Mac Pro CPU and GPU Upgrades See Significant Price Drop

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Apple today announced price drops for its Mac Pro lineup ahead of a major revamp coming in the future, dropping the 4-core option and significantly lowering the prices of its new baseline 6-core and 8-core machines.

Apple has also made Mac Pro build-to-order processor and GPU upgrades much more affordable for pro users who need higher-end specs than the base machines provide.

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Upgrading the new 3.5GHz entry-level 6-core Mac Pro to the 3.0GHz 8-core processor now costs $800, while upgrading to the 2.7GHz 12-core machine costs $2,000. Prior to today, the 8-core upgrade was priced at $1,500, and the 12-core upgrade was priced at $3,000.

GPU upgrades are also more affordable. With the 6-core machine, upgrading from the stock dual AMD FirePro D500 to the FirePro D700 now costs $200, an upgrade that was previously priced at $600. The GPU upgrade isn't necessary on the new stock 8-core machine, as it ships with the D700s.

RAM and flash storage upgrade pricing has not changed, however. It continues to cost $400 to upgrade to 32GB RAM and $1,200 to upgrade to 64GB RAM. 512GB flash storage is available for $200, and the 1TB flash storage upgrade costs $600. Prices on flash storage were lowered back in October alongside the launch of the new MacBook Pro.

All in all, a maxed out Mac Pro machine with a 12-core processor, 64GB RAM, 1TB flash storage, and dual AMD FirePro D700 GPUs will now cost $6,999 instead of $9,599.

The Mac Pro lineup has not gained any refreshed or updated hardware -- all that's changed is configuration and price. The machines continue to use Ivy Bridge E Xeon processors, dual AMD FirePro GPUs, and Thunderbolt 2.

Apple's reconfigured Mac Pros are available starting today from the online Apple Store and Apple retail stores. The 6-core model can be purchased immediately, but the 8-core model is listed as "currently unavailable."

Today's price drops come ahead of a promised overhauled Mac Pro that will be introduced sometime after this year. Apple is working on a high-end high-throughput modular Mac Pro system that will facilitate regular upgrades to meet the needs of Apple's pro user base.

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

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Top Rated Comments

star_nerdy Avatar
star_nerdy
95 months ago
Still overpriced for outdated technology.

It's now like being kissed before you're rapped, rather than just rapped.
Yeah it's just like rape except for the whole consent thing, which is what defines rape
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fall Under Cerulean Kites Avatar
Fall Under Cerulean Kites
95 months ago
All in all, a maxed out Mac Pro machine with a 12-core processor, 64GB RAM, 1TB flash storage, and dual AMD FirePro D700 GPUs will now cost $6,999 instead of $9,599.
All of the non-pro users who simply desire a Mac Pro can complain all they want, but this is a significant price reduction, no matter how you look at it. Apple is certainly on the right track, and it was a great move to offer the price reduction in conjunction with the pre-announcement. Shops that need these machines will be happy with this.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bladerunner2000 Avatar
bladerunner2000
95 months ago
Too late as people have jumped ship and moved over to PCs or Hackintoshes. The prices are still too high for 5 year old (lousy) hardware.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fall Under Cerulean Kites Avatar
Fall Under Cerulean Kites
95 months ago
Too late as people have jumped ship and moved over to PCs or Hackintoshes.
No true pro is using a Hackintosh. Tinkerers and hobbiests, sure. Pros? Not a chance.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
magicschoolbus Avatar
magicschoolbus
95 months ago
Apple is looking for a REASON to kill the mac.

They have made it obvious that they do not want the mac in their lineups.

By not upgrading it; sales go down; it gives them reason to put the nail in the coffin.

Just get it over already Apple. Everyone is tired of you dragging us along.

Put a bullet in the mac line up already; the current lineup is a disgrace. No upgrades, glued parts, insane prices, you can't even plug your flagship product into a new 3k macbook without a freaking adapter.

This has all been done intentionally - to slowly kill off your Mac line up because you cannot control the content on Mac. You have tried with your crappy Gatekeeper software (terrible) and it failed. Now, you are trying to kill off the Mac entirely because you can't control the content via the App Store- where you already make most of your $.

Long live the classic macbook pro.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Scottsoapbox Avatar
Scottsoapbox
95 months ago
Better than nothing, but couldn't something this minor have been done earlier?

Can't help but notice the looming quarterly earnings report...
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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