Workstation with a unique design
Let us recall that the debut of the first computer called Mac Pro, which replaced the PowerMac G5 workstation, took place in August 2006. At the time, it was truly a revolutionary step forward, as it was Apple's first workstation with an Intel processor. In fact, the first Mac Pro marked the end of the era of computers based on PowerPC processors and the beginning of a new era of Apple workstations based on x86 processors.
Despite the radically different “filling,” the 2006 Mac Pro was not much different in appearance from the PowerMac G5. It was made in a recognizable case, one glance at which was quite enough to identify it with 100% probability as the brainchild of Apple. However, despite the original and unique design, the 2006 Mac Pro case, like the PowerMac G5 case, was classic, made according to all the canons of desktop PC cases.
As for the concept of use and purpose of the Mac Pro, like the previous PowerMac G5, it was not just a personal desktop computer, but a workstation aimed at users professionally involved in processing photos, videos and music content.
Naturally, with the update of the Intel processor line, the Mac Pro configuration was also updated - since 2006, several generations of these workstations have been released. However, the design of the case remained unchanged. And in June 2013, a new version of the Mac Pro was announced, which differs from all previous generations not only and not so much in hardware configuration, but in a completely different design. It is this new Mac Pro 2013 model that we will talk about in detail in this article.
Design
So, let's start with the main thing: with the revolutionary design of the Mac Pro 2013. If you try to pick up epithets that would be appropriate in this case, then these are: creative, extravagant, provocative, unusual, glamorous, stylish. Moreover, in this case there is no bias or exaggeration on our part. The design of this computer is truly very unusual and challenges all the canons that have remained unshakable for decades. Instead of a traditional box with rectangular walls (parallelepiped), Apple engineers created a cylindrical body, vaguely reminiscent of an aircraft turbine engine. The new cylindrical case is very compact: its diameter is 167 mm and its height is only 251 mm. Well, the weight of the new Mac Pro is approximately 5 kg (the exact value depends on the configuration).
With such dimensions, the computer will not take up much space on the table, and placing such a “beauty” under the table is simply blasphemy. Without any exaggeration, we can say that the appearance of the Mac Pro 2013 will make it a decoration for any interior.
But most importantly, in such a compact size, the Mac Pro 2013 performs better than the previous generation Mac Pro. That is, the compactness of the new workstation is not achieved at the expense of reduced productivity. However, we’ll talk about performance and configuration a little later, but for now let’s get back to the design.
The outer cylindrical casing of the case is made of aluminum, it is dark brown, close to black, and the coating is glossy, almost mirror-like. The casing has a decent thickness (they clearly didn’t skimp on metal) and, in addition to a purely decorative function, also serves as a radiator and air duct. It is the mirror-glossy cylindrical casing that gives the Mac Pro 2013 such an extravagant appearance. There is a certain degree of glamor in this appearance, although we are talking about a professional workstation - however, Apple has its own ideas about whether professional equipment should be beautiful.
There is a rectangular hole in the housing casing that provides access to various interface ports, the power button and the power connector.
If we talk about interface connectors, their number cannot but rejoice. There is an HDMI 1.4 connector, two RJ-45 Gigabit network ports, six Thunderbolt 2 ports, four USB 3.0 connectors, and two mini-jack connectors (one for headphones with headset support, and the second for a combined optical digital and analog audio line-out ).
It would seem that it is not very logical to place the interface connectors and the power connector next to the power button, since if the computer is turned with the interface panel towards the user (so that the power button is accessible), then the power cable, as well as all interface cables, will protrude forward, which is not very convenient . But in practice this is not a problem: the interface panel should be exactly facing away from the user, and if you need to turn on the computer or connect something (for example, the same flash drive), then, given the dimensions and weight of the Mac Pro 2013, this is very easy to do . It can always be easily rotated, and the built-in motion sensor will immediately detect that the case is being rotated or moved, and the backlight of all connectors and the power button will automatically turn on.
Naturally, one of the most intriguing questions is how it was possible to cram the “stuffing” of a workstation into such a compact cylindrical case, and also ensure sufficient cooling. Looking ahead, we note that the Mac Pro 2013 is based on an Intel Xeon E5 server processor and two professional AMD FirePro graphics cards! How all this can be placed in a small cylindrical body is beyond comprehension. It is clear that the traditional design of a motherboard, perpendicular to which video cards are installed, is simply impossible in this case.
To understand what the trick is, just remove the cylindrical housing casing (fortunately, this is very easy to do). To do this, simply move the corresponding slider-type latch to the “open” position and simply lift the casing.
With the cover removed, it becomes clear what the secret of the Mac Pro 2013 is. It uses not the traditional orthogonal arrangement of boards, but a “triangular” one: two video cards and part of the motherboard, along with a 450 W power supply, are located along the edges of a regular triangular prism. Another part of the system board is located at the base of the entire structure.
The non-standard arrangement of the board and video cards allows not only to create a very compact computer, but also to solve the cooling problem: to cool all components in the Mac Pro 2013 case, only one fan with a large number of blades is used. This fan is located at the top, and there are ventilation holes at the bottom, at the base of the cylindrical body. The fan sucks in cold air from below and blows it through a cylindrical housing, which acts as an air duct.
Moreover, in the center of the entire structure there is a prismatic-type radiator (open at the top and bottom) with vertically arranged fins. Each of the three side edges of this heatsink is a heat removal platform for the heat-generating elements of the Mac Pro 2013. Thus, one edge is in contact with the elements of the motherboard (Intel Xeon E5 processor and other components), and two more remove heat from the AMD FirePro video card chips.
It is clear that such an unusual arrangement of components in the Mac Pro 2013 case would simply not be possible if conventional graphics cards and a standard motherboard were used. Of course, in this case, all components are proprietary, they are designed specifically for Mac Pro 2013 and are compatible only with Mac Pro 2013 and nothing else. By the way, this is also a kind of guarantee that the design of this case will not be copied by other manufacturers, since not everyone can afford to produce (or order) cases, motherboards, and video cards specifically for only one computer model.
Well, finishing the description of the design of the Mac Pro 2013, we note that even after removing the cylindrical casing, you can only access the memory modules (a total of four of them can be installed). But everything else remains inaccessible to the user. You can, of course, unscrew the screws and try further disassembly, however, firstly, you will lose the warranty, and secondly, this will still not give anything, since it’s easy to change anything in the Mac Pro 2013 outside the service center impossible.
Configuration
Well, now let's get acquainted with the configurations of the Mac Pro 2013 workstation.
So, let's start with the fact that all Mac Pro 2013 models are equipped with 22-nanometer Intel Xeon E5 processors (codenamed Ivy Bridge-E) and two professional AMD FirePro graphics cards, each of which is connected via a PCI Express 3.0 x16 interface. There are two basic versions of the 2013 Mac Pro, as well as various modifications to these basic versions. Taken together, we get a fairly large number of possible models.
| Characteristics | Mac Pro 2013 |
| CPU | Intel Xeon E5-1620 v2 (4 cores) Intel Xeon E5-1650 v2 (6 cores) Intel Xeon E5-1680 v2 (8 cores) Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2 (12 cores) |
| Chipset | Intel C602J |
| Memory | DDR3-1866 (12, 16, 32 or 64 GB) |
| Video card | 2 × AMD FirePro D300 2 × AMD FirePro D500 2 × AMD FirePro D700 |
| Storage device | 1 × SSD 256 GB 1 × SSD 512 GB 1 × SSD 1 TB |
| Interfaces | 4 × USB 3.0 6 × Thunderbolt 2 2 × RG-45 (1 Gbit/s) 1 x HDMI 1.4 |
| Wireless interfaces | AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Price | from 124,990 rub. for minimal configuration up to 413,270 rub. for maximum configuration |
The younger version has a quad-core processor with a clock frequency of 3.7 GHz, and the older version has a six-core processor with a clock frequency of 3.5 GHz. Optionally (at an additional cost), the Mac Pro 2013 workstation can also be equipped with an 8-core processor or a 12-core processor. The parameters of these models are shown in the table:
| Characteristics | Intel Xeon E5-1620 v2 | Intel Xeon E5-1650 v2 | Intel Xeon E5-1680 v2 | Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2 |
| Those. process | 22 nm | |||
| Number of cores/threads | 4/8 | 6/12 | 8/16 | 12/24 |
| Clock frequency, GHz | 3,7 | 3,5 | 3,0 | 2,7 |
| Maximum frequency in Turbo Boost mode, GHz | 3,9 | 3,9 | 3,9 | 3,5 |
| L3 cache, MB | 10 | 12 | 25 | 30 |
| TDP, W | 130 | |||
| Number of memory channels | 4 | |||
| Memory type | DDR3-800/1066/1333/1600/1866, ECC | |||
| Number of PCI Express 3.0 lanes | 40 | |||
All 2013 Mac Pro models use DDR3-1866 ECC (Error Correction Correction) memory. The junior basic model is equipped with three modules with a capacity of 4 GB (12 GB in total). The older basic model of Mac Pro 2013 is already equipped with four modules with a capacity of 4 GB (16 GB). Depending on the number of installed memory modules, either a three-channel (for three modules) or a four-channel (for four modules) operating mode is implemented. In addition, you can optionally order the Mac Pro 2013 with 32 GB (four 8 GB modules) or 64 GB of memory (four 16 GB modules).
