June 12, 2023 – In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, Apple Inc. has once again captured the spotlight with its latest creation, the all-new Mac Pro. This powerhouse desktop computer, featuring the groundbreaking M2 chip developed in-house by Apple, heralds a new era of computing prowess. With an awe-inspiring 76-core GPU and a maximum unified memory capacity of 192GB, the Mac Pro delivers an unparalleled level of performance. Departing from its Intel-based predecessor, this innovative machine brings forth a unique set of features and limitations that cater to the demands of the modern user.
Apple’s relentless pursuit of optimization and innovation has led to some interesting design choices with the new Mac Pro. In a recent interview with Daring Fireball, John Turner, the head of Apple’s hardware engineering division, shed light on the company’s decision not to support expandable GPUs with Apple Silicon. Turner emphasized Apple’s commitment to a shared memory model and optimization, expressing concerns about the integration of additional GPUs while maintaining the utmost level of system efficiency. “It’s not the direction we want to take,” he explained, hinting at Apple’s unwavering dedication to a unified vision for their cutting-edge machines.
A departure from tradition, the new Mac Pro poses some limitations compared to its Intel-based counterpart. One such restriction lies in its non-upgradeable unified memory, which is soldered onto the M2 Ultra chip. Unlike the Intel-based Mac Pro, which boasted an astonishing maximum memory capacity of 1.5TB, the Apple chip-based Mac Pro maxes out at 192GB. While this may disappoint some power users seeking extensive memory configurations, it serves as a testament to Apple’s meticulous optimization and focus on delivering top-tier performance within a specific design framework.
Nevertheless, the advantages of the new Mac Pro and its unified architecture are undeniable. Apple claims that in real-world scenarios, such as video transcoding and 3D simulations, the new Mac Pro performs three times faster than its Intel-based predecessor. The remarkable speed and efficiency of the new Mac Pro are exemplified in Apple’s assertion that it can match the video processing capabilities of an Intel-based Mac Pro equipped with seven Afterburner cards. Moreover, the overall CPU performance of the base model of the new Mac Pro, priced at $6,999, surpasses the 28-core Intel-based Mac Pro while offering a more affordable starting price of $12,999.
Enthusiasts and professionals alike can now rejoice as the new Mac Pro is available for ordering, with its official release in stores scheduled for next Tuesday. For users who do not require PCI Express expansion slots, Apple presents an alternative in the form of the Mac Studio. The Mac Studio, featuring the M2 Ultra chip, offers a more budget-friendly option, with a price that is $3,000 lower than the Mac Pro.
In a market fueled by constant innovation and demanding user needs, Apple’s new Mac Pro stands as a testament to the company’s unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries and redefining the limits of desktop computing. With its groundbreaking performance and carefully crafted architecture, this technological marvel is set to inspire and empower creative professionals, unleashing their true potential in the digital realm.
