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Apple is going with the quad-core Xeon E5

H

hackmole

Senior member
Apple is going with the quad-core Xeon E5 for their upcoming computers and they are giving everyone an option for a faster 8-core or 12-core Xeon E5.

Other computer companies don't want to get left behind so wouldn't this put pressure on Intel to switch over and focus on Xeon processors.
 
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Eh, I'm assuming you're talking about the new Mac Pro three mile island model?

Those are workstations $3k and up, you can buy PC versions as well. There isn't enough volume in that area for Intel to care beyond happily selling to the relative few that DO buy them.
 
For clarification, Apple has three desktop options :

Mac Mini, featuring dual-core i5 and quad-core i7 Intel Mobile processors up to 2.6Ghz

iMac, featuring quad-core i5 and quad-core+HT i7 Intel Desktop processors up to 3.4Ghz

Mac Pro, featuring Xeon CPUs from Quad-Cores on up.

This is pretty much the same dealio as Dell, HP, yadda yadda.

http://www8.hp.com/us/en/campaigns/workstations/z820.html

Up to 24-Core, 512GB Ram, ludicrous drives, and Tesla K20c and beyond GPU.

The market for such stuff is small though. The upgrade to the 12-Core Mac Pro is $3000 by itself.
 
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No Nvidia Quadro options for this Mac Pro? Something wrong with allowing a choice between AMD and Nvidia as different professional programs often prefer one or the other?
 
Zodiark1593 said:
No Nvidia Quadro options for this Mac Pro? Something wrong with allowing a choice between AMD and Nvidia as different professional programs often prefer one or the other?
Click to expand...

Nvidia and OSX don't play well I don't think, the bumpgate fiasco which was common during that era for many many systems (RROD/YLOD anyone, lol) soured that relationship. So Intel GPU and AMD GPU get Apple support, but Nvidia is a no go.

It's pretty clear that Mac Pro is a high end consumer workstation, but a bit limited compared to more standard options from PC vendors. The power gap between the Mac Pro and the HP I linked is pretty similar with many configurations but really opens up depending on how much money you want to throw at it. Hell, a pair of K20s can cost $6k-$7k easily just for the GPUs.
 
Apple in "Workstation uses workstation processor" shocker. News at 11.

Take a look at Dell's Precision workstation lineup, or HP's Z series lineup. They've both had Xeon E5 for well over a year.

EDIT: If anything, Apple have skimped on their CPU. They have no option for a dual socket system, whereas their competitors can offer up to 24 cores in their dual socket Xeon E5 workstations.
 
NTMBK said:
Apple in "Workstation uses workstation processor" shocker. News at 11.

Take a look at Dell's Precision workstation lineup, or HP's Z series lineup. They've both had Xeon E5 for well over a year.

EDIT: If anything, Apple have skimped on their CPU. They have no option for a dual socket system, whereas their competitors can offer up to 24 cores in their dual socket Xeon E5 workstations.
Click to expand...

True. They designed the case without regard for truly high end configurations. They found a non-issue and fixed it till it was broke, lol.
 
The Mac Pro is really more of a halo device more than anything. They don't actually expect to sell that many. Plus it's good PR for them since it's being assembled in Texas.
 
Arkaign said:
For clarification, Apple has three desktop options :

Mac Mini, featuring dual-core i5 and quad-core i7 Intel Mobile processors up to 2.6Ghz

iMac, featuring quad-core i5 and quad-core+HT i7 Intel Desktop processors up to 3.4Ghz

Mac Pro, featuring Xeon CPUs from Quad-Cores on up.

This is pretty much the same dealio as Dell, HP, yadda yadda.

http://www8.hp.com/us/en/campaigns/workstations/z820.html

Up to 24-Core, 512GB Ram, ludicrous drives, and Tesla K20c and beyond GPU.

The market for such stuff is small though. The upgrade to the 12-Core Mac Pro is $3000 by itself.
Click to expand...

FYI, mobile i7s have hyperthreading too.
 
It's a relatively small market with a shit ton of money involved, especially when you realize that this is the market that creates so much of today's media, websites, music, entertainment, etc. So you bet it matters, and Apple doesn't want to lose it obviously, even though Macbooks are the standard when it comes to non-workstation machines for this market too.
 
jpiniero said:
The Mac Pro is really more of a halo device more than anything. They don't actually expect to sell that many. Plus it's good PR for them since it's being assembled in Texas.
Click to expand...

My computer was also assembled in the USA: I bought the parts at Fry's and put it all together. I even paid myself for the privilege of doing that.
 
What I don't like about the mac pro is that they keep pushing dual gpu configurations, especially on lower end cards. D300 and D500 crossfire options should not exist, Especially as default when you consider that a lot of the applications that require professional GPUs don't scale well if at all in crossfire or SLI configurations.
 
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