Apple has introduced a new Mac Pro with a modular design.
At first glance, the design looks like a new interpretation of the original 2006 Mac Pro – that promises good things. Here are the key data:
- Intel Xeon with up to 28 cores (300 Watt)
- 6 Channel RAM, 12 DIMM Slots, max. 1.5 TB RAM
- eight internal PCIe Slots
- 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports, 2 USB-A, one audio, two 10 Gbit Ethernet ports
But the graphics are especially interesting: the GPU is on a x16 PCIe connector, but has an additional power connector. Apple calls the format MPX. There is a Radeon 580X Radion Pro Vega II with up to 32 GB memory. Two of these MPX graphics modules can be combined in a Mac Pro, resulting in 56 teraflops.
Afterburner: this additional card is a hardware accelerator and can process 6 billion pixels per second, so three 8K streams or 12 streams with 4K are possible. For all this power, Apple has built in a 1400 watt power supply.
The prices start for a model with 8 cores, 32 RAM, a Radon Pro 580x and 256 SSD at almost 6000 dollars.
Together with the new Mac Pro a new display was introduced, the Pro Display XDR. Apple’s new model supports HDR and has a resolution of 6016×3384 at 32″, making it a 6K display with 20 million pixels. It has P3 wide color and reflects for a 1000 Euro surcharge almost not at all.
The backlight is created by many individual LEDs on the background. The heat is dissipated via the massive aluminium back. 1000 nits are permanently possible, 1600 nits peak. The contrast is 1 million to 1. The new Mac Pro can drive up to six 6K displays.
The Pro Display XDR costs 4999 dollars, the matt version costs 1000 dollars more. The stand to set up the display costs another 1000 dollars – yes, otherwise you only get the pure display.
