Apple claims that the new Mac Pro "drives creativity on an epic scale," so let's take a look at 10 things that make the Mac Pro unique.
1. Design
Let's start with the design, as it's undoubtedly the first thing you'll notice about the new Mac Pro. The cylindrical shape of the Mac Pro is more reminiscent of a subwoofer than a computer tower. While the design has drawn mixed reviews, in any case, Apple has tried to combine a new exterior design with a new approach to cooling the high-performance computer.
2. 4K support
Although 4K video is poorly supported due to the high write speed and high storage requirements, that didn't stop Apple from going ahead and designing this beast to handle up to three (yes three!) 4K video monitors. High-end filmmakers should consider pairing the Black Magic 4K camera with the Mac Pro to make their creative dreams come true.
3. PCIe-based Flash Storage
Like the new MacBook Pros, the Mac Pro's hard drive is upgraded from Serial ATA (with optional 512GB SSDs) to new PCIe-based flash. PCIe storage is up to 2.4 times faster than the fastest SATA-based SSD. Tests show 1200MB/s for PCIe compared to 500MB/s for a SATA drive. The Mac Pro offers up to 1TB of storage.
4. Thunderbolt 2
Thunderbolt 2, Intel's new technology, integrates PCI Express with DisplayPort 1.2. The technology (combined with 6 ports capable of supporting up to 6 daisy-chained devices each) will theoretically allow you to connect up to 36 external devices. Thunderbolt 2 also allows for up to 20Gbps of bandwidth for each external device.
5. RAM memory
The Mac Pro offers up to 64GB of RAM, up from 30GB in the previous Mac Pro model. Bandwidth has also been doubled, with a quad-channel DDR3 memory controller running at 1866MHz. 64GB is a lot of RAM!
6. Single Thermal Core
Instead of using multiple heatsinks and fans to cool the Mac Pro, Apple uses a single piece of extruded aluminum that maximizes airflow and heat capacity (See photo 1). Heat is directed away from the processor and graphics cards and distributed evenly throughout the core. This way, additional heat capacity is shared among the processors, even those that are not being used. This is a unique Apple design that is the first time it has been used in mass production.
7. A fan
What’s also unique about the Mac Pro is its single, large fan. The fan pulls in fresh air from the bottom of the unit, while expelling hot core air from the top of the unit. In a sense, the Mac Pro acts like a portable air filter that works from the bottom up. The large fan is also quiet for its size. The fan’s noise level in idle mode is rated at 12dBA.
8. Dual GPU
The Mac Pro features dual AMD FirePro workstation-class GPUs. Each of the GPUs is available with 2GB, 3GB, or 6GB of dedicated vRAM, with up to 2048 stream processors. Apple rates the GPU performance at up to 7 teraflops, compared to the latest Mac Pro which delivers up to 2.7 teraflops. The dual GPUs also provide enough power to connect up to three 4K displays, as mentioned above.
9. Price
Why is the Mac Pro unique? The starting price of the Mac Pro in Greece is around €2,700 excluding VAT, if you think about what PC you "build" with that money, you wonder. But the Mac Pro was designed for a specialized audience with high demands. For an audience that, if combined with the purchase of a 27-inch Thunderbolt display and a Blackmagic 4K camera, will have an excellent video workstation for less than €10,000 (without lenses).