Solid rumors combined with credible inside information suggest that in 2022 Apple will introduce two versions of its flagship: M1-based Mac Pro which will be half the size, and another one running Intel’s newest generation Xeon W-3300 processors.
Mac Pro is in the making
Although we were expecting an M1 (or M1X) Mac Pro coming in 2021/2022, most probably that we’ll have more diverse choices. The Apple flagship is in the making, there’s no doubt about that. However, solid inside information combined with a few facts suggests that there will be two versions of this beast, an SoC (System on a Chip) one, and an Intel-based one.
M1 Mac Pro
As we’ve reported previously, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Mac Pro that uses Apple’s own SoC will be “half the size” of the current Mac Pro, designed with aluminum chassis, and can remind users of the old Power Mac G4 Cube. Gurman also reported that Apple won’t discontinue the current Mac Pro design and that the company will update it with Intel processors. This model will be available along with the new Apple SoC Mac Pro. But we’ll get to that later. Apple stated that the full transition for the SoC Macs is in the process, however, it will take time, especially when COVID causes things to move slower.
Intel newest processor – Xeon W-3300
A few days ago, Intel has launched its newest generation of Intel Xeon W-3300 processors, available now from its system integrator partners. Built for advanced workstation professionals, Intel Xeon W-3300 processors offer uncompromised performance, expanded platform capabilities, and enterprise-grade security and reliability in a single-socket solution.
Explore the slide below where Intel states that the Xeon W-3300 allows significant improvement regarding editing tasks in Premiere Pro:
Intel Ice Lake Xeon W-3300 highlights:
- Up to 28 cores/socket in IoT SKUs6
- Multi-socket support (1,2 CPU)
- Up to 3 UPI channels per CPU
- Validated for Intel 3D NAND SSDs and Intel Optane SSDs5
- PCI Express 4 and 64 lanes (per socket) at 16 GT/s
- Support for up to 3200 MT/s DIMMs (2 DPC)
- 16 GB‒based DDR4 DIMM support, up to 256 GB DDR4 DIMM support
- Select SKUs will support a maximum memory capacity of 6 TB/socket7
- TDP between 105W and 205W
Intel-based Mac Pro
Rumors suggest that Apple may use this Intel’s Xeon W-3300-series ‘Ice Lake-SP’ CPUs for its next-generation Apple Mac Pro which will be introduced in 2022. It appears that Apple has laid the groundwork for the Xeon W-3300 on Xcode 13 beta (the company’s integrated development environment for macOS and iOS) contained support for those Intel’s Ice Lake-SP processors. The hardware support in the Xcode indicates that Apple is being ready to utilize those new Intel processors in its development ecosystem. Furthermore, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman was able to confirm there will be one last Intel Mac Pro before, or after, the M1 will be presented.
More choices to Intel Mac Pro
The Mac Pro can now be configured with new AMD Radeon Pro GPUs (W6800X, W6800X Duo, or W6900X). The price for those GPUs ranges from $2,400 for a single module to $11,600 for two modules of W6900X. According to recourses, these processors should deliver major performance improvements up to 23% faster in DaVinci Resolve. This is another proof that Intel-based Mac Pro is here to stay.
Final insights
2022 may be one of the most intriguing year regarding the Mac Pro. It will be interesting to reveal those two machines which most probably will be very different in their versions. The M1 Mac Pro is supposed to be half the size of Apple’s own chip, as opposed to the Intel-based version that will be armed with Intel’s latest processors. It’ll be fascinating to discover how Apple will market this, without initiating any cannibalization between those two high-end machines. We’ll continue to dive into this. Stay tuned.
Product List
Here’re the products mentioned in the article, and the links to purchase them from authorized dealers.
- Apple Mac Pro
