Graphics Cards in New Mac Pro May Be User Replaceable

It may be technically possible for buyers of the new Mac Pro to replace their graphics cards, according to a report from the French site Mac4Ever. [Google Translate]

The site claims the GPU on the Mac Pro is placed on an independent daughter card with a proprietary connection, which would make sense as it would make warranty-repairs of broken GPUs significantly easier. There is no indication if or when third-party graphics cards could be released for the new Mac Pro, but the new device is scheduled for release in December of this year.

Macprogpu
From the Google Translation of Mac4Ever's post:

According to our information, it is possible to change the graphics card in this machine. In fact, the GPU is placed on a daughter card, it is possible to remove and thus replace. As you might expect, Apple uses a proprietary connector (as is the case for SSD array present on the rest of the range). But nothing prevents, on paper, a manufacturer decides to offer compatible models on the market

A similar system is used in the MacBook Air's SSD flash storage. In 2010, Other World Computing released aftermarket SSD upgrades for the MacBook Air, allowing larger SSD options than Apple's 256GB maximum -- for a significant price. The MacBook Air uses a proprietary SSD connector and board, but OWC was able to design replacement storage options for the computer.

Apple did specify that RAM in the new Mac Pro would be user replaceable, but said nothing about the graphics cards. It's likely that the graphics cards, if it's even possible to replace them, would not be an Apple-approved user replaceable part and could affect the product's warranty, much like the aftermarket SSD replacement in the MacBook Air.

Related Roundup: Mac Pro
Buyer's Guide: Mac Pro (Neutral)
Related Forum: Mac Pro

Popular Stories

Mayday Calendar

Apple Acquisition Hints at Upgraded Calendar App on iOS 19 or Beyond

Friday May 9, 2025 9:13 am PDT by
Apple acquired Canadian startup Mayday Labs in April 2024, according to a European Commission listing, spotted by French blog MacGeneration. The acquisition had not received widespread attention from tech publications until now. Apple is legally required to report certain acquisitions to the European Commission, under the terms of the EU's Digital Markets Act. Mayday Labs founder Jeremy...
Nineth iOS 19 Feature

iOS 19 Beta is a Month Away With These New Features for Your iPhone

Thursday May 8, 2025 7:37 am PDT by
The first iOS 19 beta is just one month away, and there are already many new features and changes that are expected with it. Apple should seed the first iOS 19 beta to developers immediately following the WWDC 2025 keynote, which is scheduled for Monday, June 9. Following beta testing, the update should be released to the general public in September. Below, we recap the key iOS 19 rumors...
fortnite apple featured

Epic Games Submits Fortnite to U.S. App Store

Friday May 9, 2025 9:57 am PDT by
As promised, Epic Games today submitted Fortnite to the U.S. App Store, and if approved by Apple, it will mark the first time that the Fortnite app has been available in the United States since 2020. Fortnite will include options to purchase in-app currency from the web rather than through in-app purchase, which is what got the game banned to begin with. This time, though, Apple has been...
iOS 18

Here Are Apple's Full iOS 18.5 Release Notes

Tuesday May 6, 2025 2:17 pm PDT by
Apple today seeded the release candidate version of iOS 18.5 to developers and public beta testers, giving us a look at the final version of the update that will be provided to the public next week. With the release candidate, Apple provided release notes, so we have a more complete look at the new features that are included in the update, including those that weren't found during the beta...
AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:30 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
top stories 2025 05 10

Top Stories: iOS 18.5 Release Imminent, iPhone Rumors for 2025 and Beyond, and More

Saturday May 10, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
With Apple's developer conference where it will show off iOS 19 just a month away, the company is wrapping up work on iOS 18.5 ahead of an imminent release to deliver a few new features and updates. This week also saw a number of iPhone-related rumors, encompassing not only this year's iPhone 17 lineup but also Apple's plans for 2026 and 2027, even as Apple's Eddy Cue suggested AI could make ...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Apple's Foldable iPhone Display Tech May Set New Industry Standard

Thursday May 8, 2025 3:29 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone will feature a new type of display panel developed by Samsung that has never been used in a foldable product, claims a source with links to Apple's supply chain. According to the account yeux1122 on the Korean Naver blog, the foldable iPhone will use a custom display process for which Apple will hold branding trademark rights, and that meets Apple's stringent ...

Top Rated Comments

LillDrutten Avatar
151 months ago
Cook innovation contribution.
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ryansimmons323 Avatar
151 months ago
OWC are probably rubbing their hands together...
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
teknikal90 Avatar
151 months ago
i dont understand Apple's approach....

i understand why they want to shut down non-pro machines, or even the macbook 'pro' for that matter

but a workstation 'tower' that's locked down?? doesnt make any sense to me
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cgk.emu Avatar
151 months ago
Yes, finally a user replaceable part that matters! :p

Yeah, the last Pro was the same, but how long did it take for a 3rd party to release an "updated" graphics card....? So what if it's replaceable if it takes 4 years to get a new card for the Pro that was out 3 years ago for a PC??
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrmjenkins Avatar
151 months ago
Cook innovation contribution.
Image (http://media2.giga.de/2013/06/Mac-Pro_2013_Mac-Pro_2013.jpg)

One person sees a bunch of stuff they don't get.

Another sees a bunch of stuff they don't want.

Less is not always less. And more is sometimes less.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HyperZboy Avatar
151 months ago
Cook innovation contribution.
Image (http://media2.giga.de/2013/06/Mac-Pro_2013_Mac-Pro_2013.jpg)

THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME SPIT MY DRINK OUT! LMAO

Now I can't stop hiccuping. That was my first criticism of the new Mac Pro and people here laughed at me!

You pointed out what I meant months ago in a great picture.
ThunderBolt is fantastic, but I don't want to have to buy a new computer table for all the devices I have to add to this machine to make it comparable to my old Mac Pro which can be upgraded with various graphics cards and SSD drives internally in one piece.

How can a PRO machine NOT have internal user expansion?

Somewhere Steve Wozniak is just shaking his head.

I predict different people will buy the new Mac Pro than the previous Mac Pro.
But I will admit, the new Mac Pro would make for a small wicked fast tricked out gamers machine, but I don't think at that price it will fly.

I predict prices on Ebay for the last generation Mac Pros will escalate after the new one is released because you can get multiple faster graphics cards for those Pros in many ways, even outside of Apple.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)