Which to Buy - Apple Mac Studio or Mac Pro 2023?

[JoeM]

Even though the focus here is for audio production, this comparison of the new Mac Pro vs the new Mac Studio shows the price differences when putting similar systems together:

https://www.pro-tools-expert.com/product...or-mac-pro

[pRICE cUBE]

Looks like it comes down to expansion cards and ability to grate cheese.

[hal]

Can I have your old one once you decide? :-)

[clay]

yeah, it's a somewhat hard sell to go to the Mac Pro, since the SoC is exactly the same as the Studio. If Apple had succeeded in making the 2x Ultra chip, or had some other benefit (like ability to add more memory than what is on the SoC), then the extra cost would be more warranted. You only need the Pro if you need expansion cards (no GPU support) or internal storage. Or if you need a conversation piece :-)

You're paying $3k for the Mac Pro case, expansion slots and bragging rights.

[anonymouse1]

Has Apple officially said "There will be no PCI GPU support?"

[JoeH]

All I have seen so far is that no PCI GPUs are supported, same as no eGPU support for the other Apple Silicon Mac's. That leads me to believe Apple is not working with AMD to get any GPU drivers that would work on the ARM architecture of Apple Silicon. I haven't seen any statement that they never will, but Apple is still pretty consistent on not announcing future plans. However I wouldn't plan on that ever happening.

[JoeM]

I’ve read some grumbling from a few audio guys concerning these new Apple Silicon Macs inability to clone their boot drives or replace the boot drive in the Studio yourself. I saw that Apple with sell replacement drives for the 2023 MP, not sure about the Studio. I’m able to clone my drive in my 2019 MP and I now have a second bootable drive in it so I’m happy although I’d love to have all those extra Thunderbolt 4 ports. The new Studio seems to be the sweet spot for most other than video pros.

[datbeme]

clay wrote:
You're paying $3k for the Mac Pro case, expansion slots and bragging rights.

And maybe a reduction in audible hum? It will be interesting to see if the fans in the M2 are tuned the same way they were in the M1. Not that I really care, but I'm sure it will be discussed.

[JoeM]

datbeme wrote:
[quote=clay]
You're paying $3k for the Mac Pro case, expansion slots and bragging rights.

And maybe a reduction in audible hum? It will be interesting to see if the fans in the M2 are tuned the same way they were in the M1. Not that I really care, but I'm sure it will be discussed.
That’s a big deal if you record in the box and have it in the room where you are working. My 2019 Mac Pro is silent and gives off no heat. Recording in my studio with it sitting next to me is a total pleasure compared to my old 2009 cheesegrater which I used to record with.