Sam Oliver
Citing multiple sources, Hardmac reported Tuesday that the partnership between Intel and Apple might allow for the new six-core processors to debut in Mac Pro desktop machines earlier than other hardware. If true, it wouldn't be unprecedented — the last two revisions of the Mac Pro line had the first crack at their respective chips.
"So, if Apple and Intel are still engaged in a tight partnership, Apple might have the exclusivity of such CPU (as for the Nehalem Xeon) for a couple of days or weeks," the report said. "So, if you are waiting for [a] new Mac Pro to change your current model or purchase your first Mac Pro, then get ready after the second-half of February, it should come within the next three weeks."
The report also speculates the new hardware will be based on Mac-edition Radeon HD 5870 graphics cards.
Reports of a Core i7-980X-based Mac Pro have lingered for months. The "Gulftown" architecture, 32nm processor has a clock speed of 3.33GHz and is expected to arrive on the open market in March. The chip is the first dual-docket, six-core processor from Intel.
The new 32 nanometer chips have 12MB of L3 cache, and six cores with 12 threads for each CPU. Apple usually doubles the processors in its high-end professional workstations, so it's possible the new Mac Pro system could have a total of 12 cores and 24 threads. The new hardware could be released sometime in the first quarter of 2010.
The last major refresh to the Mac Pro equipped it with its Nehalem Xeon processors, with a high-end eight-core Mac Pro offering two 2.26GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon 5500 chips. Earlier this month, Apple quietly upgraded that to a potential maximum 2.93GHz eight-core system.
Wesley Hilliard
Marko Zivkovic
Malcolm Owen
Amber Neely
207 Comments
A new DIX-CORE Mac Pro x 2 = 24 threads
Hard to imagine the outright speed of such a beast especially if anyone can afford to fill it with 64G of RAM.
I think my major hurdle will be the price, however, (drawing a fairly long bow here) maybe the iPad entry price is a portend of Apple's 2010 pricing? But I doubt it very much.
My Dual 2.5 G5 is starting to show its age in many ways but credit where it's due - its never missed a beat. You gotta luv them Apples
I know it's been asked thousand times before, but dear Apple – please stop insist only using the Xeon processors from Intel!
Why don't give us a desktop Mac that use the same processors from Intel that can be put in more affordable PCs.
A little more hardware options doesn't mean your product range gets muddled, right?
I know – ain't gonna happen.
Sounds good with that ATI card though.
The report also speculates the new hardware will be based on Mac-edition Radeon HD 5870 graphics cards.
If this is accurate, then Apple will be on the ball this time around. 5850 for the bottom end and 5870 for the top end would be a great line up.
I know it's been asked thousand times before, but dear Apple ? please stop insist only using the Xeon processors from Intel!
Why don't give us a desktop Mac that use the same processors from Intel that can be put in more affordable PCs.
A little more hardware options doesn't mean your product range gets muddled, right?
I know ? ain't gonna happen.
Sounds good with that ATI card though.
The Xeons don't cost any more than their corresponding i7 equivalents. However, only the 3XXX series (single socket) have i7 equivalents. For dual socket processors Apple needs to take advantage of the pricier 5XXX series; there's not other option from Intel.
Really looking forward to this new machine, as well as a 64-bit version of Luxology Modo for the Mac.