Mac Pro (2020): technical sheet, review and price of the most powerful Apple computer

Get ready: we're going to talk about the most powerful Mac in Apple computer history. I named the Mac Pro: a monster of power which, from the first glance, impresses with its very particular format. You are looking for an (ultra) efficient machine forwork, who doesn't flinch when launching the most complex tasks and what's more, benefits from the know-how of a brand renowned in IT for over forty years? Then you are in the right place. In fact, we have analyzed for you thetechnical sheetof the Mac Pro, in order to identify its best assets but also the most annoying faults. Here is what we learned from it, with supporting figures and images.

Le Mac level 999

Let's say it straight away: the Mac Pro is not for jokers. The manufacturer is indeed offering us here its fastest product (but whose prices also climb the highest, we will come back to this later), intended as its name indicates forprofessionals. Indeed, its price range and its components are so high-end that almost no individual should really be interested in this modern-day Hercules.

It starts with the processor. Here, the selection for the Mac Pro is signedIntelwho supplies chipsXeon Wwith eight to twenty-eight cores depending on the configuration chosen. In the basic version, the CPU is clocked at a minimum of 3.5 GHz and benefits from 24.5 MB of cache memory, supporting the 2,666 MHz frequency. But by bleeding your wallet (we're talking about an additional 8,750 euros), you will be able to reach4,4 GHz en Turbo Boost, with fifty-six threads on the clock, for 66.5 MB of cache memory and 2,933 MHz. Just that!

Let's now move on to theRAM. With the Mac Pro, the options are:

• 32 Go(as four 8 GB DIMMs)
• 48 Go (6 x DIMM 8 Go)
• 96 Go (6 x DIMM 16 Go)
• 192 Go (6 x DIMM 32 Go)
• 384 Go (6 x DIMM 64 Go)
• 768 Go (6 x DIMM 128 Go ou 12 x 64 Go)

The most daring will even be able to achieve1.5 TB of RAM, but for this it is necessary to have previously chosen a processor at 7,500 euros or more. See the result with 6,000 tabs open on Google's Chrome browser:

For theGPUof the Mac Pro, Apple has chosen to change supplier: this timeAMDwho is in charge. On the menu, pieces also among the best on the market. The base option is a Radeon Pro 580X graphics card with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory. This is already capable of supporting up to six 4K displays orfour 2K screens, and carries with it 36 ​​calculation units. The other extreme for this Mac Pro will be the combination of twoRadeon Pro Vega II Duo, coupled with 2 x 32 GB of HBM2 memory each. + 13,500 euros.

macOS Big Sur

Like all other Apple products in its family, the Mac Pro is powered by macOS. Its latest version is Big Sur: a concentrate of services, some of which are only available on specific devices, all for free. Among them, we find theMac App Store, essential to obtain applications whose security has previously been studied to protect your Mac Pro against potential viruses. As onthe fourth generation iPad Pro, the Mac Pro (2020) also includes the voice assistantSiri, as well as the Messages platformsynchronizedwith text messages received on your iPhone.

For 4.99 euros per month, you can also subscribe to Apple TV+ orApple Arcadefrom the Mac Pro. This cloud gaming catalog will make the computer fans purr without flinching. Otherwise, the proprietary software Final Cut Pro X (for video editing) and Logic Pro

On a daily basis, usemacOS 11is an example of simplicity on the Mac Pro: since the update, the menus are colorful and navigation easier, because the entire design has been revised from top to bottom on occasion. L'UIis thus closer to that which can be found on the tablets of the same brand, which will be very practical for regulars. The only faults that we can criticize in the Mac Pro software are itsincompatibility with programs coded in 64-bitbut also the difficulty encountered when wanting to download apps that do not come from the App Store. Apple indeed blocks this type of manipulation.

A particularly original design

Cheese grater. This is the term used by journalists to describe the external appearance of the Mac Pro when it was released, and it must be said that they are not necessarily wrong: the image makes you smile. The aluminum casing is indeed dotted with ventilation holes, for a massive weight of18 or 17.6 kgdepending on the model chosen. Because yes, we haven't told you but there are two different formats for the Mac Pro. The first, and the cheapest, is thetour, which can move using a handle or casters. The second is therack, installed horizontally.

As for pure dimensions, the Mac Pro offers 52.9 (height) x 45 cm (depth) vertically for 21.8 cm depth: we will have to dofrom pleasureat your desk, especially since the height reaches 55.7 cm if you mount the computer on casters. In rack mode, the Mac Pro is 48.2 cm wide, more than sixty centimeters deep and 22 cm high. Only one color is available to date: gray. Finally, be aware that the Mac Pro operates in temperatures ranging from 10 to 35° (forget it if you don't have air conditioningin the south), up to 5,000 meters above sea level.

