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Tipster Report: Mac Pro 'hexacore' Xeon Core i7-980x coming Tuesday

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | March 10, 2010, 11:01am PST

Summary

I’m getting tips in from sources who claim that Apple is set to revamp its high-end Mac Pro line, adding a ‘hexacore’ Core i7-980x model to the line up.

Topics

Apple Macintosh, Apple Mac Pro, Intel Xeon, Desktops, Hardware, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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I’m getting tips in from sources who claim that Apple is set to revamp its high-end Mac Pro line, adding a ‘hexacore’ Core i7-980x model to the line up.

All information points to this happening next Tuesday, March 16th.

The Core i7-980x is Intel’s first six-core part. Here’s the spec:

  • 3.33GHz (TurboBoost to 3.6GHz)
  • 6 cores / 12 threads
  • 32nm architecture
  • Socket LGA1366
  • 130W TDP

A ‘hexacore’ system would represent a significant upgrade for the Mac Pro line.

If you’re thinking of buying a Mac Pro, you might want to wait a few days.

Note: These are unofficial reports from tipsters, and not official reports.

UPDATE: Several of you have asked me about macBook Pro updates. I’ve no reports of any changes to this line happening any time soon.

Stay tuned!

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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Talkback Most Recent of 20 Talkback(s)

  • What about the dual socket 12-core version?
    I'm just thinking about the insanity that would come with 24 GB of RAM
    and 24 simultaneous threads.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    nix_hed
    03/10/2010 11:39 AM
  • Assuming...
    ...you can find anything that can consume 24 threads. The apps included in Final Cut Studio only spawn off 8 threads each for rendering and the like. Although this could be updated to support more.

    However video rendering cannot make much use of hyper threading.

    But even at that, 12 physical cores will be nuts.

    I hope they stick a good video card in it. An HD 5870 would be nice happy
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Stuka
    03/10/2010 01:25 PM
  • Just gotta find ...
    ... 6,000 hexabuck$ now then!
    ZDNet Gravatar
    johnfenjackson@...
    (Edited: 03/10/2010 12:47 PM)
  • Does Apple have some sort of agreement with Intel...
    Does Apple have some sort of agreement with Intel to allow
    them to be the exclusive reseller for the first few months?

    I've noticed this trend for the past few Intel releases, Apple
    has been the only company you could buy the new chips
    from for several months.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    olePigeon
    03/10/2010 01:27 PM
  • Hmm, I'd never thought about that...
    Could be. Now THAT would be interesting...
    ZDNet Gravatar
    rlorenz
    03/10/2010 02:03 PM
  • @olePigeon
    Intel mentioned in the keynote when the first Intel based computer was introduced that they have been trying to get Apple to switch for at least 2-3 decades if I remember correctly. So it wouldn't surprise me that Intel is bending over backwards for Apple.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Axsimulate
    03/10/2010 02:09 PM
  • RE: Apple Agreement
    They definitely had some key processors early, the latest Mac Pro got the Xeon 5500's first, and the old MacBook air in 2008 had an exclusive processor for it at the time.

    For this latest deal though, I've seen articles about European resellers already stocking the i7-980x, and there's already a router/security appliance that's using the new Xeon 5600. Maybe they are just taking pre-orders, but it definitely got some buzz going as I have been waiting impatiently for this new MacPro.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    eric@...
    03/10/2010 03:20 PM
  • What does "adding" it mean?
    Is it like they "added" the iPad to their lineup which really meant they were doing a paper launch and you would not see the product for two more months? Or is it a "real launch" meaning you could actually buy it if you had the $$$ (which of course few will have)
    ZDNet Gravatar
    cornpie
    03/10/2010 01:33 PM
  • Usually....
    Updates to systems go straight to the apple store
    and are "buyable" right away. Totally new products
    sometimes will be pre-announced (iphone, ipad).
    ZDNet Gravatar
    lostarchitect
    03/10/2010 01:56 PM
  • That's my experience too
    When new system revs are announced, they take the Apple Store down for a couple of hours just before the announcement, then bring it back up with the new revs immediately "available" for purchase. In this case it might take an additional week for the box to arrive in your mailbox, especially if the demand outstrips the initial supply.

    Big, overhyped releases (read iPhone and iPad) that are announced several months in advance, will not be available until the date that Apple sets. Probably that means that Apple still needs to work out the kinks in the supply chain, or fix any IP issues, or just make enough of the suckers to satisfy the anticipated initial demand.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    ssaha
    03/10/2010 02:10 PM
  • Apple likes to announce their new products...
    themselves, not have a rumor site do it for them.

    The iPhone and the iPad required FCC approval, a process that is public,
    which means the rumor sites would get the information on them at the
    time Apple filed for approval. That's why they were pre-announced.
    They also can't be pre-ordered until the FCC approval is granted.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    msalzberg
    03/11/2010 04:24 AM
  • RE: Tipster Report: Mac Pro 'hexacore' Xeon Core i7-980x coming Tuesday
    The price is likely to be very expensive. I'm almost
    surprised that Apple can sell Mac Pros for nearly $5000 a
    pop with dual 2.66 Nehalem processors. They are
    beautifully built machines inside and out and I'd always
    wanted one, but I guess I'll have to be content with a
    quad-core iMac which is about as much as I need without
    breaking my piggy bank. I'll still be on the lookout for an
    older refurbished 8-core Mac Pro.

    I shudder to imagine what a dual hexacore Mac Pro would
    cost.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    ConstableOdo
    03/10/2010 07:38 PM
  • Expensive chips ...
    The Xeon chips are pricey, presumably because those users who need
    both the speed and reliability they provide are willing to pay for them.

    Apple's not out of line here; a quick visit to Dell's site, configuring their
    base T5500 workstation with dual 2.66 GHz Nehalems and 2 GB of RAM
    comes out to $4780 (rebate to $4413) vs Apple's $4699 (but with 6 GB).
    Bringing the Dell to 6 GB brings the after-rebate price to $4733.

    I settled for a quad-core iMac myself, but really wish I had ECC. I can?t
    quite justify for what I do at home, though. If it were for work, it?d be
    easy to spend the extra $1000 or more for peace of mind.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    tarrant.
    03/10/2010 08:42 PM
  • RE: Tipster Report: Mac Pro 'hexacore' Xeon Core i7-980x coming Tuesday
    what about final cut studio 64bit....any new on that...
    ZDNet Gravatar
    alexmolly
    03/10/2010 08:30 PM
  • RE: Tipster Report: Mac Pro 'hexacore' Xeon Core i7-980x coming Tuesday
    what about final cut studio 64bit.any news on that...
    ZDNet Gravatar
    alexmolly
    03/10/2010 08:33 PM
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