Reviving the 2019 Intel Mac Pro: A Costly Pursuit to Surpass Modern M3 Max MacBook Pro
In the ever-evolving landscape of computing technology, the 2019 Intel Mac Pro once stood as a pinnacle of performance and expandability. With the advent of Apple Silicon and devices like the Mac Studio, the Intel Mac Pro has seen a decline in its dominance. However, a recent endeavor by the YouTube channel CircuitBoredd has reignited interest in this classic hardware by upgrading it to compete with, and in specific scenarios, outperform the contemporary M3 Max MacBook Pro.
The Original Powerhouse
Upon its release, the 2019 Intel Mac Pro was celebrated for its robust capabilities and extensive upgrade options. It offered configurations that could be tailored to the most demanding professional workflows, with support for up to a 28-core Intel Xeon W processor, 1.5 terabytes of memory, and multiple PCIe expansion slots. This flexibility made it a favorite among professionals requiring high computational power and customization.
The Upgrade Journey
CircuitBoredd embarked on a mission to push the boundaries of the 2019 Mac Pro by implementing a series of significant upgrades:
– Processor Enhancement: The original 16-core processor was replaced with a 28-core 2.5GHz Intel Xeon W, featuring 56 threads. This processor, even in the second-hand market, commands a price of approximately $1,050.
– Memory Expansion: The system’s memory was expanded to 768GB using six 128GB DDR4 ECC DIMMs. These modules, priced between $500 to $800 each, resulted in an investment ranging from $3,000 to $4,800.
– Graphics Upgrade: Two Radeon Pro Vega II Duo MPX Modules were installed, each housing dual GPUs, culminating in a total of four GPUs and 128GB of video memory. These modules are valued at around $2,900 each in the current market.
– Afterburner Card Addition: An Afterburner card, initially priced at $2,000, was incorporated to accelerate video processing tasks. Presently, these cards can be found for approximately $400.
– Storage Enhancement: The storage system was upgraded with an 8TB NVMe SSD, estimated to cost between $1,300 to $1,600, along with an M.2 to PCIe adapter card.
These comprehensive upgrades transformed the Mac Pro into a near top-specification machine, reminiscent of configurations that once cost close to $50,000 in 2019. The total expenditure for this project was around $11,250, considering the current prices of the components.
Performance Evaluation
To assess the impact of these enhancements, the upgraded Mac Pro was tasked with encoding a 17-gigabyte video project, rich with titles, graphics, and effects. The performance was then compared to that of an M3 Max MacBook Pro. The Mac Pro completed the task approximately 30 to 60 seconds faster than the MacBook Pro.
While this demonstrates the Mac Pro’s capability to outperform the M3 Max MacBook Pro in this specific workflow, it’s crucial to consider the substantial investment and effort required to achieve this performance. The M3 Max MacBook Pro, starting at $3,199 or $3,499 depending on the size, offers competitive performance out of the box without the need for extensive modifications.
Conclusion
The endeavor to upgrade the 2019 Intel Mac Pro to surpass the M3 Max MacBook Pro in certain tasks highlights the machine’s enduring potential. However, the significant financial and time investments required for such upgrades raise questions about their practicality. For most users, modern hardware like the M3 Max MacBook Pro provides a more cost-effective and efficient solution for demanding workflows.