As for video cards, as already noted, all Mac Pro 2013 models are equipped with two AMD FirePro family video cards. These could be AMD FirePro D300, D500 or D700 models. Note that, except in Mac Pro 2013, these video card models are not used anywhere else (at least for now). However, according to what we have, the AMD FirePro D300, D500 and D700 models are slightly simplified versions of the models. Similar to the range of processor and memory options, the low-end base model of the Mac Pro 2013 comes with two professional AMD FirePro D300 graphics cards, the higher-end base model of the Mac Pro 2013 comes with two professional AMD FirePro D500 graphics cards, and an optional configuration with two AMD FirePro D700 graphics cards is available. The parameters of these models are shown in the table:
| Characteristics | AMD FirePro D300 | AMD FirePro D500 | AMD FirePro D700 |
| Number of stream processors | 1280 | 1526 | 2048 |
| GPU frequency (base/boost), MHz | 800/850 | 650/725 | 650/850 |
| Texture blocks | 80 | 96 | 128 |
| ROP | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Video memory type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Video memory capacity, GB | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Memory bus width, bits | 256 | 384 | 384 |
| Memory bandwidth, GB/s | 160 | 240 | 264 |
| Memory frequency (effective), MHz | 5080 | 5080 | 5480 |
As for the drive, both base configurations come with a 256 GB SSD, but you can optionally order a configuration with a 512 GB or 1 TB SSD. Moreover, the Mac Pro 2013 installs SSD drives with a PCI Express 2.0 x4 interface, which provides higher throughput (up to 2 GB/s) compared to traditional SATA 6 Gb/s.
As we have already noted, Mac Pro 2013 is replete with various interfaces. These include 4 USB 3.0 ports, 6 Thunderbolt 2 ports, two gigabit network ports, and an HDMI 1.4 port. Well, plus there is one combined minijack audio output (optical digital and analogue) and one audio output for headphones with headset support.
Gigabit network interfaces are implemented on the basis of two Broadcom BCM57762 controllers, and a Fresco Logic FL1100 controller is used to implement USB 3.0 ports.
Controllers are used to implement Thunderbolt 2 ports. Each such controller is connected to four PCI Express 2.0 lines and allows for the implementation of two Thunderbolt 2 ports. It is clear that to implement 6 ports, three Intel DSL5520 controllers and 12 PCI Express 2.0 lines will be required. Naturally, the question arises: where do these 12 PCI Express 2.0 lanes come from? Indeed, the Intel C602J chipset itself supports only 8 PCI Express 2.0 lanes, and all of these lines are occupied: four are used to connect an SSD drive, another two are used to connect two gigabit network controllers, one is to connect a USB 3.0 controller, and the last line is used to connect a wireless communication module. Only 8 PCI Express 3.0 lines from the processor remain unused (in total, the processor supports 40 PCI Express 3.0 lines, of which 32 are occupied by video cards), and it is these 8 lines that are used to obtain 12 PCI Express 2.0 lines - for this, a PCI Express PEX line switch is used 8723 companies. Unfortunately, there is no information on this switch on the company’s website, however, most likely, its characteristics are very similar to a 6-port switch (24 PCI Express lanes). Apparently, the PEX 8723 uses an 8-lane PCI Express 3.0 connection (input port) and distributes their bandwidth across three ports of 4 PCI Express 3.0 lanes. It is to these ports that Thunderbolt 2 controllers are connected. The Thunderbolt 2 port provides up to 20 Gbps throughput to each external device, and each Thunderbolt 2 port can daisy chain connect up to three monitors with 4K resolution or up to six Apple Thunderbolt Display monitors with a resolution of 2560 ×1440 pixels. In addition, these same ports allow you to connect external storage systems, which solves the problem (if any) of insufficient capacity of the installed SSD drive.
The HDMI 1.4 port can also connect a monitor or TV with resolutions up to 4K.
In addition to two gigabit network interfaces, the Mac Pro 2013 also has a Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac wireless module and a Bluetooth 4.0 module, which is usually used to connect an Apple Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. The wireless communication module is implemented on the basis of a three-antenna controller. This controller provides theoretical data rates of up to 1.3 Gbps for the 802.11ac protocol. Well, the Bluetooth 4.0 interface is implemented on the chip.
Note that the Mac Pro 2013 also has a speaker of quite acceptable quality. Of course, it’s not suitable for professional audio work, but it certainly won’t be superfluous.
Well, in conclusion of the description of the Mac Pro 2013 configuration, we note that all models have the OS X Mavericks 10.9 operating system installed.
In addition, optionally upon purchase you can order the installation of software such as Final Cut Pro X, Logic Pro X and Aperture.
Our 2013 Mac Pro review unit had a 12-core Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2 processor, two AMD FirePro D700 graphics cards, 32 GB of DDR3-1866 memory and a 512 GB SSD, which is almost the maximum possible (even for the additional money) configuration.
Performance
Naturally, it makes sense to measure the performance of a Mac Pro 2013 workstation only under OS X. Still, this is a workstation, not a user’s computer, and installing Windows on such a computer that costs several thousand dollars looks at least illogical. Such workstations are purchased for very specific applications that must be optimized for it, that is, at a minimum they must be able to use two professional video cards and all processor cores (in our version - all 12 cores). This is why we consider it absolutely pointless and incorrect to test the Mac Pro 2013 in games or other Windows applications. Testing a workstation makes sense only with the use of those tasks for which this workstation is oriented.
It should, however, be noted that there are simply no specialized benchmarks for workstations under OS X (as, by the way, under Windows), and in general there is no variety of benchmarks for OS X. There are several synthetic benchmark applications, but it seems to us that the popularity of these benchmarks is explained not so much by their adequacy as by the absence of any others. Well, paying tribute to tradition, we will also use these synthetic benchmarks (fortunately there are very few of them), however, we note once again that their adequacy, especially in relation to a 12-core processor, is questionable.
So, let's start with the most popular benchmark (current version 3.0). On the website of the manufacturer of this test you can find results for various platforms.
In our case, for the 64-bit Geekbench 3 benchmark, we got the following result:
The next benchmark is . Again, on the manufacturer's website you can find test results for various platforms.
For our test Mac Pro 2013 with a 12-core Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2 processor, we got the following result in the NovaBench 1.1 test:
Another cross-platform benchmark is . In this test we got the following results:
Moreover, in this case, you need to take into account that the Cinebench R15 test cannot use two GPUs, and, as you know, there is no support for AMD CrossFire technology in OS X. That is why the result in OpenGL is not very high, and the adequacy of the test in this case is questionable.
Well, the last test is Blackmagic Disk Speed Test 2.2, which evaluates the performance of the disk subsystem. The results for a PCI Express x4 SSD are impressive:
Of course, testing using synthetic benchmarks is not as revealing as testing based on real applications. Therefore, it seems to us that it is much more interesting to test the new Mac Pro 2013 in real applications. Naturally, the question arises: which applications make sense to use? Actually, there are not many options in this case. Considering that the Mac Pro 2013 is first and foremost a workstation, it would make sense to use a video editor for this. The latest version of this video editor 10.1.1 is specially optimized for Mac Pro 2013 and can use its full potential (in particular, use two video cards simultaneously).
There are several other specialized applications that are also optimized for the Mac Pro 2013, including Motion 5.1, Foundry's Mari 3D graphics tool, and Blackmagic Design's DaVinci Resolve color grading tool. In addition, Adobe is also in its latest versions of products.
To test the Mac Pro 2013, we used Final Cut Pro X 10.1.1, which came pre-installed on our review unit (remember, the Mac Pro 2013 can be ordered with Final Cut Pro X pre-installed). During testing, we turned off Background Render and created a project of 13 videos at 4K resolution with a total volume of 9.2 GB.
In our case, the project was rendered in 52 seconds, and exported in 3 minutes 47 seconds. Naturally, these results in themselves do not mean anything - they only make sense when compared with the results of running the same tasks on some other PC. As such a reference system used for comparison, we chose the iMac 27 (simply because at the time of testing we had nothing else) with the following configuration:
For the reference system, render time was 3 minutes 24 seconds, and export time was 5 minutes 30 seconds. That means our Mac Pro 2013 test unit renders 3.9 times faster than the iMac 27, and exports are 1.45 times faster. This superiority is apparently due to the fact that when rendering in Mac Pro 2013, two graphics cards are used simultaneously. But export is carried out mainly at the expense of the processor, and, apparently, the program simply cannot load all 12 cores in this case, and therefore the superiority of the Mac Pro 2013 during export is not so obvious.
