Apple intros 3.2GHz Mac Pro
updated 09:30 am EST, Tue January 8, 2008
Mac Pro Jan 2008
Apple today introduced its first comprehensive update to the Mac Pro since August 2006. Using the 45-nanometer Penryn architecture that forms the foundation of the Xeon 5400 line, the new workstation clocks at up to 3.2GHz with a faster, 1,600MHz bus and as much as a 12MB Level 2 cache. Using 800MHz DDR2 FB-DIMM memory, the system can hold as much as 32GB of memory across eight slots and has 61 percent more memory bandwidth than the past model, according to Apple.
The new architecture brings twice the potential interface bandwidth through PCI Express 2.0 in two of its four PCI Express slots and provides a whole suite of new graphics options. Every system starts with a 256MB ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT but can be upgraded to faster NVIDIA options, such as the 512MB GeForce 8800 GT or a 1.5GB Quadro FX 5600. The latter includes a 3D stereo graphics port for pro modeling work. As before, each PCI Express slot is usable for video cards and can handle as many as eight displays across four adapters. The improvements make the Mac Pro useful in nearly any situation, according to the company.
""The new Mac Pro is the fastest Mac we've ever made," says Apple's senior VP of Worldwide Product Marketing, Philip Schiller.
Storage is also expanded with the new release. Buyers can now order the system with 1TB drives, amounting to a total 4TB of internal storage through the four drive bays; new for the first time is SAS storage, which lets buyers equip the system with 15,000RPM hard drives that can provide as much as 250MB/sec of throughput in RAID 5 -- an advantage for video editors and other disk-heavy applications, Apple says.
Each system also now ships with the new aluminum Apple keyboard and a Mighty Mouse; a wireless version of each is also available.
A standard configuration is raised in price to $2,799 but now offers two quad-core, 2.8GHz Xeon 5400 processors, marking the first time Apple has shipped an eight-core system as its default configuration. The stock system also ships with 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and a 16X SuperDrive. Bluetooth 2.0 is now also standard, according to the company. Build-to-order options include stepping down to a single quad-core 2.8GHz processor, 3GHz and 3.2GHz eight-core options, an 802.11n-capable Airport Extreme connection, and the Mac Pro RAID card for hardware management of multi-drive arrangements.
The new Mac Pro ships today and is available immediately through the online Apple Store.
video cards- old mac pros
01/08, 09:35am reply
Can we use the new video cards with last gen Mac Pros?
David Esrati
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 1999
Nice bump on base config
01/08, 09:39am reply
other than the 320GB HD. This may finally get me off my G5.
CeeDion
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2001
Electronista?
01/08, 09:53am reply
Why the h*** is this on Electronista? Surely a new Mac is the most appropriate kind of article to be on MacNN. Ah well, at least they didn't put it on Leftlane I guess.
njfuzzy
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2001
impressive but...
01/08, 09:54am reply
how about a less expensive (than MacPro) headless Mac or rather a sensibly priced upgraded Mac Mini. I can build from an XPS Shuttle chassis, a machine that totally trounces a Mini for the same price (yes I know it can't run OSX). Isn't it time Apple filled the gap between the MacPro's and the Mini's with a machine that doesn't include a soddingly overpriced LCD panel? Grrrrr....harumph and other expressions of frustration!!!
Feathers
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 1999
Higher Base Configuration
01/08, 09:54am reply
I think the most interesting news here is that they raised the price, and the relative spec, on the base model. I wonder if this is to make more room in the midrange-- could there even be a mini-tower coming?
njfuzzy
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Joined: Apr 2001
Apple Store down...
01/08, 09:58am reply
the store will be back shortly... more goodies to come today?
fritzw1957
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Joined: Nov 2004
njfuzzy - it's a gadget!
01/08, 10:11am reply
It's on both MacNN and Electronista right now, so my guess is that they feel it's important enough to be on both pages. Remember, there's some people who might never read MacNN.
Commodus
Mac Elite
Joined: Feb 2002
really?
01/08, 10:40am reply
"The new Mac Pro is the fastest Mac we've ever made," says Apple's senior VP of Worldwide Product Marketing, Philip Schiller."
I wonder if he says this every time they bump the speed on their towers. Why bother including such a "no duh" quote in this article?
misterdna
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
re: njfuzzy
01/08, 10:42am reply
I'm hoping you're being sarcastic, because I can't think of anyone who would just be reading electronista and care about a MacPro.
Other than that, this is a little surprising. I wasn't expecting it to be announced until the end of January. Not surprising is another hike in the default price. I guess the concept of making them cheaper would make them too attractive to their potential customer base.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Re: really
01/08, 10:46am reply
Actually, it's partly a lie. Technically it's the fastest macs they've released. The fastest mac they've ever made was the Powerbook G5s.
They were so fast they refused to release them, knowing that anyone who bought one would not need to buy another computer again for at least 10 years, thus cutting into to repeat sales.
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001