The Mac Pro ’s history has fantabulous high points , as well as challenges that had to be dealt with . When Apple replaced the Power Mac G5 with the Mac Pro , the transposition to Intel chips made the time to come look bright while at the same clock time , exploiter had to deal with the technology modulation . In 2013 , Apple proved it could guess differently about its flagship Mac , with a cylindrical design that morphed our whim of what limit the Mac Pro . But the “ meth can ” Mac suffered much criticism for its lack of upgradability and trust on external devices . The 2019 Mac Pro brought back the tower that users demand , but Apple had to deliver the goods back a lot of customers .
beneficial or spoiled , the release of the unexampled Mac Pro was an exciting clip that provide us to witness how far Apple can push the envelope for its flagship system . This metre , however , therelease of the 2023 Mac Profeels unlike , because pros have another alternative in the M2 Ultra Mac Studio – it ’s not a second - rate choice , either . It offer the same exact carrying into action as the M2 Ultra Mac Pro – the Mac Pro traditionally is the uncontested champion . That ’s not true anymore .
Now the question is n’t “ What does Apple have in store for us ? ” but alternatively it ’s “ Should I buy a Mac Pro or Mac Studio ? ” I ’ve long been using the 2019 Intel Mac Pro – it ’s the best workstation I have ever possess . Parking an M2 Ultra Mac Studio next to it has had me expect if it ’s in the end time to move on . There ’s a lot to deal : price , performance , and what you may miss when trench the Mac Pro . This small-scale natural enclosure offers tremendous carrying out , but it also behave some compromises with it . Let ’s take a closer look at what ’s at bet .
From a price/performance standpoint, the Mac Studio has an edge.
For more advice read : Best Mac for video editorsandBest Mac for designers . We alsocompare every Mac and MacBookin another clause .
Mac Pro vs Mac Studio: Price
A decked - out M2 Ultra Mac Pro is much garish than the 2019 Intel Mac Pro . Likewise , the 2023 Mac Studio is cheap than the 2023 Mac Pro , by about $ 3,000 for the same high - end hardware specifications .
From a toll / carrying into action standpoint , the Mac Studio has an edge .
Thiago Trevisan
From a price/performance standpoint, the Mac Studio has an edge.
What do you get with that extra three grand ? Gen 4 PCIe slots , to initiate . No need for dear external Thunderbolt twist – or , at least , it can foreshorten down your need for them . The Mac Pro also has two more Thunderbolt 4 ports and an extra USB interface . The sheath itself is an infrangible work of art and engine room that sure as shooting has some extra economic value .
The welfare stop there , however . Since you’re able to spec out the Mac Studio ’s M2 Ultra System on a Chip adequate to the specs for the Mac Pro , the circumstance chop-chop becomes a question of how many outside devices you ’re unforced to put up with . The neatness of having it everything integrate into the Mac Pro ’s case is worth some of that extra price , to a lot of customers .
But for others , the extra cost simply is not worth it . The “ performance carrot ” usually swing in front of eminent - remainder users to lure them to spend on a Mac Pro is missing . The Mac Studio is a restrained , subject , little ( maybe even portable ) political machine that has the best performance Apple can offer . That ’s unvoiced to beat – you’d need to really need those PCIe slot .
A lot of the functionality that was provided by PCIe cards in the Intel Mac Pro is now built into Apple’s System on a Chip.
splintering upgradability is a big topic with either machine – you ca n’t do it . This worsens the retentive - term value of either Mac ( though Macs overall run to hold their value longer than Windows personal computer ) . That ’s a big change from the Intel - base 2019 Mac Pro – you may breathe new sprightliness into it for a long clip by upgrading its CPU , GPU , and RAM .
A lot of the functionality that was provided by PCIe notice in the Intel Mac Pro is now build into Apple ’s System on a microprocessor chip .
set aside the obvious Leontyne Price remainder , there are some users who will perfectly still love the 2023 Mac Pro . They will make role of their PCie slots making for a much more tidy workflow – the cost of external gimmick and the fuss of contend them will win over some user that the Mac Pro is the way to go .
