New Mac Pro Experiences

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pixelblue

Weaksauce
Joined
Aug 31, 2015
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For those that own the new Mac Pro (the 'trashcan' as I like to call it :D) how are you liking it? From what I understand, some people have been experiencing issues with some thermal throttling, specifically with the GPUs when rendering or doing DCC work. Any thoughts or experiences are appreciated!
 
I don't use one but we have a few at work and nobody has ever reported any issues with them.
 
We have twenty of them.
No termal problems so far and as its the only "Pro" option, you have no alternative

What we found negative
- 10 GbE is a must for performance with up to 600MB/s write and 800 MB/s read but a Sanlink2
adapter is quite expensive and the cabling with a separate nic and psu unit is a conceptional disaster.

- Our Pro software mostly prefer Nvidia. The included ATI is sometimes not well supported

- You can only connect a 4k monitor via thunderbolt that is not available on our 4k Monitors
so we must use HDMI either with 24 frames or a reduced resolution - what we did as otherwise
all screen symbols are too small as OSX lacks an option to scale menus independently from
resolution.
 
_Gea said:
We have twenty of them.- You can only connect a 4k monitor via thunderbolt that is not available on our 4k Monitors
so we must use HDMI either with 24 frames or a reduced resolution - what we did as otherwise
all screen symbols are too small as OSX lacks an option to scale menus independently from
resolution.
Click to expand...

You can use the Thunderbolt options if you'd like by buying an adapter. For computer displays, I'd generally recommend using an adapter rather than using HDMI. However if you're using 4k, what other options are you even talking about? If your monitors are DVI, then they're not 4k as they don't have the bandwidth (Dual Link DVI maxes out at 2560x1600). If they are Display Port that literally uses the same cabling as Thunderbolt. You'd have to be more specific about how you're setup and what your workflow is like. But I don't know of any 4k monitor that doesn't use Displayport... which is literally plug and play with a Mac Pro.

Scaling can be accomplished as follows (from Eizo, so you know I'm not talking about internal Macbook Pro displays): http://www.eizoglobal.com/support/compatibility/dpi_scaling_settings_mac_os_x/index.html
OSX has much better scaling options that Windows. I've plugged my Macbook Pro into a 4k TV. Scaling works great. I'd love to also move to 4k NEC Coloraccurate monitors, but I can't afford that at this time. But the point is it works and operates the same way.
 
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I use the Eizo EV3237 and thats exactly the problem with MacPro (not Macbook Pro).

I would need Displayport 1.2 but the MacPro does not have DP 1.2, only Thunderbolt and Hdmi
and I am not aware of any current adapter Thunderbolt > DP 1.2.

btw
I do not want to scale to a lower dpi resolution, I would prefer to scale menus only while beeing on high res.
 
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_Gea said:
I use the Eizo EV3237 and thats exactly the problem with MacPro (not Macbook Pro).

I would need Displayport 1.2 but the MacPro does not have DP 1.2, only Thunderbolt and Hdmi
and I am not aware of any current adapter Thunderbolt > DP 1.2.
Click to expand...

It is Displayport 1.2. I don't think you understand Thunderbolt technology if you're saying that. Thunderbolt is just a transport system. It's literally PCI-E and Displayport translated over a cable. It doesn't have an adapter, because you don't need an adapter. With the exception of if you require a mini-displayport adapter to full-size displayport adapter. But generally that's done with having two separate cable ends (one side full size the other mini) rather than using an adapter. All Thunderbolt ports are "Mini-Displayport" sized. So if your displays use full size displayport then you'd have to simply buy a cable (like I mentioned earlier) with the two sizes on each end. Similar to if you purchased a USB full size to Mini USB A/B on the other end for something like a cellphone.

Here is a primer: http://www.macworld.com/article/2083257/what-you-need-to-know-about-thunderbolt-2.html
The primer is pretty basic. If you want to dig into the full spec, just read the Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderbolt_(interface)
Thunderbolt 2 is described on Wiki:

Wikipedia said:
Thunderbolt combines PCI Express (PCIe) and DisplayPort (DP) into one serial signal, and additionally provides DC power, all in one cable.
Click to expand...

and:

Wikipedia said:
Thunderbolt 2 incorporates DisplayPort 1.2 support, which allows for video streaming to a single 4K video monitor or dual QHD monitors. Thunderbolt 2 is backwards compatible, which means that all Thunderbolt cables and connectors are compatible with Thunderbolt 1.
Click to expand...

