4 ms·

counterpoint from MKBHD: https://youtu.be/w2KbwC-s7pY?t=306 https://youtu.be/w2KbwC-s7pY?t=306. "the reason the mac pro exists is PCI slots"

m463 3y ago
But the reason mac pros had PCIe slots was mainly for graphics cards. and admittedly graphics cards are now more than graphics cards now, they do GPU accelerated computing and machine learning. And apple software would not support those things on a GPU. It is sort of like Steven Covey's progression from Dependence to Independence to Interdependence. Apple with the early intel mac pro broke through from independence to interdependence. That machine used 3rd-party intel processors, worked with not only macos, but 3rd party windows, had expandability via memory and 3rd party hard drives, and used 3rd party graphics cards from nvidia and amd. They worked with the entire silicon valley ecosystem, making their machines more valuable and the ecosystem stronger. Now apple is independent again, and is looking right down into its own navel like a self-involved loner.
- Kirby64 3y ago
  It was part of the reason. Definitely not the only reason, though. Do you think super fast networking cards or super fast storage cards aren't worth anything?
  - geerlingguy 3y ago
    It's literally the only way to go beyond 25 GbE networking right now on any Mac (AFAICT).
  - justinclift 3y ago
    Apparently the PCIe setup on the Mac Pro isn't all that great though, multiplexing things through a limited number of PCIe v4 channels. So, it'll probably work for adding (say) a single 50 or 100GBe card, but seems like it's wasted a bunch of potential. :/
- notatoad 3y ago
  one of the main reasons the mac pro had PCIe slots was for graphics cards. now, if that was the only reason you needed a mac pro you can get a mac studio instead for much less money. lucky you. it's not as if apple didn't expect this, or it's a problem. they created the product, pretty clearly because they knew people would want it. the mac pro only exists for the few use cases where you need a non-gfx pcie card. if you don't have one of those use cases, then you don't need a mac pro and apple has lots of other computers they will be happy to sell you. theverge article seems to think this is somehow bad?
  - wmf 3y ago
    It's bad if you were expecting the Mac Pro to be double the specs of the Studio because that's what Gurman has been saying for years.
    - deleted 3y ago
      [deleted]
- pjmlp 3y ago
  Anyone old enough to remember the ways of Apple before they almost closed shop can reckonize that in a way they are back to their old ways, now that they are ridding the wave. NuBus, AppleTalk, Quicktime, QuickTime VR, QuickDraw 3D,...

m463 3y ago

But the reason mac pros had PCIe slots was mainly for graphics cards. and admittedly graphics cards are now more than graphics cards now, they do GPU accelerated computing and machine learning. And apple software would not support those things on a GPU. It is sort of like Steven Covey's progression from Dependence to Independence to Interdependence. Apple with the early intel mac pro broke through from independence to interdependence. That machine used 3rd-party intel processors, worked with not only macos, but 3rd party windows, had expandability via memory and 3rd party hard drives, and used 3rd party graphics cards from nvidia and amd. They worked with the entire silicon valley ecosystem, making their machines more valuable and the ecosystem stronger. Now apple is independent again, and is looking right down into its own navel like a self-involved loner.

Kirby64 3y ago
It was part of the reason. Definitely not the only reason, though. Do you think super fast networking cards or super fast storage cards aren't worth anything?
- geerlingguy 3y ago
  It's literally the only way to go beyond 25 GbE networking right now on any Mac (AFAICT).
- justinclift 3y ago
  Apparently the PCIe setup on the Mac Pro isn't all that great though, multiplexing things through a limited number of PCIe v4 channels. So, it'll probably work for adding (say) a single 50 or 100GBe card, but seems like it's wasted a bunch of potential. :/
notatoad 3y ago
one of the main reasons the mac pro had PCIe slots was for graphics cards. now, if that was the only reason you needed a mac pro you can get a mac studio instead for much less money. lucky you. it's not as if apple didn't expect this, or it's a problem. they created the product, pretty clearly because they knew people would want it. the mac pro only exists for the few use cases where you need a non-gfx pcie card. if you don't have one of those use cases, then you don't need a mac pro and apple has lots of other computers they will be happy to sell you. theverge article seems to think this is somehow bad?
- wmf 3y ago
  It's bad if you were expecting the Mac Pro to be double the specs of the Studio because that's what Gurman has been saying for years.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
pjmlp 3y ago
Anyone old enough to remember the ways of Apple before they almost closed shop can reckonize that in a way they are back to their old ways, now that they are ridding the wave. NuBus, AppleTalk, Quicktime, QuickTime VR, QuickDraw 3D,...