The Mac Pro almost featured an M3 Extreme chip, which is double the power of the M3 Ultra.

      Digital Trends may earn a commission if you make a purchase through links on our site. Why should you trust us?

      High production costs likely led to the cancellation of Apple’s M3 Extreme plans.

      Apple discontinued the Mac Pro earlier this year, marking the end of a 20-year legacy for a computer that once epitomized the company's desktop offerings. However, reports suggest Apple had grander plans for the device before replacing it with the Mac Studio.

      According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple developed an M3 Extreme chip aimed at providing double the CPU and GPU cores compared to the M3 Ultra. This processor was intended to occupy a position above the Ultra tier and could have finally delivered the performance advantage the Mac Pro was missing. Ultimately, Apple scrapped the chip due to worries about production expenses and limited demand for such a high-priced machine.

      Apple has been developing an Extreme chip for several years.

      Speculations regarding an Extreme-tier Apple chip surfaced in 2022 when Gurman indicated that the company was working on an M2 Extreme for its inaugural Apple silicon Mac Pro. This processor was expected to include up to 48 CPU cores and 152 GPU cores, which is double the anticipated M2 Ultra configuration. Nonetheless, production costs would have been exorbitantly high. Gurman estimated that an M2 Extreme Mac Pro might have begun at $10,000 prior to upgrades, making it an extremely niche product.

      Engineering difficulties also reportedly influenced the decision. Apple concluded that the costs associated with development and production could not be justified for a computer projected to sell in limited quantities. Bloomberg’s latest report reveals that Apple later created an M3 Extreme chip before canceling the project for similar reasons.

      The chip could have provided the Mac Pro with a valid reason to exist.

      Apple released its first Apple silicon Mac Pro in 2023 featuring the same M2 Ultra chip as the Mac Studio. While the Mac Pro offered PCIe expansion, it was priced at twice as much even though it provided nearly identical CPU and GPU capabilities. An M3 Extreme could have shifted the dynamics. Gurman mentions that the chip was designed to include double the CPU and GPU cores of the M3 Ultra, which maxes out at a 32-core CPU and an 80-core GPU.

      Apple also planned an M3 Ultra Mac Pro that never reached consumers. The Mac Pro remained with its 2023 chip until its discontinuation in March, and a return is not anticipated soon.

      I have approximately four years of experience, primarily focusing on gaming, PC hardware, and smartphones. In my free time, I enjoy…

      Are you considering buying a monitor? This Mac app can help identify problems before the return window closes.

      Your new monitor might seem flawless, but checking it can be beneficial. When you make a new tech purchase, there’s no guarantee that the unit will function perfectly. A small Mac app called Screen Test can help uncover defects before it's too late. Screen Test (version 1.1) is a native macOS utility that includes over 25 patterns and diagnostic tools for assessing both built-in and external displays. It can detect dead or stuck pixels, backlight bleeding, and other issues. The application operates entirely offline, eliminating the need for browser tabs or an internet connection.

      Every pixel undergoes careful inspection.

      The old internet established a museum for fading technology sounds, and it somehow continues to exist.

      Before our devices became silent glass rectangles, they produced a constant cacophony. Dial-up modems screeched with every connection, while dot-matrix printers sounded as if they were slowly chewing through the desk. The Museum of Endangered Sounds preserves that irritating soundtrack. It first launched in 2012 but remains operational 14 years later, inviting visitors to listen to technologies that have mostly vanished from everyday life.

      This Mac app can transform every window into a CRT fever dream or a nostalgic Game Boy.

      Apple doesn’t offer quirky customization options for Macs, but Glaze provides a solution. If you’re seeking more than just the ability to change your wallpaper, accent colors, and a few basic settings on your MacBook, the indie app Glaze might be worth exploring. The latest version, Glaze 1.9, can convert your Mac's live display with over 50 GPU-driven visual effects. These effects include realistic simulations of CRT monitors, Game Boy screens, worn VHS tapes, comic books, oil paintings, old film, vintage paper, and even Sony's Trinitron displays.

      Now, your Mac can finally resemble a CRT display.