Of course, the testing of rendering and export speed in Final Cut Pro X 10.1.1 does not allow us to fully appreciate all the advantages of the new Mac Pro workstation. Therefore, in order to complete the picture, we also present the test results obtained by Apple itself for the Final Cut Pro X application:
Here, the new Mac Pro with 12-core Intel Xeon E5 processor (2.7 GHz), dual AMD FirePro D700 graphics cards, 64 GB DDR3 memory and 1 TB SSD storage is compared with the previous generation Mac Pro equipped with a 12-core processor Intel Xeon with a clock speed of 3.06 GHz, one ATI Radeon HD 5870 graphics card, 64 GB of DDR3 memory and a 512 GB SSD drive. As you can see, the advantage of the new Mac Pro is obvious.
Noise level
In addition to being very compact, the new Mac Pro 2013 is also very quiet. As we have already noted, only one fan is used to cool all components inside the cylindrical case. It would seem that this single fan must make crazy noise in order to cool such power. But... nothing like that. According to the manufacturer, the noise level of the Mac Pro 2013 in idle mode is 12 dBA, and in load mode it is about 18 dBA. Such figures are hard to believe, especially considering that 18 dBA is a noise level that an ordinary person simply cannot hear. But here you need to understand that the noise level is not an absolute value, it radically depends on the distance to the source, and Apple’s data is almost certainly correct - the only question is from what distance. And the main thing is how to translate these numbers into a language understandable to potential owners.
That's why we took our own sound level measurement of the Mac Pro 2013. The measurement was carried out in a special sound-absorbing chamber, and the sensitive microphone of the sound level meter was located at a height of 50 cm vertically above the workstation case. According to our measurements, the noise level in idle mode is 25 dBA - this is such a low noise level that it merges with the level of the natural background, and it is simply impossible to “hear” the Mac Pro 2013 in this mode. We also note that the Mac Pro 2013's idle power consumption is 51 watts.
To create the load, we rendered the project in Final Cut Pro X 10.1.1. In this mode, the power consumption of the Mac Pro 2013 increased to 340 W, but the noise level was only 28 dBA. We simply couldn't load the Mac Pro 2013 so that it could be heard.
Thus, today the Mac Pro 2013 is not only a productive, compact and stylish workstation. This is also the quietest computer, which in terms of noise level can give odds to any ultrabook. True, there is one pitfall here (well, you need to at least find fault with something!). Let's imagine a hypothetical situation that the fan has failed for some reason. Then you simply will not be able to diagnose the problem that has arisen - and it is fraught with overheating and death.
conclusions
So, in conclusion, we will repeat the main conclusions that can be drawn regarding the new Mac Pro workstation.
The design of the Mac Pro 2013 can rightfully be called unique and revolutionary. Unique because the 2013 Mac Pro workstation is unlike any computer that has ever existed. Revolutionary - because such a design requires a change in traditional approaches to the arrangement of all components. Of course, there is a downside to such a revolutionary design. Firstly, it requires the use of proprietary components, and secondly, the Mac Pro 2013 cannot be even partially disassembled, and it is simply impossible to do anything with it outside of a service center. And how justified this approach is for a professional workstation is a rather controversial issue.
The undoubted advantage of the new Mac Pro is the fact that this powerful workstation is very quiet. Moreover, it seems to us that today this is the quietest computer ever created (with active cooling).
And, of course, one of the main advantages of the new Mac Pro is its high performance. However, speaking of performance, we once again emphasize that you can realize the full potential of the Mac Pro 2013 only if you use applications that are optimized for this workstation, such as Final Cut Pro X 10.1.1. Don't forget that the Mac Pro 2013 is a workstation designed to perform tasks such as professional video editing, photo processing, etc.
The 2013 Mac Pro workstation certainly deserves our editorial award for its original design.
OS: Mavericks 10.9.1
Processor: Intel Xeon E5-1680, 8 cores, 3 GHz
Video: 2xAMD FirePro D700, 6 GB
Memory: 4x16 GB, DDR3, 1866 MHz
Disk: SSD 512 GB
Connectors: HDMI, 4xUSB 3.0, 6xThunderbolt 2, 2xRJ-45, 3.5 mm, microphone
Connections: Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0
Dimensions: 251 x 167 mm, 5 kg
Price: 325,670 rubles
Design
It is difficult to be indifferent to a system unit that takes up no more space on the table than a room air ionizer or a large flower vase. Apple has always loved compact things; just remember the ultra-thin iMac, shown at the end of 2012, or the Mac mini.
Nevertheless, the shape of the new computer's case gave rise to a lot of jokes, with everything it was compared to: from a simple trash can to Darth Vader's helmet.
The body is made of aluminum, and the design is collapsible. If you remove the shell, you can estimate the thickness of the structure. In photos, the Mac Pro looks black, but in real life a lot depends on the lighting. In some conditions it appears dark gray or even purple. The color scheme is interesting and unusual, but easily soiled. However, if you once place the device on a table, it is unlikely that anyone will move it regularly; after all, this is not a mobile solution. Although, with a weight of only 5 kg, you can take it with you, but this is rather in the realm of fantasy.
While most Apple devices have a clearly visible texture and leave no doubt that it is aluminum, the Mac Pro stands out from the lineup. It is completely smooth, the assembly, of course, is impeccable.
The model can easily claim to be a work of art, which is not so common in the world of computers.
The engineers managed to combine beauty, small size, and a lot of components in one case, which allow this model to become the most powerful and productive Mac Pro ever since the existence of this series.
It’s not surprising that a small Apple computer will stand on the table - it’s just nice to look at, you don’t want to hide it somewhere below. At the same time it will be convenient to get to the connectors. They, like in the iMac, are placed on the rear surface, where they are arranged in orderly rows.
Moreover, Apple proposed a very effective idea, adding backlighting to the back surface.
Therefore, if you have to work in the dark, you won’t have to worry about searching for the right port blindly. Of course, you can always turn on a light or a lamp, a flashlight on your phone, but such a small design move looks very impressive.
Performance
The latest Mac Pro can have 4, 6, 8 or 12 cores. Moreover, it is worth noting that while all new MacBooks and iMacs work with fourth-generation Intel Haswell chips, earlier Intel developments are offered for this model, so the solution is based on Ivy Bridge. Basic solutions offer Intel Xeon E5 with 4 or 6 cores, and then the increase in system performance depends on customer requirements. Moreover, as the number of cores increases, the operating frequency of the processor decreases.
Any version of Mac Pro comes with two graphics cards. Unlike other Apple models, this computer received AMD graphics, a Pitcairn or Tahiti processor: FirePro D300, D500 or D700 with 2, 3 or 6 GB of memory, respectively. For data storage, an SSD of 256, 512 or 1 TB is used. Together with SATA, a PCIe connection is used, which provides very high data transfer speeds.
DDR3 RAM operates at 1866 MHz, the number of sticks varies, so you can get from 16 to 64 GB of memory in such a compact case. Apple's upgrade policy has not changed for many years; in this case, you can only manually change the RAM.
Upgrading the processor is more complicated, but you can get there if you want. Considering that even PC enthusiasm has been rapidly declining in recent years and hardly anyone in their right mind would risk buying a toy from Apple for 130 thousand rubles in the basic configuration for future upgrades, then the race for parrots can be left to the world of Windows benchmarks. For a workstation, which is exactly what the Mac Pro is, selected hardware and optimized software will be the key to stable and fast operation for years to come.
Getting to the insides of the Mac Pro is very easy. You need to release the mount using the lever located next to the interface connectors, after which you can remove the housing. This is perhaps the most convenient of all Mac computers in terms of access to the hardware. From here you can see video card boards, an SSD in the PCIe slot, as well as four bays for RAM, which is easy to replace yourself if necessary. The SSD is mounted on one of the video cards, so theoretically, if you install a second one of the same kind, you could double the disk space. However, nothing is known about the serial capabilities of such an upgrade. If you wish, you can get to the processor; the LGA 2011 socket is used. But it’s worth remembering. that to do this you will have to disassemble the Mac Pro for parts.
The two cards are not optimized to work in all applications. Therefore, it will not always be possible to unlock the potential of the Mac Pro. At least for today. However, one of the main tools for those involved in video processing, namely the Final Cut Pro 10.1 application, is adapted to work with a pair of video cards. In our case, we use a tandem of two D700s, the most powerful graphics solution for the Mac Pro today, and also one of the best on the market.
Does a small and very powerful computer need to be hot? Apple showed, using the Mac Pro as an example, that this is not the case. On the contrary, a very compact system unit heats up only under extremely high loads, but even in such conditions the only fan behaves very well. No roar or hum, the system works very quietly.
The fan blows air upward, which can be easily felt if you pass your palm over the surface.