The Mac Pro is a professional system with a $3k minimum buy in. I'm really trying to hold my tongue, but I am utterly perplexed how you could think a workstation class system isn't capable of driving 4k displays properly. That's literally what the system was designed for (specifically to drive 3x 4k displays... no less). Thunderbolt can be anything, which is why 6 ports dominate the back of the Mac Pro. Because the system is all about connectivity externally to anything. This is why I stated in my previous post that a Display Port monitor on a Mac Pro is literally plug and play.
 
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Remains the question:
Where is the needed adapter Thunderbolt > DP 1.2?
I am not aware of one.

Thunderbolt is ok with monitors and Thunderbolt input like my LG monitors
but this is not common and Apple lacks a 4k monitor.
 
_Gea said:
Remains the question:
Where is the needed adapter Thunderbolt > DP 1.2?
I am not aware of one.

Thunderbolt is ok with monitors and Thunderbolt input like my LG monitors
but this is not common and Apple lacks a 4k monitor.
Click to expand...


You... are going to make me scream in absolute frustration. There isn't an adapter. It's the same cable. You're basically asking: "Where is the USB to USB adapter?" It's the same plug. The same cable. The only difference is Thunderbolt cables (which are specifically used to connect to Thunderbolt devices) are active, and Displayports are not. You could use the cable that came with your displays.

You also didn't read apparently ANYTHING I said. I am very specific in my responses. But here, I'll do the work for you and SHOW you an example of a cable that I was talking about.
http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=6007
Done. And for $5.

If your monitor uses mini-display port. Then it would be mini-to-mini cable.
http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=5991
Also $5. This isn't rocket science.

The Eizo you're using has full sized Displayport. In that case you'd use the first cable I linked, and not the second.

===

To address your second comment. What does Apple making displays have to do with 4k connectivity? They are there to support working professionals. You might make the argument then that nVidia also doesn't make 4k displays so why would they have an interest in connecting to them? This stuff has to work together. And when you pay $3k it had better.

To tack onto that, there are reasons why Apple hasn't made a 4k Display. Probably because they want to make a 5k display. And they can't make a 5k display without either using 2 Thunderbolt Ports or by supporting Thunderbolt 3 (which is upcoming). And they would never use 2 cables because that's kludgy and against their aesthetic. Which reminds me, actually they do make a 4k display as well as a 5k display, in the form of the iMac. I predict they will release a 5k monitor when they release a new Mac Pro or other Mac that supports Thunderbolt 3 with USB-C.
 
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You overlook the basic problem:

There is no mini DP or any DP connector on a MacPro,
only 6 x Thunderbolt and HDMI

HDMi > DP is no problem but only 24 frames at 4k and some display problems
Thunderbolt -> DP 1.2 is technically possible but reqires the missing adapter
 
_Gea said:
You overlook the basic problem:

There is no mini DP or any DP connector on a MacPro,
only 6 x Thunderbolt and HDMI

HDMi > DP is no problem but only 24 frames at 4k and some display problems
Thunderbolt -> DP 1.2 is technically possible but reqires the missing adapter
Click to expand...

THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE

THERE IS NO ADAPTER THERE IS NO ADAPTER THERE IS NO ADAPTER THERE IS NO ADAPTER

How many times do I have to type this in?!??!?!? Will you read it now!?!?!? Do you get that it's the same cable!?!?!?

YOU ARE OVERLOOKING THAT IT'S THE SAME CABLE. I AM NOT OVERLOOKING A PROBLEM. YOU ARE MAKING A PROBLEM WHERE THERE ISN'T ONE.

BUY THE CABLE I LISTED FIRST ON MONOPRICE FOR $5. THEN TEST IT YOURSELF. YOU WILL SEE THAT YOU ARE COMPLICATING THINGS THAT ARE NOT THERE.



HOW CAN I EXPLAIN TO YOU THAT THUNDERBOLT LITERALLY HAS DISPLAYPORT IMBEDDED INTO IT?!?! I LINKED WIKIPEDIA. I LINKED OTHER PRIMERS. WIKIPEDIA AND THOSE PRIMERS SAY IT'S DISPLAYPORT. BECAUSE IT IS DISPLAYPORT. YOU ARE ASKING FOR A DISPLAYPORT TO DISPLAYPORT ADAPTER. WHAT ELSE CAN I TELL YOU???
 
