Return of the Mac Pro Cheese Grater, exhibiting an impressive level of power
Apple Unveils the New Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR
Apple has recently released the highly anticipated new Mac Pro, a modular workstation built around the Apple M2 Ultra chip. The new Mac Pro offers a significant redesign from previous generations, merging Apple silicon performance with the expandability and connectivity of a professional workstation.
The Mac Pro features a 24-core CPU and a 60-core GPU, offering powerful processing capabilities. It boasts seven expansion slots, six of which support PCIe Gen 4, doubling the bandwidth available for audio/video I/O, networking, and storage cards. The latest PCIe Gen 4 SSD cards can reach speeds of up to 26GB/s.
The Mac Pro is equipped with extensive connectivity options, including eight Thunderbolt ports, two HDMI ports that support up to 8K resolution at 240Hz, and wireless enhancements such as Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Its design retains a stainless steel space frame with a removable aluminum housing and an advanced thermal system, ensuring it runs cooler and quieter due to Apple silicon efficiency.
Accompanying the new Mac Pro is the Pro Display XDR, a 32-inch 6K Retina display featuring a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and brightness up to 1600 nits. It includes professional reference modes and is positioned as an ultimate workflow tool to pair with the Mac Pro.
The new Mac Pro starts at $5,000, while the cheapest Mac Pro configuration is priced at $6,000. The Pro Display XDR's price is yet to be confirmed, though it is expected to be around $4,999 or higher, based on historical pricing.
Key specifications of the new Mac Pro include:
- Chip: Apple M2 Ultra (24-core CPU, 60-core GPU)
- Expansion Slots: 7 total (6 PCIe Gen 4)
- Thunderbolt Ports: 8
- HDMI Support: 2 ports, up to 8K resolution, 240Hz refresh rate
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
- Design: Stainless steel space frame, removable aluminum housing, advanced thermal system
- Display (Pro Display XDR): 32-inch 6K Retina, 1,000,000:1 contrast, 1600 nits brightness
The new Mac Pro, which bears a resemblance to the previous G5 version of the Mac Pro, nicknamed the "cheese grater" by fans, also includes the Mac Pro's new "Afterburner" video decoder card, allowing processing of up to 3 8K streams at once. It is powered by a 1,400 Watt power supply and supports up to two MPX Modules, which means 4 graphics cards can run at once.
John Gruber, a tech journalist and founder of Daring Fireball, was present when Apple first teased the new Mac Pro in 2017. Phil Schiller, VP of Marketing at Apple, stated that the new Mac Pro would be "completely rethought" and designed for demanding pro customers. The Mac Pro, which was 4 years old at the time, was criticized for its poor upgradeability, and Apple promised a major redesign in 2017.
The new Mac Pro's successor to the "trashcan" Mac Pro has finally been released, marking a significant step forward in Apple's professional computing lineup.
- Gizmodo might cover the new Mac Pro's technology, given its powerful processing capabilities and advanced features like the 24-core CPU, 60-core GPU, and extensive connectivity options.
- The future of tech gadgets could see a surge in demand for high-end professional workstations, with the new Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR setting a benchmark with their impressive specifications and performance.
- The tech industry is eagerly anticipating the release of the Pro Display XDR's pricing details, which could have an impact on the competitive landscape of professional-grade monitors in the market.
