Pro Desktop · Retina & Beyond · 2013
Mac Pro (2013, "Trash Can")
"Can’t innovate anymore, my ass," said Phil Schiller. The gorgeous black cylinder bet everything on dual GPUs, a bet pros didn’t want, and famously trapped its own heat.
A radical cylindrical design built around a shared thermal core and dual GPUs.
Mac Pro (2019) (2019)
Mac Pro (2013, "Trash Can"): key facts
When was the Mac Pro (2013, "Trash Can") released?
The Mac Pro (2013, "Trash Can") arrived on December 19, 2013. Apple discontinued it in December 2019.
How much did the Mac Pro (2013, "Trash Can") cost?
The Mac Pro (2013, "Trash Can") launched at $2,999 in 2013, about $4,129 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Intel Xeon E5 at 3.50 GHz, 12 GB RAM, 256 GB storage, External display.
Why does the Mac Pro (2013, "Trash Can") matter?
A radical cylindrical design built around a shared thermal core and dual GPUs.
Full specifications
| CPU | Intel Xeon E5 · 3.50 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 12 |
| Memory (RAM) | 12 GB (up to 64 GB) |
| Storage | 256 GB |
| Display | External |
| GPU | Dual AMD FirePro D300/D500/D700 |
| Ports | 6× Thunderbolt 2, USB 3, HDMI |
| Weight | 5 kg |
| Dimensions | Black cylinder ("trash can") |
| Operating system | OS X 10.9 Mavericks |
| Released | December 19, 2013 |
| Discontinued | December 2019 |
| Launch price | $2,999 |
How the Mac Pro (2013, "Trash Can") compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 1.3× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 3.50 GHz, the clock is roughly 0.9× 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 65,500 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $2,999 in 2013, about $4,129 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?
Apple later apologised for the design and promised the modular 2019 tower.
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Last updated: 2026-08-11