Term of the Moment
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Definition: Mac Pro
Apple's professional workstation, which was introduced in 2006. Other Apple products also use the Pro designation (see MacBook, iMac and iPad). In 2022, Apple announced the Mac Studio, which resulted in two high-end workstations: the Mac Pro based on Intel x86 CPUs and the Mac Studio based on Apple's M chips. See Mac Studio, Mac models and Apple M series.
From Intel to Apple CPUs
In 2023, Apple switched the Mac Pro from Intel to its own silicon. The current-generation Mac Pro is based on the 24-core M2 Ultra chip and supports up to 76 GPU cores, 192GB of unified memory and 8TB of solid state storage. For expansion, the Mac Pro has six PCI Express slots. Fully loaded with maximum cores, memory and storage, it retails for one quarter the price of its Intel-based predecessor.
A Powerhouse Tower
The Original Mac Pro
Second-Generation - The Cylinder
From Intel to Apple CPUs
In 2023, Apple switched the Mac Pro from Intel to its own silicon. The current-generation Mac Pro is based on the 24-core M2 Ultra chip and supports up to 76 GPU cores, 192GB of unified memory and 8TB of solid state storage. For expansion, the Mac Pro has six PCI Express slots. Fully loaded with maximum cores, memory and storage, it retails for one quarter the price of its Intel-based predecessor.
The current-generation Mac Pro is contained in a traditional tower case but with a flair. A rack-mounted version is also available. See rack mounted. (Image courtesy of Apple, Inc.)
With up to 12 cores, the first Mac Pro in 2006 was powered by Intel x86 chips rather than Apple's PowerPC. Shown here with Apple's coveted 30" monitor, the Pro supported 64GB of RAM with plenty of internal room for additional storage. See Intel Mac.
In 2013, the Mac Pro came in a cylinder case with a fan that drew air through the top (gargoyle was user added). Sometimes called the "Trashcan Mac" due to its shape, it supported up to 16 Intel Xeon cores, 64GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. Peripheral expansion was via USB and Thunderbolt (top). See Trashcan Mac Pro.