Apple rolls out three new AMD Radeon Pro graphics card modules for Intel-based Mac Pros; options range from $2,400 to $5,600 in build-to-order configurations
9to5MacChance Miller
Context & Ripple Effects
Apple has repeatedly used AMD graphics upgrades to keep its professional Macs current, from a 2017 Mac Pro GPU refresh to higher-end iMac Pro build-to-order configurations. The 2019 tower Mac Pro was designed around expansion, with eight PCIe slots and support for up to four AMD GPUs in Apple’s workstation redesign.
The new Radeon Pro modules extend that configuration strategy to Intel-based Mac Pros at the point of purchase, making graphics capacity a major paid tier within Apple’s remaining Intel workstation line.
First-order effects
Intel Mac Pro buyers gain three additional Radeon Pro build-to-order choices, priced from $2,400 to $5,600, while Apple expands the hardware configurations it can sell on the system.
AMD gains additional placement in Apple’s professional desktop catalog as Apple adds Radeon Pro modules rather than introducing a different graphics supplier.
Second-order effects
Apple’s build-to-order channel captures more of professional buyers’ graphics spending within the Mac Pro purchase, following its earlier high-end iMac Pro configuration options.
The new internal options give Mac Pro buyers a more direct Apple-sold graphics path than the earlier Blackmagic Radeon Pro external GPU, sharpening the distinction between desktop expansion and external acceleration.
Third-order effects
If Apple continues pairing modular workstation hardware with expensive graphics tiers, professional Mac differentiation will rely increasingly on configurable component capacity rather than a single base-specification machine.
The pattern reinforces AMD’s role in Apple’s Intel-era professional graphics stack, while concentrating the highest-performance choices in Apple-controlled build-to-order pricing.
The trend: Apple is extending a long-running pro-Mac strategy of monetizing graphics performance through increasingly granular, premium configuration tiers.
And more Apple news — they just launched three graphics card modules for #MacPro: Radeon Pro W6800X MPX Module, Radeon Pro W6800X Duo MPX Module and the Radeon Pro W6900X MPX Module. All in the name of more graphics power.
AMD announcing new Mac Pro graphics instead of Apple is peek 2021 mid-silicon transition energy: “New AMD Radeon PRO W6000X Series GPUs Bring Groundbreaking High-Performance AMD RDNA 2 Architecture to Mac Pro” https://www.globenewswire.com/ ...
The updated Mac Pro GPU options today reaffirm that Apple is nowhere near close to abandoning its Intel-based Macs. The notion that Apple is, thanks to M1, suddenly going to ditch its Intel-Mac user base is absurd and completely fabricated.
If you have an M1 Mac, I highly recommend the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, which I've been using since early June. I've got the details about it and other new accessories from Apple on @macstoriesnet: Apple Releases New Mac Keyboards and Pointing Devices https://www.macstories.n…
These should deliver some big performance boosts like up to 23% faster performance in DaVinci Resolve and 84% faster in Octane X. Imagine mileage here will vary. These will be available for individual order or for a built-to-order #MacPro.
@LukeMiani (2/2) UM (just speculating here), considerably less than the current offering of 1.5TB of memory (ignoring the fact that UM is more efficient than normal RAM and one my not need 1.5TB because of it). So, Apple might just keep the Intel Mac Pro until they catch up in te…
@LukeMiani (1/2) Atleast from marketing perspective, it kinda makes sense for them to keep it updated because if M1X (Jade C-Chop and Jade C-Die) is limited to 64GB of unified memory (src: Mark Gurman) then the Mac Pro version of the chip (Jade 4C-Die) will be limited to 64*4 = 2…
Guys, this is a good time to point out that the “new intel Mac Pro” is just gonna be this exact same thing. A couple more options on the buy page! That's. IT! I don't think this rumoured new intel Mac Pro is any obstruction in the Apple Silicon Mac Pro release date. https://twitt…
@SaranByte That's what I think, why would they release another Intel Mac Pro later this year if they've just updated the graphics on the 2019? Apple obviously still want people to buy the Intel Mac Pro so I don't think the Apple Silicone version will be released for at least 15 m…
Apple just replaced the Vega graphics options for Mac Pro with brand new AMD 6000 series graphics! Yet more proof that Apple is not abandoning the Intel platform for Mac Pro anytime soon. Still starts with a freakin RX 580 though wtf https://twitter.com/...
W6900X is here! And really expensive. Hard to really judge how off this is. It is a workstation card with double the VRAM. And the PC version _of the consumer card_ goes for about $2000 right now with all the crazy GPU prices. https://twitter.com/...
These announced independently of a Mac Pro refresh might indicate that there is no spec bump planned before an Apple Silicon model? ...maybe Apple can't even source GPUs right now, either 😅 https://twitter.com/...
$179 for the full-sized Magic Keyboard with Touch ID is not worth it, unless you don't have an Apple Watch. Apple Watch users can just use it to unlock and authenticate a number of things with their Mac. $179 just doesn't seem entirely worth it.