The sound is not forgotten either; the Mac Pro has a built-in speaker for reproducing system sounds. Professionals will probably connect a high-quality audio system to work with music, and in other work scenarios they will use ordinary wired headphones.
When it comes to the process of working with the Mac Pro, if you compare the sensations with other Apple devices of the latest generations, be it iMac or MacBook Pro in powerful modifications, it is very difficult to feel a critical difference. Even in tests the differences are small, not to mention routine user tasks. But when it comes to working with video, this is where the Mac Pro shows itself in all its glory.
4K content promises to become the main trend in the coming years, so the demand for equipment designed for fast processing of high-quality data will be very high among professionals.
And one of the key products in the video industry - Final Cut Pro 10 - allows you to unleash the potential of the Mac Pro, using both graphics cores.
But if you don’t plan to work with huge video arrays, then the performance of a top-end MacBook Pro or iMac will be sufficient for the masses of people. Moreover, the former will be very mobile, and the latter will cost significantly less than the Mac Pro. Still, in this case you won’t have to pay extra for the monitor. We connected the most powerful system unit from Apple to a 4K monitor, we are talking about a recently tested model. Slowdown was observed on a number of test videos. Apparently, the issue of software optimization is still relevant. The same can be said about OS Mavericks, when working with photos in RAW or JPEG through the Finder was accompanied by noticeable twitching, which is well known to owners of much less powerful Apple computers. So you have to put up with the fact that even when buying such an expensive device with powerful hardware, you can observe poorly optimized interface operation, which is limited by software flaws.
Connections
All connectors are arranged in two columns and located at the back; a hole has been thoughtfully created in the case, in which you can see the plastic part on which all the connectors are located. The Mac Pro has 6 Thunderbolt 2 connectors, which is more than any other Apple device. Designed to work with video, the device allows you to simultaneously display images on 3 4K monitors with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels! Or, as an option, use 6 displays with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. There are still few accessories and devices with such connectors, but there is also universal HDMI. True, there is only one of him.
Yours truly has always been a fan of tower Macs, starting with the PowerMac G5. Once upon a time, I almost even bought myself a Mac Pro version 2009 based on Intel Nehalem, but I regretted the money (and then they asked for 2.5 thousand dollars for it in the basic version, and in America). I liked the Apple desktop for the same reasons that people generally buy classic desktops: a powerful processor, the ability to install and change gaming video cards, a capacious 3.5-inch hard drive. Only Mac Pro, unlike others, could officially boot Mac OS X, which for the author of this article is the main working environment. At the same time, I could switch to Windows to play. Alas, at the moment when opportunity coincided with desire, I finally abandoned the Mac Pro and eventually switched to a laptop as my main and only work machine.
And the Mac Pro itself became less and less attractive every year as a high-performance desktop computer. In fact, in two iterations in 2010 and 2012, which followed the first version based on the Nehalem architecture, the Mac Pro was already relevant only as a workstation for professional applications. Judge for yourself: in 2009, Intel introduced quad-core Lynnfield chips and the LGA1156 platform. Lynnfield brings Nehalem's single-threaded performance improvements to mainstream desktops, and four cores are more than enough for home (read: gaming) use, and plenty for many professional uses. Thus, basic Mac Pro models with quad-core Bloomfield or Gulftown chips became a dubious purchase. Apple itself offered an excellent alternative in the form of the iMac with a 27-inch display. One must think that a significant part of the professional audience engaged in graphic design, layout and similar activities that require high performance and high-quality image output, approaching the next cycle of hardware changes from the first Mac Pro of 2006 or even the PowerMac G5, were satisfied with quad-core iMacs, forgetting about the Mac Pro.
The update to the 2012 Mac Pro line came down to updating the list of available processors for the LGA1366 platform. Meanwhile, in other respects, the Mac Pro architecture has clearly lagged behind progress - primarily in communications. The Intel X58 chipset lacks USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gb/s host controllers, which Apple did not bother to compensate for with separate chips. The 2012 Mac Pro also did not receive support for the Thunderbolt bus, due to which it lost compatibility with Apple’s Thunderbolt Display. The video adapter options available for selection in the Apple Store were limited to the clearly outdated Radeon HD 5770 and HD 5870. In fact, the only advantage of the Mac Pro over “consumer” desktop Macs (among which even the Mac mini already acquired a quad-core CPU) was the ability to increase the number of cores up to twelve. In general, the manufacturer’s inattention to the Mac Pro and the long update cycle against the backdrop of the rapid development of Apple mobile devices already made me wonder if the Mac Pro had become a new candidate for relegation after the Xserve rack server? This would be a logical move on the part of a company whose CEO once verbally buried the classic PC.
Apple's image is already so closely associated with gadgets that the presentation of a completely redesigned Mac Pro at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2013 was a huge surprise. Meanwhile, Mac is not just about logos on sleek laptops lighting up tables at Starbucks. Apple has a strong share in the professional market among audiovisual content producers: design and layout, photo processing, video editing, music recording and mixing. It's not uncommon for developers to choose to code and compile software on Macs. Part of the loyalty to Apple among this audience is due to historical reasons. Once upon a time, a certain critical program was only available for Mac OS; since then, a lot of software and equipment compatible with Macs have accumulated, and work habits and skills have been developed. As a result, despite the fact that Windows workstations have no less capabilities than the Mac Pro, there remains a demand for machines running OS X with more powerful hardware than existing consumer Macs.
That's why Apple has finally given the Mac Pro its due attention. And this is not just an overdue update of the weak components of the old workstation, but a fresh start. In fact, the most radical change in the image and design of the desktop Mac in its entire history. Metamorphoses represented by the all-in-one iMac and Mac mini are still different classes of devices that involve compromises in terms of expansion and performance compared to a desktop tower. Mac Pro, on the contrary, has completely changed and at the same time retained the main advantages of a classic workstation.
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The review almost coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Mac. The first Macintosh was released in January 1984.
The 2013 Mac Pro is powered by a new and powerful hardware platform, but the first thing you'll notice is its design and construction. There have long been rumors that Apple is going to replace the ten-year-old case (if you take into account the PowerMac G5) with something more compact. It would not be surprising to see a computer in a form factor close to Micro-ITX - something like the previous generation Mac Pro truncated in height. The cylindrical body is what no one expected. In contrast, Jon Ive consistently steered Apple products towards strict rectangular shapes. Experiments with rounded surfaces (including the legendary iMac - the “Jobs lamp”) are far behind us. But here it is in front of us - the new Mac Pro, looking like the R2-D2 robot in a stylish imperial version.
In the past, the Mac Pro missed out on the Sandy Bridge-E architecture, sticking around the Westmere stage and the LGA1366 platform. The new Mac Pro, making up for lost time, is equipped with Ivy Bridge-E chips under LGA 2011. Regular readers of 3DNews should understand why Apple did not choose the latest Haswell chips, which have already been implemented in the MacBook and iMac. For some time now, the top Intel platform, be it Core i7 desktop processors for enthusiasts or Xeon for servers and workstations (this is our case), has been one tick-tock swing of the Intel pendulum behind the mainstream platform, which also includes the corresponding Core and Xeon . Unlike Haswell for the LGA1150 socket, Ivy Bridge-E chips for LGA 2011 can contain more than four cores and have 40 PCI-E 3.0 lanes coming from the “system agent” inside the CPU.
Apple can equip your Mac Pro with your choice of processors ranging from four to 12 cores. Now all the cores are concentrated in one chip, which allowed the manufacturer to get rid of the second processor socket. Theoretically, this leads to increased competition for the bandwidth of a single four-channel RAM controller in configurations with a large number of cores, but in practice it is unlikely that there will be a task for which this particular circumstance will become a bottleneck. In the end, DDR3 SDRAM strips with a frequency of 1866 MHz are installed here.
| Xeon E5-1620 v2 | Xeon E5-1650 v2 | Xeon E5-1680 v2 | Xeon E5-2697 v2 | |
| Cores/threads | 4/8 | 6/12 | 8/16 | 12/24 |
| Base clock frequency, GHz | 3,7 | 3,5 | 3 | 2,7 |
| Max. Turbo frequency, GHz | 3,9 | 3,9 | 3,9 | 3,5 |
| L3 cache, MB | 10 | 12 | 25 | 30 |
| TDP, W | 130 | 130 | 130 | 130 |
| - | +$500 | +$2 000 | +$3 500 |
All four processors are quite high in the hierarchy of Ivy Bridge-E chips. The extreme models - with four and twelve cores - have the highest frequency in their categories. Among the six- and eight-core processors, the Xeon E5-1650 v2 and Xeon E5-1680 v2 are the second and third from the top, respectively. Thus, this time Apple has removed the opportunity to take a more powerful processor(s) compared to the basic configurations, while maintaining the original number of cores. You just need to decide on the last parameter.
Then, with deft hands, you can replace the CPU yourself, saving a good amount of money along the way. Apple charges $3,500 to upgrade the base quad-core configuration to the 12-core Xeon E5-2697 v2, while individually it costs $2,499 (US prices).
