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Cylinder Mac Pro FAQ (Late 2013) @ EveryMac.com
Also see: Mac Pro Specs | All Mac Q&As
EveryMac.com's Cylinder Mac Pro Q&A answers questions about all "Late 2013" glossy dark gray/black Mac Pro models. These systems use a compact cylinder case design with no optical drive bays and limited internal expansion but a multitude of external ports. At the moment, these models can be collectively identified by external design as well as model number A1481 and EMC number 2630.
Questions range from "What are all the differences between the 'Late 2013' Cylinder Mac Pro models and the 'Mid-2012' Tower Mac Pro models that they replaced?" to "How do you upgrade the storage in the Cylinder Mac Pro models? How many drives of what type are supported?" and everything in between.
Please note that Cylinder Mac Pro models all have been discontinued.
Earlier silver aluminum tower Macs with two optical drive bays also are Mac Pro models. These earlier tower Mac Pro models with two optical drive bays are model numbers A1186 and A1289. EveryMac.com covers these earlier models in the Tower Mac Pro (Dual Optical Drives, 2006-2013) Q&A.
Later silver aluminum tower Macs without an optical drive bay are Mac Pro models, as well. These later tower Mac Pro models without an optical drive bay are model numbers A1991 and A2304. EveryMac.com covers these later models in the Tower Mac Pro (No Optical Drive, 2019+ Q&A).
Systems with one optical drive bay are even older Power Mac G5 models.
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Most Frequently Asked Cylinder Mac Pro Q&As:
How do you upgrade the storage in the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro models? How many drives of what type are supported?
How fast are the "Late 2013" Gray Cylinder Mac Pro models compared to one another? How fast are these Mac Pro models compared to the Silver Tower "Mid-2012" models replaced? How fast are they compared to the iMac?
How do you upgrade the RAM in the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro models? How much RAM do they actually support?
What are all the differences between the "Late 2013" Gray Cylinder Mac Pro models and the "Mid-2012" Silver Tower Mac Pro models that they replaced?
What external optical drive options are available for the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro models?
How do you upgrade the processor in the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro models? How is the processor mounted? Which aftermarket processors are compatible?
What are the differences between the standard "Late 2013" Mac Pro models? What are the differences between the standard and custom configurations of the "Late 2013" Mac Pro line?
What are the "pros and cons" of the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro? Is it right for my needs?
What Thunderbolt 2 external expansion chassis are available for the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro models?
What are the default graphics cards provided with the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro? What graphics card options are available? How do you upgrade the graphics card(s)? Do these models use standard PC graphics cards?
Software Compatibility Q&As:
What version of the OS X is pre-installed on the Cylinder Mac Pro models? What is the maximum version of OS X supported? Is it possible to run earlier versions of OS X?
Can the Cylinder Mac Pro run OS X applications written for 32-Bit Intel Macs, PowerPC-based Macs, or Mac OS 9?
How do you restore the operating system on the Cylinder Mac Pro models?
Can the Cylinder Mac Pro run Windows or Linux?
Comparison & Performance Q&As:
What are the differences between the standard "Late 2013" Mac Pro models? What are the differences between the standard and custom configurations of the "Late 2013" Mac Pro line?
What are all the differences between the "Late 2013" Gray Cylinder Mac Pro models and the "Mid-2012" Silver Tower Mac Pro models that they replaced?
How fast are the "Late 2013" Gray Cylinder Mac Pro models compared to one another? How fast are these Mac Pro models compared to the Silver Tower "Mid-2012" models replaced?
Expansion & Upgrade Q&As:
How do you upgrade the processor in the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro models? How is the processor mounted? Which aftermarket processors are compatible?
How do you upgrade the RAM in the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro models? How much RAM do they actually support?
How do you upgrade the storage in the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro models? How many drives of what type are supported?
What external optical drive options are available for the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro models?
What are the default graphics cards provided with the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro? What graphics card options are available? How do you upgrade the graphics card(s)? Do these models use standard PC graphics cards?
How many PCIe slots of what type are provided by the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro models?
What Thunderbolt 2 external expansion chassis are available for the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro models?
What Ethernet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities are provided by the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro models?
Graphics & Video Q&As:
What are the default graphics cards provided with the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro? What graphics card options are available? How do you upgrade the graphics card(s)? Do these models use standard PC graphics cards?
What is the maximum resolution supported by the default configuration of the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro? How many displays can it support with the default graphics card?
How many PCIe slots of what type are provided by the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro models?
Design, Configuration & Purchasing Q&As:
Who designed the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro?
Where can I buy a Gray Cylinder Mac Pro?
Does the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro include a keyboard and mouse?
What is the best way to pick up a Gray Cylinder Mac Pro? Is it okay to use it on its side?
Is there a stand available for the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro? How can I ensure proper air flow with a stand?
How can you secure a Gray Cylinder Mac Pro? Does it have a security slot?
What are the "pros and cons" of the Gray Cylinder Mac Pro? Is it right for my needs?
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