While there is no teardown of the 2013 MacPro yet, digging into might be useful. For example the i7 processor used in the MacBook Pro Retina late 2013 is a registered as using the BGA 'socket' (Ball grid array) which is synonym of soldered to the mainboard. For the MacPro Apple tells us there is either a 3.7Ghz w/ 4cores or a 3.5GHz w/ 6cores or a 3.0GHz w/ 8-cores or a 2.7GHz w/ 12-cores. All the processors that have these specs in ark are listed to only using the FCLGA2011 socket (). So to me it's pretty sure that yes the cpu is not soldered to the mainboard and is therefore upgradable. It certainly will be upgradeable, but to what, exactly?

Only other processors of the same architecture (in this case, Ivy Bridge-EP - you won't be able to upgrade it to, say, Haswell, and it will be unlikely that there is a change in Mac Pro architecture such that a newer chipset will be used, provide significant advantage over what you're using now, and still be compatible with the current model). More details and links, from a couple of paragraphs stolen from: In spite of many published assumptions to the contrary, the CPU is removable and upgradeable (details,,, and ). However, the one socket is Ivy Bridge-EP, so you'd only be able to move up to a higher number of relatively equivalent cores later, not to an entirely new chipset like Haswell. In the MacRumors piece, OWC successfully replaced the (6 cores, 3.5-3.9 GHz, 12 MB cache) with the (8 cores, 3.3-4.0 GHz, 25 MB cache). Currently this may not seem like a fantastic deal, as the 2667 has an MSRP just over $2,000 – though the Apple upgrade from 6 to 8 cores (likely the, with the same cores and cache, but lower clock speed of 3.0-3.9 GHz) is $1,500, and you don't get to keep, sell or re-purpose the 6-core chip. Presumably you would only do this anyway when Ivy Bridge prices fall much further and/or when your warranty is up.

Processor 2.0GHz Configurable to 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz) with 6MB shared L3 cache or 2.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz) with 6MB shared L3 cache.

Personally, I wouldn't risk it – just buy the processors you need now. It's not like CPU clock speeds are on the verge of smashing the 4.0 GHz barrier anyway, or there are significant core count increases coming soon, and I think the process of swapping out this specific CPU in this specific machine a year or two down the road is going to be a lot more complex than you might expect.

That all said, I don't remember ever wanting or needing to replace the CPUs in a workstation – usually you can't jump chipsets, and by the time you can justify that change, there are probably plenty of other things you could upgrade as well. In the Mac Pro space, this could be quite some time away.

Last updated 2013-12-19 - Related:,,,. Skype for old mac. See also as well as. Apple’s dual-model sales presentation is oddly bifurcated because the base quad-core model can be up-configured to any choice of CPU and GPU. In short: • Base 4-core model comes with 12GB and dual AMD FirePro D300 GPUs.

• The 6-core model up-configures to 16GB memory and dual AMD FirePro D500 GPUS. • Either model can choose any CPU and either model can go with higher-spec GPUs. Which CPU is right for your needs? Those with the most demanding needs might.

For many users, 6 CPU cores is the sweet spot in offering the best price/performance along with the next faster GPU speed. Programs like Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Photoshop make use of 6 - 8 cores better than ever in the latest 2014 'CC' versions. Given the reduction in CPU clock speed, the 8-core CPU appears at first glance less attractive for all-around use than the 6-core model, and the 12-core model is even less attractive. However (see discussion that follows), Turbo Boost mitigates that initial assumption and, those extra cores can pay off. The 12-core models is aimed at video processing, or specialty tasks where all cores are fully utilized, and are best paired with the fastest GPUs for those who really do intensive video work.

CPU Cores Clock Speed Cache Memory Mainstream Task Speed* Core-Friendly Speed** Comments Higher numbers are faster 4 +37% / +5.7% 10 MB 2.5MB/core 14.8 14.8 Fastest for general use due to highest clock speed, but many operations in programs like Adobe Photoshop Lightroom or Photoshop will be slower than with 6-core or 8-core options—and others will be faster! It all depends. 6 ~ 5.6 ± +30% / + 16% 12 MB 2MB/core 14.0 18.9 About 5% slower than the 4-core in clock speed, but the two extra CPU cores are WELL worth it for programs like Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.