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davidflas · Apr 4, 2007, 08:41 AM

As an $1500 option, no other changes

SamGuy · Apr 4, 2007, 08:49 AM

I got online right at 7:30 and found this out. Posted it at MacLife Forums.. but couldn't remember my password here. had to reset it.. only to find that you've posted it.
I fail.

Oh well.

It's about time.

blicked · Apr 4, 2007, 08:49 AM

Wow.. Imagine that- It's priced as an option that only someone that really truly NEEDS the extra power could justify.

I for one am still feeling pretty damn happy with my mundane 4 Core 2.66Ghz Mac Pro. 8 )

mfbernstein · Apr 4, 2007, 08:55 AM

CTO, 3GHZ, starting at $4k. And Mac prices are officially back in the stratosphere. Ships in 3-5 days.

Big Mac · Apr 4, 2007, 09:00 AM

Strange update.

ajprice · Apr 4, 2007, 09:12 AM

Also new prices on the Cinema Displays. Odd though that the 8 core is an extra option above the 3GHz, I thought they might have moved up to 4 x 2.66GHz, 4 x 3.0GHz and 8 x 3.0GHz range and dropped the 2GHz, or done something else to the range.

arng1 · Apr 4, 2007, 09:22 AM

I thought Apple would hold off on this for a lttle longer and maybe change the look of the mac pro as well. Ive been reading alot of rumors that the pros were gonna get a redesign soon, guess only half was true. Cool upgrade though, my 2.66ghz quad will just have to do for now (sigh).....lol J/K, I love my MP

Eug · 09:37 AM

Yeah, I also would have thought they would have added a 2.66 GHz octo option. Mind you, if you're gonna go 8 then you may as well go for the top-of-the-line. 24 GHz!

It's lame that the Cinema Displays still don't have HDCP support. It's also odd they haven't added a Blu-ray or HD DVD option yet.

doublep · Apr 4, 2007, 09:34 AM

What shall it be called ? The Mactopus?

sahara · Apr 4, 2007, 09:34 AM

Well this is really lame. Here I am waiting so long for the refreshed Mac Pro line before I upgrade this old Quicksilver, only to find out I could have bought a 2.66ghz Mac Pro at any time.

SamGuy · Apr 4, 2007, 09:35 AM

24GHz?

imitchellg5 · Apr 4, 2007, 09:36 AM

I can't understand why you would get the 8 core Mac Pro when most programs can't even take advantage of 4 cores.

Eug · Apr 4, 2007, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by SamGuy

24GHz?

Doh. Yeah. I guess I fail basic math today.

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

I can't understand why you would get the 8 core Mac Pro when most programs can't even take advantage of 4 cores.

If you can't understand why you need 8 cores, then you don't need 8 cores.

Hint:

1) Some programs can take advantage of 8 cores.
2) Many people run more than one program at a time.

P.S. A recent H.264 video encode of mine took over 3 days on a dual-core Core 2 Duo iMac, maxing out both cores.
And I just do this for fun...

Chuckit · Apr 4, 2007, 09:54 AM

Man, I was hoping the octos would knock the quads down a bit in price. No such luck!

Simon · Apr 4, 2007, 10:05 AM

I'm surprised they're shipping it in 3-5 days although Intel hasn't launched the 3.0 GHz Clovertown yet.

There has been some talk about an alleged Xeon X5365 (the 3 GHz Clovertown), but if you search intel.com for that string you'll find nothing.

Aron Peterson · Apr 4, 2007, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by SamGuy

24GHz?

Real world performance maxing out all 8 cores will be equivalent to an hypothetical single core 11-14Ghz processor. That is not bad considering in 1999 Intel predicted a 10Ghz CPU in 2010.

Aron Peterson · Apr 4, 2007, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

I can't understand why you would get the 8 core Mac Pro when most programs can't even take advantage of 4 cores.

Most 3D, animation and compositing apps allow you to set how many threads are used for rendering. Lightwave offers 8 threaded rendering. modo offers 16 threads for wickedly fast high quality ray-tracing.

dpicardi · Apr 4, 2007, 10:35 AM

I'll add that I too am disappointed that there is no change in pricing for the older mac pros and am baffled that there isn't an octo option for the slower cores.

Eug · Apr 4, 2007, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by Simon

I'm surprised they're shipping it in 3-5 days although Intel hasn't launched the 3.0 GHz Clovertown yet.

Interesting, good point.

There has been some talk about an alleged Xeon X5365 (the 3 GHz Clovertown), but if you search intel.com for that string you'll find nothing.

The 3.0 GHz Clovertown was already publicly announced by Intel a while back, although I thought it was supposed to come later. I just checked the Dell website and I do not see it there either.

Cadaver · Apr 4, 2007, 10:42 AM

Jeepers...!

But, if you've got the bucks, I guess why not.

MarkLT1 · Apr 4, 2007, 10:46 AM

Sorry Apple, but I gotta give this one a big "Meh..."

