How the new Mac Pro on M2 Ultra differs from the old Mac Pro on Intel processors

The last computer that was presented at the WWDC 2023 conference was a powerful desktop Mac Pro.

Externally, the model has not undergone any changes, but the filling has changed. No wonder, because the previous generation of Mac Pro was presented back in 2019 and was running processors Intel.

To the point:

◈ How the new 15-inch MacBook Air differs from the 13-inch MacBook Air
◈ How the new Mac Studio differs from the old 2022 Mac Studio

So Apple has completely completed the transition of all linear computers to ARM-processors of its own production. In my opinion, the maximum in 2 years, the new macOS will no longer be supported x86 in architectural chips.

now let’s see what’s new Mac Pro on M2 Ultra different from the old Mac Pro on Intel.

Processor and stuffing

Mac Pro 2023 runs on new chips M2 Ultra. You can choose from a basic modification with the possibility of upgrading in the configurator:

▶ Processor M2 Ultra 24 processors, 60 GPU, 32 Neural engine;
▶ 64 GB combined memory;
▶ SSD storage 1 TB.

Apple’s own ARM chip, equipped with a media engine for the hardware brain H.264, HEVC, ProRes And ProRes RAW. It has 2 video decoding engines, 4 video encoding engines, and 4 encoding and decoding engines. ProRes.

When choosing a custom model, you can increase:

🔧 GPU up to 76 cores + $1000;
🔧 RAM up to 128/192 GB + $800/1600;
🔧 SSD up to 2/4/8 TB + $400/1000/2200.

Well, the famous wheels for $400 can be purchased.

Top-of-the-line hardware configuration (no wheels, paid software, and accessories) in the US will cost $11,799.

Mac Pro 2019 works under the control of processors of the family Intel Xeon. Based on the following model:

▶ Processor Intel Xeon W 8 cores, 3.5 GHz;
▶ Graphics Radeon Pro W5500X MPX 8 GB;
▶ 32 GB RAM;
▶ SSD storage 512 GB.

When ordering a custom model, you can expand:

🔧 CPU angle up to 28-core Intel Xeon W 2.5 GHz;
🔧 Graphic arts up to two cards Radeon Pro W6800X 64 GB;
🔧 RAM before 1.5 TB;
🔧 SSD up to 8 TB.

Other differences

▶ The number of ports on the case has changed. Mac Pro 2023 received 8 Thunderbolt 4 ports (in the old model) up to 12 Thunderbolt 3 ports), 3 USB-A ports (instead of two ports on the old Mac Pro) and 2 HDMI.

▶ HDMI ports Mac Pro 2023 mobile multi-channel audio output.

▶ Mac Pro 2023 Output image to 8 displays with the federation 4K, 6 displays in 6K or 3 displays with 8K services. The previous generation of computers in the top configuration up to 12 4K displays.

▶ Improved wireless modules. Instead of WiFi 802.11ac And bluetooth 5.0 novelty received Wi-Fi 6E And Bluetooth 5.3.

▶ Mac Pro 2023 received 7 PCI Express expansion slotson the old model up to 8 PCI Express ports.

At the same time, new Mac Pro 2023 does not support PCIe graphics card or external eGPU.

▶ New computer connecting high-impedance headphones via built-in 3.5mm jack. The previous generation had no such options.

▶ Mac Pro 2023 became a little lighter and weighs 16.86 kgwhile Mac Pro 2019 weighs 18 kg.

The updated keyboard comes with the new model Magic Keyboard with Touch ID.

What in the end

After the presentation of the new Mac Pro old cpu computer Intel no longer sold on the Apple website. There is no point in buying such a computer in 2023, even if it is available at a bargain price from resellers.

As mentioned above, the model contains the latest years and around 2024-2025, features will no longer receive fresh macOS updates. There is no point in choosing extremely powerful and expensive hardware idle for the future.

The model itself has long moved from the category of devices to the corporate segment. Quite powerful and compact Studio Mac it can be hidden for neither most nor most users, and with all the upgrade options, it could be several times more powerful than a Mac Pro on chips Intel.

The stuffing of the new Mac Pro is at least 2 times more powerful than the old generation hardware and has a good start to the future. However, portable devices were found in buyers, which were subsequently equipped with peripherals to connect Macs via PCI Express connectors.

Sales of the Mac Pro in other countries are already expected, in our country the model will arrive in the coming weeks. The price tag for the basic configuration in Russia will exceed half a million rubles.