Why Does the M2 Mac Pro Exist? | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Apple has completed its transition to Apple silicon with the release of the new Mac Pro, featuring the powerful M2 Ultra chip. While the Mac Studio offers similar performance at a lower cost, the Mac Pro stands out for its PCI expansion slots.

Key Insights

• 🇲🇰 Apple has successfully completed its transition to Apple silicon, with the Mac Pro being the last Mac to receive the upgrade.
• 🐿️ The M2 Ultra chip in the new Mac Pro offers significant performance improvements over the previous M1 Ultra chip.
• 🇲🇰 The Mac Pro's differentiation from the Mac Studio primarily lies in its PCI expansion slots, which cater to professionals with specific workflow requirements.
• ⚡ While the Mac Pro may have slight advantages in sustained performance and thermal management, it does not justify its higher price tag for most users.

Transcript

so Apple's done it they finally completed their apple silicon transition they said it would take two years it took closer to three but now every single Mac that was running Intel processors just a few short years ago is running Apple silicon from the top to the bottom of their lineup and the very last one to get it was this one right here the new A... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the main difference between the Mac Pro and the Mac Studio?

The main difference is the presence of PCI expansion slots in the Mac Pro, allowing professionals in certain industries to use sound cards, i/o cards, storage cards, and networking cards. The Mac Studio, on the other hand, does not have these slots.

Q: Is there any advantage to getting the Mac Pro in terms of sustained performance or thermal management?

While there may be a slight advantage in sustained performance and thermal management due to its larger chassis and additional fans, the difference is minimal and not significant enough to justify the higher price tag of the Mac Pro.

Q: Can the Mac Pro support external GPUs?

No, the Mac Pro does not support external GPUs or video cards. The GPU, which is part of the Apple silicon chip, is already integrated into the machine. The PCI expansion slots in the Mac Pro are solely for expansion cards for specialized workflows.

Q: Are there any specific advantages to getting the Mac Pro for video editing?

For video editing, the Mac Pro's advantage lies in its PCI expansion slots, which can accommodate specialized storage cards. This allows for higher storage capacity and faster read/write speeds compared to the built-in storage options of the Mac Studio.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Apple has successfully transitioned all its Macs from Intel processors to Apple silicon.

• The M2 Ultra chip in the new Mac Pro offers exceptional performance, surpassing the M1 Ultra in both single-core and multi-core CPU performance.

• The Mac Pro differentiates itself from the Mac Studio with its larger chassis, better thermal performance, more IO ports, and most importantly, PCI expansion slots.