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Faster CPU for 2013 Mac Pro?

2013-12-20 • SEND FEEDBACK |

Related: 2013 Mac Pro, Mac Pro

See 2013 Mac Pro: Choosing CPU Speed.

I do wonder why Apple won’t let us have three appealing CPU options.

E5-2687WV2: 3.4 GHz 8-core (TPD 150 W), Turbo Boost to 4.0 GHz, 25MB cache
E5-2667V2: 3.3 GHz 8-core (TPD 130 W), Turbo Boost to 4.0 GHz, 25MB cache
E5-1660V2: 3.7 GHz 6-core (TPD 130 W), Turbo Boost to 4.0 GHz, 15MB cache

The 8-core chips in particular look appealing, but a 6-core 3.7 GHz / 15MB cache is appealing over 3.5 GHz / 12MB cache as well.

If the new Mac Pro has a socketed CPU (and Apple has not “locked down” the system somehow), perhaps the low-end 4-core can be upgraded to a fast 8-core.

Well, one never knows what those hard core elves over at OWC might be up to, given their CPU upgrade program for the prior model.

TPD of 150 watts vs 130 watts should be a non issue for any reasonable usage, and probably a non issue in any case with Apple likely over-engineering the cooling system.

These are not large bumps up, but the Mac Pro is such a big investment that eking out another 6-10% makes a lot of sense in the context of total system cost—and slightly faster CPU options exist in MacBook Pro and iMac offerings.