Originally Posted By: Mike Halloran
Ok, I’ll bite. Why do you need the next (unannounced but Cook has promised it) Mac Pro? Do you have PCIe cards that you need to host or require more than 8TB internal storage?

The new Studio blows the current $53K MacPro 7.1, 28 core away except for the high end AV rendering required by motion picture and animation studios (these are the same uses that require a $150K 56 core MAYA Box rendering Station running Windows 10). When twin dual-GPUs and the Turbo card are required, the Studio with the M1 Ultra can’t keep up. It outperforms the $42K with the single high end GPU, however.

Seriously, I’m curious. I’m trying to decide between the $5K loaded Studio Max and spending $3k more on the fully loaded Ultra (are my AV rendering needs really that intense?). I do need 8TB storage onboard and think that upgrading my 18 core iMac Pro is not worth the $2,300 it would take. Apple now makes the 8TB SD kit for the MP 7.1 available separately but I’m not up to the task of installing it myself in an iMac Pro — it’s a 2-handed job, not a luxury I enjoy. Better to sell the iMP or use it in the classroom if I go back to teaching this Fall.

None of this is necessary for BIAB as you’ve correctly observed but some of us have other needs. Just interested what yours are.

I agree with Mike - unless you absolutely need the level of expandability that the Pro has (and subsequently don't mind spending at least double the money) it makes more sense to get the Studio, or even the M1 Mini if that fits your needs. And you'll save about $40k too, if Mike's math is correct.

If you're doing strictly music production, you honestly don't need a Mac Pro. Even the M1 Mini will power through everything you've got and then some.

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