When we posted Peter Zigich's first design thoughts on a new MacPro last year, we didn't realise how popular the article would be. He's back with round two of possible design thoughts and this time there is something new at the core.
Our first article on possible new MacPro designs based on a modular concept sparked off quite a debate. The second round of thoughts from Peter Zigich this time is based on the idea that Apple might switch to using power efficient ARM chips.
All speculation of course, but one thing we do know is that Tim Cook has committed to building a new pro machine. Let's hope that at WWDC or earlier, we will be treated to a new form factor MacPro rising up from the dry ice.
In the meantime we will let Peter continue with his thoughts...
- optimised for performance/watt
- power-efficient
- cooler
- fully scalable
- smaller
- cheaper
- custom CPU design
What does it mean?
- significantly smaller enclosure
- increase computing power by adding more CPUs
- increase & tweak important performance (custom chip design)
- cheaper CPUs - higher profit
- smaller, lighter, quieter, cooler (less heat), "Greener" (Environment)
Version 1a
Custom Apple designed ARM CPU A10
Each Processor has 4 cores for a total 8 cores per Card.
4 Cards for a maximum of 8 CPUs (32 Cores).
Version 1b
How about Intel Inside?
Maybe Intel can come up with super efficient Haswell Xenon CPU 2 Xenon CPUs can fit in the Heat Sink
Version 2
Custom Apple designed ARM CPU A10
Combined CPU & RAM Module.
6 Cards for a maximum of 12 CPUs (48 Cores) and 96GB RAM
MacPro Cube
If Apple creates custom GPU (shorter, less heat), enclosure dimensions could shrink even more.
MacPro Cube with a footprint of a Mac Mini. 200mm x 200mm x 200mm Cube.
I am the Editor-in-Chief of FCP.co and have run the website since its inception ten years ago.
I have also worked as a broadcast and corporate editor for over 30 years, starting on one inch tape, working through many formats, right up to today's NLEs.
Under the name Idustrial Revolution, I have written and sold plugins for Final Cut Pro for 13 years.
I was made a Freeman of Lichfield through The Worshipful Company of Smiths (established 1601). Though I haven't yet tried to herd a flock of sheep through the city centre!
Current Editing
2020 has been busy, the beginning of the year was finishing off a new property series (cut on FCP) for Channel 4 called The Great House Giveaway. I also designed and built the majority of the graphics as Motion templates. It has been a great success and the shows grabbed more viewers in the 4pm weekday slot than any previous strand. It has been recommissioned by C4 for 60 episodes, including prime-time versions and five themed programmes. The shows have also been nominated for a 2021 BAFTA.
Although both were postponed to later in the year, I worked again on ITV's coverage of the Tour de France and La Vuelta. 2020 was my 25th year of editing the TdF and my 20th year as lead editor. The Tour was the first broadcast show to adopt FCPX working for multiple editors on shared storage.
BBC's Snooker has played a big part in my life, I've been editing tournament coverage since 1997. I'm proud to be part of a very creative team that has pioneered many new ideas and workflows that are now industry standard in sports' production. This is currently an Adobe Premiere edit.
Covid cancelled some of the regular corporate events that I edit such as trade shows & events. I was lucky however to edit, from home, on projects for Amazon Kindle, Amazon Black Friday, Mastercard and very proud to have helped local charitable trust Kendall & Wall secure lottery funding.
As for software, my weapon of choice is Final Cut Pro and Motion, but I also have a good knowledge and broadcast credits with Adobe Premiere Pro, MOGRT design and Photoshop.
Plugin Design & Development
I'm the creative force behind Idustrial Revolution, one of the oldest Final Cut Pro plugin developers. It hosts a range of commercial and free plugins on the site. One free plugin was downloaded over a thousand times within 24 hours of release.
I also take on custom work, whether it is adapting an existing plugin for a special use or designing new plugins for clients from scratch. Having a good knowledge of editing allows me to build-in flexibility and more importantly, usability.
FCP.co
Now in its 10th year and 4th redesign, running FCP.co has given me knowledge on how to run a large CMS- you are currently reading my bio from the database! Although it sounds corny, I am pretty well up on social media trends & techniques, especially in the video sector. The recent Covid restrictions has enabled live FCP.co shows online. This involves managing a Zoom Webinar through Restream.io to YouTube and Facebook.
The Future
I'm always open to new ideas and opportunities, so please get in touch at editor (at) fcp.co. I've judged film competitions, presented workflow techniques to international audiences and come up with ideas for TV shows and software programs!
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