The 2013 Mac Pro is a workstation computer developed and manufactured by Apple Inc., and was released on December 19, 2013.[1] Often referred to as the "trash can" Mac Pro due to its distinctive cylindrical design[2], it marked a significant departure from the tower-based form factor of its predecessors.[3] Introduced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 10, 2013, the Mac Pro was designed for professional users, offering high-performance computing in a compact, thermally efficient chassis.[4] It succeeded the first-generation Mac Pro, which had been in production since 2006, and was later replaced by its successor Mac Pro in 2019.[5] The 2013 model was notable for its innovative design, powerful hardware, and assembly in the United States, but it faced criticism for its limited expandability and lack of significant updates during its production run.[6][7]
The 2013 Mac Pro shipped with OS X Mavericks (10.9) and was compatible with later macOS versions, up to macOSMonterey (12.7.6) as of 2024.[8][9][10] Its base configuration included a 3.7 GHz quad-core Intel Xeon E5-1620 v2 processor, 12 GB DDR3 ECC RAM, 256 GB PCIe-based SSD, and dual AMD FirePro D300 GPUs.[11][12][13] Higher-end configurations offered up to a 2.7 GHz 12-core Xeon E5-2697 v2, 64 GB RAM, and dual FirePro D700 GPUs.[14][15] Connectivity included six Thunderbolt 2 ports, four USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI 1.4 port, dual Gigabit Ethernet, and wireless support for IEEE 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. The system’s power consumption was rated at up to 450W, with a single 120mm fan.[16]
Design and Features
The 2013 Mac Pro (right) featured a dramatic redesign over the previous 2012 model (left)
The 2013 Mac Pro introduced a radically redesigned form factor, moving away from the rectangular tower of previous models to a polished aluminum cylinder measuring 25.1 cm in height and 16.7 cm in diameter, weighing approximately 5 kg.[17] This compact design, roughly one-eighth the volume of its predecessor, was built around a central "thermal core" that facilitated cooling through a single fan, which drew air from the base, through the core, and out the top. The chassis, available only in black (with a single red-finished unit produced for Product Red), featured a lock switch for easy access to internal components, which were secured with Torx screws. Apple emphasized the design’s aesthetic and functional innovation, with all connectivity ports—six Thunderbolt 2 ports, four USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI 1.4 port, and dual Gigabit Ethernet—located on a single illuminated rear panel.
The system’s architecture centered on Intel Xeon E5 processors, available in configurations ranging from a 3.7 GHz quad-core to a 2.7 GHz 12-core model, with Turbo Boost up to 3.9 GHz.[18][19] It supported dual AMD FirePro GPUs (D300 with 2 GB GDDR5, D500 with 3 GB, or D700 with 6 GB), optimized for professional applications like video editing and 3D rendering. The Mac Pro used PCIe-based flash storage (256 GB to 1 TB) and supported up to 64 GB of ECC unbuffered DDR3 RAM via four DIMM slots. Unlike its predecessor, it lacked traditional PCIe expansion slots, relying instead on Thunderbolt 2 for external expandability, supporting up to 36 peripherals and three 4K displays.
Development and announcement
Apple Senior vice president of marketing Phil Schiller offered a "sneak peek" at the new Mac Pro at WWDC 2013
The development of the Mac Pro (2013) was driven by Apple’s aim to address criticisms of the first-generation Mac Pro, which, by 2012, had been criticized for its outdated connectivity options, including the absence of Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 ports.[20] Apple began reimagining its professional workstation in the early 2010s, focusing on a compact, high-performance system optimized for emerging technologies like 4K video editing and GPU-intensive workflows.[21] The cylindrical design was conceived to maximize thermal efficiency, with Apple’s engineering team developing a unified “thermal core” that integrated the CPU, GPUs, and memory around a central cooling system.[22] This approach allowed the Mac Pro to maintain high performance in a significantly smaller footprint than its predecessor.[23]
Apple announced the Mac Pro (2013) during a keynote address at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 10, 2013, with senior vice president of marketing Phil Schiller presenting a “sneak peek” of the redesigned workstation.[24] The early announcement, six months prior to the product’s release on December 19, 2013, was unusual for Apple, which typically unveils products closer to their market availability. Schiller emphasized the Mac Pro’s compact design and its ability to deliver twice the performance of the previous model in one-eighth the volume, positioning it as a groundbreaking solution for professionals.[25] A promotional video showcased the sleek cylindrical chassis and highlighted its U.S. assembly in Austin, Texas, by Flextronics, a move Apple promoted as part of its commitment to domestic manufacturing.[26] This marked the first time a Mac Pro was assembled in the United States, a decision influenced by both logistical efficiencies and public relations goals following discussions with U.S. policymakers about local production.[27]
2013 Mac Pro (right) next to the 2011 iMac (left)
The development process involved close collaboration with Intel and AMD to integrate Xeon E5 processors and FirePro GPUs, respectively, ensuring compatibility with professional software like Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Creative Suite. Apple also worked to optimize the system for Thunderbolt 2, which offered 20 Gbps bandwidth for external peripherals, addressing the lack of internal PCIe slots.[28] According to a 2013 report by The Verge, Apple’s design team prioritized a “future-proof” system, though this vision later faced scrutiny due to the system’s limited upgradability.[29] The Mac Pro’s development was also shaped by Apple’s growing focus on 4K displays, with the system designed to support multiple high-resolution monitors, a feature that aligned with the increasing adoption of 4K workflows in video production.
Despite the ambitious design, Apple faced challenges during development, particularly in balancing compactness with the needs of professional users. A 2017 article by TechCrunch noted that Apple later admitted the cylindrical design’s thermal constraints limited its ability to incorporate newer, more powerful GPUs over time, a miscalculation that became evident as user demands evolved. The Mac Pro (2013) was initially planned to receive regular updates, but supply chain complexities and the proprietary nature of its components delayed refreshes, leading to a stagnation that frustrated its user base.
Reception
By 2016, the 2013 Mac Pro faced growing criticism for its lack of updates.[30][31] Unlike other Apple products, it received no significant hardware refreshes after its release, and the cylindrical design’s constraints prevented Apple from incorporating newer, more powerful GPUs or processors.[32][33] In April 2017, Apple acknowledged these limitations in a roundtable with journalists, admitting the focus on dual GPUs and compact size had been a misstep for professional users needing modular systems.[29] A minor update in 2017 increased the base model’s specifications without changing the price, but the lack of expandability continued to frustrate users.
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