toggle

Apple outs 12-core Mac Pro

updated 08:50 am EDT, Tue July 27, 2010

 

Apple jumps to Xeon 5600 for new Mac Pro


Apple today launched its first update to the Mac Pro in a year and a half with a speed boost as well as a new display. The new pro workstation uses as much as two six-core, 2.93GHz Xeon 5600 chips for a total of 12 cores, or 50 percent more than the outgoing top-end model. They can Turbo Boost to 3.6GHz and have both lower memory lag and a larger 12MB of cache.

The systems now have a second Mini DisplayPort jack in addition to DVI and can output to two modern Cinema Displays without needing a second card. Apple's new Magic Trackpad is an option as an alternative to the Magic Mouse, and users can now opt for up to a 512GB SSD in each of the four drive bays. Graphics can scale up to a Radeon HD 5870.

To accommodate pro users worried about using wireless peripherals, Apple now has a $29 Battery Charger that comes with six rechargeables.

Pricing for the systems starts at $2,499 for a system with a single 2.8GHz quad-core Xeon, 3GB of RAM across three sticks, a 1GB Radeon HD 5770, a 1TB hard drive, an 18X Superdrive, built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and a wired keyboard to go along with the Magic Mouse. A higher-end $3,499 model uses two 2.4GHz quad-core Xeons, 6GB of memory and specs similar in other areas to the base version. The single-processor system can option up to a 3.33GHz quad-core chip, while the dual-processor version has the option of 2.66GHz and 2.93GHz six-core Xeons.

The systems should be available in August from the Apple Store.


By Electronista Staff

Post tools:

TAGS :  

Intel, computers, Radeon, Mac Pro, ATI, Xeon, Apple, Magic Trackpad

Related Articles

Recent Articles

toggle

Previous Comments

  1. rexray

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2002

    +1
    07/27, 08:59am | report spam | reply

    Not available until August

    As it states in the online Apple Store.


  1. acpryor

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2007

    +2
    07/27, 09:11am | report spam | (1 reply) | reply

    Big woop

    As a Mac Pro user, this update is a sleeper... not enough to upgrade... CPU and display updates are it really and at a premium. My wish list would be a an update in both of those areas as well as USB 3.0, a new case design perhaps, more ram, and yes, blu-ray support... One can dream...


  1. iphonerulez

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2008

    +6
    07/27, 09:12am | report spam | (2 replies) | reply

    Hey, it still looks the same...

    I few years back, the hot rumor was that the Mac Pro would get a new case. Now that Apple has the iPhone and iPad selling like hotcakes, it doesn't appear anyone cares about external changes for the Mac Pro. I'd sure like to have one, but it's well out of my price range and far beyond my everyday needs. That 12-core dual must be really something sweet to own.


    Comment buried. Show
  1. iphonerulez

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2008

    -16
    07/27, 09:18am | report spam | reply

    Hey, it still looks the same...

    I few years back, the hot rumor was that the Mac Pro would get a new case. Now that Apple has the iPhone and iPad selling like hotcakes, it doesn't appear anyone cares about external changes for the Mac Pro. I'd sure like to have one, but it's well out of my price range and far beyond my everyday needs. That 12-core dual must be really something sweet to own.


  1. rexray

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2002

    +3
    07/27, 09:24am | report spam | reply

    Surprised at no I/O changes

    Was hoping for FireWire 3200 and USB 3. I guess that is one reason for a Mac Pro: slots to put expansion cards into. You want these faster ports (or eSATA), put in a card for them.

    Apple might say that there are few peripherals supporting USB 3 and none supporting FW 1600/3200, but it is a chicken and egg thing. If Apple builds it (the ports), the peripheral makers will come (to market).

    Perhaps it is true that Apple is waiting for Intel Light Peak.


  1. testudo

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Aug 2001

    +3
    07/27, 10:32am | report spam | reply

    Re: Surprised at no I/O changes

    Was hoping for FireWire 3200 and USB 3. I guess that is one reason for a Mac Pro: slots to put expansion cards into. You want these faster ports (or eSATA), put in a card for them.

    Why would anyone expect FireWire 3200 is beyond me. Apple has shown no commitment to the FireWire interface, nor has been espousing or pushing any variant of FireWire to begin with. Apple seems to include it because not including it raised firestorms. But it isn't like they're doing anything to advance it.


  1. testudo

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Aug 2001

    +5
    07/27, 10:35am | report spam | reply

    Re: Dream on

    USB 3 -- at least a year or two away if ever. No mainstream support for USB 3 yet.

    OK, so when Apple includes technology for which there's no mainstream support, it's because they're forward thinking and raising the bar and all that. Like MiniDisplayPort (h***, what support had DisplayPort shown, let alone Apple's variation?).

    But when they don't, it's because there is no mainstream support?

    Isn't Apple supposed to be ahead of the curve on these things? Or are they so ahead of the curve they realize USB is dead? Which makes one wonder why they even bother including the ports.


  1. testudo

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Aug 2001

    0
    07/27, 10:38am | report spam | reply

    And, still

    Way too much money except for the serious pro.

    But that's OK. For only serious pros need any types of expansion, large drive capacities, or future technology protection...


  1. REZOLUTION

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2009

    +8
    07/27, 11:54am | report spam | reply

    NO reason to upgrade..AGAIN!

    I'm running 3 edit bays w/intel mac pro computers from 3 years ago and aside from a little speed boost the new systems don't excite me - at all. And I'm ready to buy....argh! A lame update! Argh Not again!!

    - no internal 6gb xfer...! Hello!? Why not?! the 3gb is (4) years old now!!!
    - no bluray...hey we USE IT! It's the ONLY HD option for consumer players on the planet right now so get with it Apple!!
    - Hey - they took a slot AWAY! - so...now I have to figure out which component to LOOSE on a new setup.hmm...the fiber card? the hd card? the eSata Card? one of them has to go!
    - no whimsical new tech?!? Nothing!?! Just a faster chip!

    and the top system is over 5k....yeoza!


  1. testudo

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Aug 2001

    +3
    07/27, 12:47pm | report spam | reply

    slots

    Hey - they took a slot AWAY! -

    What?? Good grief. The MacPro is like the tallest and largest and heaviest tower on the market, and they can't figure out how to put in decent expansion options...


Show More Comments
Login Here

Not a member of the MacNN forums? Register now for free.

Recently Commented Articles

Related Forum Posts

 
close
Photo
toggle

Network Headlines

toggle

Most Popular

Sponsor

Recent Reviews

MaxUpgrades MaxConnect for 2006-2008 Mac Pro

Nobody outside of Cupertino's privileged bunch knows the future of the Mac Pro line for sure. Despite Apple's reluctance to tell us wh ...

Brother HL-3170CDW LED Printer

We've mentioned before that we are far from a paperless society. For now, at least, there are tasks that require a piece of paper for ...

HTC One

It is hard to overstate just how critically important the HTC One is to the Taiwanese company’s fortunes. Despite its alarming decline ...

Sponsor

 
toggle

Popular News