#APPLE MAC PRO TOWER UPDATE#
#APPLE MAC PRO TOWER FULL#
#APPLE MAC PRO TOWER PC#
#APPLE MAC PRO TOWER BLUETOOTH#
#APPLE MAC PRO TOWER WINDOWS#

The dual AMD FirePro D700 video cards in our system are not designed for the same 3D gaming as consumer-level AMD or Nvidia cards, but can be used for that in addition to their stated task of allowing multiple 4K video streams and real-time application of video effects in programs such as Final Cut. We're currently troubleshooting and re-running the test and will add those scores when we're confidant in them. Our Photoshop test uses an older version of Photoshop, and it underperformed compared with our expectations, and is not currently included in the charts below.

#APPLE MAC PRO TOWER WINDOWS#

The Mac Pro, as configured, was in most cases well faster than even the most high-end Windows desktop we've tested this year, but the non-consumer components created some problems for our standard tests. The charts below give you an initial impression of the Mac Pro compared to other recent high-end PCs and Macs, although it's important to remember, we're not testing the base $2,999 model (which would still presumably perform very well on the same tests). In our benchmark testing, the system turned in excellent scores, ripping through video encoding and other tasks. Is the Mac Pro a killer performance machine? For $8,000 it had better be. Some differently formatted files that on paper should have been easier to play gave us trouble, and we are continuing to test different combinations of video files and displays to explore the issue. That played smoothly, as you'll see in our hands-on video above. The most advanced file was a demo ProRes MOV video, playing via QuickTime at 799Mbits/s at 3,840x,2160-pixel resolution.

#APPLE MAC PRO TOWER PC#

That's obviously a good idea, but as a long-time desktop PC tinkerer, I do miss the ability to putter around inside a case with the machine running. It's easy to remove and replace, but you must disconnect the power and video connections to do so. A small lock switch is moved to the unlocked position, and the entire outer sleeve of the system lifts off, exposing the interior.

How did Apple rebuild the Mac Pro into such a small package? Components are built around something Apple calls a unified thermal core. But, in the several years since the last major Mac Pro overhaul, the computer industry has shifted dramatically away from the traditional tower-based desktop toward laptops, all-in-one desktops, tablets, and now even touch screen 'tabletop PCs' such as the Lenovo Horizon 27.

#APPLE MAC PRO TOWER UPDATE#

Why the major overhaul now? One of the reasons Apple previously felt little need to update the Mac Pro was because it appealed largely to a small but steady professional audience and didn't require a flashy iMac-style revamp to bring in new audiences. Up until now, the Mac Pro has been missing USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, and other features many MacBook users take for granted. The existing tower design is one of the oldest in the Apple catalog, changing little from when it was called the Power Mac G5. While the Cube was a cult favorite more than a commercial success, the new Mac Pro feels like the logical next evolution in maximizing power while minimizing space.Īnd the Mac Pro line was certainly ready for an update. The G4 Cube was a famously minimal gleaming box meant to represent the future of PCs. This is not the first time Apple has done something radically different with a desktop computer.

#APPLE MAC PRO TOWER BLUETOOTH#

Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n wireless, Bluetooth 4.0 Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth 4.0

#APPLE MAC PRO TOWER FULL#

It includes an 8-core Intel Xeon processor, a whopping 64GB of RAM, a full 1TB SSD hard drive, and upgraded D700 AMD FirePro video cards, all of which adds up to a current price of $8,099 (and an availability date of February).ĭual Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth 4.0 That mitigating factor is that the review sample loaned to us by Apple is a very high-end configuration. Our review bridges this gap, interpreting the Mac Pro as a consumer extravagance, while also looking into its ability to handle professional tasks, especially as it relates to the growing field of 4K video.Īn important note: In our consumer-level benchmark testing, the system excelled, but with a giant asterisk. Still, many will doubtless do just that, mesmerized by the design and high-end configuration options. Can you buy a Mac Pro for home use as your personal PC? Yes, but it may not be the most economical use of your money (and for home users, it's also worth a mention that despite being a desktop computer, the Mac Pro lacks an internal optical drive, even as its cylindrical shape seems perfectly suited for one).

Apple mac pro tower