Pro Desktop · The Digital Hub · 2006
Mac Pro (2006)
The Power Mac G5 tower, now with quad-core Intel Xeons. A hugely expandable workstation that creative pros kept for years thanks to its easy internals.
First Intel Mac Pro, completing the PowerPC-to-Intel transition.
Mac Pro (2010) (2010)
Mac Pro (2006): key facts
When was the Mac Pro (2006) released?
The Mac Pro (2006) arrived on August 7, 2006. Apple discontinued it in January 2008.
How much did the Mac Pro (2006) cost?
The Mac Pro (2006) launched at $2,499 in 2006, about $3,973 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Intel Xeon (Woodcrest) at 2.66 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 244.1 GB storage, External display.
Why does the Mac Pro (2006) matter?
First Intel Mac Pro, completing the PowerPC-to-Intel transition.
Full specifications
| CPU | Intel Xeon (Woodcrest) · 2.66 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 4 |
| Memory (RAM) | 1 GB (up to 32 GB) |
| Storage | 244.1 GB |
| Display | External |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT |
| Ports | USB 2.0, FireWire 400/800, Ethernet, PCIe |
| Weight | 19.2 kg |
| Dimensions | Aluminium "cheese-grater" tower |
| Operating system | Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger |
| Released | August 7, 2006 |
| Discontinued | January 2008 |
| Launch price | $2,499 |
How the Mac Pro (2006) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 16× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 2.66 GHz, the clock is roughly 1.2× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 62,500 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $2,499 in 2006, about $3,973 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
Its tool-free, beautifully organised interior was a joy to upgrade.
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Last updated: 2026-08-11