[tkmd]

I am pretty close to getting a Mac pro. I mean the positives for me outweigh any negatives. I live in a small place so I have always been a notebook kind of guy. But I do alot of video work (esp in H264) and the heat that builds up in my AL PB has already shortened (and later destroyed) my HD. Enter the Mac Pro. More room for heat dissipation (not to mention the 4 cores!). But I couldn't upgrade it. Well now the buzz word seems to be "teh CPU is not soldered on the MB!"

This is sheer joy because it opens the potential to upgrade in the future. But I'm worried that Apple will soon understand this and begin to solder it on. Do you think this is going to happen? Or does Intel have the say when it comes to the MB and CPU?

[Gossamer]

I think that when Apple designs a computer, they know what components they're using. Do you think someone will suddenly burst into Steve's office and say, "Holy crap, Steve! Did you realize we used socketable processors in the Mini, iMac, and Mac Pro???" And Steve will be like, "Holy crap, I totally didn't realize that, whip out your soldering iron and get started!!"

They know it. People have already put Core 2 Duos in Minis.

[Salty]

I think Apple looks at the mark up on the Mac Pro, and realizes that the people doing the part swapping are probably going to use all that now power to buy a new license for Final Cut Pro or Logic. I mean sure they'd love to bilk you for more cash but if they were set on the entirely proprietary part bit I'm sure they could force you to buy Apple hard drives, or Apple RAM. But they don't mind you upgrading the machines. The G4s were always upgraded the only diff was it was a bit more difficult. Besides you'll only be able to upgrade your processor for a couple years, it's not like in five years you're going to want to slap in a brand new Xeon.

[mduell]

I can't see why Apple would solder the chips on their high-end rig.

Actually, Intel doesn't even offer solderable Xeons; they're all LGA771.

[turtle777]

I'm sure Apple is mass-ordering soldering irons right NOW !
You heard here it first.

-t

[SirCastor]

I think I was reading Ars, they're looking at TPM as a 'protection route'

[tkmd]

If I could only scrape together the $. I have a stack of movies that I need to convert to h264.

[tkmd]

Originally Posted by SirCastor

I think I was reading Ars, they're looking at TPM as a 'protection route'

I knew it was only a matter of time till Pallidan or TPM was going to creep into the picture. Bastards. Personally, I thought it was going to seem first in iTunes - considering the disturbing general trend in indifference when looking at DRM.



Could you supply the link to that discussion?

[SirCastor]

I think you mean Palladium.

That said, having TPM on the MB to handle hardware is a pretty far cry (at the moment) from the big brother that we all expect to be coming with Trusted computing. All in all, when Trusted computing is finally on the scene, there will be solutions to get around it. There will always be solutions...

[mduell]

Originally Posted by SirCastor

I think I was reading Ars, they're looking at TPM as a 'protection route'

To keep you from booting OSX on a non-Apple logic board. I doubt they'll prevent you from upgrading the CPUs.

[Moderator]

nah...the percentage of people who actually will upgrade thier own processor is so small its irrelevant...and this allows Apple to bust out upgraded boxes with little effort.

[krillbee]

its cheaper for apple to make machines where the cpus are socketed not soldered.

that way if something goes wrong with the board or the cpu, only 1 has to be replaced not both.

i cant figure out why it is that on some of their machine it is soldered (isnt this how it is on their laptops and their imac?)

[mduell]

Originally Posted by krillbee

i cant figure out why it is that on some of their machine it is soldered (isnt this how it is on their laptops and their imac?)

The iMac (and mini) are socketed, not soldered. The laptops are soldered to reduce thickness (the solder packaging is lower profile than a socket and pin array).

[tkmd]

Interesting Mcduell never thought of it that way .

[mduell]

You realize that's like the third different way my name has been misspelled today?

If you want to see the actual savings in thickness, look on Intel's site for the thermal/mechnaical drive. More drawings and dimensions than you can shake a stick at.

[SirCastor]

Originally Posted by mduell

You realize that's like the third different way my name has been misspelled today?

If you want to see the actual savings in thickness, look on Intel's site for the thermal/mechnaical drive. More drawings and dimensions than you can shake a stick at.

Well Mt. Duel, it's bound to happen with the way people type around here...

[Tuoder]

I really think they they will continue to allow CPU upgrades. It is cheaper, for one thing. For another, The vast majority of people will never do it. Most of the people that will do it, will know what they are doing, and do so after their warranty has already expired. The remaining people who don't know what they are doing will either void their warranty doing, making Apple money, or do it after the warranty has expired, which still makes Apple money (when an Apple techie repairs it).The question that I would like to pose is this: Will Apple service a computer with an upgraded CPU? Will they service PPC CPU upgraded- machines? Given, it is a bit deifferent to upgrade your usual x86 whhen comparing to PPC.

[Obi Wan's Ghost]

You would be better of selling a Mac Pro to buy a new machine with new features than buying two dual core Xeons. Upgrading the CPU will increase the cost of ownership without bringing you the faster bigger HDs, more RAM, high definition support, ports, graphic cards, bundled software and up to date OS X that buying a new machine will bring.

[Gossamer]

Two 3.0GHz Dual-Core Woodcrest processors from NewEgg will run you about $1800. You can buy a Mac Pro from the Education store with Quad 2.0GHz/160GB HD/1 GB RAM for $1962. The cheapest Quad 3.0 configuration is about $2900.

[Jawbone54]

I've reported this to Apple. They said they're now aware of the problem and plan on paying tkmd with a new maxed-out Mac Pro.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

I've reported this to Apple.

I hope you used the "report abuse" button for this

-t

[Jawbone54]

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

I hope you used the "report abuse" button for this

-t