No expansion? Apple may limit Mac Pro modularity to launch workstation with M2 Ultra

Apple seems not to have completed its transition from Intel processors to ARM in Mac computers, since there are still rumors indicating the launch of a new generation of Mac Pro, the brand’s most powerful workstation that should have several changes in its architecture, according to Mark Gurman.

The analyst said on Wednesday (25) that the Mac Pro with Apple chip may not be as modular, that is, it would not allow expanding the memory capacity or adding a more powerful video card. This would limit the desktop to the hardware configured at the time of purchase, preventing the installation of new components following purchase.

Currently, big tech sells RAM and GPU modules on its official website to boost the performance of the 2019 model, but these components may not be supported by a new Mac Pro due to the Integrated nature of Apple processorswhich unite the CPU, GPU and RAM memory cores on a single chip.

Apple, on the other hand, might still allow expansion of the Mac Pro’s SSD storage capacity, since the units are not soldered to the chip. The company might also add support for external GPUs (eGPU), which would allow it to increase its performance in graphic tasks, but it is still too early to speculate on this possibility.

The Mac Pro can keep the current design and use only the M2 Ultra, supposed processor that would succeed the M1 Ultra as Apple’s most powerful hardware. According to Gurman, the Mac Pro’s key difference to Mac Studio would be its more advantageous cooling systemwhich would allow the chip to work with more power without stuttering.

Software
26 Jan

security
25 Jan

Rumor has it that the M2 Ultra will have 76 GPU cores — double the number of cores graphics present in M2 Max. In hindsight, the M1 Ultra is a combination of two M1 Max units, so it’s possible that the new generation will follow that strategy and adopt a 24-core CPU configuration.

There is still no scheduled release date for the Mac Pro with Apple Silicon, and as always, the manufacturer does not comment on its future products, so it is necessary to treat the information in the field of rumors.

See more!