See all these cables and connectors? Some pro users want to avoid this, which is why they want a Mac Pro.
Mac Pro vs Mac Studio: Performance
execution is a tough metric to use for comparability because they ’re almost identical when comparing the M2 Ultra models with the same glasses . Maybe there ’s a chance that the Mac Pro ’s larger bod would affect the chip ’s operable thermal and give it a chance at an advantage , but in tangible - world examination , the consequence are spookily similar .
The much more interesting public presentation comparing is with either M2 Ultra Macs against the older 2019 Intel Mac Pro . Here ’s one real - world example : I took a 20 - minute clip of R3D Raw 6 K video and export it to ProRes 422 military headquarters . The 2019 Intel Mac Pro with a 28 - gist CPU and the Radeon Pro W6800X Duo graphics had the same speed as the M2 Ultra with a 76 - core GPU . upgrade the Mac Pro with two AMD 6900 XT GPUs ensue in a 16 percentage rise over the Mac Pro , but since the AMD upgrade is the top of the line , that ’s the best that the Intel Mac Pro can do .
How about play ? This can showcase some of the brute GPU power on tap . InRise of the Tomb Raiderin 4 K , the M2 Ultra did surprisingly well , reaching framerates of 73 fps , which was three fps faster than the much more expensive Intel Mac Pro with the Radeon Pro W6800x Duo nontextual matter – with games , only one of the two GPUs is used . advance the Mac Pro with the AMD 6900 XT GPU agitate its framerate to 85 Federal Protective Service . Very impressive that it can pit these gamey - last GPUs from only the last generation .
R3D Raw 6K video export to ProRes 422HQ
Results are time in seconds . Lower results / short bars are faster .
Rise of the Tomb Raider4K framerates
Results are frame per second . Higher results / long bar are flying .
Performance consequence compare to the 2019 Mac Pro can vary wildly , from the discreet GPUs such as the W6800x that are still faster in some job , to the M2 Ultra using its built - in potentiality ; encoders and decoders in the Modern hardware can often altogether outclass even the Mac Pro ’s Afterburner card . When considering Pro Res , for illustration , the Mac Studio with M2 Ultra is far in front of anything the elder 2019 Mac Pro can do .
Mac Pro vs Mac Studio: Daily usability
For this thoughtfulness , let ’s plow our attention back to the M2 Ultra flavors of the Mac Pro and Mac Studio . Since the carrying out of these two Macs is a wash , serviceability becomes emphasized as a priority . To see how these Macs stack up , I ’ve been using the Mac Studio with my quotidian workflow . I primarily edit out using Final Cut Pro , with some DaVinci Resolve , and R3D Raw footage from Red cameras . Here are some pros and cons for each .
Mac Studio: Pros
Mac Studio: Cons
See all these cables and connecter ? Some pro users require to ward off this , which is why they want a Mac Pro .
Mac Pro: Pros
Mac Pro: Cons
Which is the better pro Mac?
There is no doubt that the small size of it , ample performance , and cheaper price of the Mac Studio with M2 Ultra make it hard to beat . If you do n’t involve PCIe slots or expandable repositing , everything else is a wash . The same will likely be true when the M3 models plunge — Apple has n’t separated these models by much when it comes to performance .
The 2023 Mac Pro with M2 Ultra is a mixed bag . The only net positive here is the PCIe time slot . This is huge for anyone who wants a bully workspace with internal storehouse , and external Thunderbolt devices can be bulky and make fan noise . This is a very reasonable approaching for some . ( bolt enclosures are also not chinchy , often costing hundreds . ) The extra $ 3,000 cost can somewhat be justified by this all - encompassing , gorgeous Mac Pro chassis .
Apple Mac Pro (M2 Ultra, 2023)
Apple Mac Studio (M2 Ultra, 2023)
