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What is next

F

frozentundra

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 8, 2008
8
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What is next for Mac Pro?

I have not seen any rumors about future Mac Pro. The Mac Pro timeline is about right for a new system, but details and speculation have been silent.

Will the next version include Thunderbolt?
 
Q4 2011 or early 2012
Sandy Bridge CPUs
AMD 7000-series graphics (if they are out by then, if not, then 6000-series)
Thunderbolt

That would be my guess.
 
frozentundra said:
What is next for Mac Pro?

I have not seen any rumors about future Mac Pro. The Mac Pro timeline is about right for a new system, but details and speculation have been silent.

Will the next version include Thunderbolt?
Click to expand...

As Much as mac pros are getting a bit old aug or sept of 2010 there simply is no real upgrade for them to do. So I would think Jan or Feb of 2012 as the soonest refresh. Right now they could do a small boost in cpu's and I guess a 6000 series gpu vs the 5000 series.

Although if you own a 2006 or 2007.

They would be able to sell a hex 3.2 mac pro for 2800 making the same profit as they do on the quad 2.8.

My mod /upgrade clearly shows that they are identical computers with the exception of the cpu and the cpu is about 300 more for the hex 3.2 then the quad 2.8. So if apple has sold most of the lower cpus they ordered maybe they would do a cpu refresh and a gpu refresh this summer. I would think selling the hex 3.2 at 2800 would generate quite a few buyers.


As for t-bolt and sandy b winter time maybe for x-mas season.
 
DustinT said:
Wouldn't we be talking about Ivy Bridge?
Click to expand...

No. Sandy Bridge-E CPUs which are meant for Mac Pro won't be out until Q4 this year. The chips that are currently out (LGA 1155) are meant for mainstream computers while the chips coming later this year (LGA 1356 and LGA 2011) are meant for high-end computers and servers.

Ivy Bridge CPUs for Mac Pro won't likely be out until H2 2012 since it would be ridiculous to release SB-E in Q4 2011 and then IB-E in Q1 2012. Currently it looks like Intel will first release the consumer parts and then later the server parts.
 
Hellhammer said:
No. Sandy Bridge-E CPUs which are meant for Mac Pro won't be out until Q4 this year. The chips that are currently out (LGA 1155) are meant for mainstream computers while the chips coming later this year (LGA 1356 and LGA 2011) are meant for high-end computers and servers.

Ivy Bridge CPUs for Mac Pro won't likely be out until H2 2012 since it would be ridiculous to release SB-E in Q4 2011 and then IB-E in Q1 2012. Currently it looks like Intel will first release the consumer parts and then later the server parts.
Click to expand...

Are the current Mac Pro processors faster than the available Sandy Bridge CPUs?

Hellhammer do you have a link that can help explain the Sandy Bridge variations and Ivy Bridge?

Thanks
 
frozentundra said:
Are the current Mac Pro processors faster than the available Sandy Bridge CPUs?
Click to expand...

Depends. W3680 is faster than i7-2600 in some tasks but I would say that even the current SBs are faster than the CPUs in Mac Pro in general. If we talk about price/performance ratio, then SB crushes Nehalems/Westmeres.

See these two:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/287?vs=142
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/287?vs=46

The issue is that current SB CPUs are only available in SP configurations, thus Apple needs to wait for Q4 2011 when QPI based SBs will be released. Those will have DP versions too.

Hellhammer do you have a link that can help explain the Sandy Bridge variations and Ivy Bridge?
Click to expand...


Wikipedia is pretty good IMO. They have tables that are easy to understand.
 
This may have been discussed before regarding Thunderbolt, but since the technology 'piggy backs' on the MDP connector, isn't it theoretically possible that the Mac Pro (current gen) could get TB simply via a GFX card update since that's where the MDP connector is on the Mac Pro's?

Just a thought and the PCIe slot(s) certainly have the bandwidth to support TB.

Also, FWIW, what I've been reading about Sandy Bridge is that clock for clock they do bring a respectable speed increase.

Here is a good 'review' on Anandtech: Sandy Bridge Review edit: Looks like we were typing at the same time HH!
 
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