New Mac Pro Pricing

[joe hedge]

I was so sure I wanted to wait for the new Mac Pros until today. I Just got offered a Xeon 16 Cores 2.4ghz w/ Asus Mobo for $1000. Now if the base model mac pro exceeds $2500 with a hexacore and lower tiered graphics, Then the choice would be obvious. What would you guys do since this offer won't last for me?

Not get either one until you get a gig where saving $1500 on your main piece of gear won't make any difference. Then get the Mac.

 

[Jett He]

Not get either one until you get a gig where saving $1500 on your main piece of gear won't make any difference. Then get the Mac.

$1000 is only for 2xcpu and a mobo. Building the system will be upwards of $3k. I have not seen a 16core build for so cheap, which is why I 'm not so sure about a mac pro. I am a hardcore mac guy also. But you are right, I should get a nice paying gig to get both

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

I was so sure I wanted to wait for the new Mac Pros until today. I Just got offered a Xeon 16 Cores 2.4ghz w/ Asus Mobo for $1000. Now if the base model mac pro exceeds $2500 with a hexacore and lower tiered graphics, Then the choice would be obvious. What would you guys do since this offer won't last for me?

Um, just one question... What's wrong with it? That's practically giving it away. I would check it out thoroughly and make sure it works as it should. If it does, you have one heck of a bargain.

 

[Antony Newman]

Just found out the '12-core Xeon E5-2697 V2' has a turbo feature (if thermals permit) that can up the base clock frequency from 2.7GHz to:

1 x core @ 3.5Ghz
2 x core @ 3.4Ghz
3 x core @ 3.3Ghz
4 x core @ 3.2Ghz
5 x core @ 3.1Ghz
6-12 x core @ 3Ghz

Reference: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ivy-bridge-ep-xeon-e5-2697-v2-benchmarks,3585-2.html

This would steer me towards the 12 Core chip - and if Apple and AMD resolve the Open CL issues (see benchmarks above) - I am guessing that $4500 for a RR-X (or $6750) would be a good chunk of change towards a higher specced Mac Pro - or perhaps a screaming external disc array.

AJ

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Turbo isn't new. The current E5-2690 and E5-2687W go to 3.8 and 3.9 GHz respectively via turbo. By comparison, these first round of newer many-core Xeons are clocked quite a bit slower. There will be faster chips coming in 2014.