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New Mac Pro

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Re: New Mac Pro

#141

Post by ptrott2017 »

mcphage wrote: post #87
internobody wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

3D modelers want NVIDIA cards, not Radeon, as NVIDIA supports CUDA. This has been a longstanding issue with 3D folks; the old trashcan Mac Pro had NVIDIA GPUs even with otherwise-outdated internals. When rumblings came of new Mac Pros a few years ago there was excitement that they could get some fast machines again; alas this appears not to be the case.

> 3D modelers want NVIDIA cards, not Radeon, as NVIDIA supports CUDA What do 3D modelers use CUDA for? I know it gets used for machine learning, but I'm not familiar with what else.

I used to develop professional 3D tools and CUDA is used to accellerate features in 3D software including: scene manipulation, simulation, real time rendering, ray tracing, rendering shader effects and video encoding etc.

Re: New Mac Pro

#142

Post by fjarlq »

roboyoshi wrote: post #96
wjakob wrote: post #46

Lack of NVIDIA support is a deal-breaker. The AMD ecosystem is just so far behind when it comes to frameworks like CUDA, OptiX, cuDNN, etc.. Why can't Apple open up kernel-level support by cooperating more with NVIDIA? This state of things seems completely bizarre to me.

Maybe it's NVIDIA blocking the way? If Linus is correct, then they are not a nice company to work with.

A member of NVIDIA's CUDA Product Management wrote in October 2018:

"Apple fully control drivers for Mac OS. But if Apple allows, our engineers are ready and eager to help Apple deliver great drivers for Mac OS 10.14 (Mojave)." -- https://devtalk.nvidia.com/default/topic/1042279/cuda-setup-...

Re: New Mac Pro

#143

Post by horyzen »

yurishimo wrote: post #18

Really excited to see the future of this hardware even though I'm not the target demographic. The ability to swap out with newer PCIe components down the line will be nice and it appears Apple is likely using some sort of desktop socket, so mounts and adapters for customizing the CPU will be available from 3rd parties eventually. Hopefully Intel doesn't change the CPU socket out from underneath everyone too soon. I'm…

> I'm also curious if it will support PCIe Gen4 since Apple has obviously worked closely with AMD

Probably not. In order to have PCIe 4 working, you have to have CPU support as well as mobo chipset support, neither is there in this machine.

Re: New Mac Pro

#144

Post by robdachshund »

vbezhenar wrote: post #2

That price is just absurd. I waited for Mac Pro announcement to decide whether I'll stay with Windows or jump to macOS. Macbooks are not for me, but I hoped for a remotely reasonable priced computer, something like $2000 with another $1000 to expand with more memory, etc. But $6000 for 8-core CPU, 256 GB SSD, GPU that is less powerful than my old $200 NVidia 1060? It's just laughable. Otherwise seems like a good mach…

I mean apple has always been a joke in terms of hardware and value. I wouldn't expect anything less. Look at the most recent imacs. Base model is some absurd price and comes with a 5400rpm drive.

I don't get why some developers are still clinging to them as if their ecosystem provides something that linux and windows don't. Being unix based and having Adobe products is not worth the price.

At least people are finally figuring this out and moving away from the last few generations of terrible macbook models.

Why developers of all people eat their crap up is just plain inexplicable.

Re: New Mac Pro

#145

Post by bluedino »

Eric_WVGG wrote: post #44
bluedino wrote: post #17

The thing the Mac Pro does is magically make the price of every other computer look that much better. $6000 for a computer? Johnson, that's insane. What about $4999 for an iMac Pro? It comes with a display. Great, order it! What about $2499 for a Mac Mini with 32GB and 1TB SSD? Great, order it! What about $2499 for a Macbook Pro? Great, order it!

The 1987 Mac II released at $5,498, $12,125 adjusted for inflation. Granted, that included a monitor. IMO these things are designed for companies like Pixar, Disney, and aerospace, the "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" world.

Back in 1999, the original Cinema Display was $1299 and the G4 Tower was $2499

Re: New Mac Pro

#146

Post by cm2187 »

kstrauser wrote: post #75
duskwuff wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The first step up from 256GB is 2x512GB, and there's configurations up to 2x2TB. My guess is that the 256GB configuration is meant for users that work primarily with data that's kept on network storage.

Right. If you're working with multi-terabyte files that live on a NAS or an external directly-attached storage, the local drive is basically a cache of the OS plus whatever you're physically working on at that moment.

And it seems to come with 10gbe by default which is consistent with it.

Re: New Mac Pro

#147

Post by andreasley »

amiga-workbench wrote: post #15

Aesthetically, that's really quite loud. I'm surprised to see them ship something that doesn't fit their signature minimal & reserved look.

It's what people asked for – a work horse, designed to be fast, reliable and reasonably quiet. They've tried the "beauty first" approach on the 2013 version and it was a disaster.

Re: New Mac Pro

#148

Post by robdachshund »

bluedino wrote: post #17

The thing the Mac Pro does is magically make the price of every other computer look that much better. $6000 for a computer? Johnson, that's insane. What about $4999 for an iMac Pro? It comes with a display. Great, order it! What about $2499 for a Mac Mini with 32GB and 1TB SSD? Great, order it! What about $2499 for a Macbook Pro? Great, order it!

Or just build your own desktop with much better parts for $800. Or buy any midrange Lenovo, Dell, or Asus laptop for about $1000.

Re: New Mac Pro

#149

Post by roboyoshi »

fjarlq wrote: post #142
roboyoshi wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe it's NVIDIA blocking the way? If Linus is correct, then they are not a nice company to work with.

A member of NVIDIA's CUDA Product Management wrote in October 2018: "Apple fully control drivers for Mac OS. But if Apple allows, our engineers are ready and eager to help Apple deliver great drivers for Mac OS 10.14 (Mojave)." -- https://devtalk.nvidia.com/default/topic/1042279/cuda-setup-...

well that is sad then.. Maybe they want to push the Metal platform? idk.

Re: New Mac Pro

#150

Post by vbezhenar »

Rebelgecko wrote: post #36
vbezhenar wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that Nvidia will release cards for this Mac. May be even existing ones will fit. There are PCI-E ports there after all.

Will they be able to release drivers with the new kext situation? They still don't even have drivers to use their newer cards in Mojave

For me it's win-win situation for Apple. They help Nvidia with drivers, more people buy Mac Pro to use Nvidia GPU. I have no idea why Apple don't want to work with Nvidia. They are not selling desktop GPU after all. May be they have some hidden agreements with AMD.
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