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MP All Models Why would I need the new Mac Pro (2019)?

Killerbob

Killerbob

macrumors 68000
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Jan 25, 2008
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I have the iCan Mac Pro, and when I bought it in 2014 I specced it out decently. I.e. it has 64GB RAM, 1TB SSD internally, the D700 VideoCards, and the 6-core 3.5GHz Xeon E5. I use 2 x ATDs, and I have run a Sonnet Echo Express TB2 external with an additional 2 TB of fast SSD storage. Also I have a TB2 connected NAS with 60TB of secondary storage.

Of course I run Catalina on it, and I keep the OS and applications religiously up-to-date.

I used to be a professional photographer, hence I have the Adobe Creative Suite installed, and I use the photography apps. I have a ton of photo manipulating applications, and of course I have MS Office, plus a bunch of utilities etc.

I do not do any video editing, no sound editing, and no programming. The limited gaming I do I do via BootCamped Win10.

So, why is it I would go out and spend 8-12K on a new Mac Pro and the new Apple Display? I am not asking tongue-in-cheek, I really want to know.

It looks like an awesome computer, and if I have a need, even one I don't know about right now, I probably will buy it, but I just can't see any of the things I use my Mac Pro for, getting much much faster. Sure my photo editing workflow will probably speed up a bit, but let's face it, I am the slow component. Sure my photos will look better on a 6K monitor, and that would be fantastic, but they already look really good on my ATDs.
 
If your workflow is OSX only based (FCPX and/or Logic), then you are pretty much out of options. The upcoming 7,1 was targeted to a small subset of the Mac Pro market.

Otherwise, there isn't a compelling use case.

People gripe about the display, but for the target audience it is a good buy (or it would be if the aluminum stand was included).

Apple has abandoned the High End Desktop market.
 
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You don't need this Mac. As others have said, but also your current fits your needs. You don't benefit from the power it brings.
 
And that is exactly my thinking as well - thx for the confirmation!
 
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I think the answer is pretty simple: one needs this if more "computing" capabilities are needed. Since you're current setup seems to work for you, then you don't need this. There's probably a corollary to this statement, and this is that one's current platform is no longer supported.
 
And my current system is supported by the latest OS, and if it breaks down, it is possible to get it repaired, albeit expensive...
 
You are very right, and I needed the MacPro3,1 and I needed the MacPro6,1 - since they allowed me to do the photo editing and workflow I wanted to do, at the speed I was expecting. It seems that Apple possibly has the right computer for me, but it is not necessarily the Mac Pro anymore, and I would probably be happier with an iMac Pro, or sticking with my 2013 Mac Pro...
 
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I have a 6.1 trashcan. Recently I was looking at upgrade possibilities, it is relativly easy to :

  1. Upgrade up to a 2TB Samsung NVME SSD
  2. Run a script to enable external GPU over thunderbolt - requires thunderbolt 2 to 3 cable adapter, external thunderbolt enclosure and an AMD GPU
  3. upgrade the CPU to 8,10 or 12 cores
for my video work these are very useful upgrades, however for your photo editing its not much benefit.
 
ssgbryan said:
Apple has abandoned the High End Desktop market.
Click to expand...
It's probably a chicken and egg problem, but Apple probably thinks the high end desktop market is too low to support. The bulk of Mac users are using laptops. You then have the iMac for the consumer / prosumer, the iMac Pro for those who require more power, and by the time you get to the group of users who need more computing power than what the iMac Pro can supply, it's really a niche of a niche.
 
Nobody needs MP 7.1. Actually, all the work that can be done can be also done in other platform. FCX is replaceable.

It all comes down to everyone's individual choice. Good luck.

I personally prefer running personal stuff on Mac OS hence the reason why I keep my Macs. I like to have all mobile gears and computer synced through iCloud you know. However, heavy crunching stuff that I do (video editing and rendering) and gaming, I do on PC. If Mac Pro 7.1 were 3,000~4,000 starting price machine, I would have gone that route as well, but higher price with gimped spec 7.1 is not justifiable for me. They say it's meant for a true professional. Let them enjoy it, but no Mac desktop for me until they offer otherwise.

I plan to upgrade my PC rig next year with TR3 or Zen3. It's going to rock and put MP7.1 in its knee. I will laugh then :)
 
Killerbob said:
So, why is it I would go out and spend 8-12K on a new Mac Pro and the new Apple Display? I am not asking tongue-in-cheek, I really want to know.
Click to expand...


Because you might have the following requirements:
  1. You want to run macOS, non hackintoshed on supported hardware.
  2. You want a graphics card connected to the system with sufficient bandwidth to drive all the displays it is capable of supporting.
  3. You want to be able to upgrade the graphics card on its own at a later date, to one which is faster / more powerful at doing that same task.
The Mac Pro is the only Apple product which fulfils all these criteria.
 