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UnknownSouljer said:
THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE

THERE IS NO ADAPTER THERE IS NO ADAPTER THERE IS NO ADAPTER THERE IS NO ADAPTER

How many times do I have to type this in?!??!?!? Will you read it now!?!?!? Do you get that it's the same cable!?!?!?

YOU ARE OVERLOOKING THAT IT'S THE SAME CABLE. I AM NOT OVERLOOKING A PROBLEM. YOU ARE MAKING A PROBLEM WHERE THERE ISN'T ONE.

BUY THE CABLE I LISTED FIRST ON MONOPRICE FOR $5. THEN TEST IT YOURSELF. YOU WILL SEE THAT YOU ARE COMPLICATING THINGS THAT ARE NOT THERE.



HOW CAN I EXPLAIN TO YOU THAT THUNDERBOLT LITERALLY IS DISPLAYPORT IMBEDDED INTO IT?!?! I LINKED WIKIPEDIA. I LINKED OTHER PRIMERS. WIKIPEDIA AND THOSE PRIMERS SAY IT'S DISPLAYPORT. BECAUSE IT IS DISPLAYPORT. YOU ARE ASKING FOR A DISPLAYPORT TO DISPLAYPORT ADAPTER. WHAT ELSE CAN I TELL YOU???
Click to expand...



Haha :D

Here Gea:

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/io/thunderbolt/thunderbolt-technology-developer.html

"DisplayPort 1.2 – compatible with existing DisplayPort displays, devices, and cables
– Connect DVI, HDMI, and VGA displays via adapters"

http://www.apple.com/thunderbolt/

"Thunderbolt is based on DisplayPort technology, it provides native support for the Apple Thunderbolt Display and Mini DisplayPort displays. DVI, HDMI, and VGA displays connect through the use of adapters."
 
HeavensCloud said:
Haha :D

Here Gea:

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/io/thunderbolt/thunderbolt-technology-developer.html

"DisplayPort 1.2 – compatible with existing DisplayPort displays, devices, and cables
– Connect DVI, HDMI, and VGA displays via adapters"

http://www.apple.com/thunderbolt/

"Thunderbolt is based on DisplayPort technology, it provides native support for the Apple Thunderbolt Display and Mini DisplayPort displays. DVI, HDMI, and VGA displays connect through the use of adapters."
Click to expand...

I basically already linked this stuff (or similar, look a few posts up). He's melting my brain. He pathologically refuses to read or something.
 
The question is not if its technically possible - yes it is.

Again: I need to buy an adapter Thunderbold > DP 1.2 to connect an average 4k display
on a MacPro and nor Apple nor any other delivers one!

I would be happy if you have a source.
 
_Gea said:
The question is not if its technically possible - yes it is.

Again: I need to buy an adapter Thunderbold > DP 1.2 to connect an average 4k display
on a MacPro and nor Apple nor any other delivers one!

I would be happy if you have a source.
Click to expand...

You will never understand. Apparently. Because I have said now 4 times... that it's the same cable. There is no "Displayport 1.2" cable. Go ahead and link me one. You can't do it. Because they're the same cable. Displayport is backwards compatible with itself. So ALL Displayport cables support 1.2. Thunderbolt 2 also supports Displayport 1.2. Two people now have linked supporting resources stating this. So if Thunderbolt is Displayport. And Thunderbolt 2 supports Displayport 1.2, what is your question? You don't have a real one.

FOR THE THIRD TIME. BUY THE CABLE I LISTED. JUST PLEASE SO THAT YOU CAN TRY IT YOURSELF. I HAVE LINKED IT FOR YOU. IT WILL WORK. IT WILL WORK AT 4K. IT WILL WORK AT 60Hz. THIS IS A $5 ITEM THAT WILL END THIS STUPID DISCUSSION THAT YOU DON'T GET. IF YOU ARE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA I WOULD BUY THE CABLE FOR YOU AND DRIVE TO WHEREVER YOU ARE JUST SO I CAN LITERALLY SHOW YOU THAT YOU'RE MAKING PROBLEM TO SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
 
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UnknownSouljer said:
Apparently. Because I have said now 4 times... that it's the same cable. There is no "Displayport 1.2" cable. .
Click to expand...

Ok, this is the information that I have overlooked (use a Displayport cable at the
Thunderbold port) as I always was under the asumption that you can only connect
Thunderbolt devices there.

I will try that tomorrow. If it will work, thanks
 
UnknownSouljer said:
I basically already linked this stuff (or similar, look a few posts up). He's melting my brain. He pathologically refuses to read or something.
Click to expand...