Yeah, the 8 core setup is nice, but the entire rest of the line is starting to feel very dated, especially in terms of video cards (yay- I can choose from a totally anemic 7300GT which has no place in a high end machine, a year-old X1900 XT, or a year-old FX-4500).

Heck, even with the 8-core, you are still limited to 16GB of RAM. I can think of many cases where if I am fully utilizing 8 cores, 4GB of RAM per core would come in handy.

Two things are becoming apparent in my mind when it comes to apple:
1) Their focus is 99% on consumers- iPod, iPhone, iMac. High end workstations are definitely not a priority.
2) Hardware wise, if they keep playing the game like they did with Motorola (i.e.- tiny speed bumps every 12 months), they are going to have trouble justifying their hardware costs. On a desktop machine 2 things rule- processors and video cards. Offering year+ old video cards at the prices they want is just not good. I understand the issues involved with video cards on these machines, and that you cant just slap in a PC vid card, but c'mon Apple- you gotta start working with, nudging, pushing your vendors into helping out a bit. Get SLI working, offer an X1950XT or even (GASP) a NV 8800 line card, and if you are going to charge high end prices for your video cards, at least give us a high end card that is using recent technology.

I also understand that Apple has a business to run, and right now the iPod seems to be their bread and butter. But from a higher end user/consumer, it is just starting to feel a bit frustrating.

Sorry for the rant- just a bit frustrated: APPLE- are you listening? I WANT TO GIVE YOU MY MONEY. MAKE IT WORTH MY WHILE.

dantewaters · Apr 4, 2007, 11:00 AM

Yea the wait wasn't worth it (at least for me)

I seems it would be best to get a refurbished 2.66 with the ati 1900
rather than buying a brand new one, save some dollars.

Then later on in the year get a octo setup.
2 computers beat one any day.

Man they need to work on their high end setups.

G5man · Apr 4, 2007, 11:14 AM

They need to drop the price for 2.66 to around 2100 or so. Also add some graphics card updates, if they just have to work on mac specific drivers, might as well just offer those for extra to use any windows standard PCIe card and just get mac drivers. Then, we could all keep up to date with the PC world.

Besides, 8 cores can't be fully utilized by software yet in the gaming world.

Eug · Apr 4, 2007, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by G5man

Besides, 8 cores can't be fully utilized by software yet in the gaming world.

And your point is?

Simon · Apr 4, 2007, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Eug

The 3.0 GHz Clovertown was already publicly announced by Intel a while back

No, actually Intel has never mentioned the 3.0GHz Clovertown officially. Here's the search result for X5365 on intel.com. It returns nothing. Quite in contrast to a search for the existing X5355.

Here's Intel's official 5300 series web page. Not a single mention of a 3 GHz Clovertown.

There was however a DailyTech.com article about the X5365 three weeks ago. They claim it will be released July 2007.

Simon · 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by G5man

Besides, 8 cores can't be fully utilized by software yet in the gaming world.

So what? Who's more likely to spend $5k on a workstation: gamers or scientist computing people? The latter. And it's also the latter who know perfectly well what to do with 8 cores.

Eug · Apr 4, 2007, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by Simon

No, actually Intel has never mentioned the 3.0GHz Clovertown officially. Here's the search result for X5365 on intel.com. It returns nothing. Quite in contrast to a search for the existing X5355.

Here's Intel's official 5300 series web page. Not a single mention of a 3 GHz Clovertown.

There was however a DailyTech.com article about the X5365 three weeks ago. They claim it will be released July 2007.

I guess to be more accurate:

Intel did mention a 3 GHz Clovertown, but it wasn't a formal press release. It was during a conference call with analysts, back in Feb. Intel said they would release the 3 GHz part, but I don't think they gave an actual X53x5 name to it (back then), and it was only a verbal announcement.

BTW, I believe they said it was supposed to be a Q3 release, but I had thought they meant calendar Q3.

SamGuy · Apr 4, 2007, 11:48 AM

so lets get this straight. is apple Early or Late with 8 cores?

Simon · Apr 4, 2007, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by Eug

BTW, I believe they said it was supposed to be a Q3 release, but I had thought they meant calendar Q3.

Well either it's financial Q3 (but still no Intel press release yet) or Intel is indeed doing a July intro and is just giving Apple (their new buddy) a head start.

Simon · Apr 4, 2007, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by SamGuy

so lets get this straight. is apple Early or Late with 8 cores?

They are late with eight [now that sounds stupid!], but early with eight cores at 3 GHz. Currently the fastest eight core Clovertown you could buy is the 2.66 GHz X5355. Obviously Apple is using a Clovertown that Intel hasn't officially released yet.

schalliol · 01:20 PM

It appears to me that there is one small update to the other machines, the bottom drive is a 250GB unit.

Leonard · Apr 4, 2007, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

I can't understand why you would get the 8 core Mac Pro when most programs can't even take advantage of 4 cores.

It'll last the next 3 years as Intel increases the number of cores from 8 to 16 to xx... Let's face it, Intel is now in the CPU cores race. Software in the next year will be taking advantage of 4 or more cores.

