Apple Updates Mac Pro, Promises Commitment To Mac Desktops

Remember when Apple was known more for the Mac than the iPhone? Even the company seems to have forgotten about its desktop computers, with most of its lineup receiving incremental updates at best, or going without any hardware upgrades for several years at worst. That started to change today with the news that Apple (finally) updated the Mac Pro and told journalists it plans to refresh the iMac and Mac Pro over the next few years.

First, the changes to the Mac Pro: The desktop is marketed to professionals who need more oomph than the all-in-one iMac or itty-bitty Mac Mini can provide. (All that in a case that looks more like a Dyson air purifier than a computer.) Yet before today, it last received an update in December 2013. A lot's happened since then: new CPUs and GPUs have debuted, memory has gotten much faster, and storage prices fell even as performance rose.

Now, the $2,999 model will sport a six-core Intel Xeon E5 3.5GHz processor instead of a quad-core Intel Xeon E5 3.7GHz processor, and the $3,999 model will include an eight-core Intel Xeon E5 3GHz processor instead of the six-core Intel Xeon E5 3.7GHz processor from 2013. Both models have also been updated with dual AMD FirePro D500 and D700 GPUs, instead of the dual AMD FirePro D300 and D300 GPUs they've used since 2013, respectively. The cheaper model also rose from 12GB of DDR3-1866 memory to 16GB.

There you have it--the first Mac Pro update in three-and-a-half years. That doesn't seem like enough to entice anyone to upgrade, let alone purchase the desktop instead of building their own PC, but at least it showed that Apple doesn't want to exit the desktop space entirely. Still, buying one of these updated models is made even more foolish by the fact that the company told journalists that another Mac Pro update will arrive. TechCrunch, whose editor Matthew Panzarino was one of five journalists invited to speak with Apple execs about its plans for the Mac, reported on the meeting:

The news, if you want it straight: Apple is acknowledging that the Mac Pro they introduced in 2013 has run aground on the cleverness of its own design, and they’re re-thinking the entire machine. In addition, they’ll be releasing a new external display — something it had previously opted out of.But none of that is coming this year. Today, we’ll see a performance bump on the old design of Mac Pro, which will remain on sale for now. And later this year we’ll see improved iMacs that Apple feels will appeal to a segment of Pro users, as well.

A spokesperson confirmed to Tom's Hardware that Apple does plan to update the Mac Pro and iMac. That spokesperson declined to answer further questions, such as to what extent the next Mac Pro will be customizable or how macOS might have to change to support more configurations than ever. Apple currently knows exactly what components the vast majority of macOS users have in their systems because A) opening up many of its products to swap out components is much harder than on competitive hardware and B) most upgrades over the last few years have been minor.

That could change with the new Mac Pro models, whenever they debut, and at least the iMac will get a bump later this year.

Nathaniel Mott
Freelance News & Features Writer

Nathaniel Mott is a freelance news and features writer for Tom's Hardware US, covering breaking news, security, and the silliest aspects of the tech industry.

  • falchard
    They went with Intel so they can charge an additional $500 Apple Tax.
    Reply
  • CelicaGT
    I don't think Pro means what Apple thinks it does. Whatever new hardware they come up with better be in touch with what folks in that field actually need, not that electronic codpiece pictured. Pro doesn't mean fancy, or even high end. Professionals need tools that are cost effective, perform exceptionally well at the task they were designed for, and reliable. These days "Pro" is just a marketing buzzword, Apple would do well to keep that particular department out of the design process if they want to salvage what little "Pro" market share they have left.

    Disclaimer: Despite owning one Mac I have no horse in this race, just tired of seeing this form over function crap being vomited all over the market. Just got a papercut from my phone ffs.
    Reply
  • ajpaolello
    Honestly I just want them to go back to how they did the older Mac Pros. Allow for the ability to upgrade.
    Reply
  • IceMyth
    Apple in old days was like a welcoming company for their valuable customers, now a days Apple is like welcome bag of money (assuming ppl can still afford to buy their products anymore).

    Moreover, their changes to their products is minimal and you should be very carfull to what you pick because you can't upgrade it later on which makes me think 100kkkkk times before buy any new MackBook Pro.
    Reply
  • shpankey
    Laughable hardware for a ridiculous price
    Reply
  • NightLight
    who are the idiots that are still buying this?
    Reply
  • Tech_TTT
    This is a Joke ..

    I was expecting to see at least new Pascal cards (GTX 1080/1070/Quadros Options ) ... Apple what are you doing?
    Reply
  • captaincharisma
    coming soon from apple............... a trashcan that runs IOS
    Reply
  • bit_user
    Still, buying one of these updated models is made even more foolish by the fact that the company told journalists that another Mac Pro update will arrive.
    Huh? No, they said the next full update to the Mac Pro will be in 2018 or later.

    I think their mistake (besides going dual-GPU) was not to sell upgrade parts for the existing Pro. It is modular, even if it's not so user-friendly to upgrade. There are Apple stores practically everywhere (don't they have a repair section? I've only ever set foot in one, once... and quickly left), for those not comfortable doing the upgrade themselves. If they designed it right, they could've made the CPU and GPU boards upgradable. The CPU board could've connected to the rest of the box via PCIe 3.0 and power. The GPU boards could've done the same. Seriously, you don't even need a PCIe switch, for this. Just expose all x40 lanes of the CPU, and put everything else on the other side.

    I don't see myself buying a Mac Pro soon, if ever. In fact, I've never owned any sort of Apple product. But I don't hate them for building this thing. It's nice to see what you can accomplish, if you dispense with ATX legacy and start from a clean slate, with a big budget and a high MSRP.
    Reply
  • Tech_TTT
    19519455 said:
    Still, buying one of these updated models is made even more foolish by the fact that the company told journalists that another Mac Pro update will arrive.
    Huh? No, they said the next full update to the Mac Pro will be in 2018 or later.

    I think their mistake (besides going dual-GPU) was not to sell upgrade parts for the existing Pro. It is modular, even if it's not so user-friendly to upgrade. There are Apple stores practically everywhere (don't they have a repair section? I've only ever set foot in one, once... and quickly left), for those not comfortable doing the upgrade themselves. If they designed it right, they could've made the CPU and GPU boards upgradable. The CPU board could've connected to the rest of the box via PCIe 3.0 and power. The GPU boards could've done the same. Seriously, you don't even need a PCIe switch, for this. Just expose all x40 lanes of the CPU, and put everything else on the other side.

    I don't see myself buying a Mac Pro soon, if ever. In fact, I've never owned any sort of Apple product. But I don't hate them for building this thing. It's nice to see what you can accomplish, if you dispense with ATX legacy and start from a clean slate, with a big budget and a high MSRP.

    What do you mean by designing it right ? those 2 GPU use PCI lanes from the CPU ...

    With Notebook Grade GTX 1080/1070/Quadros around at the same Desktop level , Apple has no excuse not to replace those old AMD GPU with the new nvidia ones ...

    sometimes I feel they want to kill the Mac Pro market .... which is very SAD .

    I dont hate them for building this thing , I hate them because they never made new cards for 2 GPU generations.
    Reply