.

 

[Aldaris]

They won't announce a discontinuation unless they have a potential replacement - iMac pro or something else.

Unless I am mistaken they didn't announce the discontinuation of the TB display until they had the LGs 5k displays as a the replacement.
[doublepost=1478864641][/doublepost]

When they discontinued the Thunderbolt Display this last Summer, they didn't have a "replacement" they just said there are plenty of great third party displays out there. The LG 5k isn't even shipping until December.

If anything they were waiting for existing stock to dry up, something I suspect they are doing with the remaining Pro units, only to then say there wasn't enough demand to justify further resources. Keep in mind the Thunderbolt Display was selling for 5 years without any relevant updates (MagSafe 1 to MagSafe 2, Thunderbolt 1 to Thubderbolt 2, I think it has USB 2 ports and not USB 3. These are all minor but easy enough to swap with more modern connections that were ignored). The Pro is heading towards being "4 year old technology" even though it is barely crossing the being sold for just over 3 year mark.

If they would at least do a teaser or drop a crumb that would help stem the loss, I think more and more are really looking into alternatives; workflows, software, and hardware... some will go the hackintosh route, but eventually I think Apple will break updates and reliability and then it will be windows and Linux.

 

[koyoot]

When they discontinued the Thunderbolt Display this last Summer, they didn't have a "replacement" they just said there are plenty of great third party displays out there. The LG 5k isn't even shipping until December.

If anything they were waiting for existing stock to dry up, something I suspect they are doing with the remaining Pro units, only to then say there wasn't enough demand to justify further resources. Keep in mind the Thunderbolt Display was selling for 5 years without any relevant updates (MagSafe 1 to MagSafe 2, Thunderbolt 1 to Thubderbolt 2, I think it has USB 2 ports and not USB 3. These are all minor but easy enough to swap with more modern connections that were ignored). The Pro is heading towards being "4 year old technology" even though it is barely crossing the being sold for just over 3 year mark.

If they would at least do a teaser or drop a crumb that would help stem the loss, I think more and more are really looking into alternatives; workflows, software, and hardware... some will go the hackintosh route, but eventually I think Apple will break updates and reliability and then it will be windows and Linux.

They discontinued, because they co-developed the displays with LG. Why would they offer similar thing to the competitors if they have co-developed it with them.

The only way this would work in this context would be if Apple would co-developed with Dell or HP computer, with locked possibilities of upgrades, and give them the option to install macOS Sierra. And then announce the discontinuation of Mac Pro.

The reason why they are not doing this is obvious. Mac Pro will live on, and ultimately will get update.

 

[Aldaris]

They discontinued, because they co-developed the displays with LG. Why would they offer similar thing to the competitors if they have co-developed it with them.

The only way this would work in this context would be if Apple would co-developed with Dell or HP computer, with locked possibilities of upgrades, and give them the option to install macOS Sierra. And then announce the discontinuation of Mac Pro.

The reason why they are not doing this is obvious. Mac Pro will live on, and ultimately will get update.

Koyoot-you missed the point. Apple left nearly a 6 month gap between the discontinuation of the Thunderbolt Display and the availability of the LG 5k display. After being on the market for a month shy of 5 years.
In the case study of the Thunderbolt Display Apple just let existing stock dry up. They didn't release any indication they were working with any other specific display manufacturer, just said there are many great third party displays out there. There is no need for them to collaborate with any other PC vendor, they'll suggest to just pick up an iMac or MacBook Pro.

Who is to say they won't do so with the Mac Pro?

Furthermore Apple has been pushing the future of FCPX with the new MacBooks, several have already pointed out there isn't even a mention or promotional image of the Mac Pro on the FCPX webpages. Nearly the same case with Logic Pro X, aprart from a splash footer on two webpages about getting more in depth.

Apple is and has been making the case that the New MacBook Pro and iMacs are more than sufficient for the "Pro" market. The lack of updates is proof of concept there. Argue however much you'd like.

I am the biggest Apple Brand -Whore I know-I'm not thrilled about it but the reality is there. This is the first Mac Product line that will go 3+ years from first availability to discontinuation without any update. Apple has given Pro users the shaft. I am not alone in thinking this look at the threads here. Meany of us are hopeful and venting, true. The 1000 day without an update has ticked and we're coming close to the honest 3 year (December 30th) mark which is 1096 days (with a day added for leap year).
[doublepost=1478892934][/doublepost]From macrumors own reporting on the discontinuation of theThunderbolt Display:

"We're discontinuing the Apple Thunderbolt Display. It will be available through Apple.com, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers while supplies last. There are a number of great third-party options available for Mac users," said an Apple spokesperson.

June 23, 2016 and then the announcement of some collaboration with LG and the 4K and 5k displays October 28, 2016...

I've wrote about it in another thread if not this one, If this collaboration was so deep why couldn't it be more aesthetically Apple-like, at least somewhat match/pair to an Apple setup be it Mac Pro or MacBook Pro, as opposed to a plastic thick enclosure like nearly every other display on the market apart from the glass and aluminum Apple has been pushing since October 2008 with the 24" Cinema Display and the Aluminum Cinema Display that was released with the G5.
[doublepost=1478893224][/doublepost]Additionally, in regard to collaboration the Thunderbolt Display that the LG ultra fines are "replacing" were great Thunderbolt hubs hosting USB, FireWire, Ethernet, and the LG's only additional dongle friendly USB-C. I think there was a business deal to accommodate a display with Thunderbolt 3 as opposed to the other 4K and 5k connectivity options and a check made out and/or contract signed that was the extent of collaboration.