Regardless of the model, the processor is limited to a TDP of 130 W. Consequently, the base frequency with each addition of cores takes a step down from 3.7 GHz for the quad-core Xeon E5-1620 v2 to 2.7 GHz for the twelve-core Xeon E5-2697 v2. However, it cannot be said that the choice between the number of cores and the clock speed is always a compromise in favor of one parameter. Thanks to a combination of Turbo Boost and Power Gating technologies, a processor with a large number of cores under a low-threaded or single-threaded load can reach frequencies comparable to those of a less “wide” chip: power is removed from useless cores, and active ones, on the contrary, are overclocked.
Thus, under certain conditions, you can simultaneously get the best of both worlds: high single-threaded performance and spare cores for well-paralleled applications. From the CPU specifications proposed by Apple, it follows that the three lower variants converge on one maximum Turbo frequency of 3.9 GHz, while the peak frequency for the twelve-core Xeon is 3.5 GHz. Obviously, these data refer to a strictly one-to-two-threaded (including Hyper-Therading) load. Neither Intel nor Apple disclose information about how processors behave with a further increase in the number of active cores up to twelve.
⇡ GPU
Twelve cores aren't what's surprising about the new Mac Pro. Previous versions of the machine could offer the same amount, albeit at the expense of two physical processors. This time, Apple has focused on the component that has been the go-to component for Mac Pro budgets in recent years - the GPU. In fact, any version of the updated Mac Pro is equipped with two graphics processors from AMD, which can be Pitcairn or Tahiti chips. As much as we'd love to see an AMD Hawaii option, these GPUs appear to have been late to make it into the Mac Pro's development process in time, and are unlikely to fit within the heat and power constraints.
The Mac Pro is the only Mac in the 2013 lineup to feature an AMD GPU. Why Apple prefers NVIDIA GPUs in iMac and MacBook is clear: higher performance per unit of power compared to competitors from AMD. It would seem that this is an important parameter for the Mac Pro, but the choice in favor of AMD stems from the very tasks for which Apple relied on the GPU in the configuration of the new Mac Pro. For an OS X workstation, 3D rendering is not particularly important. The majority of people who are Mac growers by profession work with 2D content. This is where a GPU can have a huge impact on performance just as a compute accelerator, and in this area AMD's position has never been stronger. NVIDIA deliberately sacrificed the speed of Kepler family chips in GPGPU applications by eliminating dynamic schedulers from the architecture.
| Video adapter options for Mac Pro | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| AMD FirePro D300 | AMD FirePro D500 | AMD FirePro D700 | |
| GPU | Pitcairn | Tahiti LE | Tahiti XT |
| Number of transistors, million | 2800 | 4313 | 4313 |
| Technical process, nm | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| GPU clock frequency, MHz: High State / Boost State | 800/850 | 650/725 | 650/850 |
| Stream processors | 1280 | 1536 | 2048 |
| Texture blocks | 80 | 96 | 128 |
| ROP | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Video memory: type, volume, MB | GDDR5 SDRAM, 2048 | GDDR5 SDRAM, 3072 | GDDR5 SDRAM, 6144 |
| Memory clock frequency: real (effective), MHz | 1270 (5080) | 1270 (5080) | 1370 (5480) |
| Memory bus width, bits | 256 | 384 | 384 |
| TDP, W | ND | ND | ND |
| Upgrade price for the basic version (in the Apple Store) | - | +$400 | +$1 000 |
So, GPU - three options under the AMD FirePro brand: D300, D500, D700. You won't find these models on the AMD website; they are exclusive to the Mac Pro. The D300 is built on the Pitcairn chip and is thus an analogue of the Radeon HD 7870, only with lower frequencies. The D500 carries the Tahiti GPU, which is more reduced both in frequency and in the number of computational units than the Radeon HD 7950. The D700, on the contrary, is similar in operating frequencies to the Radeon HD 7950, but has a fully unlocked core, like the HD 7970 (R9 280X). The latter option is also equipped with 6 GB of memory per card.
Graphics cards are the only major component of the Mac Pro that you can't change yourself, although many would love to have that option. CPU performance per thread has been growing at a modest pace in recent years, so when buying a workstation, you only need to decide in advance on the number of cores, but GPUs gain a significant advantage with each change in process technology.
Technically, there is nothing stopping you from opening a GPU upgrade service in the future (at least this is not a problem in the US, where there is a developed Apple Store) or even selling kits for self-installation. But both of them bear little resemblance to Apple. On the other hand, the do-it-yourself upgrade market for past Mac Pros isn't thriving. Personally, I was impressed by the tower Mac Pro precisely because of the ability to get OS X in one machine and at the same time a gaming platform for Windows with the ability to install more and more powerful video cards. But apparently this is not a typical request for the Mac Pro's core audience. Judging by advertisements at online auctions and flea markets, most Mac Pros end their life cycle with the same CPU and GPU configuration as they were purchased. In general, an obsession with self-upgrades is a gaming trait. The majority of users simply change the entire car every few years. Especially when it comes to digital arts professionals: just think, new hardware a year after buying a Mac Pro applies a filter in Photoshop 20% faster, or rendering a video takes several minutes faster. There is no reason to run to the store. Especially if the computer was not purchased by you, but by the publishing house where you work. Overall, the Mac Pro upgrade limitation simply perpetuates the prevailing model for using such workstations today. There is nothing to regret here.
In terms of hardware characteristics, the Mac Pro is perfectly equipped, but not everything is so smooth on the software side. Two powerful GPUs are something new for OS X, and years of neglect of the Mac platform in terms of game and 3D app developers means that Apple still has a lot of work left to do to fully utilize all that power. First, OS X lacks system-level CrossFire support. By default, 3D rendering and non-graphics computing functions are assigned separately to one of the GPUs, and non-graphical computing functions to the second. If a game or graphics editor developer wants to share the load between two video cards, he will have to take care of this himself. The same goes for calculations.
It looks like Apple is in a chicken and egg situation here. Well, this isn't the first time Apple has decided to lead the change. The computing capabilities of the Mac Pro should open the way for developers, and as a starting point, Apple introduced its flagship software product - Final Cut Pro, which in version 10.1 learned to fully utilize both GPUs.
Final Cut Pro and test videos were already on the SSD given to us for testing the Mac Pro. I admit, I have never done video editing, so it was not entirely clear what in this case should be regarded as a heavy load and under what conditions it is considered normal for the application to slow down. But here's a fact: it's perfectly possible to edit 4K video in real time on a Mac Pro. No stuttering occurs when many effects are applied to the video or when recording a scene from 16 angles, also in 4K, is simultaneously displayed on the screen. This fully utilizes all eight CPU cores, but the main source of performance is the GPUs. An SSD with a native PCI-E interface also came in handy.
In a Windows environment, the pair of FirePro D700 installed in our test unit behaves exactly the same as a pair of Radeon HD 7970 or HD 7990. The graphics driver included with Boot Camp already includes CrossFire support, but for maximum performance it is recommended to download the package Catalyst from AMD website.
⇡ Thunderbolt 2, 4K displays
The second main advantage of the LGA2011 platform after the number of cores is the greater number of PCI-E 3.0 system agent lanes compared to processors in the LGA1155 and LGA1150 designs. Ivy Bridge-E has 40 lanes, 16 of which in the case of the Mac Pro are dedicated to FirePro cards. The remaining eight lines are actually routed outside the computer through six Thunderbolt 2 ports.
In fact, the Thunderbolt topology here is a little more complicated. Each pair of ports is connected to one controller, which, on the other hand, requires the connection of four PCI-E 2.0 lines. As a result, twelve PCI-E 2.0 lanes are required, which in terms of total throughput covers the eight remaining free PCI-E 3.0 lines of the system agent; all that remains is to add the PCI-E PEX 8723 switch from PLX Technology.
The Mac Pro is one of the first products to support Thunderbolt 2 (via the Intel DSL5520 controller - formerly Falcon Ridge). The new interface is fully backward compatible with Thunderbolt version 1 and has the same throughput of 20 Gbps in each direction. Let us recall that the Thunderbolt bus consists of four 10 Gbit/s channels - two in the outgoing direction and two in the incoming direction. Previously, for an individual device included in a chain, the bandwidth of only one channel in each direction was available. In the second version, Thunderbolt learned to combine channels (channel bonding), due to which the device can occupy the entire bandwidth. However, it will not be possible to pass more than 16 Gbps through the cable, even theoretically, since this is the limit of four PCI-E 2.0 lanes connected to a single Thunderbolt 2 controller. The total throughput of Thunderbolt 2 ports is thus 48 GB/s.