I was also disappointed by this update. I expected at least a new higher-end graphics card. Man, the Mac graphics card market seems to be losing steam...

anthology123 · Apr 4, 2007, 12:19 PM

Why are people surprised? They did this before, make the highest margin on this, they are not going to give 8-cores away like most PC companies would. There will likely be a full line of 8 core Mac Pros when the new Tower design is announced. This may just be a kuldge to get 8 core in, there might be a new motherboard design in the works in tandem with a new Tower to make the 8 core line more modern and up to date.

chabig · Apr 4, 2007, 12:24 PM

Time for the obligatory Dell comparison:

Apple: $3997
Dell: $4695

Eug · Apr 4, 2007, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by chabig

Time for the obligatory Dell comparison:

Apple: $3997
Dell: $4695

Uh, specs?

mac128k-1984 · Apr 4, 2007, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by G5man

Besides, 8 cores can't be fully utilized by software yet in the gaming world.

Gaming world? Why would anyone want to buy a quad core machine to play games.

Aron Peterson · Apr 4, 2007, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by mac128k-1984

Gaming world? Why would anyone want to buy a quad core machine to play games.

The PS3 has seven cores and runs Yellow Dog Linux, Blu-ray movies and games

onlyone-jc · Apr 4, 2007, 03:07 PM

Is this a US-only release? I don't see them in the UK store...

mdc · Apr 4, 2007, 03:15 PM

For sake of conversation, what could you use today that would take advantage of 8 cores? What environment are people who buy 8 core machines using them in?

Video editing? Rendering?

Chuckit · Apr 4, 2007, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by Eug

Uh, specs?

I configured a Dell Precision Workstation 490 MiniTower with Vista. The only changes I made were getting rid of the monitor (since that doesn't come with a Mac Pro) and putting two quad Xeons in (though they don't seem to have the 3 GHz ones). That leaves the Dell with a smaller hard drive, but otherwise pretty much equivalent as far as I could see. The price? $4,972. An equivalent Mac Pro is $1000 cheaper.

CIA · Apr 4, 2007, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by mdc

For sake of conversation, what could you use today that would take advantage of 8 cores? What environment are people who buy 8 core machines using them in?

Video editing? Rendering?

Yes, Video editing, and rendering of Video. Also scientific apps.
I've complained about this is other threads, but the people who buy these machines need power. I agree that the video card issue is a little outlandish, but Apple has always had lackluster offering in that department. I think this is a solid update, I mean, they are ahead of everyone with this new CPU that isn't available to the general public yet, give them a little credit there.
I think the quiet introduction of this speaks volumes about what is coming down the pipeline.
New case, new motherboard, oct machines across the pro line, (with maybe one token quad at the low end). Then they will make a big splash. They will tout all these new features, and how Leopard will take advantage of them etc. I mean based on reports they could have release an 8 core machine late last year but they held out. At that time I think a 8 core machine would just have confused consumers.. 8 cores at 2.66 or 4 at 3.0? This update provides a clear Good, Better, Best line. The pimped machines always cost waaaaaay more then the stock ones. What did you expect?
When the full blown redesign of the mac pro happens, I'll expect the doors to blow off. This just a bump to a proven line of machines.

Doofy · Apr 4, 2007, 03:49 PM

Ahhh yes, the octo-core. One final hail mary before they go bankrupt.

Me buy. Soon. Sweet.

schalliol · Apr 4, 2007, 03:50 PM

So, why not call it an octo-core?

Buckaroo · Apr 4, 2007, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

I can't understand why you would get the 8 core Mac Pro when most programs can't even take advantage of 4 cores.

It's a Man thing. More power. We'll put a V8 in that thing one way or another. Har Har Har

Buckaroo · Apr 4, 2007, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by doublep

What shall it be called ? The Mactopus?

Originally Posted by schalliol

So, why not call it an octo-core?

I like the term V8 Power.

Dakar² · Apr 4, 2007, 03:57 PM

Whats the v stand for?

Doofy · Apr 4, 2007, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by Buckaroo

I like the term V8 Power.

That's settled then. The octo-core Mac Pro will henceforth be know as the "V8". Two banks of four cores. Makes sense.

onlyone-jc · Apr 4, 2007, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by schalliol

So, why not call it an octo-core?

I was thinking that, too. Although, Octa-Core, to be completely correct (octa meaning to have eight of something). It seems bad grammar to switch from the idom quad, to 8 or eight. It should either be quad and octa, or four and eight.

Anyway, I should be getting back to my work.

onlyone-jc.

onlyone-jc · Apr 4, 2007, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

Whats the v stand for?

It's the type of engine it is, a V-Engine. It comes from the way the pistons are aligned along the line-of-sight of the crank-shaft. It looks like a V, funnily enough! heh.

onlyone-jc.

Buckaroo · Apr 4, 2007, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

Whats the v stand for?

Have you ever watched Home Improvement? You know with Tim Taylor (Alen), always trying to beef up anything with wheels.

Tim put a V8 in the new Mac Pro.