MP All Models Would you buy a mac pro m2 ultra?

[innerproduct]

There is a lot of speculation on what the desktop future for mac will be and this is extensively discussed in the forums.
The latest rumors has that we will not get an updated mac studio to m2 and that a mac pro will instead will be basically a studio with slots. No discreet GPUs, just a an m2ultra in a big case with pcie slots that can be used for specialty cards for audio and capture. Is this machine that interests you?

 

[mode11]

Not sure what "No, if no gpu expansion it should be housed in the studio case" means? "No, if GPU expansion isn't internal"? Given that eGPUs aren't possible with AS (as far as we know), that would basically just mean "No, if PCIe GPUs aren't possible".

Which in practice is essentially the same thing as option 5: "No, I need a lot more GPU power. This doesn’t solve my needs".

Or more generally: "No, I want the potential for a lot more GPU power, as needed".

This is the irritating thing about Apple. This stuff is bread and butter for Windows PC's, yet macOS users are left bargaining with themselves, acting like it's totally unreasonable to expect a computer with decent GPU for less than £10000, or to be able to upgrade these fast-evolving co-processors at will. It would be more convincing if the whole PC industry hadn't already demonstrated otherwise.

 

[innerproduct]

Good points. Maybe I didn’t think that through enough. I ment: “No, if it is not possible to expand gpu power internally, I have no use for expansion slots and the “mac pro” should really has been released as an updated mac studio”. So that option was intended for people who also would answer: “I would prefer an updated mac studio instead at current prices”

 

[innerproduct]

Those of you who are fine with getting a m2 ultra mac pro without extra gpu power and also have no need for the speciality cards. Would you care to elaborate? Why wouldn’t you rather have a m2ultra housed in a studio case at less money?

 

[mode11]

OK, so basically: "No, I need GPU expansion slots".

These could take the form of PCIe, or some proprietary Apple slot. In the case of the latter, you'd be looking at a new release every few years, at an eye-watering price, probably missing the latest industry developments, for as long as Apple maintain interest in the form-factor / architecture / interface.

 

[mode11]

Those of you who are fine with getting a m2 ultra mac pro without extra gpu power and also have no need for the speciality cards. Would you care to elaborate? Why wouldn’t you rather have a m2ultra housed in a studio case at less money?

I can't imagine anyone would be in that category; 100% of those users would prefer the Studio - unless they thought their needs may change in the future. The G4 Cube was sold alongside the G4 towers, for a similar price, and got discontinued within a year due to poor sales (design classic though it is!).

 

[fuchsdh]

To me the question is price versus capabilities, more so than the capabilities themselves.

If the Mac Pro is "only" an M2 Ultra in a tower configuration with slots... the added internal expansion and slots for upgrades/expansion are useful to me, but if I'm going to be paying a $3K and up premium for the opportunity and I don't get more upgradeability in the process, a Mac Studio makes far more cost-effective sense for me. I'm not doing enough high-budget freelance jobs where a $8K and up Mac Pro is going to be paid for quickly.

 

[mode11]

the added internal expansion and slots for upgrades/expansion are useful to me, but if I'm going to be paying a $3K and up premium for the opportunity and I don't get more upgradeability in the process

I assume you're talking about GPU upgrades specifically here then?

 

[mattspace]

No interest in a machine that doesn't allow standard PCI GPUs for handling displays plugged into those GPUs, on the same full-fat connections you would get on a standard PC workstation.

1. I don't want my displays muxed with my storage bus.
2. I want the option to have a GPU that has 6 displayports, so that I can put a DP to HDMI adapter on one if I need HDMI, rather than Apple's stupid 5 TB3 and 1 HDMI (because some high end displays, eg EIZO, don't offer their full colour gamut on HDMI)
3. I don't want to have to plug displays into the top of the machine*

Nice to haves:

1. I shouldn't have to use another Mac to do things like DFU-mode, unless Apple is going to provide it for free with my Mac Pro - my iPhone should be able to do that with an app, given it's biometrically linked to me.

*I have very seriously flirted with the idea of, if I were to buy a 2019, buying a rackmount version, and fabricating an upright frame to hold it, so I don't have to have freaking ports on the top of the machine. Also, space to put a dust filter in front of the fans.

1. I don't want to have to unplug all my cables, in order to conduct an internal dust inspection of the inside of the machine.

 

[prefuse07]

I voted for this option:

No, I need a lot more GPU power. This doesn’t solve my needs​

And it is definitely more centered around GPU connectivity, but there are other issues to think about as well, for example:

• RAM expandability
• Storage expandability
• ARM architecture

That last one is the biggest one when it comes to AS, because while Rosetta is getting better, not all software works on AS (especially legacy stuff). Hell, there is even some current software that hasn't even been tested on Rosetta, FFS...

