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Mac Pro (2019)

Mark Sokolovsky - 2024.10.25

Although the outgoing Mac Pro had a 6 year run, it received few, if any updates during that time. In the weeks, months and years preceding the release of the 2019 Mac Pro, the crescendo of silence surrounding the Mac Pro led many to believe Apple was going to axe this model from the lineup. The 2019 model finally introduces Thunderbolt 3 to the Mac Pro, returns to a tower form factor in an all-new design, and offers a total of 8 PCI Express expansion slots. The last Mac with close to this many expansion slots was released over 2 decades prior in February 1997 as the Power Macintosh 9600/350, having 6 PCI expansion slots.

The prior model left room to be desired, as internal expansion was axed in favor of external devices and adapters. Partly as a result of this feedback, Apple once again reiterated on the classic tower form factor, allowing for “more room to grow” than most (if not, all) Macs.

Announced on WWDC 2019, this computer was released on December 10th 2019. The core structure consists of a stainless steel frame, revealed when the outer aluminum case is removed. The entire aluminum case lifts up and out, similar to how it’s done on a Power Mac G4 Cube. This is a vast departure from the classic Mac Pro 1,1 – 5,1 side panel access. Apple offered a “Mac Pro wheels kit” to replace the legs with metal wheels, for ($699). Every Mac Pro features a 1.4 Kw PSU, 3 giant fans, and 1 giant blower fan, touting up to 300 cubic feet per minute of airflow.

MPX Modules

  • MPX modules, (aka, Mac Pro Expansion modules), are specialized upgrade parts with additional connectors on them for additional features. Most happen to be GPUs.
  • The MPX module uses a regular PCIe x16 connector, with second connector for Thunderbolt connectivity & power delivery via the logic board. You may still connect compatible standard PCIe interfaced GPUs.

 

 

Details

  • Announced 2019.06.03
  • Model Identifier: MacPro7,1
  • A1991, EMC 3203

Mac OS

  • Requires macOS 10.15.1 (19B88) Catalina or later, compatible with latest intel build of macOS Sequoia 15.0

Core System

  • CPUs: The 2019 Mac Pro continues the trend of having a single CPU socket, like in the 2013 6,1. It uses an FCLGA 3647 “Socket P” socket. The CPUs shipped with this model come from the Cascade Lake 14 nm series.
  • Only the 12-core and up can operate RAM at 2933 MHz.
  • 1.5 TB of RAM requires either the 24-core W-3265M or 28-core W3275M.
    • Base model starts off with an 8-core 16-thread 3.5 Ghz Xeon W-3223 ($5999). This CPU operates ECC RAM at 2666 MHz. 160w TDP, 256K L1, 8MB L2, 16.5MB L3, 4 GHZ Turbo*
    • CPU upgrades: 12-core 24-thread 3.3 Ghz Xeon W3235 ($6999), 180w TDP, 384k L1, 12MB L2, 19.2MB L3, 4.4 GHz Turbo*
    • 16-core 32-thread 3.2 Ghz Xeon W3245 ($7999), 205w TDP, 512k L1, 16 MB L2, 22 MB L3, 4.4 GHz Turbo*
    • 24-core 48-thread 2.7 Ghz Xeon W3265M ($11999), 205w TDP, 768K L1, 24 MB L2, 33 MB L3, 4.4 GHz Turbo*
    • 28-core 56-thread 2.5 Ghz Xeon W3275M ($12999), 205w TDP, 896K L1, 28 MB L2, 38.5 MB L3, 4.4 GHz Turbo*
  • * Turbo frequencies reflect “Max Turbo Frequency” as listed on Intel website for each CPU. Each CPU has a different maximum frequency under Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0.
  • RAM: Up to 1.5 TB (12 128GB DIMMs, requires 24 or 28 core CPU). Intel lists the base model 8-core as being able to run with 1 TB of RAM, however, Apple, lists the second highest RAM configuration as 768 GB (12 64GB Dimms or 6 128 GB DIMMs)