In practice, among all peripherals connected via Thunderbolt, such performance is relevant not so much for some RAID arrays, but for 4K monitors. A picture with a resolution of 3840x2160 in 24-bit color at 60 Hz produces a stream of 11.1 Gbps, even without taking into account the additional traffic costs for encapsulation in the DisplayPort and Thunderbolt protocols and parity control. Thanks to channel bonding, Thunderbolt 2 has gained sufficient single-device bandwidth to support DisplayPort 1.2 certification and support 4K at 60 Hz. The Intel DSL5520 controller has also learned to output a DisplayPort 1.2 signal directly for displays that do not support Thunderbolt.
A total of six displays with a resolution of 2560x1440 can be connected to the Mac Pro via Thunderbolt/DisplayPort ports. An alternative maximum configuration is three 3840x2160 displays at 60 Hz via Thunderbolt/DisplayPort plus another at 30 Hz via HDMI. However, with 4K everything is not so simple, especially in OS X. Now all such monitors on the market are “tiled”. That is, the two halves of the matrix are presented in the system as separate displays that need to be combined into an entire virtual desktop. On Windows, this is done manually by AMD Eyefinity. OS X contains a database of settings for various monitors. Our ASUS PQ321QE was identified without problems, but with other models you may not be so lucky. In this case, the problem cannot be solved using standard means.
⇡ SSD
The solid-state drive in the Mac Pro is reminiscent of the proprietary form factor that Apple uses in the latest generation MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with Retina Display on Intel Haswell. The same Samsung S4LN053X01-8030 controller with a native PCI-Express interface, Samsung MLC Flash memory chips. Surely the SSDs in these devices are interchangeable. The SSD uses four PCI-E 2.0 lanes from the Intel C602J PCH chipset, which provides sufficient bandwidth reserve - 2 GB/s. The SSD itself, according to the specifications, can produce up to 1.2 GB/s for reading and 1 GB/s for writing.
The SSD connector is provided by one of the FirePro boards. Therefore, nothing prevents in the future from equipping the Mac Pro with two solid-state drives with a total capacity of up to 2 TB. But for now, three options are available: 256, 512 and 1024 GB. 256 GB is installed by default in the Mac Pro, the last two options require an additional payment of $300 and $800, respectively.
⇡ Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB 3.0
The Mac Pro uses two Broadcom BCM57762 network PHY chips, not Intel as you might expect. Each uses a separate PCI-E 2.0 bus, which is quite enough to operate at rated speed. The Broadcom BCM4360 wireless transceiver is connected in the same way - three-stream, with support for 256-QAM modulation, which brings the theoretical throughput of the interface at the physical level to 1.3 Gbit/s. In reality, of course, there will be different numbers, taking into account that a good part of the performance will be consumed by the TCP protocol and broadcast conditions. The fact is that Apple computers currently have the most powerful IEEE 802.11ac configuration among consumer devices. There is also a Bluetooth 4.0 interface implemented on the Broadcom BCM20702 chip.
The last free PCI-E 2.0 lane is used by the Fresco Logic FL1100 USB 3.0 controller. It is designed to connect any peripheral items. Connecting an array of high-performance SSDs to USB as a cheap alternative to Thunderbolt and using it without speed restrictions will not work here due to the PCI-E throughput: 4000 Mbit/s, while USB 3.0 allows up to 5 Gbit/s.
⇡ Overall technical specifications, scope of delivery, prices
Of course, the Mac Pro is an expensive proposition. Moreover, the new “proshka” is the most expensive in the entire history of the brand. In the base configuration with a quad-core CPU, FirePro D300, 12 GB RAM and a 256 GB SSD, the black cylinder costs $2,999 (US market). A fully upgraded version with 12 cores, FirePro D700, 64 GB RAM and 1 GB SSD will cost you $6,999. In Russia, the Mac Pro is also available for order at a price ranging from 124,990 rubles to the cost of a budget car - 417,270.
However, this is not a matter of any special greed from Apple. A ready-made HP or Lenovo workstation of comparable configuration costs no less. Of course, you can assemble the same hardware from individual components. The savings will be even greater if you use their gaming counterparts instead of FirePro graphics adapters. Be that as it may, if you need a powerful workstation, and it has to be a Mac, then you can't escape the Mac Pro.
As a consolation, I note that this time the Mac Pro has noticeably increased the cost of hardware compared to the previous generation. The basic configuration of the Mac Pro sold for $2,499 starting in 2009, and now for an additional $500 we get a top-end quad-core Xeon and two professional graphics cards instead of one gaming one. Well, and besides, there are pleasant bonuses in the form of Thunderbolt 2 and a luxurious compact design.
The Mac Pro package is perhaps the most minimalist in the entire line of modern Macs. The only inhabitant of the box, besides the computer itself, is the power cable.
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When I was asked to write about the Mac Pro, I initially declined. Not because Apple's new miracle computer is not interesting, not at all. It’s simply not very correct to evaluate professional tools if you yourself are not a professional of this kind. Roughly speaking, if a fifth-grade student at a music school is given a Stradivarius violin to practice, he is unlikely to be able to appreciate it and demonstrate all its advantages.
In response to the refusal, I heard that many thousands of people around the world were waiting for my assessment of the Mac Pro. Crude flattery is an effective tool of persuasion, and after a couple of days this perhaps the most unusual desktop computer in the world arrived at the PC World editorial office.
I already wrote a little about it in a report from the October Apple press conference, where the Mac Pro was first shown live, without a glass cover. Nowadays, when desktop computers are of little interest to anyone, Apple managed to attract serious attention to its brainchild, even against the backdrop of the new iPad and MacBook Pro. Of course, never before has such a powerful, I would even say, uncompromising computer been so compact and quiet. Moreover, the exterior is a match, having nothing in common with traditional system units.
But, as they say, there is a nuance. When we see Pro next to a MacBook, we understand that this is made up. In fact, such a full-length laptop can be used not only by a seasoned designer or video editor, but also by someone who likes to post photos of food and cats on social networks. The screen, speed, powerful battery, comfortable keyboard - all this is good for solving absolutely any problem. But the Mac Pro is truly designed for specialists working with complex 2D and 3D graphics, processing video with the highest resolution, recording multi-channel audio, etc. and so on. A cat lover may not notice any difference at all, for example, with a Mac mini. Which, with at least a five-fold difference in price, can cause conflicting emotions.
Official portrait
I'm just a Mac mini user. The older version of this wonderful little computer has been on my desk for about a year now and, despite the previous generation processor, it satisfies my home needs completely. Typing texts, processing RAW files from a Sony DSC-RX100 camera, and occasionally editing video in Full HD. And, of course, fierce, indomitable Internet surfing. There was an idea to replace the classic hard drive with an SSD, but after increasing the amount of RAM from 4 to 6 GB, the slight slowdowns disappeared completely, and I decided to just wait for the new version on Haswell.
And here is the Mac Pro. It is sold in a very compact box, which you can put in a branded bag and take home in your hands. Weight is about five kilograms, you won’t get too tired. Inside we are unexpectedly greeted by... pieces of foam plastic. They, of course, are quite elegant compared to their counterparts from boxes with TVs and monitors, but I personally have never come across foam plastic in Apple packaging before at all. Perhaps it would have been worth using a cork to come into contact with such an exquisite device, since the task of severe economy was clearly not an issue in this case. But - as it is. The box contains only the computer itself and the power cable. Everything else is offered to be purchased independently, based on your own needs and capabilities.
Six Thunderbolt connectors are, of course, very cool. But I personally would like more USB.
And you can buy a lot of things. Keyboard, mouse, trackpad - that's understandable. And it wouldn’t hurt to have a decent speaker system (with or without wires), a monitor (up to three standard ones with a resolution of up to 4K, or as many as six using the Thunderbolt interface), external drives (USB or Thunderbolt, as you see fit) and so on and so forth . By the way, if you, like me, have a newfangled monitor with a resolution higher than Full HD, you won’t need special expensive adapters to connect your Mac Pro to it, just a regular HDMI cable. Thanks to Apple for introducing HDMI 1.4 support.
I ordered the low-end Mac Pro to review, but even its specs are impressive. 4-core Intel Xeon E5 with a base frequency of 3.7 GHz (under load up to 3.9 GHz), 16 GB of RAM, two AMD FirePro D300 graphics cores with two gigabytes of GDDR5 VRAM on each (for those who don’t like big names, let me clarify – this is analogues of Radeon HD 7850). Only the SSD capacity (256 GB) hinted that this was a basic model. But, given the six Thunderbolt connectors, there is no problem connecting an external drive and using it at the same speed as a regular internal HDD or SSD. Let me emphasize - just ordinary, because the SSD in the Mac Pro is simply prohibitively fast, and something external cannot catch up with it. 900 megabytes of read and write is no joke.
With the cover removed, the Mac Pro looks almost more impressive than with it on. This is just some kind of orgasm of engineering. Everything is not only thought out to the smallest detail, but also simply beautiful.
Even the textolite of the memory modules is matching!
Or they could have installed regular Hynix, like everyone else.
