What are all the differences between the Mac Pro "M2 Ultra" (2023) models and the Mac Pro (2019) models replaced?

Although the "2019" Mac Pro and "2023" Mac Pro models look practically identical, they are radically different internally.

As documented by EveryMac.com, there essentially are five standard "2019" Mac Pro models -- the Mac Pro "Eight Core" 3.5, "12-Core" 3.3, "16-Core" 3.2, "24-Core" 2.7, and "28-Core" 2.5 -- and two standard "2023" Mac Pro models -- the Mac Pro "M2 Ultra" 24 CPU/60 GPU and Mac Pro "M2 Ultra" 24 CPU/76 GPU -- but this Q&A primarily addresses collective differences for relative simplicity.

Ideological Differences

The "2019" Mac Pro represented a return to a properly expandable, traditional tower Mac after the relative failure of the "Late 2013" Cylinder Mac Pro (or the trash can, as it now has been dubbed by many of its critics). With an upgradable CPU, upgradable GPUs, twelve RAM slots and eight PCIe slots, the "2019" Mac Pro was the most expandable Mac in decades.

The "2023" Mac Pro is not quite a return to the Cylinder Mac Pro -- the Mac Studio tracks more closely ideologically -- but the "2023" Mac Pro is not nearly as expandable as its "2019" predecessor. The "2023" Mac Pro has an integrated CPU, GPU, and RAM -- none of which can be upgraded after the initial system purchase -- but it does have seven PCIe slots (which support a variety of PCIe cards, including SSD storage options, but not video cards).

Some professional users, no doubt, will be happy with the "2023" Mac Pro (or even the practically sealed and disposable Mac Studio). After all, the newer Mac Pro is substantially faster than its predecessor released four years earlier and PCIe card support is enough.

For others, though, the "2023" Mac Pro will be a one step forward, one step back kind of change. Going from a maximum option of 1 TB or 1.5 TB of easily upgradable RAM and third-party video card support with the "2019" Mac Pro to a maximum of 192 GB of RAM that only can be configured at the time of initial system purchase and no support for third-party video cards with the "2023" Mac Pro almost certainly is enough to give some professionals pause.

External & Connectivity Differences

Even with the "2019" and "2023" Mac Pro models in the same room, you essentially would have to carefully inspect the ports -- or check their identifiers -- to be able to tell them apart.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (2019 Mac Pro)

Both Mac Pro lines use basically the same tower case design that is 20.8 inches tall, 8.58 inches wide, and 17.7 inches deep.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (2023 Mac Pro)

The "2019" Mac Pro has four Thunderbolt 3 ports, two USB 3 (USB-A) ports, two HDMI 2.0 ports (on the video card if only one is installed), two 10Gb Ethernet ports, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0.

As you would expect for a system released four years later, the "2023" Mac Pro models have newer connectivity. Ports include eight Thunderbolt 4 ports (up to 40 Gb/s) -- two on the top or front and six on the back -- two USB-A ports (up to 5 Gb/s), two HDMI ports, two 10Gb Ethernet ports, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3.

Identification Differences

Because they look so similar, exact identifiers for the "2019" and "2023" Mac Pro models are especially worthwhile. As the site has done for decades, EveryMac.com has carefully hand-documented this information from the hardware itself.

The Model Number and EMC Number are on the underside of the cases, the Model Identifier is available in software:

Mac Pro	Model No.	EMC No.	Model ID
2019 Tower	A1991	3203	MacPro7,1
2019 Rack	A2304	3413	MacPro7,1
2023 Tower	A2786	8163	Mac14,8
2023 Rack	A2787	8164	Mac14,8

EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature additionally can identify the "2019" and "2023" Mac Pro models by other identifiers, too.

More information about specific identifiers is provided in EveryMac.com's extensive Mac Identification section.

Internal Differences

The "2019" and "2023" Mac Pro lines have little in common internally.

The "2019" Mac Pro models have upgradable "Cascade Lake" Intel Xeon W processors, a variety of graphic card options, twelve DDR4 ECC SDRAM (PC21300 or PC23400) compatible RAM slots, one or two removable, proprietary SSDs, and eight Gen3 PCIe slots.