Video

  • Apple touts “Configure two MPX modules with up to four GPUs”, as follows:
    • AMD Radeon Pro 580X: 36cu, 2304 stream, 8GB GDDR5, 5.6 Teraflops single precision, 2x HDMI 2.0, support for 6x 4K displays, or 2x 5K displays, or 2x Pro Display XDRs, Half-height module enabled PCIe slot 2 expansion.
    • AMD Radeon Pro W5500X: 24cu, 1536 stream, 8GB GDDR6 @224GB/s, 2x HDMI, support for 4x 4K displays, 1x 5K, and a single Pro Display XDR. Half Height
    • AMD Radeon Pro W5700X: 40cu, 2560 stream, 16GB GDDR6 @448GB/s, 4x Thunderbolt 3 ports and one HDMI port with support for 4K60, support for 6x 4K displays, 3x 5K, or 3x Pro Display XDRs. Full Height MPX Module
    • AMD Radeon Pro Vega II (Single GPU): 64cu, 4096 stream, 32GB HBM2 @ 1TB/s, 4x TB3, 1x HDMI 2.0, support for 6x 4K displays, 3x 5K, or 2x Pro Display XDRs. Full Height MPX Module.
    • AMD Radeon Pro Vega II Duo: 2x Vega II GPUs: 128cu (total), 8192 stream (total), 64GB HBM2 @ 1TB/s, Onboard infinity fabric link connects both GPUs at 84.3 GB/s. Support for 8x 4K, 4x 5K, or 4x Pro Display XDRs. Full Height MPX Module.
    • AMD Radeon Pro W6800X: 60 cu, 3840 stream, 32GB GDDR6 @ 512GB/s, 4x TB3, 1x HDMI w/ support for 4K60. Support for 6x 4K, 3x 5K, or 3x Pro Display XDRs. Full Height MPX Module.
    • AMD Radeon Pro W6900X: 80 cu, 5120 stream, 32GB GDDR6 @512GB/s, 4x TB3, 1x HDMI w/ support for 4K60, Support for 6x 4K, 3x 5K, or 3x Pro Display XDRs. Full Height MPX Module.
    • AMD Radeon Pro W6800X Duo: 120 cu total, 7680 stream total, 64GB GDDR6 @512GB/s, Onboard infinity fabric link connects both GPUs at 84.3 GB/s, 4x TB3, 1x HDMI w/ support for 4K60, support for 8x 4K, 4x 5K, or 6x Pro Display XDRs. Full Height MPX Module.
    • AMD Radeon Pro W6600X: 32cu, 2048 stream, 8GB GDDR6 @256GB/s, 2x HDMI with support for 4K60, support for 4x 4K, 1x 5K, or 2x Pro Display XDRs, Half Height

Drives

  • Drive bus: PCIe 3.0, up to 3.4 GB/s Read and Write, Solid State Drive
  • 256GB SSD (One 256GB module), 512GB SSD (One 512GB module), 1TB SSD (Two 512GB modules), 2TB SSD (Two 1TB modules), 4TB SSD (Two 2TB modules), 8TB SSD (Two 4TB modules).
  • Apple’s T2 security chip encrypts the onboard storage, like other late Intel Macs.
  • Optical Drive: none

Expansion

  • Two USB-A style USB 3.0 ports (rear)
  • Four USB-C style Thunderbolt 3 ports
    • Two on top next to the power button
    • Two in the back next to the USB 3.0 type-A ports.
  • Two 10Gb Ethernet ports
  • Two onboard SATA 3.0 Ports
  • One 8-Pin PCIe Power Supply connector
  • Two PCIe-based “module” connectors for proprietary storage
  • Audio: Built-in Speaker
  • 3.5mm headphone jack with headset support
  • Bluetooth: 5.0
  • Wifi: 802.11a/b/g/n

Physical

  • Size (HxWxD): 20.8″ x 17.7″ x 8.58″ (52.9 x 45 x 21.8)
  • Weight: 39.7 Lb (18 Kg)
  • Voltage: 100–125V AC at 12A; 220–240V AC at 6A

 

Accelerators & Upgrades

  • The best known CPU for the 2019 Mac Pro is a 28-core 56-thread 2.5 Ghz Intel Xeon W3275M.