If the capabilities of the listed hardware are not enough for you, but you still have plenty of money, Apple offers many interesting opportunities to spend it. First, pay attention to the second standard Mac Pro configuration with a 6-core Xeon E5 and two AMD FirePro D500 (3 GB of video memory per chip). Finally, for the most demanding and wealthy people, there is the opportunity to create their own configuration with a 12-core Xeon E5, 64 GB of RAM, a terabyte SSD and two AMD FirePro D700 with 6 GB of GDDR5 video memory on each. The dimensions of the computer will not change.
Impressive? Personally, it makes me shiver. Especially considering that the Mac Pro is practically silent in operation. It gets really hot under load, so I wouldn’t recommend putting chocolates on it. But it doesn't make noise. For those who work a lot (work, not just sit) at a computer, this is a very important argument in favor of the new Apple product. Because making a powerful system is not difficult, but making it behave unnoticed is a different task. And before there was an opinion that it was simply unsolvable in such compact dimensions. It also uses one large turbine-type propeller, which is installed on top and draws air through the entire body. This probably imposes certain obligations on cleaning the table and the room as a whole. Because extracting dust from a vacuum cleaner bag is much easier and cheaper than extracting it from the bowels of a Mac Pro. By the way, the system turns on with a sound reminiscent of the starting rattling of hard disk heads. It's a funny feeling.
Setting up a new Apple computer is traditionally simple - just connect to your home network and feed it a saved Time Machine image. After about an hour, the Mac Pro already had all the settings and applications from the Mac mini. I sat down at it and began to do my usual things, listening to the sensations. The sensations were silent. There was no difference at all with the Mac mini. More precisely, the presence of an SSD significantly reduced the loading time, and applications opened more quickly, but in general - exactly the same picture.
I launched Photoshop CC and began applying my favorite effects to the photos. And again I felt nothing. Everything was as fast as it was - and it remains so. The knowledgeable guys advised me to open something 40 megapixel and create twenty layers. Then, they say, you’ll get into it. But my design career ended 14 years ago and most likely will not resume. Therefore, I did not experiment with layers. But I have no doubt about the performance of the Mac Pro.
When processing video in Final Cut Pro X, not only the processor is used, but also the graphics cores. Therefore, it is impossible not to notice the acceleration here. It takes about four times less time to create a finished video than on a Mac mini with its mobile Core i7 and integrated Ivy Bridge graphics. But if in the case of Full HD we just have a pleasant acceleration of work, then when we switch to 4K resolution, the Mac Pro becomes the only truly effective working tool in the current Apple rack. In the end, the difference between 10 minutes and half an hour is good, but not critical. But when you have a choice between half an hour and two hours...
As for the advantages for editing high-quality sound, I confess that I don’t understand anything about this at all, and if so, I won’t even try to pretend to be an expert. But knowledgeable guys say it’s a smart thing.
What is my conclusion from my experience with the Mac Pro?
If you are a very wealthy person and the tasks you solve on your computer do not include continuous video editing in 4K, mixing albums of domestic first-tier pop stars and lifting their bust after photo shoots for glossy magazines, you should not buy a Mac Pro. If money is burning your pocket, buy an iPad, an iPhone, a couple of MacBook Pros, a Mac mini for each room in your country house, and a 27-inch iMac for your office. Seriously, it will make a lot more sense. Because the benefits of the Mac Pro cannot be felt in typical home-office applications. Even in games, it competes on equal terms with the new generation 27-inch iMac, especially if you don’t get greedy on the latter’s GPU (by the way, my Mac mini under study outperformed the new Tomb Raider seven times). To put it simply, installing a Mac Pro at home is as logical and convenient as cutting bread with a medical scalpel. Some will be impressed by your daring, but most will twirl their finger at their temple.
Mac Pro is a product for professionals. For those who shovel serious amounts of data every day, no matter what kind - graphic, multimedia or scientific. For them (more precisely, for those of them who feel comfortable in the OS X environment), this computer will be an extremely useful acquisition and, as a bonus, a solid decoration for their desktop. Considering that there are simply no analogues on the market (I'm talking about the combination of performance and form factor), the price does not look too high.
Any information in the tables below may be inaccurate. Use at your own risk.
The tables below indicate the processors for which the information was verified by users of the MACRUMORS.COM website
Information was also offered by: official Apple sources (BTO/CTO), third-party update guides and various commercial sites (such as Barefeats or OWC) or simply individuals who managed to successfully install a particular processor.
- There are probably many untested processors that work, but they are not listed.
- Also for processors in these tables the Memory Speed is indicated, this is important because in some cases, when choosing a CPU, the memory frequency also matters.
- Upgrading your processor to a higher TDP (thermal dissipation power) may increase temperatures and/or fan speeds under maximum load.
- Macs Fan Control is a fan control software that works perfectly with Mac fans because it is available for OS X and Windows (Boot Camp), unlike most Mac programs. If control is required only in Mac OS, then the TG Pro program will also be a good solution.
- Some processors that are sold on Ebay and other sites are engineering samples from Intel and are usually "beta" versions. These processors are provided by Intel for testing purposes and are NEVER FOR SALE. Such processors may work successfully in a Mac Pro, but they may not start at all.
Compatibility symbols:
Mac Pro 6.1
- 128GB maximum RAM capacity
| Architecture | Cores | Class | CPU | Frequency GHz | Turbo GHz | RAM MHz | TDP W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy Bridge | 12 | Dual Xeon | E5-2697 V2 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 1866 | 130 |
| Ivy Bridge | 12 | Dual Xeon | E5-2696 V2 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 1866 | 130 |
| Ivy Bridge | 12 | Dual Xeon | E5-2695 V2 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 1866 | 115 |
| Ivy Bridge | 10 | Dual Xeon | E5-2690 V2 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 1866 | 130 |
| Ivy Bridge | 10 | Dual Xeon | E5-2680 V2 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 1866 | 115 |
| Ivy Bridge | 8 | Dual Xeon | E5-2687W V2 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 1866 | 150 |
| Ivy Bridge | 8 | Dual Xeon | E5-2667 V2 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 1866 | 130 |
| Ivy Bridge | 8 | Dual Xeon | E5-2673 V2 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 1866 | 110 |
| Ivy Bridge | 8 | Dual Xeon | E5-1680 V2 | 3.0 | 3.9 | 1866 | 130 |
| Ivy Bridge | 6 | Dual Xeon | E5-1660 V2 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 1866 | 130 |
| Ivy Bridge | 6 | Dual Xeon | E5-1650 V2 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 1866 | 130 |
| Ivy Bridge | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5-1620 V2 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 1866 | 130 |
Mac Pro 5.1 and Mac Pro 4.1 and Mac Pro Xserve 3.1
Maximum RAM:
- 56 GB maximum on single-socket Xeon Mac Pros
- 64 GB maximum on dual-processor, single-processor Xeon Mac Pros
- 160 GB maximum on dual-processor Xeon Mac Pros
- 48GB maximum on single-socket Xeon Mac Pros
- 96GB maximum on dual-processor Xeon Mac Pro Xserve computers
| Architecture | Cores | Class | CPU | Frequency GHz | Turbo GHz | RAM MHz | TDP W | Mac Pro 4.1 | Mac Pro 5.1 | Mac Pro Xserve 3.1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westmere | 6 | Dual Xeon | X5690 | 3.46 | 3.73 | 1333 | 130 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 6 | Dual Xeon | X5680 | 3.33 | 3.60 | 1333 | 130 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 6 | Dual Xeon | X5679 | 3.20 | 3.60 | 1066 | 115 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 6 | Dual Xeon | X5675 | 3.06 | 3.46 | 1333 | 95 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 6 | Dual Xeon | X5670 | 2.93 | 3.33 | 1333 | 95 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 6 | Dual Xeon | X5660 | 2.80 | 3.20 | 1333 | 95 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 6 | Dual Xeon | X5650 | 2.66 | 3.06 | 1333 | 95 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 6 | Dual Xeon | E5659 | 2.53 | 2.80 | 1333 | 80 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 6 | Dual Xeon | E5645 | 2.40 | 2.67 | 1333 | 80 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 6 | Dual Xeon | L5639 | 2.13 | 2.67 | 1333 | 60 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 6 | Xeon | W3690 | 3.46 | 3.73 | 1333 | 130 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 6 | Xeon | W3680 | 3.33 | 3.60 | 1333 | 130 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 6 | Xeon | W3670 | 3.20 | 3.46 | 1066 | 130 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 6 | Consumer | i7 990X | 3.46 | 3.73 | 1066 | 130 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 6 | Consumer | i7 980X | 3.33 | 3.60 | 1066 | 130 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 6 | Consumer | i7 970 | 3.20 | 3.46 | 1066 | 130 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 4 | Dual Xeon | X5687 | 3.60 | 3.86 | 1333 | 130 | NO | NO | NO |