Bonus: with arepairability rating of 9/10according to the very serious experts ofiFixit, the Mac Pro also has the advantage of being one of the easiest Macs to repair yourself.

Mac Pro: inputs and outputs

Like any good desktop computer, the Mac Pro comes with several ports to plug in the accessories of your choice. Among them, we find the essential USB ports: two USB 3 andfour USB-C, the latter supporting the Thunderbolt 3 standard at speeds up to 40 Gbit per second as well as DisplayPort.

The Mac Pro is also one of the few Apple computers withits little brother the Mac minito have the right to a portEthernet. It even has a pair, with speeds capable of going up to 10 Gbit per second using copper RJ-45 cables. Another advantage: the Mac Pro comes with a 3.5 mm jack which will be the best ally for your listening sessions on Apple Music (9.99 euros per month). Only downside:no SD card reader, which will require finding an adapter for Mavic Air 2 drivers.

Network and audio

For sound, Apple has put the minimum into its Mac Pro: we are talking here about a speaker withoutno microphone. It will therefore be necessary to connect speakers, wired headphones or Bluetooth headphones to overcome this disadvantage, which is somewhat unworthy of a product costing -potentially- several tens of thousands of euros.

For the network, Apple has integrated into the Mac Pro a Wi-Fi modem compatible with 802.11ac/a/b/g/n standards, as well as a transmitterBluetoothLow Energy (5.0). On the software side, the publisher offers its own file sending service: AirDrop, for which only its products are eligible.

What accessories to equip the Mac Pro?

You guessed it: the Mac Pro is notthan a central unit, and it is necessary to research the necessary peripherals yourself to be able to exploit its potential to its maximum. Starting with a screen. Obviously, thePro Display XDRis THE reference because it was designed by the same company. Equipped with a large 32-inch Retina 6K panel, with a very wide viewing angle, this display costs at least 5,499 euros. But you can also turn to competing brands without problem if you want to save money or are looking for a curved screen: the Mac Pro is not sectarian.

As we saw above, the Mac Pro is also very heavy. Fortunately, Apple sells four separatelycasters, the price of which is steep (I hope you are seated correctly): 500 euros… Obviously, with this you will also need a mouse and a keyboard. That's good since Apple also suggests choosing your own accessories to accompany the Mac Pro. This is theMagic Mouse 2for the mouse, orMagic Keyboardwith numeric keypad for text. Please note that you can also choose theMagic Trackpadwith (+150 euros) or instead (+50 euros) of the Magic Mouse 2. Choice of colors: silver or black.

Apple provides the Mac Pro power cord “for free”, which measurestwo meterslong and plugs into any universal AC outlet. To this is added a USB-C to Lightning adapter cable, which will be useful for recharging the keyboard or mouse. For the rack-mounted Mac Pro, the mounting rails are also provided, but delivered separately.

We come to the fateful question: what are the prices of the new Mac Pro? They start to6 499 eurosfor the tower version, or 7,199 euros for the rack version. Then, several criteria are taken into account in the definition of the price, including in particular storage which takes the form of aSSD de 256 Gobasic. Otherwise, the amounts to be paid will be as follows:

• + 500 euros for the 1 TB SSD
• + 1,000 euros for the 2 TB SSD
• + 1,750 euros for the 4 TB SSD
• + 3,250 euros for the SSD8 To

The Mac Pro also offers a lightweight PCIe accelerator card.the overhead of decoding ProRes and ProRes RAW video codecs” in software such as QuickTime Player X, for an additional 2,500 euros. Name :Apple Afterburner.

Conclusion: the Mac Pro 2020 is an unparalleled supermachine

We have arrived at the end of this Mac Pro (2020) technical sheet. What conclusions can we draw from this? First of all, this is clearly not a computer for everyone but indeed agod of speed. Indeed, few competitors can match it, including Windows. The chances of seeing your work slow down are tiny with the Mac Pro, which has everything to guarantee youstabilityof the foolproof system, especially sincemacOS Big Suris renowned for being excellent software, which is verified on a daily basis, without fail.

We will still regretprixat the limit of reason, which will force some to turn instead tothe iMac Pro whose performance can also reach new heights. In short, yes, the Mac Pro is the ideal dream for yourbusiness, but you better find a good strategy to make it profitable.