I also hate the fact that by moving to AS, you are basically committing/accepting lockdown to 1 single OS, as opposed to having the option (like we do with our current Mac Pros) of installing additional OS' and having it all packaged inside of one machine. This to me has always been one of the biggest draws of the Mac Pro. My studio is packed enough as it is with modular gear, NO, I do not want to have to add a different computer for each OS that I want to use, to me that is just preposterous in 2023!

And to all the clowns that will talk about virtualization -- it is NOT the same, so don't even try that argument.

I'm sure there are other things that I'm not thinking about right now, but these are some of the big ones that I have been debating within myself, as we await the announcement of the 8,1.

 

[Ethosik]

I didn’t see the option that fits best for me.

Yes BUT only if they either reduce the price or address the base config to something more reasonable.

I laughed at the base specs of the 2019 Mac Pro for $6,000.

 

[JMStearnsX2]

I voted for this option:

No, I need a lot more GPU power. This doesn’t solve my needs​

And it is definitely more centered around GPU connectivity, but there are other issues to think about as well, for example:

• RAM expandability
• Storage expandability
• ARM architecture

That last one is the biggest one when it comes to AS, because while Rosetta is getting better, not all software works on AS (especially legacy stuff). Hell, there is even some current software that hasn't even been tested on Rosetta, FFS...

I also hate the fact that by moving to AS, you are basically committing/accepting lockdown to 1 single OS, as opposed to having the option (like we do with our current Mac Pros) of installing additional OS' and having it all packaged inside of one machine. This to me has always been one of the biggest draws of the Mac Pro. My studio is packed enough as it is with modular gear, NO, I do not want to have to add a different computer for each OS that I want to use, to me that is just preposterous in 2023!

And to all the clowns that will talk about virtualization -- it is NOT the same, so don't even try that argument.

I'm sure there are other things that I'm not thinking about right now, but these are some of the big ones that I have been debating within myself, as we await the announcement of the 8,1.

Apple Silicon allows multi-boot, I have an M1 Mini at work multi-booting macOS 11, 12 & 13.

 

[rondocap]

Even if Apple solves GPU performance by giving us something more powerful than the current W6800x/W6900X options, there is still the option of hampering future expandability.

It's nice to pop in a new GPU in a few years time when your workflow is more dependent on GPUs and not needing an entirely new system.

I don't care if the GPU comes in Apple Silicon or AMD, as long as it is upgradable down the line - could Apple do a removable GPU? Sure, why not - but if it makes sense, I am not sure.

 

[fuchsdh]

I assume you're talking about GPU upgrades specifically here then?

I've got external capture interfaces and SSDs I'd be happy to migrate internally, as well. From a pure "what obsoletes your computer the fastest" the processor, memory, and GPU are definitely the main aspects (and the GPU these days is probably the biggest priority for a lot of what count as "demanding" workflows) but I'd still get benefits from a box with slots even if GPUs weren't included.

 

[Matty_TypeR]

Not enough GPU power for my needs.

Apple Silicon allows multi-boot, I have an M1 Mini at work multi-booting macOS 11, 12 & 13.

We can all boot multi version's of Mac OSX but will it be able to boot window's with out VM? I use both OS and the 4090 is the daddy in windows. So my Mac pro 7.1 is perfect, but the new Mac 8.1 is OSX only so far and would be destroyed in windows with either a 7900xtx or 4090 even with a 7900xtx on the 7.1 in OSX it will be awesome. So for me the current speculation on the 8.1 mac pro is a NO NO.

Iam not buying into any Mac pro that cant be upgraded later in its life, be it GPU or memory. TB3 will be old hat later this year when TB5 is released with double the transfer speed.

 

[prefuse07]

Apple Silicon allows multi-boot, I have an M1 Mini at work multi-booting macOS 11, 12 & 13.

So you can boot Linux and Windows?... didn't think so

 

[innerproduct]

I can't imagine anyone would be in that category; 100% of those users would prefer the Studio - unless they thought their needs may change in the future. The G4 Cube was sold alongside the G4 towers, for a similar price, and got discontinued within a year due to poor sales (design classic though it is!).

One reason for this poll is all those comments in the mac pro related threads that say there is a viable market for mac pros with slots without GPU expansion (3d party or apple). I wonder if there is anyone on this forum that actually is in that category. I project that at most 1% of those who are interested in, and have the funds for, a mac pro, actually want it for specialty cards and don’t want GPU power as well. Can only think of audio work specialist (totally cpu bound) and a few editors perhaps. Graders/Colorists still need as much GPU as possible.
Science? No, these need more of everything.
The poll options could clearly have been better an more thought through of course, and it would be interesting to make some kind of more complete survey. I guess this one at least give and indication in this limited group.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

No. BUT, more importantly, were such a thing to exist I would NOT let that prevent me from hating it with every fiber of my being. And every day, from my waking moment ‘til mine eyes forcibly close on me, mine fingers wouldn’t rest ‘til I can ensure EVERYONE on the internet knows how much I hate it and everything to do with it, whether it exists or not.