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It doesn't matter if you need it or don't need it. All that matters is if you want it. It's the only headless Mac besides the mini. If you aren't willing to spend the current prices then just wait. By the time the 6,1 loses support the 7,1 will be more affordable, so in that regard, it is the linear upgrade path, assuming you keep it until then.
 
Killerbob said:
....

I used to be a professional photographer, hence I have the Adobe Creative Suite installed, and I use the photography apps. I have a ton of photo manipulating applications, and of course I have MS Office, plus a bunch of utilities etc.

I do not do any video editing, no sound editing, and no programming. The limited gaming I do I do via BootCamped Win10.

So, why is it I would go out and spend 8-12K on a new Mac Pro and the new Apple Display? I am not asking tongue-in-cheek, I really want to know.

It looks like an awesome computer, and if I have a need, even one I don't know about right now,
Click to expand...

First on the XDR display there is about zero need there for the vast majority of photography. 1000 sustained nits for what workflow ? The relatively narrow corner case the XDR sits in where need a large number of extremely bright colors that almost no other printer ( or screen) is going to produce.
[ There are some extremely narrow corner cases in high budget photography where might justify an XDR. Tethered shooting for very high res camera sensor and need to give "back seat" customer a viewer on the shots as they are taken. I saw a comment from someone at the WWDC set up where they said the tethered shots in the photography set up looked like it was just a simple window between what was being shot. ]

But if just "need" 6K worth of pixels there are far more practical ways to go. The vast majority on "used to be a pro" , 'pro-sumer' sensors are using a subset of that 'XDR' color space on capture.


The vast majority of Mac Pro buyers aren't going to buy an XDR. It is more than perfectly reasonable for most Mac Pro buyers to skip the XDR. ( Apple will gladly take the money if want to binge on style over substance, but I highly doubt they are counting on most buyers doing that at all. )



As for the Mac Pro itself. If the Mac Pro 2013 you have isn't being pressed to where it can't do the job then you could upgrade sooner rather than later. If this is just "tech lust" then it probably would be prudent to wait 2-3 years and catch this Mac Pro when it hits the used/refurb market at lower prices. The Mac Pro is priced for folks who are generating revenue; not engaging in effectively hobbies. In 2-3 years there will be better high pixel, "normal" HDR monitor options also.
 
Killerbob said:
I used to be a professional photographer, hence I have the Adobe Creative Suite installed, and I use the photography apps. I have a ton of photo manipulating applications, and of course I have MS Office, plus a bunch of utilities etc.

I do not do any video editing, no sound editing, and no programming. The limited gaming I do I do via BootCamped Win10.

So, why is it I would go out and spend 8-12K on a new Mac Pro and the new Apple Display? I am not asking tongue-in-cheek, I really want to know.

It looks like an awesome computer, and if I have a need, even one I don't know about right now, I probably will buy it, but I just can't see any of the things I use my Mac Pro for, getting much much faster. Sure my photo editing workflow will probably speed up a bit, but let's face it, I am the slow component. Sure my photos will look better on a 6K monitor, and that would be fantastic, but they already look really good on my ATDs.
Click to expand...

We can also consider how photo software apps respond to hardware, CPU, Graphic Card or Ram. Photoshop possibly uses only 2-3 cores and maybe other tasks less on GPU computing or vice versa. Some softwares may not maximize the available hardware specs. Other Mac users, may have the budget for the 2019 new Mac Pro, if they want it they may get this computer.

https://www.punchtechnology.co.uk/what-processor-adobe-photoshop-lightroom-2018/

https://macperformanceguide.com/blog/2019/20190502_1120-GPU-how-much-for-PhotoshopFilters.html
 
mattspace said:
You want to be able to upgrade the graphics card on its own at a later date, to one which is faster / more powerful at doing that same task.
Click to expand...
Probability that any third party MPX cards hit the market? Low.

Let's be careful not to "armchair engineer" upgrades for the 7,1 - at least until it starts shipping and you see a report of a 7,1 with quad Quadro RTX cards.
 
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AidenShaw said:
Probability that any third party MPX cards hit the market? Low.

Let's be careful not to "armchair engineer" upgrades for the 7,1 - at least until it starts shipping and you see a report of a 7,1 with quad Quadro RTX cards.
Click to expand...

MPX is really only necessary if you have a specific need to use a thunderbolt display, cause it appears that's pretty much what the MPX's second tab is - a loopback DP-IN (plus power) cable.

For DP / HDMI displays, you're going to have all the breadth and depth of the supported AMD range.
 
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