| Westmere | 4 | Dual Xeon | X5677 | 3.46 | 3.73 | 1333 | 130 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 4 | Dual Xeon | X5672 | 3.20 | 3.60 | 1333 | 95 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 4 | Dual Xeon | X5667 | 3.06 | 3.46 | 1333 | 95 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 4 | Dual Xeon | X5647 | 2.93 | 3.20 | 1066 | 130 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5640 | 2.66 | 2.93 | 1066 | 80 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5630 | 2.53 | 2.80 | 1066 | 80 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5620 | 2.40 | 2.66 | 1066 | 80 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Westmere | 2 | Dual Xeon | X5698 | 4.40 | 4.54 | 1333 | 130 | NO | NO | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Dual Xeon | W5590 | 3.33 | 3.60 | 1333 | 130 | YES | YES | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Dual Xeon | W5580 | 3.20 | 3.46 | 1333 | 130 | YES | YES | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Dual Xeon | X5570 | 2.93 | 3.33 | 1333 | 95 | YES | YES | YES |
| Nehalem | 4 | Dual Xeon | X5560 | 2.80 | 3.20 | 1333 | 95 | YES | YES | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Dual Xeon | X5550 | 2.66 | 3.06 | 1333 | 95 | YES | YES | YES |
| Nehalem | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5540 | 2.53 | 2.80 | 1066 | 80 | YES | YES | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5530 | 2.40 | 2.66 | 1066 | 80 | YES | YES | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5520 | 2.26 | 2.53 | 1066 | 80 | YES | YES | YES |
| Nehalem | 4 | Xeon | W3580 | 3.33 | 3.60 | 1333 | 130 | YES | YES | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Xeon | W3570 | 3.20 | 3.46 | 1333 | 130 | YES | YES | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Xeon | W3565 | 3.20 | 3.46 | 1066 | 130 | YES | YES | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Xeon | W3540 | 2.93 | 3.20 | 1066 | 130 | YES | YES | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Xeon | W3530 | 2.80 | 3.06 | 1066 | 130 | YES | YES | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Xeon | W3520 | 2.66 | 2.93 | 1066 | 130 | YES | YES | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Consumer | i7 975 | 3.33 | 3.60 | 1066 | 130 | YES | YES | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Consumer | i7 965 | 3.20 | 3.46 | 1066 | 130 | YES | YES | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Consumer | i7 960 | 3.20 | 3.46 | 1066 | 130 | YES | YES | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Consumer | i7 950 | 3.06 | 3.33 | 1066 | 130 | YES | YES | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Consumer | i7 940 | 2.93 | 3.20 | 1066 | 130 | YES | YES | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Consumer | i7 930 | 2.80 | 3.06 | 1066 | 130 | YES | YES | NO |
| Nehalem | 4 | Consumer | i7 920 | 2.66 | 2.93 | 1066 | 130 | YES | YES | NO |
Mac Pro 3.1 and Mac Pro Xserve 2.1
- 64 GB maximum RAM (supported but undocumented by Apple in Mac Pro 3.1)
- Mac Pro 3.1 is not compatible with all steppings. Processors with 5-digit SL codes (sSpec) starting with "SLB" WILL NOT WORK! If the SL (sSpec) code starts with "SLA" then it WORKS. The SL (sSpec) code is marked at the top of the processor and usually on the third line. Processors with SL codes (sSpec) listed in this table should work.
- On single-processor Mac Pro 3.1 computers, you can upgrade to a dual-processor model (the socket is soldered to the second processor). You need to purchase a second processor and a corresponding heatsink (you can purchase it on our website). Processors must match the SL code (sSpec), so either buy a second processor that matches the existing processor, or buy two identical processors.
| Architecture | Cores | Class | CPU | SL codes | Frequency GHz | RAM MHz | TDP W | Mac Pro 3.1 | Mac Pro Xserve 2.1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harpertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | X5482 | SLANZ | 3.2 | 800 | 150 | YES | NO |
| Harpertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | X5460 | SLANP | 3.16 | 667 | 120 | YES | NO |
| Harpertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5472 | SLANR | 3.0 | 800 | 80 | YES | YES |
| Harpertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | X5472 | SLASA | 3.0 | 800 | 120 | YES | NO |
| Harpertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | X5450 | SLASB | 3.0 | 667 | 120 | YES | NO |
| Harpertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5450 | SLANQ | 3.0 | 667 | 80 | YES | NO |
| Harpertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5440 | SLANS | 2.83 | 667 | 80 | YES | NO |
| Harpertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5462 | SLANT | 2.8 | 800 | 80 | YES | YES |
| Wolfdale | 2 | Dual Xeon | X5260 | SLANJ | 3.33 | 667 | 80 | YES | NO |
Mac Pro 2.1 and Mac Pro 1.1 and Mac Pro Xserve 1.1
- 32GB maximum RAM for Mac Pro 1.1 (increases to 64GB if flashed to version 2.1)
- 64GB max RAM for 2.1
- In order to use Clovertown processors properly, you must upgrade your Mac Pro 1.1 firmware to Mac Pro 2.1.
- Upgrading the firmware from Mac Pro 1.1 to Mac Pro 2.1 requires Snow Leopard (or later) operating system.
| Architecture | Cores | Class | CPU | SL codes | Stepping | GHz | RAM MHz | TDP W** | IDLE W** | Mac Pro 1.1 | Mac Pro 2.1 | Mac Pro Xserve 1.1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clovertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | X5365 | SLAC3 | B3 | 3.0 | 667 | 150 | 50 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Clovertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | X5365 | SLAED | G0 | 3.0 | 667 | 120 | 25 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Clovertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | X5355 | SLAC4 | B3 | 2.66 | 667 | 120 | 50 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Clovertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | X5355 | SL9YM | B3 | 2.66 | 667 | 120 | 50 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Clovertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | X5355 | SLAEG | G0 | 2.66 | 667 | 120 | 25 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Clovertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5345 | SL9YL | B3 | 2.33 | 667 | 80 | n/a | YES* | YES | YES |
| Clovertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5345 | SLAC5 | B3 | 2.33 | 667 | 80 | n/a | YES* | YES | YES |
| Clovertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5345 | SLAEJ | G0 | 2.33 | 667 | 80 | n/a | YES* | YES | YES |
| Clovertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5340 | SL9MY | n/a | 2.4 | 533 | 80 | 30 | YES* | YES | YES |
| Clovertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5340 | n/a | G0 | 2.4 | 667 | 80 | 25 | YES* | YES | YES |
| Clovertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | L5335 | SLAEN | G0 | 2.0 | 667 | 50 | 24 | YES* | YES | YES |
| Clovertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | L5320 | SLA4Q | B3 | 1.86 | 533 | 50 | 24 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Clovertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | L5320 | SLAC9 | B3 | 1.86 | 533 | 50 | 24 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Clovertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | L5320 | SLAEP | G0 | 1.86 | 533 | 50 | 24 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Clovertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5320 | SL9MV | B3 | 1.86 | 533 | 80 | 30 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Clovertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5320 | SLACB | B3 | 1.86 | 533 | 80 | 30 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Clovertown | 4 | Dual Xeon | E5320 | SLAEM | G0 | 1.86 | 533 | 80 | 30 | YES* | YES | NO |
| Woodcrest | 2 | Dual Xeon | 5160 | SL9RT | B2 | 3.0 | 667 | 80 | n/a | YES | YES | YES |
| Woodcrest | 2 | Dual Xeon | 5160 | SLABS | B2 | 3.0 | 667 | 80 | n/a | YES | YES | YES |
| Woodcrest | 2 | Dual Xeon | 5160 | SLAG9 | G0 | 3.0 | 667 | 65 | 8 | YES | YES | YES |
| Woodcrest | 2 | Dual Xeon | 5150 | SL9RU | B2 | 2.66 | 667 | 65 | 24 | YES | YES | YES |
| Woodcrest | 2 | Dual Xeon | 5150 | SLABM | B2 | 2.66 | 667 | 65 | 24 | YES | YES | YES |
| Woodcrest | 2 | Dual Xeon | 5150 | SLAGA | G0 | 2.66 | 667 | 65 | 8 | YES | YES | YES |
| Woodcrest | 2 | Dual Xeon | 5130 | SL9RX | B2 | 2.0 | 667 | 65 | 27 | YES | YES | YES |
| Woodcrest | 2 | Dual Xeon | 5130 | SLABP | B2 | 2.0 | 667 | 65 | 27 | YES | YES | YES |
| Woodcrest | 2 | Dual Xeon | 5130 | SLAGC | G0 | 2.0 | 667 | 65 | 27 | YES | YES | YES |
*upgrading Mac Pro 1.1 firmware to Mac Pro 2.1 is recommended for G0 steppings and is strongly recommended with earlier steppings.
**Values per processor (x2 in one Mac Pro). Upgrading DualCore to QuadCore processors usually requires adjusting the fan control with G0 stepping.