The "2023" Mac Pro models, on the other hand, use an Apple Silicon SoC design which integrates the CPU, GPU, and RAM and that cannot be upgraded after the initial system purchase. They also have one or two removable, proprietary SSD modules (that are different from the "2019" Mac Pro) and seven (mostly) Gen4 PCIe slots.

macOS Support Differences

As you would expect for two Macs shipped four years apart, macOS support is quite different.

The "2019" Mac Pro first shipped with macOS Catalina (10.15) whereas the "2023" Mac Pro first shipped with macOS Ventura (macOS 13). Both lines are compatible with the current version of the macOS.

Comparison Chart

All of the major differences between the "2019" and "2023" Mac Pro models -- processors, architecture, configuration, connectivity, expansion, macOS support, identifiers, and price -- are summarized below:

	"2019" Mac Pro	"2023" Mac Pro
Processor(s):	8-Core W-3223 12-Core W-3235 16-Core W-3245 24-Core W-3265M 28-Core W-3275M	24-Core M2 Ultra
Std. RAM:	32 GB	64 GB
Max. RAM:	768 MB, 1.5 TB	192 GB*
Actual Max. RAM:	1 TB, 1.5 TB	192 GB*
RAM Type:	2666/2933 MHz DDR4 (PC21300/PC23400)	Integrated
RAM Slots:	12	None*
Video Options:	Radeon Pro 580X Radeon Pro W5500X Radeon Pro W5700X Radeon Pro Vega II Radeon Pro Vega II Duo	60-Core 72-Core†
Standard SSD:	256 GB	1 TB
Expansion Slots:	8 PCIe Gen3	7 PCIe Gen4†
USB Ports:	2 (USB-A)	2 (USB-A)
Thunderbolt Ports:	4 Thunderbolt 3	8 Thunderbolt 4
HDMI:	2 HDMI	2 HDMI
Ethernet:	10Gb x 2	10Gb x 2
Wi-Fi:	802.11ac	802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth:	Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 5.3
Original OS X:	Catalina (10.15)	Ventura (13)
Maximum OS X:	Current	Current
Model Number:	A1991/A2304	A2786/A2787
EMC Number:	3203/3413	8163/8164
Model Identifier:	MacPro7,1	Mac14,8
Intro. Price (US):	US$5999+	US$6999+
Intro. Price (CA):	C$7499+	C$8999+
Intro. Price (UK):	£5499+	£7199+
Intro. Price (FR):	€6499+	€8299+
Intro. Price (AU):	A$9999+	A$11,999+

* The "2023" Mac Pro models can be configured at the time of initial system purchase with 128 GB or 192 GB of RAM for an additional US$800 or US$1600, respectively. The RAM cannot be upgraded later.

† The "2023" Mac Pro models can be configured at the time of initial system purchase with a 24-Core Apple M2 Ultra processor with a 76-Core GPU for an extra US$1000. The video cannot be upgraded later and the PCIe slots do not support video cards, either.

For introductory pricing in dozens of other countries, see the "Global Prices" on the specs page for each Mac as well as the "By Global Original Prices" section of EveryMac.com.

Comparison Summary

Ultimately, the "2019" Mac Pro represented a return to a properly expandable, traditional tower Mac. The "2023" Mac Pro is less expandable, but as Apple's lone remaining Mac that offers expansion options at all, it is the only choice for someone who cares about internal upgrades.

Given the much lower price tag of Macs that essentially are sealed and disposable, the "2023" Mac Pro very well may be prove to be the last expandable Mac. Only time will tell.

New & Used Mac Pro Purchase Options

There are a variety of sites to buy a used or new Mac Pro. However, purchasing from a well regarded seller with a good track record will provide the best experience and save you money and time, too.

In the US, site sponsor Adorama sells new Mac Pro models with free shipping. Other World Computing sells used Mac Pro models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well. Finally, if you need to sell a Mac Pro or another Mac, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac will buy your older Mac with an instant quote and prompt payment.

In the UK, site sponsor Hoxton Macs sells used Macs with a one-year warranty and free next day delivery throughout the UK.

In Australia, site sponsor Mac City likewise may have used Mac Pro models available at low prices and with a free warranty and fast shipping across Australia.

Please refer to EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison feature to dynamically compare any Mac Pro to any other Mac.

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