Don't worry because if I know Apple over the years is this Fall season the new M2 or best dual M2 Mac Pro will come to complete the Silicon lineup!
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Was the Mac Pro cancelled?
- Thread starter osplo
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Yup, I doubt Apple would want to get rid of their supreme Mac.
No, the Mac Pro was NOT discontinued, we all know that the Imac pro was discontinued and apple explained that they will no longer manufacture any more iMac Pros. But it was be switching to apple silicon processors along with all other Mac computers
I'm guessing that the real "M2" chip is behind due to the various factors (shortages, lockdowns, etc), and I'm guessing Apple was planning to have the Mac Pro based on that chip.
So instead, what we have is basically an M1.5 chip. The Macbook Air, like Apple said, is the best seller, so they prioritize the new design refresh. Meanwhile, they even re-use the same shell for the Macbook Pro 13" and only shove in the M1.5 in it, signifying cost cutting and components/parts savings being the focus.
And, we don't even see the Mac mini being refreshed with an M2 (while it got the same spotlight for the M1 release). So it is probably the lowest seller compared to the laptop, so it didn't get anything.
We will see Apple selling 3 year old computers (M1 Macbook Air and Mac mini) at their original MSRP. And people wonder why Apple become so rich.
So instead, what we have is basically an M1.5 chip. The Macbook Air, like Apple said, is the best seller, so they prioritize the new design refresh. Meanwhile, they even re-use the same shell for the Macbook Pro 13" and only shove in the M1.5 in it, signifying cost cutting and components/parts savings being the focus.
And, we don't even see the Mac mini being refreshed with an M2 (while it got the same spotlight for the M1 release). So it is probably the lowest seller compared to the laptop, so it didn't get anything.
We will see Apple selling 3 year old computers (M1 Macbook Air and Mac mini) at their original MSRP. And people wonder why Apple become so rich.
Not quite, the M2 is quite likely manufactured in Taiwan by TSMC. Taiwan hasn't been hit by lockdowns like China has.
TSMC Executive Says Chip Shortage to Last Several More Years | ExtremeTech
There's simply not enough fab capacity to meet demand, now and in the distant future. ...
www.extremetech.com
So it seems .....TSMC to start mass production of new 3nm ‘M2 Pro’ chip later this year
Mac pro can be build around 3nm if this comes true
Mac pro can be build around 3nm if this comes true
Your post makes no sense. You can’t say ‘not quite’ and then ‘quite likely’ manufactured by TSMC. Either it was or was not manufactured by TSMC. Just take a second and re-read what you wrote.
With respect, the original post suggested recent COVID lockdowns in China could have caused the M2 delays. jav6454 noted that was unlikely (the "not quite") because the M2 is "quite likely" manufactured in Taiwan and Taiwan has not had a recent COVID lockdown.
Sorry, brain fart. Given that the latest node processes tend to stay in their Taiwan fabs, it is highly possible the M2 is being made in Taiwan and as such not subject to supply chain crunch. Except when Apple requires increased demand beyond the scope of their purchasing agreement.
Better?
I think whatever SOC goes in the MP will be based on the M2, not an M1. So they decided to announce the M2 first, and then M2 UltraDuo or UltraQuad next. This will also allow for more sales of the M1 Studios.
eGPU is an OPERATING system thing. Not a hardware thing. M1 , M2 , M3, etc. is entirely a non issue there.
Pretty good chance the Mini is going to get the M2 in at least one configuration. Two major issues. First Apple industrial design is a choke point. Pretty easily illustrated by the MBA getting and update and the MBP 13" chugging along with the same exact chassis ( touch bar and all.). Really? could not just simply poke a hole in the side and add a MagSafe even. Or bump the screen ( full P3) along with the logic board change. The MBP 13" is held back on costs also ( it comes with a full M2 while the MBA is binned at the entry model and Apple had to keep the M1 model around because couldn't hold the old MBA entry price point. )
Reportedly Apple is suppose to be doing a massive update to the Mini case. The means new design , new contractors dies , etc etc. as opposed to just keep making the same old case with the same old production tool/die infrastructure. It is cheaper for Apple to limp on longer with the M1 Mini.
Second, issue is that M2 is ramping at the same time the A16 is ramp for the fall. That is probably a log jam since they may both be on the same process node. ( and there several other high volume customers doing large volume ramps on that node this Summer/Fall also. ) .
In Fall 2020 the iMac got held back also ( design changes and high ramp season. ). The Mini is just in the same boat this round.
The Mini is going to get an M2 because Apple really does need a sub $1K priced desktop. With inflation, even more so needed now than before. The M2 is just going to be cheaper to produce than M2+adjective alternative that might also go into an updated mini.
Don’t the drivers need to be available to run an eGPU? While it’s not processor specific it is architecture specific. Are there any arm macos drivers for AMD or NVIDIA?
Not just drivers but also the possibility of writing such drivers. The point is that there is no technical reason for absence of third-party eGPUs on Apple Silicon. The reason is solely policy - Apple does not want any third-party eGPUs with their systems.
The only eGPU support I can see coming at some point is through a Linux/Windows virtual machine, once (and if) Apple supports PCIe passthrough to VMs.