Maybe his reality distortion field collapsed and crushed his brain :D

It shouldn't take a genius to look at a 'Thunderbolt connector' and realise that it is merely a mini-DisplayPort connector...
 
I simply do not expect this on the 2013 Mac Pro.
My other monitors on the Pro are "Thunderbolt monitors" with "Thunderbolt input" -
either Apple Thunderbolt displays or LG with an additional Thunderbolt input.

This is also different to the Macbook Pro where Apple talks about native DP output.
But there I am also used to take care about adaptors.
 
mini-displayport-vga-3.jpg
 
Isn't Thunderbolt just a Mini DP port that does video as well as data?
 
Elledan said:
Maybe his reality distortion field collapsed and crushed his brain :D

It shouldn't take a genius to look at a 'Thunderbolt connector' and realise that it is merely a mini-DisplayPort connector...
Click to expand...

This thread is epic.
 
Hoo boy, this certainly turned into...something.

I knew the Mac Pro could support 4k displays at 60hz no problem....but I must admit I didn't know Thunderbolt was a version of DisplayPort (don't kill me) :D

Regadless, my main concern at this point is driver support for DCC apps with the dual AMD Firepro cards. A lot people initially there were compatibility issues with Adobe and Autodesk, just wondering if any of that has been addressed, or if any improvements have been made to give the dual cards more of a purpose.
 
To slightly clarify, Thunderbolt carries Displayport as well as PCI-E in a single connection. Not quite a "version" of Displayport, but the convergence of two technologies.

I can't specifically answer your question, but with the release of the Metal API and of course Apple's push to use OpenCL, it's just a matter of time before everything works properly. I'm sure someone can speak more to Autodesk.

In terms of Adobe based products, Photoshop works perfectly. Anything using specifically OpenCL works great. However for compute Adobe only uses Cuda, so ATi stuff is out. I suspect that Metal support will be added in a year or so. Since Adobe has moved to the subscription model, they've become much faster in their releases and much better about support in general.
 
"The new port is backward compatible so it can still be used to connect to DisplayPort devices; however, only the new port can be used to connect to Thunderbolt devices. This means that while you can physically connect a Thunderbolt device to a Mac with DisplayPort, the device will not work, but if you connect a DisplayPort device to a Mac with Thunderbolt, then the device will work." Source: Confusing mini-Displayport With Thunderbolt

Monitor with Thunderbolt -> Mac with Displayport = does not work
Monitor with Displayport -> Mac with Thunderbolt = works
Version of Displayport on monitor = Thunderbolt on Mac doesn't care, it'll work
 
can you guys help? what if i had a new mac mini (2015) and i want to use my dell p2415q 4k monitor with it, will it work = 4k at 60hz? (by using the mac mini displayport input=thunderbolt 2)
 
AndreRio said:
can you guys help? what if i had a new mac mini (2015) and i want to use my dell p2415q 4k monitor with it, will it work = 4k at 60hz? (by using the mac mini displayport input=thunderbolt 2)
Click to expand...

That's actually a Mac Mini 2014, since there was none released in 2015. This page seems to say no by omitting the Mac Mini from the lists of Macs that support 4k 60Hz, but you should probably start a new thread for that question because I am not certain about that answer.
 
gea has left to never to return. This is thread is awesome
 
_Gea said:
Why should I leave?
Sometimes I can help others and sometimes I am wrong and others help me.
Click to expand...

You shouldn't. I think it just looked like you had abandoned the thread. It happens a lot when someone was mistaken.
 
AndreRio said:
can you guys help? what if i had a new mac mini (2015) and i want to use my dell p2415q 4k monitor with it, will it work = 4k at 60hz? (by using the mac mini displayport input=thunderbolt 2)
Click to expand...

No. The U-series Haswell processors only support 30 Hz, no matter what connection you use. Only the full-power versions support 60 Hz.

Consider it a balancing of power budgets :D
 
the mac pro is ok. but with the software I have to use as a dit is mac only so... ya
 
This is one of the funniest threads I've ever read. It just kept coming. Unrelated to MacPro, but some DP cables are low quality and won't support high resolutions and refresh rates. I had this problem before, anyways. So look out for that. But... yeah, miniDP works with thunderbolt. :D
 
That's a good point to bring up, thanks powerage. I know for HDMI it barely matters if you're using a $5 cable or a $50 one. Good to know it can vary with DP
 
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