References to Intel's Latest Ice Lake SP Processors in Xcode 13 Beta Hint at Forthcoming Mac Pro Update - MacRumors
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References to Intel's Latest Ice Lake SP Processors in Xcode 13 Beta Hint at Forthcoming Mac Pro Update

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New Intel chips appropriate for a refreshed Mac Pro have been spotted in the Xcode 13 beta, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has confirmed that Apple is indeed preparing an updated version of the Intel-based Mac Pro.

mac pro mini feature
The chip data added to the beta is for Intel's third-generation Xeon Scalable processor, Ice Lake SP, which Intel announced back in April. According to Intel, the chip offers "advanced performance, security, efficiency, and built-in AI acceleration to handle IoT workloads and more powerful AI."

Bloomberg in January said that Apple is developing two versions of the new Mac Pro, one that's a direct successor to the 2019 Mac Pro and one that offers a smaller form factor that's about half the size.


Apple is working to transition its entire Mac lineup to Apple silicon, and the smaller Mac Pro will feature Apple silicon chips, but it appears Apple is planning to keep at least one Intel Mac Pro available for the time being.

Some of the high-end Apple silicon chips that Apple is developing feature 20 or 40 computing cores with 64 or 128 core GPUs, but it is not clear if the earliest versions of Mac Pro chips will be able to compete with Intel's Xeon processors for heavy duty professional workloads.

This Intel-based Mac Pro may be one of the last Intel machines as Apple has already started transitioning the iMac, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and MacBook Air lines to Apple silicon. Apple this year plans to release 14 and 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models with higher-end "M2" Apple silicon chips, and there's also a larger Apple silicon ‌iMac‌ in development.

Buyer's Guide: Mac Pro (Don't Buy)
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Top Rated Comments

A
Acidsplat
67 months ago
People complaining about this are not the target demographic.
Score: 62 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stephen.R Avatar
Stephen.R
67 months ago

Absolute 💯 way to piss off every Mac Pro 2019 owner. Even as one of the first customers to order it, I didn’t receive it until feb 2020. So just over a year old and they are talking about another release. WOW what a way to get pros to spend 10k and then release an update so soon. SHOCKING. A way to basically make sure the nail is in the coffin.
I must have missed the part where the 2019 Mac Pro has a built in self destruct that triggers the moment a new model is released
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
N
now i see it
67 months ago
Xeons are battle tested and proven CPUs. If I was in the market to buy another $20K workstation, I sure wouldn't gamble my livelihood or profession on a M2 Mac Pro.
Some year down the line sure - but not yet. It's too soon
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ruka.snow Avatar
ruka.snow
67 months ago
It would be sensible to keep the Intel Mac Pro running for a few generations. Big companies invested into the promise to make pro software on its release and users of these machines may not be able to dump their software in the blink of a eye. I also still rather doubt that Apple can take on dedicated AMD GPU's yet.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Eso Avatar
Eso
67 months ago
So 1 year into the "2-year Apple Silicon Transition" we've gotten one chip and a rumor of updating the top end Mac with Intel. Ok.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
visualseed Avatar
visualseed
67 months ago

Absolute 💯 way to piss off every Mac Pro 2019 owner. Even as one of the first customers to order it, I didn’t receive it until feb 2020. So just over a year old and they are talking about another release. WOW what a way to get pros to spend 10k and then release an update so soon. SHOCKING. A way to basically make sure the nail is in the coffin.
So, Apple showing they are going to continue to support the model with updates pisses you off? Did you think you were buying to one and only model and there would be no updates? If you need a tool you buy the best you can afford the moment you need it. If you can afford to wait, then you don't really need it. Pros with real work to do aren't waiting around a year to see if Apple is going to release a faster model. They are buying today to do work today and if the faster model is justified they will buy it when it arrives and upgrade.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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