By the way, Timmy must go.

/s

 

[Unregistered 4U]

One reason for this poll is all those comments in the mac pro related threads that say there is a viable market for mac pros with slots without GPU expansion (3d party or apple). I wonder if there is anyone on this forum that actually is in that category.

I think your suspicion might be correct, anyone that WOULD buy it likely won’t be posting to MacRumors. Visiting and READING, yes, but they would have learned long ago that one of the ways their time can best be spent (such that they can afford toys such as something like this) is not to engage with forum members that their input wouldn’t phase or sway in any way.

If it ever exists, the few 10’s of thousands that want or need it will buy it regardless of what anyone here feels amounts to appropriate value.

 

[innerproduct]

Deleted
/s

 

[maikerukun]

No. Need a LOT more PGU power...we shall see...

 

[TechnoMonk]

My last Mac pro was the 2012 model, which served me well till 2019. I went with a custom workstation to get the NVidia Cuda support, and the M1 Max macbook pro is my other workhorse. I have a love hate relationship with NVidia GPUs, 3090 or 4090. Frequent out-of-memory crashes with these GPUs limited to 24 GB RAM makes me appreciate the Unified RAM in my M1 Max more and more. The 4090 can easily draw 600W without overclocking in my use case, thats bad news for throttling, heat, and my PS.
TLDR: I would be very tempted if Apple could come up with 256 Gb unified memory and a GPU performance 2-3X of M1/M2 max GPU. I am not saving money with my expandable NVidia GPUs. I may be forced to use Cloud for A100 or bite the bullet and buy 40 GB A100 for 7-8 K.

 

[TechnoMonk]

One reason for this poll is all those comments in the mac pro related threads that say there is a viable market for mac pros with slots without GPU expansion (3d party or apple). I wonder if there is anyone on this forum that actually is in that category. I project that at most 1% of those who are interested in, and have the funds for, a mac pro, actually want it for specialty cards and don’t want GPU power as well. Can only think of audio work specialist (totally cpu bound) and a few editors perhaps. Graders/Colorists still need as much GPU as possible.
Science? No, these need more of everything.
The poll options could clearly have been better an more thought through of course, and it would be interesting to make some kind of more complete survey. I guess this one at least give and indication in this limited group.

Apple has a unique oppurtunity here with Unified memory. I could easily buy a Mac Studio/ Mac pro for the money, I may have to spend on a A100 for 80 GB GPU RAM alone. Apple is lacking in library/software support for Metal/Core-ML, though its getting better. I am hanging on to my current approach of Cuda/Nvidia Workstation and a high end Apple mackbook pro with maxed out CPU/GPU, and RAM.

 

[Yebubbleman]

I'm definitely not the target audience for the Mac Pro. However, if it met the needs of my employer and I was in charge of purchasing, then sure! Everyone's individual needs for a Mac Pro are different. It's likely that RAM and GPU won't be done the way they are on the current Mac Pro. I'd shop accordingly; but if it met the needs of the folks I'm supporting, then yes, buying it would be obvious. For me, I'm sure my personal (and non-professional) needs for a Mac don't go higher than an Mx Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro at most.

 

[PowerMike G5]

I think your suspicion might be correct, anyone that WOULD buy it likely won’t be posting to MacRumors. Visiting and READING, yes, but they would have learned long ago that one of the ways their time can best be spent (such that they can afford toys such as something like this) is not to engage with forum members that their input wouldn’t phase or sway in any way.

If it ever exists, the few 10’s of thousands that want or need it will buy it regardless of what anyone here feels amounts to appropriate value.

This speaks to me lol. I love having this forum around, but I do engage only from time to time, since I just want to get the work done. If I listened to everyone's advice on what was good or worth it versus not, I probably wouldn't of have ever bought anything from constant indecision

I spent I think around $16K on my Mac Pro setup at the time (when it was first released). For me, it was the only machine in the Mac ecosystem that allowed for balanced power across the board with its components. Fortunately the machine paid itself off pretty after purchase, cause I could just use it for what it is... a workstation. I know people can get passionate about Apple products and I appreciate them just as much as everyone else. But ultimately, I just need it to work and generate income and the Mac Pro has always been a machine that has consistently done that without issue.

I use multiple NVME's on those specialized RAID cards. I have afterburner. I've upgraded to off-the-shelf GPUs. I have an AJA 4K Video I/O card. Use 5.1 audio output. It all has worked consistently well in this tower without issue and the reliability with the expansion is what I need and care about.