4 ms·

Same here, I'm looking to build a machine to process large data sets. So far nothing can beat Linux on an EPYC or ThreadRipper on price/performance. It would

Same here, I'm looking to build a machine to process large data sets. So far nothing can beat Linux on an EPYC or ThreadRipper on price/performance. It would cost half as much for a 1TB NVMe SSD, RTX 2080, at least 16 cores, etc. The only reason I'm even waiting is because Zen 2 is right around the corner. The 256GB SSD is so confusing. The price difference between a 970 EVO 256GB and a 970 EVO 512GB for example is only $50 (I couldn't even find a 256GB 970 PRO or 980). Are they really that desperate for margin on a machine this expensive? The lack of NVidia is also strange, do the AMD cards in this config even support Tensorflow?

vbezhenar 7y ago
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.
- Rebelgecko 7y ago
  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
  - mises 7y ago
    Here's to hoping. Maybe I can finally get my nvidia card working on my hackintosh laptop.
  - vbezhenar 7y ago
    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.
    - penagwin 7y ago
      Well obviously they have agreements with AMD. Apple gets special treatment from AMD/Intel/Nvidia, they get to see unrevealed roadmaps, custom contracts etc. Whether it's an exclusivity deal or not we may never know. But it does seem strange given Nvidia cards generally have lower TDP/performance (something all macs struggle with)
    - Rebelgecko 7y ago
      The unsubstantiated scuttlebutt is that Apple is pissed at NVidia because when MBP's used Nvidia GPUs there were quality issues
      - michelb 7y ago
        So I guess Apple must be feeling what many Apple customers have been feeling for some time? :)
  - penagwin 7y ago
    Does any current-gen apple hardware ship with Nvidia hardware? To my knowledge they don't, which would explain why they haven't made any drivers for it (the only people who can get a GTX 1070 with mac osx would either have to spend 500$ on an eGPU enclosure or have a hackintosh). But this one has PCIE ports so theoretically nothing is stopping the average joe from just adding a GTX 1070? That'd certainly add a lot more justification for updating the drivers I hope. Cheers to everyone who wants nvidia drivers for hackintoshs :D
philjohn 7y ago
The 256GB SSD is for people who just have the OS and apps on the drive, but the multi terabyte files they're manipulating (e.g. video editing) reside on NAS or LAS, hence 10Gbe and 40Gb TB3.

vbezhenar 7y ago

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.

Rebelgecko 7y ago
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
- mises 7y ago
  Here's to hoping. Maybe I can finally get my nvidia card working on my hackintosh laptop.
- vbezhenar 7y ago
  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.
  - penagwin 7y ago
    Well obviously they have agreements with AMD. Apple gets special treatment from AMD/Intel/Nvidia, they get to see unrevealed roadmaps, custom contracts etc. Whether it's an exclusivity deal or not we may never know. But it does seem strange given Nvidia cards generally have lower TDP/performance (something all macs struggle with)
  - Rebelgecko 7y ago
    The unsubstantiated scuttlebutt is that Apple is pissed at NVidia because when MBP's used Nvidia GPUs there were quality issues
    - michelb 7y ago
      So I guess Apple must be feeling what many Apple customers have been feeling for some time? :)
- penagwin 7y ago
  Does any current-gen apple hardware ship with Nvidia hardware? To my knowledge they don't, which would explain why they haven't made any drivers for it (the only people who can get a GTX 1070 with mac osx would either have to spend 500$ on an eGPU enclosure or have a hackintosh). But this one has PCIE ports so theoretically nothing is stopping the average joe from just adding a GTX 1070? That'd certainly add a lot more justification for updating the drivers I hope. Cheers to everyone who wants nvidia drivers for hackintoshs :D

philjohn 7y ago

The 256GB SSD is for people who just have the OS and apps on the drive, but the multi terabyte files they're manipulating (e.g. video editing) reside on NAS or LAS, hence 10Gbe and 40Gb TB3.